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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Is this just a long, beautiful dream?’: Syrian filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab on her country’s future

    Source: United Nations 2

    After 14 years of war, Syria has entered a new and uncertain chapter. The country is devastated – 90 per cent of Syrians live in poverty.

    Despite the challenges up to one million people living in camps and displacement sites across the country’s northwest intend to return home within the next year.

    As those Syrians prepare to return home, they are beginning the difficult process of rebuilding and confronting the past.

    Ms. Al-Kateab, the filmmaker behind the award-winning documentary, For Sama, captured life under siege in Aleppo before fleeing the country in 2016.

    Since then, she has remained a powerful advocate for the Syrian people, co-founding Action For Sama, a campaign, advocating for human rights, dignity, and accountability for all.

    In this interview with UN News, as Syria stands at a crossroads, she shares her determination to make sure justice is not forgotten in the country’s next chapter. 

    This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. 

    UN News: Waad, how have you been processing the past few months?

    Waad Al-Kateab: I think it’s really confusing. We are over the moon, but at the same time, it was something that seemed so far away.

    I thought the ending of my story was dying in exile, not being able to go back, never being able to see this beautiful day. And it just happened out of the blue, without any indication. 

    © Abd Alkader Habak

    We were not ready, but that does not matter. It happened, and we are really happy.

    At the same time, the pain and grief we had to go through for the last 14 years – and for so many of us, even 50 years, when Hafez al-Assad was president – it was just too much to handle.

    I’m still thinking, is this real? Am I just having a long, beautiful dream?

    UN News: Have you been in contact with people on the ground in Syria? What have they been telling you?

    Waad Al-Kateab: Until now, because of my refugee status, I was not able to go back. But I’m working on this, and hopefully, at any second I will get citizenship in the UK, so I will be able to move freely.

    © UNICEF/Rami Nader

    My parents went back in January, and some of our friends too. I was also able to communicate with my family who were in Syria the whole time, whereas before, I couldn’t even call or send a message because I was worried of what the regime could do to them.

    It’s not easy – the country is tired, the economy is very bad, there’s no electricity, no water but what everyone has in common is the feeling that it’s definitely a new beginning.

    We’re afraid, but we’re not really scared. We can do anything we want.

    UN News: When you still lived in Aleppo, you spent years capturing both the resilience of people and the devastation around them. What moments have stayed with you from that time?

    Waad Al-Kateab: To be honest, the situation I couldn’t accept was when we were displaced out of Aleppo.

    I understood early on that we were fighting against a dictatorship that would stop at nothing. I was okay with that. I knew the risk I was taking, the risk my husband Hamza was taking, even our own daughter. 

    © UNOCHA/Mohanad Zayat

    We were fighting in our own way – me, with my camera, my husband, with his work in the hospital.

    Then came the siege – six months with no medication, no food, no basic services. And then, forced displacement. That, for me, was the most cruel thing: throw us out from our own country where we wanted to be.

    It was the moment which really broke me. Saying goodbye to everything – my home there, the hospital, the people we knew.

    For the past few years, I’ve forced myself not to picture going back because it didn’t seem possible. But now, it is.

    So many people I know went back. They send me pictures from the neighbourhood, the university: “See, it’s there. We are back.”

    And I can’t wait to be there myself.

    UN News: You talk about your excitement, your family’s excitement, and this chapter closing. Do you think the hardest part of the work has been done now?

    Waad Al-Kateab: Definitely. The hardest work has been done.

    Now, with this new chapter, there’s a lot to do, and it’s difficult in a very different way. But the shelling, the bombings – that’s over.

    There are so many important issues – transitional justice, detainees, the disappeared. There are very difficult conversations to have about revenge; and the economy – it has more than crashed.

    There are so many authorities, agendas and international players in a country starting from scratch. But now, we are in charge. It’s very heavy to carry but we’re here and we’re going to do it.

    I’m very hopeful and excited.

    UN News: You mention transitional justice, what does real accountability look like to you now?

    Waad Al-Kateab: Bashar Al-Assad was responsible, but there are many others – those who ordered killings, those who carried them out, those who helped him. And I’m not just talking about individuals, but also foreign governments and armies.

    There is no way to have a future in Syria if we don’t face what happened. For everyone responsible, it must start with an apology and end with accountability. 

    © ForSamaFilm

    Right now, militias and former regime soldiers still have weapons, trying to hide or defend themselves. This is very serious, and all weapons should be handed to the new government.

    For victims like us, now it’s about asking: what do we want? What can happen? How do we return to normal life? There is a lot to be done.

    UN News: You’ve lived in the UK for almost a decade now. You said you’d like to return. Would that be long-term?

    Waad Al-Kateab: To be honest, we never imagined this moment would happen, so we built a life away from Syria.

    Even in our conversations with our daughters, I wanted them to love Syria and understand what happened but also, I wanted to protect them.

    Now, I see they picked up way more than we realised, they picked up what we felt. For them, Syria was a place where people die.

    They don’t understand and they ask: “What if Assad is still hiding there? What if he’s waiting for us to go and then he kills us?”

    The discussion of going back has triggered many difficult things for them.

    For me and Hamza, we don’t have to think about it, we want to go back of course. So, we agreed on one visit and when we come back, we’ll talk – what we want, what they want. They definitely have an equal say.

    Whatever decision we take, one way or another, we will be back.

    UN News: With your advocacy, what role do you see yourself having in the rebuilding of Syria?

    Waad Al-Kateab:  We’ve done so much around the world – working with communities who know Syria well and others who know nothing about it. 

    For us, the biggest achievement has always been awareness and preserving the narrative of what happened. Now, more than ever, that’s a priority on the ground in Syria.

    For me, it’s not just about For Sama as a film, but about everything I’ve learned as a filmmaker – years of telling my own story and others’. Now, I want to bring it back to Syria through screenings and conversations, not just as a film event, but as a space to hear from people.

    This is part of transitional justice, especially acknowledgment – helping local communities talk to each other, understand each other’s experiences and start healing.

    UN News: What would be your message to the international community today?

    Waad Al-Kateab: Syria is not like any other conflict. People tried to compare it to Iraq or Afghanistan, but this is different. Even how the regime fell and what comes next is unknown.

    As the U.S. slashes foreign aid, Syrian civil society is at risk of collapse. Organizations that fought for justice and protected civilians for over a decade are now struggling. The international community must step up.

    A successful transition must be Syrian-led, free from armed groups or foreign influence.

    The world has a responsibility to support this in a way that reflects Syrians’ aspirations for peace, justice and accountability.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The Future of Family Planning Convening Keynote Address by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Excellencies, 
    Esteemed partners, 
    Dear friends, 
    Dear young people,

    I greet you in Peace, the noble purpose of the United Nations and the fervent wish of the women and girls UNFPA serves in over 150 countries around the world. 

    Thank goodness for the forward-looking initiatives of the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. Thanks to the cohosts for bringing us together, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and FP2030.

    As you and I look to the future of family planning, we need a time frame. That outlook could span 10 years from now – which is basically tomorrow – or all the way to the end of the century. 

    For instance, I’m currently leading the Lancet Commission on 21st Century Threats to Global Health, established with co-chair Christopher Murray of IHME.  

    We need a longer-term perspective because the effects of threats like to health like pollution, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, or an inverted population pyramid will take decades to alter future trajectories. 

    Modeling at the future through the lens of our Lancet Commission, we’ve made bold to peek through the magnifying glass to discern what just might happen by the year 2100. 

    That’s why standing here with you, I have no qualms to make bold and posit what will be the features of family planning in an intermediate era, say maybe 20 to 30 years. 

    From the outset, the future of family planning is built upon the bedrock of human rights. That future we envision is one of equality for all. 

    The future of family planning will be characterized by self-agency, especially on the part of young people — who expect innovation and demand the modernization of our field. They’re impatient for safe, effective, convenient, reversible and affordable methods. On top of that, the contraceptive offerings should be products that are pleasurable, that incorporate fun.

    Let’s pose a fundamental question. Will we continue the expectation that it’s the woman with the womb who should bear eternal responsibility for planning the shape and the contours of the family of the future? 

    Which leads to another question: When will men step up and take their responsibilities? When will men be availed of reliable, quality commodities that are emblematic of sharing the burden as well as the triumphs of good family planning? 

    Second, in the future the clamor is for ready access. 

    I hope that this comes with the understanding that the risk proposition of hormonal or barrier methods will become so improved, that access will be through self-care. Through autonomous decision-making by fully empowered users of contraception who need no arbiter. Who need no permission from the husband, the significant other, the mother-in-law, the father, or any authoritative figure nominated by patriarchy. No doctor. No nurse. No gatekeeper’s intervention. 

    And of course, the means and methods to monitor and course correct must be there, if and when side effects would appear. Bodily autonomy demands just that. 

    Mind you, right now, nearly half of women lack the power to make their own decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. This must change – and we can change it – if we stand strong and stand together in upholding, protecting and advancing this fundamental human right for everyone – no exceptions, no exclusions. 

    As we contemplate the future, let’s take a look at how far we’ve come: from Bucharest in 1974, to the all-important rights-based 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (the ICPD), which put women and girls squarely at the center of development. 

    Jump to the London Summit on Family Planning in 2012, after which our collaborative efforts yielded remarkable results: 

    92 million more women in low and middle-income countries using modern contraception. 

    Since 2000, adolescent birth rates declined; maternal mortality fell by more than one-third; and globally, deaths of children under-5, halved. 

    Mothers are safer, babies are healthier, more women and couples can decide freely whether or when to have children, and more girls can stay in school and out of marriage. 

    Unfortunately, recently such progress has stalled, and in some places is actually going backwards.

    Therefore, another feature of the future of family planning is that it will support demographic resilience. 

    Voluntary, rights-based family planning is fundamental to building societies that can adapt to shifting population dynamics. 

    Did you know that two-thirds of people now live in countries where fertility rates are trending, at or below replacement level? And people are living longer, populations are aging and catering for that is of increasing concern. 

    In response, some governments are attempting to reverse universal access to contraception and instead, introducing pro-natalist incentives, telling women it’s their patriotic duty to bear more babies, even banning postpartum contraception in health facilities.  

    Such directives threaten women’s hard-won rights and choices. Furthermore, there is an abundance of evidence that shows that without child care and elder care and paid leave and social support, these types  of pro-natalist monetary incentives just won’t work. 

    Women, in all their sexual diversities, have inherent rights. These aren’t contingent on the demographic context. The solutions lie in expanding human rights, not in their constraint. 

    Next, I will also note that the future of contraception will cater for women in the direst of humanitarian circumstances. 

    Record levels of displacement are driving hardship and humanitarian need, with conflicts and climate induced disasters escalating seemingly everywhere you turn. 

    Family planning programmes must be able to continue to function during humanitarian emergencies, allowing women to make safer choices during uncertain times. 

    Consider Cecília, a mother of two daughters who UNFPA assists in Mozambique. She faced impossible choices when a cyclone destroyed her rural home and cut off essential services. Unable to access to family planning, she’s unexpectedly pregnant again, jeopardizing her ability to rebuild and get back on her feet, and she’s worried about her girls’ future. 

    The impact of humanitarian crisis is not gender-neutral. As livelihoods collapse and stress escalates, gender based violence explodes and child marriages surge.  Cecília said she dreads the nightfall, fearing for her girls’ safety in the darkness as they sleep on mats under a tree.  

    Climate change brings its own unique consequences to reproductive and maternal health. Extreme heat increases miscarriages and stillbirths, and food insecurity endangers maternal and newborn health outcomes. 

    Family planning considerations of the future should be part and parcel of humanitarian resilience and response efforts, right from the start of a crisis — and not an afterthought. 

    Dear colleagues, dear friends, 

    Ours is a time of unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. Should I repeat that? 

    Rampant opposition is undermining progress on gender equality and compromising the rights and choices of women and girls all around the globe.  

    Within the halls of the United Nations, longstanding agreed language on gender, diversity, and sexual and reproductive health and rights is increasingly coming under attack. The hostility is organized, very well funded, careless and relentless. 

    Uncertainties about donor investment – notably the recent abrupt terminations of funding for major global health and humanitarian work – pose a grave threat to the well-being of millions, particularly people marginalized and already furthest behind. 

    Despite it all, lastly, I’m happy to tell you my crystal ball reveals that the future of family planning is well-resourced. 

    Despite all the turmoil, we will remain focused, and united. The opposition may be rampaging, yet our commitment to upholding women’s rights is fiercer. Our understanding of community needs is deeper. Our intellectual heft is stronger. Our willingness to defend the rights and choices of people in all their sexual diversities is steadfast. 

    And our commitment to science, to data and evidence for good planning, means we’re unconquerable.  

    UNFPA and this community have weathered many a storm before, and we will not waver in standing with women and girls, with families and communities, and with all our partners in the SRHR sector. 

    The backsliding in global funding is not just about dollars and cents. It’s about a woman walking for hours to a rural clinic, and turned away because the shelves are bare. It’s about a desperate adolescent girl, coerced into early marriage because contraception was out of her reach. Long-term sustainable financing for family planning is crucial.  It’s lifesaving.  

    The UNFPA Supplies Partnership has pioneered successful approaches through financing innovations — mechanisms like Country Compacts, Matching Funds, and Bridge Funds— with the important added benefit of accelerating country-led domestic financing.  

    I applaud the wisdom of low and middle-income countries’ unprecedented investments to safeguard their family planning supplies, and to strengthen the supply systems.  

    I urge you to work where you are and where you have influence — in academia, in government, civil society, foundations, financial and private sector institutions, religious and traditional communities.  Work to close the financing gap, to end stigma and to turn our dream of well-resourced family planning into reality! 

    So then, 30 years after Cairo and Beijing and with scarcely five years to go until 2030:  

    What is the future of family planning? 

    We’ve made significant gains, yet formidable challenges threaten future progress—pandemics, climate change, conflict, declining donor investment, and then — the systematic attacks on women’s rights and bodily autonomy.  

    Our response must match the scale of these threats. This calls for intergenerational partnerships, that transcend geographic and sectoral boundaries and that leverage diverse expertise, resources and influence. 

    It will take an estimated $60 billion in new funding annually to end the unmet need for family planning in 120 priority countries by the year 2030. There ‘is’ no better return on investment—as much as $120 for  every $1 spent, and countless lives are transformed  for the better. 

    Let me assert that the future of family planning will be determined by the choices we make today – together, unapologetically, and with the fierce urgency that this moment demands. 

    Change starts with us and leads to a future where every woman and girl can exercise her reproductive rights and choices with dignity, security, and freedom. 

    Our UNFPA vision of the future?  

    Contraceptive technology and research will significantly advance, reaching the ideal of full effectiveness and free access without limitations or boundaries.  

    Countries of the global South will lead, streamlining access to contraceptive services and information, institutionalizing policies that integrate SRHR into essential healthcare. Finally, family planning becomes part of integrated women’s health services and education. 

    Every individual, every couple, regardless of location, socioeconomic status, or background, will know where to easily turn for a full range of high-quality, affordable contraceptive offerings seamlessly integrated into maternal health, HIV, and routine wellness care and checkups. 

    In the future, family planning is recognized and acknowledged as an accelerator of gender equality, family wealth building, and of real development for people in their own home villages and urban landscapes. 

    After centuries of all-too familiar barrier methods and over a hundred years of tried and true hormonal methods, the future cries out for innovation; let’s have much more research and development of solutions designed with women and with adolescents.  

    Now that’s a bright future. Now that’s a future we can all get behind.

    Dear friends, 

    It is said that: It’s only in winter that we know which trees are evergreen. 

    Thank you for being an astute and evergreen friend to women, to adolescents and to families.  

    The threads that bind this community are strong.  They are unbreakable. We’re in this for the long haul, together, and together we shall win.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Earlier food security gains in Gaza at risk; food insecurity concerns grow in West Bank

    Source: World Food Programme

    GAZA, Palestine – The following are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

    Gaza

    • In the 42 days of the ceasefire starting 19 January, WFP delivered over 40,000 metric tons of food into Gaza and provided lifesaving assistance to 1.3 million people. In addition, over US$ 6.8 million in electronic cash assistance (e-wallets) supported nearly 135,000 people (26,600 households), helping families to buy what they needed most. 
    • Since March 2, WFP has not been able to transport any food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points for both humanitarian and commercial supplies.  
    • WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.
    • WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.
    • In the first week of March, WFP was able to sustain its activities in Gaza using stocks brought in during the ceasefire; WFP provided food assistance to some 73,000 vulnerable people across Gaza during this period.
    • As it did prior to the ceasefire, WFP is reducing the quantity of ready-to-eat food parcels provided to families to stretch its supplies and serve more people in need.
    • Right now, WFP supports 33 kitchens across Gaza providing a total of 180,000 hot meals daily.
    • A total of 25 bakeries are also supported by WFP, but on March 8 six of these bakeries were forced to close due to a shortage of cooking gas.
    • Commercial food prices have begun to surge since the March 2 closure of border crossings. In some cases, prices on staple items such as flour, sugar, and vegetables have increased over 200 percent. Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies would arrive.  

    West Bank

    • WFP is increasingly concerned about growing food insecurity in the West Bank, where military activity, displacement, and movement restrictions are disrupting markets and limiting access to food. 
    • Tens of thousands of people in the West Bank have been displaced since mid-January.
    • These disruptions and the worsening economic conditions over the last year are putting upward pressure on prices. With rising displacement and unemployment, even basic food items have become unaffordable for many families. 
    • WFP is supporting more than 190,000 people with monthly cash vouchers and has provided one-off assistance to 16,000 people most in need. Humanitarian cash assistance can be delivered efficiently through local supply chains and markets. It also helps to stabilize the economy.   

    WFP needs US$265 million in funding for the next six months for operations to assist 1.4 million people in Gaza and the West Bank.

    Broadcast quality video available at this link.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s central bank to grow financial ecosystem that supports tech innovation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s central bank will work to cultivate a financial ecosystem that supports technological innovation, the central bank said on Friday.

    The bank will provide targeted support for key national technology initiatives and small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of tech, according to a statement issued by the People’s Bank of China.

    It will enhance the quality and effectiveness of green financial services further, providing strong support for the green, low-carbon development of China’s economy and society.

    It will also enhance its capability to provide financial services for the elderly care sector, and develop digital finance actively and steadily.

    Efforts will be made to defuse financial debt risks associated with financing platforms, supporting local governments to promote the market-oriented transformation of those platforms, the bank said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hohhot offers handsome cash rewards to boost birth rates

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A city in northern China has promised cash rewards in a latest effort to boost birth rate and cope with the ageing society.

    Hohhot, capital of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will offer a one-time subsidy of 10,000 yuan (about 1,394 U.S. dollars) for couples having their first child, according to a new regulation released on Thursday.

    A second child will receive 10,000 yuan per year until he/she reaches five years old. For the third child or more, the annual subsidy is 10,000 yuan until the child turns 10, with the total amount reaching 100,000 yuan, a relatively high amount compared with other cities.

    Yang Zhong, deputy director of the city’s health commission, said the measures are aimed at boosting birth rate and spurring population growth. “These policies come as a powerful measure to deal with the current local population development situation,” he said.

    Data shows that China’s population on the mainland stood at 1.40828 billion by the end of 2024, a decrease of 1.39 million from the previous year, representing the third consecutive decline since 2021.

    Figures show that Hohhot, about two hours’ train ride north of Beijing, has a population of around 3.6 million. The city’s birth rate showed a declining trend from 2019 to 2023, Yang said. The birth rate stood at 5.58 births per 1,000 people in 2023, though it slightly picked up in 2024 as more couples were willing to have babies in the Year of Dragon.

    Though experts say the result of the birth incentive is still to be tested, many couples have welcomed the policy.

    Yang Lixin, 30, who works at a private firm in Hohhot, already has a five-year-old. “The policy made us more assured in making our mind to having a second child. The subsidies can reduce the financial costs, especially for maternity and childcare,” she said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: National botches health funding numbers

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong.

    Simeon Brown has repeatedly claimed the Government is putting “$16.68 billion more put into our health system over three years” when the actual amount is half that at $8.4 billion.

    “The Health Minister should learn how to read government accounts. He should be referring to spending over three government budgets – some of that money will not be spent until 2030 – not three years,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

    He made the $16.68 billion claim in a speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum, in the media, and in Parliament.

    “This is rich coming from a government that delights in calling others in the health sector financially illiterate but can’t read their own budget,” Ayesha Verrall said.

    “The Government has not funded the health system enough to keep up with costs, and services are being cut as a result.

    “We know that front line staff are bearing the brunt of the chaotic cuts at Health New Zealand and patient care is suffering because of it.

    “New Zealanders are feeling it in their back pocket too. The cost of going to your GP has gone up, costs for prescriptions have gone up and it’s harder to get an appointment.

    “This is what happens with a minister doesn’t understand what life is like for patients, carers and healthcare workers,” Ayesha Verrall said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

    Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Labour & Employment Leads Delegation and Makes Interventions on Key Global Labour and Employment Issues

    Secretary, L&E Holds Bilateral Discussions with Director-General and Senior Experts of ILO and Representatives of Other Countries

    India Reaffirms its commitment to Continue to Act as a Leading Voice on Advancing Labour Welfare, Quality Employment and Social Justice at Global Forum

    Social Protection, Responsible Business Conduct, Living Wages, AI and Future of Work, and Fair Global Migration Emerge as Key Areas of India-ILO Collaboration

    Posted On: 15 MAR 2025 12:34PM by PIB Delhi

    The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO.

    The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India’s achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally.

    Second World Summit for Social Development

    India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development. India’s inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 percent, increasing the average global social protection coverage by over 5 percent.

    In this context, contribution of India’s flagship institutions and schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore contributing members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganized members), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries) and Targeted PDS (food security to 81.35 crore beneficiaries) was acknowledged.

    ILO Fair Migration Agenda and Action

    India, as one of the largest countries of origin of migrant workers and recipient of highest remittances, reiterated its support for greater global cooperation in promoting well-managed, skills-based migration pathways. ILO was urged to enhance efforts towards generating global momentum for securing social protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral labour migration and social security agreements. Support was extended for ILO’s proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the ILO based Global Coalition for Social Justice, by India as a leading partner of the Global Coalition.

    Global Framework on Chemicals

    India reaffirmed its commitment towards playing a leading role towards ensuring a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, safeguarding workers, communities and the environment. The actions being undertaken by ILO in follow up to the Bonn Declaration were acknowledged.

    Key initiatives taken by India towards safeguarding the health and safety of workers and communities including Factories Act, 1948 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, were underscored. Capacity-building measures under the Viksit Bharat 2047 Action Plan towards ensuring workplace safety in Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) units were highlighted.

    The Indian delegation also held several bilateral discussions with the Director General and senior experts of ILO, and representatives of other countries on labour and employment matters of keen interest to India.

    Bilateral Discussion with Director General-ILO

    Ms. Dawra met Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, the DG-ILO and congratulated him for his flagship initiative the Global Coalition for Social Justice, which has emerged as a robust platform for global collaboration to promote social justice. She also reiterated the need for ILO to consider in-kind benefits while assessing social protection coverage.

    This is crucial as India has commenced a State Specific Data Pooling exercise in collaboration with ILO to get a more accurate assessment of India’s social protection coverage.

    DG-ILO appreciated India for playing a leading role in the Global Coalition by championing the key Coalition intervention “Responsible business for sustainable and inclusive societies,” and successfully organizing the first ever “Regional Dialogue on Social Justice” at New Delhi last month. He added, “This has inspired other Coalition countries (partners) to enhance their contribution to the Coalition’s agenda”.

    Mr. Houngbo invited India to participate pro-actively in the upcoming Annual Forum on Social Justice, and showcase best practices of Indian industry in terms of Responsible Business Conduct, payment of Living Wages, and harnessing AI for a socially just Future of Work.

    The DG also expressed his appreciation for India’s first ever voluntary financial support to ILO towards conduct of a feasibility study on development of international reference classification of occupations by ILO and OECD. This India led initiative will facilitate in galvanizing global employment opportunities for Indian youth through benchmarking, and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. Development of the international classification is a historic commitment made by the G20 leaders under India’s G20 presidency of 2023.

    India discussed future collaborations in pipeline with ILO on shared priorities including determination and operationalization of living wages, gig and platform workers’ welfare and decent work in value chains. The Indian delegation included Shri Rakesh Gaur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2111473) Visitor Counter : 155

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: We need a Democratic House to protect the American people

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – March 12, 2025

    LEESBURG, VA — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu opened the 2025 Issues Conference alongside Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene and Assistant Leader Joe Neguse.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Welcome everyone. Pleasure to be joined by my colleagues and we’ll be joined by DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene here shortly. Just so thrilled to be here with Vice Chair Ted Lieu in putting this conference together. And of course, Leader Jeffries, Whip Clark and Assistant Leader Neguse. We could not do this without the support of the Democratic Leadership team, and we feel all that support throughout our time here. 

    In the first seven weeks of the Trump Administration, we have seen nothing but chaos, confusion and corruption coming out of the White House. House Republicans have either stayed silent as their constituents get hurt or are voting to rip away health care for millions of Americans to pay for tax giveaways for billionaires. 

    House Democrats have been united in standing up for Medicaid to keep health care more affordable. House Democrats have been united in honoring our veterans who have fallen victim to Elon Musk’s reckless cuts to the VA health care system. We’ve been united in protecting Social Security, even as the President of the United States used his joint address to lay out the groundwork for cutting these benefits—by lying to our country about the claims of 100-year-old beneficiaries. And all of us remain united in our overarching message to make Leader Jeffries, Speaker Jeffries, no later than next year. 

    We’re going to talk about all of this over the course of the next few days, and we’re going to put the needs of the American people front and center in everything that we do. The economy that House Democrats helped build is in a free fall. In 2026, we need a Democratic House to protect the American people from the costly missteps of the Trump Administration. With that, I’ll introduce Leader Jeffries.

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu for your leadership, for convening House Democrats and for the manner in which you have presided over the House Democratic Caucus in such an effective way during these very challenging times. 

    Donald Trump and House Republicans are crashing the American economy in real time and leading us toward a possible recession. Donald Trump and House Republicans promised that they would lower the high cost of living on day one. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. Inflation is going up. The stock market is going down. Consumer confidence is going down. Consumer spending is going down. The retirement security of the American people is going down. And it’s all connected to the chaos, confusion and corruption of the Trump Administration and Extreme MAGA Republicans.

    House Democrats remain united in the effort to protect Medicaid and the health care of the American people. We remain united as it relates to protecting Social Security and Medicare. House Democrats strongly oppose the reckless Republican spending bill that will hurt families, hurt seniors and hurt veterans. House Democrats remain committed to building an affordable economy and driving down the high cost of living for everyday Americans. And House Democrats are united in our understanding that we must take back the Majority next year with the fierce urgency of now. 

    One of the Members who has led us in such an extraordinary way, both as it relates to keeping Democrats together, as was the case yesterday, and of course, as it relates to the House Republican devastating budget resolution, is our dynamic Whip, the Honorable Katherine Clark.

    WHIP CLARK: Thank you so much, Mr. Leader. And to Chairman Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu, we are so grateful to you for, once again, organizing this opportunity to come together as Democrats. 

    This is always a powerful opportunity at Issues Conference, but this year, especially, we are really grateful because we have a lot to dig into. Especially, the last 24 hours have shown a stark illustration of what we’re fighting to stop: a Republican Party that promised to put more money in the pockets of working people. They turned around and stole their money— stole from their own constituents, from their schools, their health care, their retirement—all to cut billionaire taxes and funnel corrupt contracts to Elon Musk. 

    Just look at the split screen. People can’t afford their rent. They can’t afford eggs. And what is Trump doing? He is hawking luxury car brands of his biggest donor on the White House lawn. The same day, he is slashing the Department of Education in half, going after 180,000 teachers whose jobs depend on federal funding, 7.5 million special education teachers who get federal support and the 90% of kids in this country who attend our public schools, and that’s just the start. 

    Yesterday’s defunding bill is going to wreak havoc on working families, and once again, it’s women and girls who will pay the heaviest price. The domestic violence survivors; they’re voting to evict them. The overworked VA nurses; 84% of whom are women who are either fired or being forced to take on even heavier workloads. The patients watching Republicans defund Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer and maternal mortality research. The moms who are searching for affordable child care. Whether it’s born out of cruelty, cowardice or corruption, or all three, the GOP is hell bent on making families at home unsafe. 

    So, we recognize these are brutal and scary times. But here’s our message to the American people: House Democrats stand with you. We are fighting alongside you. We are not going to let House Republicans get away with this crime spree. Every day, leaders from our Caucus are holding the line, and especially, a little preview, the extraordinary women who have joined our ranks this Caucus, that I hope you will come join me at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow to meet our freshman women. But in the meantime, I will turn it over to another remarkable leader, our field general and talented Chair of the DCCC, Suzan DelBene. 

    DCCC CHAIR DELBENE: Good afternoon, everyone. Just a little over two months into their trifecta, House Republicans are well on their way to breaking the economy. Consumer confidence is evaporating. A new CNN poll today shows the majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. A record high stock market has lost all its gains since January, and prices continue to rise at the grocery store, the gas pump and the pharmacy counter. 

    Affordability was the number one issue for voters last election, but House Republicans have done nothing to lower prices. Promises were made. Promises are broken. Their tariffs will raise prices and create massive uncertainty for businesses, small and large. A small business owner in my district recently told me he’s already losing business. He’s not sure if he can be competitive price-wise going forward. Just the uncertainty alone of whether tariffs will be there or not has caused him to lose business. And what’s more, the stop and start and chaotic nature of these tariffs continues to be extremely harmful. It’s easy to lose business. It’s hard to get it back. And House Republicans seem fine with this. They dismiss the damage they’re causing as a little disturbance. But when a farmer can’t buy the fertilizer they need during planting season right now, or export their crops, that’s not a little disturbance. It’s incredibly harmful to their business. And Republicans promise to support our businesses, our farmers and our workers, but with these tariffs, they’re doing exactly the opposite. 

    House Democrats and the American people are going to hold Republicans accountable for their broken promises, and we’re already seeing across the country people standing up and speaking out against their dangerous agenda. The public is opposed to their cuts to Medicaid. They’re opposed to the mass layoffs of firefighters, of inspectors in charge of combating bird flu, of veterans who are supporting veterans at the Veterans Administration. House Republicans know how unpopular their agenda is, which is why vulnerable House Republicans have stopped holding in person town halls. They can try to hide all they want, but they can’t hide from voters forever. 

    The frustration and anger we’re seeing across the country should send a loud message to House Republicans. People are ready for a change, and they’re ready to help House Democrats take back the gavels. So, now I want to turn it over to our incredible Vice Chair from the great state of California, Ted Lieu

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Good afternoon. Chairman Aguilar and I are excited about this year’s Issues Conference. And let me start by thanking Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Clark and Chairman Aguilar for their strong leadership and unifying the Democratic Caucus against the Republican CR. That was a strong show of force yesterday by House Democrats.

    Donald Trump, last week, came to Congress and he lied to the American people. He promised a Golden Age. Instead, we’re entering a Trump Slump. We see that prices have increased, especially egg prices. We see the stock market is down, approximately 2,500 points since Trump took office. And consumer sentiment is down, and this is because of his chaotic policies such as indiscriminate tariffs, and then his weakness and indecisiveness and flip-flopping on those tariffs that is causing a lot of chaos in the markets. He’s also doing harmful things like cutting scientists and inspectors who work on bird flu. He’s cutting funding for scientists who are working on diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and cancer. And the American people are noticing. 

    In January, Democrats flipped a state Senate seat in Iowa that Trump had won by 21 points, and just this week, in another special election Iowa for a House Delegate seat, our candidate over performed by 24 points. 

    With our Field General Suzan DelBene, we’re going to flip the House next year, and I look forward to working with this entire Leadership team in doing so. It’s now my honor to introduce Joe Neguse who has done a fantastic job as Assistant Democratic Leader.

    ASSISTANT LEADER NEGUSE: Good afternoon. I thank you all for being here. Thank you to Chair Aguilar, Vice Chair Lieu, for convening us for the important conversations that will ensue over the next two days, and of course to Leader Jeffries, Whip Clark and Chairwoman DelBene for their incredible leadership over the course of these last several years.

    There’s a headline that I came across this morning that I think so well encapsulates the chaos and the dysfunction that we are living through in the precarious moment that we find ourselves in, from CBS News. The headline is this, “Lutnick says Trump’s policies are ‘worth it’, even if they lead to a recession.” The Lutnick, of course, that this article is referring to, is President Trump’s Commerce Secretary. Think about that for a second. That in his view, these reckless economic policies are worth it, even if they cause a recession. And it appears they will get their wish, as you heard Vice Chair Lieu, Chair Aguilar, Leader Jefferies, Whip Clark, Chairwoman DelBene describe the economic havoc that President Trump and his Administration have created over just the course of these last seven weeks. Stock market crashing. Job losses piling up. 401Ks vanishing. The prices for everyday goods going up across the board. Federal workers, folks at the Forest Service, wildland firefighters in my district back home in Colorado, purged from the federal government. Agencies being dismantled. All of this has real world consequences for the people that we are all so privileged to serve here in the United States Congress. 

    The time for the Trump Administration to abandon these reckless policies is now. They warrant a decisive, comprehensive response from House Democrats, which is precisely what we’ve done for the better part of the last seven weeks and we look forward to having more discussions on our response in the days ahead.

    And with that, I’ll turn it back to Chairman Aguilar. 

    Video of the full press conference can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Who Collects the Nation’s Mineral Statistics? Meet the National Mineral Information Center

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Technology has changed since the U.S. Geological Survey first began assessing U.S. mineral resources and analyzing mineral production and needs in 1879 – and issued its first statistical report on the U.S. mining industry in 1882.  Today, the USGS uses airborne hyperspectral surveys to understand U.S. mineral resources, an option not available to our second director, John Wesley Powell, who descended the Colorado River in wooden rafts.

    Yet, U.S. leaders, industry and the public still need world-class science to decide how to supply the minerals the nation needs.

    Today, the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Minerals Information Center in Reston, Virginia collects the official statistics on the domestic and global production, supply, demand and trade of the minerals the nation needs.

    This mission is carried out by deeply experienced geologists, metallurgists, economists, engineers and supply chain analysts who, each year, collect data on over 90 mineral commodities from the U.S. and its territories, in 180 countries, and across 235 manufacturing industries. 

    Their data is relied on by national security and defense logistics leaders within the U.S. government, as well as manufacturers, mining companies, and investors.  To share all this information, the National Minerals Information Center produces over 675 publications each year, equaling approximately two publications a day, including the annual Mineral Commodity Summaries which are released every year on January 31.

    These data are powerful, providing deep insights into how much and how many minerals the U.S. is producing, which countries it relies on for imports, and how mineral production and consumption is changing over time. When combined with the center’s nearly century-long history, these data become even more valuable. 

    “We do much more than collect and archive data; we serve as a link between the past and what’s to come,” said Elisa Alonso, assistant chief of National Minerals Information Center Minerals Intelligence section. “By studying the mineral economy’s patterns of the past, we can estimate how they will unfold in the future, and help alert our leaders to supply chain risks.” 

    The center’s leaders explained that the mineral economy is complex, comprised of moving parts all over the world. 

    “The minerals used to create a cell phone, for instance, may have been mined in one country, processed in another, combined with other metals, and manufactured in yet another country before being assembled into the final product in your hand,” said Braden Harker, director of the National Minerals Information Center. 

    According to Harker, the supply chains that deliver vehicles, appliances, technology, and military equipment are equally as complex. 

    Tackling these complexities requires mountains of data. Experts at NMIC use the Center’s wealth of data and expertise to understand how supply and demand of minerals is changing, and how hypothetical natural disasters or international crises could send ripple effects through the U.S. and the world. 

    For instance, the center’s experts have studied the impact that earthquakes could have on global copper supplies, since many major copper mines, smelters and refineries are located in areas geologically prone to earthquakes. One take-away: the potential lost revenue for copper mining from earthquake disruptions could be as high as $1.29 billion.

    “Both public and private sectors rely on NMIC to understand how minerals travel through the world and, crucially, which parts of essential supply chains could choke off the supply of minerals to the United States if disrupted,” Harker said.

    NMIC analyses also highlight how potential mineral shortages could impact specific economic sectors within the U.S. 

    Another study estimated the impact of a potential China export ban on gallium and germanium, two critical minerals used in technology and defense, finding a worst-case scenario of $3.4 billion in losses to the U.S. economy, borne largely by the U.S. semiconductor industry. These insights are helping prepare U.S. leaders and the private sector, since China subsequently imposed such a ban.

    As another example, NMIC data show that, while cobalt is a vital ingredient of lithium-ion batteries that power phones, laptops, cordless tools and gas turbines, it is also used in large quantities to manufacture equipment, airplanes and satellites. 

    A disruption to U.S. cobalt supply could disrupt the technology industry within the United States. And cobalt has a high supply risk because cobalt production is overwhelmingly dominated by the Democratic Republic of Congo, and cobalt refining is dominated by China.

    Scientists from NMIC advise the White House, Congress, and numerous other government organizations, including the intelligence agencies, the National Defense Stockpile, the Federal Reserve Board, Homeland Security, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, and State.  

    The value of this kind of information was highlighted in the Energy Act of 2020, which asked the USGS to accelerate and expand NMIC’s critical mineral supply chain forecasting and analysis capabilities. Since then, NMIC has added additional data to its Mineral Commodities Summaries, developed a new World Minerals Outlook that projects global production capacity for critical minerals for the next five years, and is developing new methods to assess the economic impacts of specific disruptions. 

    Teresa Kirschling, Acting USGS Associate Director for Energy and Mineral Resources, lauds the center as a high-quality and consistent source of transparent data essential to sound decision-making. 

    “A comprehensive understanding of our nation’s mineral supply chains is essential for safeguarding the nation’s economy and national security. With its unparalleled data collection, analysis, and deep expertise across diverse mineral-based sectors of the economy, and across the globe, NMIC is uniquely positioned to inform solutions to the pressing supply chain challenges now and into the future.

    The center’s long run of continuous minerals data shows that as technology and infrastructure evolve and trade relationships change, the types of minerals we require and how we source them will continue to change. The information and analysis provided by the USGS are essential for solving pressing supply chain challenges now and into the future.

    To learn more about the. National Minerals Information Center, click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over Michigan and Wisconsin

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The Michigan and Wisconsin flights are part of a national effort to map critical mineral resources needed to drive the U.S. economy and national security, searching below ground and in tailings from old mines.  As directed by the Energy Act of 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey has identified 50 critical minerals essential to the U.S. economy and national security, with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.  The USGS partners on this effort with the Michigan Geological Survey, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, and many other state geological surveys. 

    Flights will cover areas within Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft Counties in Michigan as well as Florence, Forest, Marinette, and Vilas County in Wisconsin.

    The flights will be based out of various Michigan airports.  Flights and landing areas could shift with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessary to minimize ferrying distances and avoid adverse flying conditions.

    The purpose of the airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey is to provide images of subsurface electrical resistivity that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology underpinning an area covering parts of the Penokean orogen and the Midcontinent Rift System in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula into Wisconsin. These flights are a part of a two-year airborne data collection project, expected to finish in 2025.  The survey is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and is designed to meet needs related to mineral resource assessments, regional geologic framework and mapping studies, as well as water resource investigations and surficial mapping studies.  The AEM survey is focused on characterizing several major mineral systems, including critical minerals associated with mafic magmatic, volcanogenic seafloor, and porphyry systems.  

    The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of near-surface geology from the surface to depths up to 1500 ft (roughly 500 meters) below the surface.  The 3D models and maps derived from this project are important for improving our understanding of critical mineral resource potential, water resources, groundwater pathways near legacy mining areas, parameters for infrastructure and land use planning. 

    The helicopter will fly along pre-planned fight paths relatively low to the ground at about 100 – 200 feet (30-60 meters) above the land surface. The ground clearance will be increased as needed and will comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Flight lines will be flown along lines of variable orientation and spacing with approximate typical spacings ranging from 5000 ft (1500 m) to 6.2 miles (10 km).

    Figure 1:  A low-flying helicopter towing a geophysical device collects scientific data on groundwater and geology. (Credit: SkyTEM Canada Inc.)

    The USGS has contracted with NV5 and SkyTEM to collect data.

    A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure small electromagnetic signals that can be used to map geologic features. 

    None of the instruments carried beneath or on the aircraft pose a health risk to people, animals, or plant life. No photography or video data will be collected. The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase, typically within one year of flight completion.  The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots that are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The survey company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only. Surveys do not occur over densely populated areas and the helicopter will not directly overfly buildings at low altitude. 

    The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, the Michigan Geological Survey, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, and other partners, including private companies, academics and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the Nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. This effort is known as the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, and it includes airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using LiDAR technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects. 

    To read more about this project and others, visit our newsroom.

    More information about the USGS Earth Mapping Resource Initiative (Earth MRI) can be found here. To learn more about how the USGS is investing the resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, visit our website. To learn more about USGS mineral-resource and commodity information, please visit our website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New York Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Severe Storms and Tornado

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New York of the April 14, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the tornado, hurricane, high winds, flash floods, excessive rain and hail beginning July 10, 2024. 

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Genesee, Erie, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca,  
    St. Lawrence, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates.    

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises. 

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster. 

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.” 

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and  terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

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

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 14, 2025. 

    ### 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Illinois Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Tatra Multi-Family Apartment Complex Fire

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – In response to an administrative disaster declaration issued March 13, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Illinois businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the Tatra Multi-Family Apartment Complex fire occurring on Jan. 25.  

    The disaster declaration covers Cook County, which is eligible for both Physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will; as well as Lake in Indiana.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.    

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.    

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.    

    SBA’s EIDL program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs impacted by financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Beginning Wednesday, March 19, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Cook County to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The DLOC hours of operation are listed below:

    Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) 
    Cook County

    Chicago Ridge Village Hall

    10455 S Ridgeland Avenue

    Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415

    Opening:  Wednesday, March 19, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

    Hours: Monday – Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

    Saturday – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Closed: Sunday  

    “SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) have consistently proven their value to business owners and homeowners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Homeowners and Business owners can visit the DLOC to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 12, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 15, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to New York Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Wallace Avenue Apartment Fire

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – In response to a request from Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 10, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an administrative disaster declaration and announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits, and residents in New York affected by the Five Alarm Apartment Building Fire occurring Jan. 10. 

    The disaster declaration covers the primary county of Bronx, which is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Nassau, New York, Queens and Westchester, as well as Bergan County in New Jersey. 

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.    

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.    

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises. 

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster. 

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster. 

    Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 12. The deadline to return economic injury applications is December 15. 

    ### 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Alaska Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by October Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low‑interest federal disaster loans to Alaska businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the severe storm and flooding occurring Oct. 20-23, 2024. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Feb. 27, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the Northwest Artic Borough in Alaska.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit organizations with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.25% for nonprofits and 2.81% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement.

    Beginning Monday, March 17, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application.

    Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Monday – Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
    FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
    (916) 735-1501

    Opens Monday, March 17 at 8:00 a.m.

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

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

    The deadline to return for physical damage applications is May 12. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 15.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Oregon Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by Summer Wildfires

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low‑interest federal disaster loans to Oregon businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the wildfires occurring July 10-Aug. 23, 2024. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Tina Kotek on Feb. 25, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers Wheeler County in Oregon.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25%for nonprofits and 2.688% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Beginning Monday, March 17, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application.

    Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Monday – Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
    (916) 735-1501

    Opens Monday, March 17 at 8:00 a.m.

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

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

    The deadline to return for physical damage applications is May 12. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 15.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Assistance Available for Bronx Apartment Fire

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced federal assistance is available to New Yorkers in Bronx County and the contiguous counties of New York, Westchester, Queens and Nassau impacted by a five-alarm apartment fire on Jan. 10. The fire occurred in a 98-unit apartment building located at 2910 Wallace Ave. in Allerton — a neighborhood in the East Bronx — and resulted in significant damage to all 98 units in the building. Homeowners, renters and businesses are now eligible to apply for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s low-interest loans to aid in their recovery from the effects of the fires that resulted in significant damage.

    “New Yorkers in the Bronx are still recovering from the tragic apartment fire in Allerton that displaced dozens of families earlier this year,” Governor Hochul said. “Families, homeowners and businesses can now rely on federal funding to help them rebuild and recover, because when disaster strikes, we work hard to ensure there are resources available for everyone to get back on their feet.”

    Homeowners, residents and businesses in the declared counties are now eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. SBA loans can be very helpful to eligible parties who need financial assistance to get on the road to recovery following weather-related disasters and other emergencies.

    This declaration provides low interest loans to repair or replace damaged property incurred as a result of the event for:

    • Businesses or private, non-profit organizations up to $2 million
    • Homeowners or renters up to $100,000 to help repair or replace personal property
    • Homeowners up to $500,000 to repair or restore their primary home to pre-disaster condition

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 12, and the deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 15.

    New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul and our federal partners for working diligently for the people of New York. This funding will go a long way to help residents and businesses recover from the devastating impacts that a fire can have.”

    Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said, “In January, a five-alarm fire in the Bronx significantly damaged nearly 100 apartment units. Homeowners, renters and business owners can now access U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans to make critical repairs and replace destroyed property. I strongly supported Governor Hochul’s request for these urgent federal loans to support people and businesses following the devastating fire.”

    New Yorkers can find additional information, download applications and apply online here. They may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected].

    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
    The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit NYSDHSES on Facebook, X — formerly known as Twitter — Instagram and LinkedIn, and visit dhses.ny.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul is a Guest on Telemundo 47

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on Telemundo 47 with Rosarina Bretón. The Governor spoke on Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, putting money back in the pockets of New Yorkers and her proposal for distraction-free schools.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: So, let’s talk about business here in the great State of New York, and we understand all the immigration challenges that we have right now. You received a visit yesterday in Albany from Tom Homan, and he’s saying that he wants more ICE here in the city and the state. So, my question is, how are you going to protect the sanctuary city from ICE?

    Governor Hochul: Well, he was very threatening when he arrived and what I want to remind everyone is that when it comes to someone who has committed a crime in their home country, committed a crime here or is on a terrorism watch list, we’ll help ICE remove individuals who could do harm to the residents, and the citizens, and the visitors and the undocumented who live here — I want to protect the entire community.

    That’s my number one job is to protect people. So, we’ll provide assistance like we did under the Biden administration. I mean, this is not a new policy to assist ICE in those cases. But, I have been very clear: You will not come here and divide families, separate mothers from children — as we saw in the last Trump administration — to separate people who’ve done nothing wrong.

    I mean, so many people came here, just like my immigrant grandparents — left great, great poverty. My grandfather left Ireland as a teenager; he became a migrant farm worker himself in South Dakota. It’s the only job he could find.

    This is the immigrant story, and people came here fleeing either great poverty, or economic circumstances or even political persecution. They come here and we embrace them because we actually need them. Our economy thrives because of the people who come here willing to work hard and support themselves and their families, and that’s how we’ll be stronger as a state. So, we’ll help in one area, but in other areas, you know, we have said we will not, and that’s just our policy.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: So, good immigrants could be in peace?

    Governor Hochul: I can’t stop them if they take a step beyond what we want them to do, but we will not cooperate with them. That is what sanctuary city means — that I will cooperate in certain circumstances. If you have a warrant for someone’s arrest, you know they’ve committed a crime, of course we’ll help you to protect our streets. But also, we’re not going to provide assistance in a situation where we just want to remove people because all they did was cross the border.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: Of course. And let’s talk about congestion pricing because a Siena Poll recently showed that a lot of New Yorkers are in favor. However, March 21 — the deadline that the Republican government gave — it’s approaching. Are you turning on or off the cameras?

    Governor Hochul: We’re keeping the cameras on. I have said that. And when the Trump administration sent us a very threatening letter about this — and President Trump said, “I’m killing congestion pricing. Long live the King,” I reacted very negatively to that. I did a press conference in the subway and said, “We do not live under a king. We haven’t for 250 years in this country.” So, we stood up, said, “Our cameras are staying on,” and we’re going to do everything we can to fight this in the courts.

    I believe we’ll be successful because it has had an incredible effect on people. Even those who opposed it first, those who are commuting into Manhattan, the Central Business District, are finding traffic is going faster. The businesses are seeing a lot more foot traffic, people stopping inside and more people are taking the subways. People are coming in from New Jersey, for example — they’re shaving off a lot of time in their morning commute. And the money will be used to build a Second Avenue Subway up in Harlem and help open up many more job opportunities for people to get to faster. And we’ll also connect infrastructure from Brooklyn to Queens through an expressway there as well — the Interborough Express, we call it.

    So, we have a lot of great things. We’re going to keep investing in this. I know that so many people rely on this to get to their jobs, and their schools, and their doctor’s appointments and to see family. We can’t let anything happen to the subway system. It is our lifeline. But also, we have to have the money to support it as well.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: And I feel this is an adjustment and it’s going to take time, but we’ve seen the improvement and that’s very important.

    Governor Hochul: Yes, we have.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: And Governor, let’s talk about money. Let’s talk about your Budget.

    I know that you have a lot of good plans for our families, specifically hardworking families. And we know there’s a credit that being debated right now in the Legislature in Albany. What do you expect to happen with that important money that you want to give back to the people?

    Governor Hochul: Here’s my issue: I’m very aware that New York families are struggling. I didn’t need an election to tell me that. I’ve known that for a long time. I’ve been fighting for affordability since I first became Governor three years ago. It is huge. People are paying for child care and utility bills and their rent, and just the cost of living is so high. Groceries cost so much. The cost of eggs keeps going up higher and higher — $11, $12 here in the City.

    So, families are really hurting and what I wanted to do was find a way through my Budget — that I unveiled a couple months ago to put more money back into people’s pockets — because I said, “Your family is my fight. I will fight for them.” What are we looking to do? If you have children under the age of four — before I became Governor, there were no tax credits for the parents at all — you got zero. I put it to $330. I said, “Let’s triple it to $1,000.” If you have a child under the age of four, you’ll get a $1,000 check rebate or rebate on your taxes. If you have a school age child — $500. What about a tax cut? Middle class tax cut, the largest tax rate cut in 70 years — I proposed that as well.

    Also, everybody knows inflation takes so much more money out of our pockets because everything costs more. So, I want to put it back in people’s pockets, right where it came from. We collected over $3 billion more in surplus sales tax revenue because the cost of everything was so much higher — little kids’ clothes and sneakers and backpacks. So, we’re going to give a rebate check for $500 to every single family.

    When I walk around the bodegas, and I walk in the stores, people — when I tell them this — they are so excited. This could help with their utility bills and the grocery bills for if even for only a month. So, I want to do that. But also, making sure that across the state — the State will cover the cost of school breakfast and lunches, and that puts about $1,600 back in a parent’s pocket per child as well.

    So, you add all this up — the inflation rebate, the tax cut, the savings from not having to cover the cost of lunches and everything else we’re doing — it adds up to about $5,000 back in the pockets of hardworking families with little kids. So, I want to get this done. The Legislature wants to do something else with the money for the inflation rebate — I disagree. I think we should do one shot this year and give it to everybody earning under $300,000. Let them know we’re paying attention, and I will fight for that. The Legislative process, the Budget process is just beginning and I know who I’m standing with — I’m standing with New York families.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: With your proposal for the free lunches, I posted a video on my social media — people were so happy about the idea. So, you can tell that it will be amazing for a lot of our families. Let’s talk about cellphones. A lot of legislatures — or some legislatures in Albany — they want to modify how you present the school ban cellphones in schools. What do you think about that?

    Governor Hochul: I want to fight to accomplish the full bell-to-bell to ban distraction in schools, and to create a distraction-free environment. No smart phones, no ear buds, no cell phones, and here’s why: The mental health of our children, especially middle school and high school, is really declining — and a lot of it comes from what I heard from young women.

    I’ve been in a roundtable in the Bronx with Latinas and girls asking, “What is going on in your lives?” And they said they’re under so much pressure; there’s bullying; they mock each other out and criticize their clothing and it makes them feel that they’re not invited to the parties where the cool kids are, and it’s taking them down to such a dark place. It’s really affecting their emotional wellbeing as well as their academic performance.

    So, we need to get our kids back — let them have a childhood again. I mean, people my age and even my older children’s age, they didn’t have to deal with this distraction. Teachers cannot teach anymore. They’re competing with the cellphone. They just want to say, “Can I have that child all day long? And I’ll make them the best they can be.” And then after school, kids can do whatever they want.

    But I will not water it down. I have to stand firm that we’re not going to just create this scenario where it’s in-and-out of the pockets all day long. It’s hard for the teachers. And I know a lot of parents stand with me on this. So, this is just one of the issues we have to take on in the legislature this year.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: And I’m so glad because we don’t want distractions. I’m a mom and I wish that my son would never see his cellphone on any school day. So, I’m very happy for that. We are going to talk about municipal politics because we know there’s a race coming up. There are 10 candidates and there’s a lot — you’ve been having a lot of pressure for Mayor Eric Adams to step down. You have the power to do so. I remember that you appointed — or a committee that would oversee him. What is Albany doing, because I know that you need an approval in order to have that all set.

    Governor Hochul: That’s the Legislature. Here’s what happens: There are many, many people running for office. Historically, the governors and the mayors in this state, in this city, have been in conflict — a lot of fighting — and I’ve never thought that that was good for the residents of New York City. I also represent the 8.3 million residents of New York City. These are my constituents, I live here at least half of the week. I walk the streets. I go everywhere and I’m proud to do that. But I think that the Mayor and the Governor should be working together, hand-in-hand.

    For example, when we talk about safety, I have done more than any Governor in the history of the state to help safety in the city. I’m, right now, using state dollars to pay for the overtime for the New York Police to be on our subways all night long — two police officers on every train. The subway crimes have gone down dramatically. The National Guard I put in the subways.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: Are you going to keep them?

    Governor Hochul: I’m going to keep them, yes. I want people to feel the sense of security when they get on the subway system, and we’re making great progress. And helping get people’s mental health problems off the subways. The subways should not be a rolling homeless shelter either.

    We have to focus on this. So, my point is, I want someone I can work with. Someone who will roll up their sleeves, understand my priorities are public safety, dealing with the mental health crisis, building more housing — that’s one of the reasons life is so expensive in the city because there’s not enough housing supply.

    If we built more housing, more apartments, more affordable homes — people could afford to live here more easily. So, I’ve had to fight to get that done as well. I need a partner. So I know it’s complicated for everyone to look at all these choices, but I need someone who commits to working with me.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: What is your message to voters when we’re seeing so many candidates, like Mr. Cuomo?

    Governor Hochul: Right, there’s many candidates to choose from. You know, certainly the incumbent Eric Adams is running for re-election. There’s a lot of candidates. We have a new entry, I know the Speaker just started. Speaker Adrienne Adams just joined the race. So, it’s a lot for people to process, but I think it’s a little bit early in the process. People still need to put out their agendas. See what they’re going to do for people, look through their past records, look at their life stories and it’s a lot to evaluate, but it’s really one of the most important decisions they’ll make this year.

    And I will work with whomever the voters of this great city decide should be my partner, if they’re willing to do that. And so, it’ll be over in a few months, but there’s a lot more information to come out over the next few months between now and the end of June.

    Rosarina Bretón, Telemundo 47: I appreciate so much that you took your time to sit down with the ethnic media today, and make your voice be heard with so many people that love you in our communities, and believe that you can protect them.

    Governor Hochul: It’s a privilege to be with you, and this is something that’s important to me.

    Ethnic media really is the voice of the community, so I pay close attention to the issues you raise, but also to have the opportunity to speak in my own voice to the community that I care so deeply about, that I really treasure, and I thank you. Muchas gracias.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Western District of Texas Exceeds 200 New Immigration Cases in 4 Days

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 215 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 10 through March 13.

    In Austin, several individuals were charged with illegal reentry after deportation, after being found in local area jails. Among those were Ricardo Hernandez-Hernandez, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions and had been convicted of indecency with a child sexual contact and failure to register as a sex offender; Andres Garcia-Saldana, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States on four occasions and had been convicted of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and driving while intoxicated three times—the third time being a felony conviction; Hernan Vasquez-Medina, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States three times before and had been convicted of making a terroristic threat and driving while intoxicated three times—like Garcia-Saldana, Vasquez-Medina’s third DWI was charged as a felony as well; and Jaime Ricardo Lopez-Rojas, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States a total eight times and had been convicted of illegal entry twice, illegal reentry after deportation four times, driving while intoxicated three times, and family violence assault causing bodily injury.

    In the Midland-Odessa area, two individuals with prior federal convictions were found in local area jails and were charged with illegal entry after deportation. Mexican national Saul Villalobos-Vasquez was allegedly removed from the United States once before and convicted in the Eastern District of Texas for unauthorized use of a social security number for which he had been sentenced to 12-months imprisonment in 2016.  Daniel Olivas-Nieto, also a Mexican national, had been allegedly removed from the United States and was previously convicted in the Western District of Texas for the illegal transportation of aliens for financial gain, for which he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: HTXMining Announces a Smarter Way to Earn Passive Income: Why Crypto Staking Outshines Cloud Mining

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTXMining announces its platform, aimed at redefining passive income in the cryptocurrency landscape by offering a more efficient and secure alternative to traditional cloud mining. Through its innovative crypto staking platform, HTXMining enables users to earn consistent rewards without the high operational costs and environmental concerns associated with cloud mining, leading to daily profit settlements and real-time earnings tracking. This method not only provides a sustainable income stream but also ensures that users retain full control over their assets, as funds remain securely within their wallets throughout the staking period. 

    In addition to its staking services, HTXMining offers liquidity mining options, allowing users to contribute to liquidity pools and earn additional rewards. The platform’s user-friendly interface caters to both beginners and seasoned investors, providing flexible staking durations and minimal transaction fees. With upcoming integrations of AI-driven staking optimization, DeFi tools, and multi-chain support, HTXMining continues to evolve, solidifying its position as a reliable and innovative choice for cryptocurrency investors seeking to maximize their passive income opportunities.

    Varying Potential Returns with HTXMining’s Liquidity Staking

    When using HTXmining, your funds will only exist in your wallet forever, and HTX does not have any access to user funds. Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced investor, HTXMining offers a range of staking crypto opportunities with daily profit settlements, users can also track their earnings in real-time and reinvest for greater potential returns. 

    In the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investments, HTXMining introduces an innovative daily income model that transforms your digital wallet into a personal vault, generating consistent returns while ensuring full control over your assets. By simply staking $100, users can earn approximately $1.5 daily, all without relinquishing custody to third-party platforms.

    This model operates on three core principles:

    • Security of Principal: Your funds remain securely within your wallet, appreciating in value without external intervention.
    • Flexible Deposits & Withdrawals: Access your assets at any time, with earnings accruing uninterrupted, providing both liquidity and profitability.
    • Transparent Earnings: Daily returns are visible, offering straightforward tracking of your investment growth.

    By integrating these features, HTXMining redefines passive income, offering a seamless blend of security and profitability for both novice and seasoned investors.

    Top Key Features of HTXMining 

    HTXMining is redefining passive income through its innovative staking model, allowing users to earn daily rewards while maintaining full control over their assets. By simply staking $100, investors can generate $1.5 in daily income without transferring funds to third-party platforms. This approach ensures principal security, flexible access to funds, and transparent earnings, effectively transforming wallets into personal vaults that consistently increase in value.

    This model offers a seamless blend of high returns and security, eliminating the traditional trade-off between the two. Users can access their funds at any time without interrupting the income stream, providing unparalleled financial flexibility. This strategy positions HTXMining as a leader in the crypto staking industry, offering a reliable and efficient method for investors to grow their digital assets.

    Locked Crypto Staking Plans:
    Projected returns from staking may vary depending on the status of the market: 

    About HTXMining 

    HTXMining is distinguished not only by its substantial payouts but also by its robust security measures, reliable platform functionality, and transparent business operations. The platform provides investors with various opportunities to benefit from the Bitcoin market and is designed to cater to users across all levels of expertise.

    Maximize your crypto earnings and Join HTXMining today!

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Statement on IndusInd Bank Limited

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    There has been some speculation relating to IndusInd Bank Ltd. in certain quarters, perhaps arising from recent events related to the bank.

    The Reserve Bank would like to state that the bank is well-capitalised and the financial position of the bank remains satisfactory. As per auditor-reviewed financial results of the bank for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the bank has maintained a comfortable Capital Adequacy Ratio of 16.46 per cent and Provision Coverage Ratio of 70.20 per cent. The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) of the bank was at 113 per cent as on March 9, 2025, as against regulatory requirement of 100 per cent.

    Basis the disclosures available in public domain, the bank has already engaged an external audit team to comprehensively review their current systems, and to assess and account for the actual impact expeditiously. The Board and the management have been directed by Reserve Bank to have the remedial action completed fully during the current quarter viz., Q4FY25, after making required disclosures to all stakeholders. As such, there is no need for depositors to react to the speculative reports at this juncture. The bank’s financial health remains stable and is being monitored closely by Reserve Bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2380

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Additional Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Purpose.  In Executive Order 14148 of January 20, 2025 (Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions), I rescinded 78 Presidential orders and memoranda issued by then-President Biden.  I also directed the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to compile lists of additional orders, memoranda, and proclamations issued by the prior administration that should be rescinded.  I have determined that the following additional rescissions are necessary to advance the policy of the United States to restore common sense to the Federal Government and unleash the potential of American citizens. 
    Sec. 2.  Revocation of Orders and Actions.  The following executive actions are hereby revoked:(a)  Executive Order 13994 of January 21, 2021 (Ensuring a Data-Driven Response to COVID-19 and Future High-Consequence Public Health Threats).(b)  National Security Memorandum 3 of February 4, 2021 (Revitalizing America’s Foreign Policy and National Security Workforce, Institutions, and Partnerships).(c)  Presidential Memorandum of February 4, 2021 (Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World).(d)  Executive Order 14026 of April 27, 2021 (Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors).(e)  Presidential Memorandum of March 31, 2022 (Finding of a Severe Energy Supply Interruption).(f)  Presidential Determination 2022-13 of May 18, 2022 (Delegating Authority Under the Defense Production Act to Ensure an Adequate Supply of Infant Formula).(g)  Presidential Determination 2022-15 of June 6, 2022 (Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Solar Photovoltaic Modules and Module Components).(h)  Presidential Determination 2022-16 of June 6, 2022 (Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Insulation).(i)  Presidential Determination 2022-17 of June 6, 2022 (Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Electrolyzers, Fuel Cells, and Platinum Group Metals).(j)  Presidential Determination 2022-18 of June 6, 2022 (Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Electric Heat Pumps).(k)  Executive Order 14081 of September 12, 2022 (Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy).(l)  Presidential Memorandum of January 17, 2023 (Delegation of Authority Under Section 6501(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022).(m)  National Security Memorandum 18 of February 23, 2023 (United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy).(n)  Presidential Memorandum of February 27, 2023 (Presidential Waiver of Statutory Requirements Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Department of Defense Supply Chains Resilience).(o)  Presidential Memorandum of November 16, 2023 (Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally).(p)  Executive Order 14112 of December 6, 2023 (Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination).(q)  Executive Order 14119 of March 6, 2024 (Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums).(r)  Executive Order 14126 of September 6, 2024 (Investing in America and Investing in American Workers).
    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,    March 14, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unlocking renewables opportunities

    Source: Scottish Government

    £3.2 million to realise high-value supply chain investment.

    A public-private agreement has been reached to help expand operations and attract new investment at the Port of Montrose.

    A Scottish Enterprise grant of £3.2 million will support a £7.2 million project to acquire and develop land just under two miles from the port.

    The new strategically-important site, Montrose Port Industrial Park, will offer both existing and new companies greater flexibility to grow and adapt alongside Scotland’s thriving renewables sector.

    The Scottish Enterprise investment is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest up to £500 million over five years to develop the offshore wind supply chain and leverage an additional £1.5 billion of private investment.

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

    “Scotland’s offshore wind sector is already creating significant opportunities, delivering jobs and attracting major investment across the country. 

    “The Scottish Government has made it clear that Scotland is open for business and we are working closely with Scottish Enterprise and public sector partners to maximise investment and drive growth in the sector.

    “The Port of Montrose is a key asset in supporting Scotland’s offshore wind industry. This investment is the latest in a series of strategic commitments we have made to unlock new opportunities and secure Scotland’s future as a renewables powerhouse.

    Scottish Enterprise CEO Adrian Gillespie said:

    “The expansion of Montrose Port is hugely important to providing new infrastructure and space to support the continued growth of the offshore wind sector.

    “Montrose Port Authority has exciting plans for the future and we are pleased to back that kind of ambition which will attract further investment into Scotland’s economy.”

    CEO of Montrose Port Authority Tom Hutchison said:

    “This investment marks a pivotal moment for Montrose Port, further establishing our role as a key hub in Scotland’s renewable energy sector. By expanding capacity and attracting new investment, we are creating valuable opportunities for business growth, job creation and long-term economic prosperity – both locally and across Scotland.

    “We are delighted that Scottish Enterprise recognises the potential of this project and supports our vision for sustainable growth. This development reinforces Montrose’s position at the forefront of Scotland’s energy transition, ensuring we continue to drive innovation and play a vital role in the offshore wind sector for years to come.”

    Background

    Recent investments made as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment of up to £500 million include:

    Scottish Ministers will host a Global Offshore Wind Investment Forum on Monday 17th March 2025 as part of a Green Industrial Strategy commitment to raise the profile of Scotland as a destination for capital investment.

    Montrose Port Authority (MPA), the world’s largest chain and anchor port, is a key hub for transport, logistics and energy on Scotland’s North East Coast. As a trust port, MPA drives sustainability, supports economic growth and plays a vital role in Scotland’s energy transition.

    A leading hub for renewable energy, MPA has become a major Operations & Maintenance (O&M) base for offshore wind. The port is home to the O&M base for Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen, and will be the base for the forthcoming Inch Cape wind project which will begin construction later this year.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Dramatic growth of NZ’s Māori economy highlights new report

    By Emma Andrews, RNZ Henare te Ua Māori journalism intern

    Māori contributions to the Aotearoa New Zealand economy have far surpassed the projected goal of “$100 billion by 2030”, a new report has revealed.

    The report conducted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) and Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ōhanga Māori 2023, shows Māori entities have grown from contributing $17 billion to New Zealand’s GDP in 2018 to $32 billion in 2023, turning a 6.5 percent contribution to GDP into 8.9 percent.

    The Māori asset base has grown from $69 billion in 2018 to $126 billion in 2023 — an increase of 83 percent.

    Of that sum, there is $66 billion in assets for Māori businesses and employers, $19 billion in assets for self-employed Māori and $41 billion in assets for Māori trusts, incorporations, and other Māori collectives including post settlement entities.

    In 2018, $4.2 billion of New Zealand’s economy came from agriculture, forestry, and fishing which made it the main contributor.

    Now, administrative, support, and professional services have taken the lead contributing $5.1 billion in 2023.

    However, Māori collectives own around half of all of New Zealand’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing assets and remain the highest asset-rich sector.

    Focused on need
    Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira manages political and public interests on behalf of Ngāti Toa, including political interests, treaty claims, fisheries, health and social services, and environmental kaitiakitanga.

    Tumu Whakarae chief executive Helmut Modlik said they were not focused on making money, but on “those who need it most”.

    Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira tumu whakarae chief executive Helmut Karewa Modlik . . . “We focus on long-term benefits rather than short-term gains.” Image: Alicia Scott/RNZ

    Ngāti Toa invested in water infrastructure and environmental projects, with a drive to replenish the whenua and improve community health. Like many iwi, they also invest in enterprises that deliver essential services such as health, housing and education.

    “We focus on long-term benefits rather than short-term gains, ensuring that our investments contribute to the sustainable development of our community,” Modlik said.

    Between the covid-19 lockdown and 2023, the iwi grew their assets from $220 million to $850 million and increased their staff from 120 to over 600.

    Pou Ōhanga (chief economic development and investment officer) Boyd Scirkovich said they took a “people first” approach to decision making.

    “We focused on building local capacity and ensuring that our people had the resources and support they needed to navigate the challenges of the pandemic.”

    The kinds of jobs Māori are working are also changing.

    Māori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs with 46 percent in high-skilled jobs, 14 percent in skilled jobs, and 40 percent in low-skilled jobs.

    That is compared to 2018 when 37 percent of Māori were in high-skilled jobs and 51 percent in low-skilled jobs.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – NRRP and other EU instruments supporting the construction of student halls of residence – E-000161/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) envisages the investment of EUR 516million[1] in loans for the construction or renovation of existing residences for higher education students, notably in areas where housing pressure is most acute.

    It plans to make available 18 000 new and renovated higher education students’ accommodation places at affordable prices (11 699 new beds and 6 444 renovated existing beds) by 2026 in the frame of the national plan for housing in higher education 2022-2026 (PNAES)[2]. The PNAES website provides detailed information of the financed projects.

    Currently, there are around 15 000 students’ beds in public residences. According to the 2022-2026 PNAES, it is expected that the 11 699 new beds will represent a 78% increase in capacity by 2026. The public network of students’ accommodations will then integrate the total of 26 772 beds available at affordable prices.

    As mentioned above, investments for student housing under the Portuguese RRP are provided through loan support to the Member State, and therefore no grants are earmarked for this purpose.

    • [1] After the revision of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, in September 2023 (incorporating additional loan support), budget has been increased to EUR 516 million from 447 million.
    • [2] https://pnaes.pt/
    Last updated: 14 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Measures to support fire response, particularly in southern Member States – E-000960/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000960/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Geadis Geadi (ECR)

    Every summer, European Union countries are faced with devastating fires, which endanger forests, citizens and biodiversity. The consequences of such phenomena are irreversible and directly and indirectly affect the economy and quality of life of every country affected by them. The combination of high temperatures and drought raises the level of risk, making immediate and effective intervention by EU mechanisms and services imperative wherever and whenever needed.

    Accordingly:

    • 1.What specific measures has the Commission put in place to improve and strengthen the Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM), so that all the services involved are at high levels of operational readiness?
    • 2.What measures has the Commission put in place to improve coordination between Member States to ensure the delivery of aid, particularly to the southern Member States?

    Submitted: 6.3.2025

    Last updated: 14 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Preventing harm to European businesses with regard to the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – E-000989/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000989/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sebastian Kruis (PfE)

    The implementation of the DMA presents significant challenges for Europe’s digital ecosystem, with potential repercussions for the well-being of all stakeholders, including users, advertisers and the broader economy. Rather than enhancing the competitiveness of European businesses, the DMA introduces the risk of increasing advertising costs, which could disproportionally impact small and meduim-sized enterprises that rely on digital advertising to reach their customers. The importance of digital advertising in the European economy is well-supported by data. This model generates – via Meta’s ad platform alone – EUR 107 billion annually for European businesses, with a return of EUR 3.79 for every euro invested (according to Meta). Additionally, a study published on 11 May 2022 confirmed that 80 % of campaigns generate profits, highlighting its key role in business competitiveness in Europe (according to Kantar Group).

    • 1.Does the Commission not consider that increasing restrictions and costs for ‘gatekeeper platforms’ will lead to higher advertising costs for European businesses relying on these platforms, ultimately affecting their competitiveness?
    • 2.Subscription for No Ads models are well-established in the market across different sectors and endorsed by the Court of Justice of the EU. Does the Commission agree that these models are fit to comply with the requirements of the DMA, while preventing excessive harm to European businesses, as well as avoiding potential repercussions for trade with the US?

    Submitted: 6.3.2025

    Last updated: 14 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement: Premier Danielle Smith calls for federal election

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: WEEK EIGHT WINS: A Testament to American Greatness Under President Trump

    Source: The White House

    The past week was marked by another series of triumphs that underscore the commitment of President Donald J. Trump and his administration to making America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.

    Here is a non-comprehensive list of wins in week eight:

    • President Trump’s economic agenda came into focus as Americans saw needed economic relief following years of Bidenflation.
      • Consumer inflation “eased more than expected” in February, with core inflation at its lowest level in nearly four years — driven by a decline in airfare prices as Americans prepare for Spring Break.
      • Wholesale inflation came in much lower than expected in February.
      • Mortgage rates dropped to their lowest levels since December, while home purchase applications are at their highest level since January.
      • The price of a dozen eggs is down 36.6% since President Trump’s inauguration.
      • The average price for regular gas has fallen below $3/gallon in 31 states — the third straight week of decline — with the price of oil down nearly 15% since President Trump took office.
    • President Trump and his administration continued their remarkable progress in securing the border following the news that illegal crossings have plummeted to the lowest levels ever recorded.
      • In President Trump’s first 50 days, ICE arrested 32,809 illegal immigrants — nearly 75% of whom were accused or convicted criminals — virtually the same number of arrests over the entirety of Biden’s final year in office.
      • Just 77 “gotaways” were recorded in the past three weeks — a 95% decrease from the average daily number of “gotaways” under Biden in 2023.
      • Migration to the U.S. through Panama’s Darien Gap has dropped by 99% as would-be illegal border crossers turn around.
    • President Trump’s Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum took effect as the Trump Administration levels the playing field for American workers.
      • Steel Manufacturers Association: “As the revised steel tariff goes into effect today, President Trump is boldly declaring that America will no longer be a dumping ground for cheap, subsidized foreign steel … By closing loopholes in the tariff that have been exploited for years, President Trump will again supercharge a steel industry that stands ready to rebuild America.”
      • Five major organizations representing the steel industry issued a statement lauding the tariffs.
    • President Trump’s tariffs continued driving manufacturing back to the U.S.
      • Cra-Z-Art — the biggest toymaker in the country — is expanding its domestic manufacturing by 50%.
        • “We are moving a large percentage of what we have in China to here, duplicating some machinery and investing in high speed automation equipment,” said Chairman Lawrence Rosen. “When Trump announced the higher tariffs on China, it’s been full steam ahead.”
      • GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in its U.S.-based manufacturing operation, which will create 5,000 new jobs.
      • Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
      • Angel Aligner, a global orthodontic manufacturer, announced it will build its first U.S.-based production facility in Wisconsin.
      • Pegatron Corp., a Taiwan-based artificial intelligence server maker, announced it will build its first U.S.-based facility and increase its U.S. investment.
      • Merck opened its $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility as it plans to invest $8 billion in the U.S. over the next several years.
      • Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
      • Saint Gobain Ceramics announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
      • LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
    • President Trump forced Ontario, Canada, Premier Doug Ford to back down from his threat to implement 25% electricity tariffs on American consumers.
    • The Department of Homeland Security unveiled the CBP Home App, which repurposes the Biden-era CBP One App to give illegal immigrants the option of self-deporting.
    • The Trump Administration stripped the first visa of a foreign student linked to Hamas-supporting “disruptions” on a college campus.
    • The Environmental Protection Agency launched the “biggest day of deregulation in American history,” which included ending the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate, stopping the Biden Administration’s assault on power plants, and eliminating costly emissions standards.
    • The EPA canceled more than 400 “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “environmental justice” grants, totaling $1.7 billion.
    • The Department of Education opened investigations into 45 universities under Title VI for alleged impermissible use of race-exclusionary preferences, race-based scholarships, and/or race-based segregation.
    • The Trump Administration announced Ukraine accepted an offer to enter into immediate negotiations for a ceasefire and ultimate end to the brutal war.
    • The Trump Administration secured an agreement by Israel and Lebanon to engage in land border negotiations.
    • Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum officially fulfilled President Trump’s promise to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge — honoring the memory of Jocelyn Nungaray, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short by an illegal immigrant.
    • The Department of the Interior announced the approval of a federal mining plan modification to extend the operational life of Montana’s Spring Creek Mine by 16 years — enabling the production of nearly 40 million tons of coal and supporting hundreds of full-time jobs.
    • The Department of Energy signed the third major liquefied natural gas export permit approval since President Trump reversed the Biden-era ban, allowing the Delfin LNG project — which was delayed by the Biden Administration — to move forward.
    • The Department of Justice’s new interagency task force arrested 214 criminals in its first two weeks, including violent MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gang members.
    • The Department of Veterans Affairs opened another new clinic — in addition to the three new clinics opened over the past several weeks — to serve thousands of additional veterans.
    • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a department-wide review of the U.S. military’s physical and grooming guidelines to ensure the force is meeting the highest possible standard.
    • The Department of Defense terminated woke climate change programs and initiatives that were not in line with the department’s core warfighting mission.
    • Army Chief of Staff General George ordered a review of all general officer memorandums of reprimand that were issued to soldiers who refused to comply with the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccine mandate.
    • The Department of Transportation rescinded memos issued by the Biden administration that injected social justice, radical environmental agendas into infrastructure funding decisions.
    • The Department of the Treasury sanctioned Iran’s oil minister and shadow fleet operators and targeted Houthi terrorists involved in smuggling and procuring weapons.
    • The Department of Agriculture continued its push to root out fraud, waste, and abuse — including terminating a grant that supports “queer and trans farmers and urban consumers.”
    • The Department of Health and Human Services ended a loophole that allowed ingredient manufacturers to utilize chemicals with unknown safety data in food.
    • The Federal Communications Commission launched its sweeping “In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete” deregulation initiative to alleviate the unnecessary, burdensome regulatory assault on Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investor Alert: Suspected Crypto Scam Uses Premier Moe’s Image and Fake News Article to Target Saskatchewan People

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 14, 2025

    The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) is warning Saskatchewan people of an impersonation scam on social media using fake news articles claiming that Premier Scott Moe is endorsing the cryptocurrency trading platforms CanCap and BitCan.                                                                                                                                                                                   

    CanCap and BitCan are not registered with the FCAA to trade or sell securities or derivatives in Saskatchewan. The FCAA cautions investors and consumers not to send money to companies that are not registered in Saskatchewan, as they may not be legitimate businesses. 

    Note that this platform should not be confused with CanCap Group, a privately-owned Canadian financial services company.

    If you have invested with CanCap or BitCan, or anyone claiming to be acting on their behalf, contact the FCAA’s Securities Division at 306-787-5936.

    In Saskatchewan, individuals or companies need to be registered with the FCAA to trade or sell securities or derivatives. The registration provisions of The Securities Act, 1988, and accompanying regulations are intended to ensure that only honest and knowledgeable people are registered to sell securities and derivatives and that their businesses are financially stable.

    Tips to protect yourself:

    • Always verify that the person or company is registered in Saskatchewan to sell or advise about securities or derivatives. To check registration, visit The Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Registration Search at aretheyregistered.ca.
    • Know exactly what you are investing in. Make sure you understand how the investment, product, or service works.
    • Get a second opinion and seek professional advice about the investment.
    • Do not allow unknown or unverified individuals to remotely access your computer.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Roscongress Foundation representatives told students how to become volunteers at major international forums and receive bonuses

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Marina Malyutina speaking. On the right (standing) is Alexandra Detkovskaya

    The Roscongress Foundation is a major organizer of all-Russian and international congress, exhibition, business, public, youth, sporting and cultural events, created in accordance with the decision of the President of the Russian Federation. Every year, the Roscongress Foundation recruits volunteers from among students of leading universities in St. Petersburg, including our university, to work at international forums. It was for this purpose that a meeting of Roscongress representatives with students was held at SPbGASU.

    Welcoming those gathered, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy Marina Malyutina explained that our university has planned a series of meetings within the framework of the volunteer movement, where they will also talk about measures to support the volunteers themselves.

    “We intend to make the volunteer movement at our university strong. Firstly, today many people need help. Secondly, by helping others, you can better express yourself and reveal your personal qualities, including those you did not even know about. Thirdly, this is a fashionable and youth trend, and being in it means being in a circle of like-minded people and being aware of the most exciting events in the country and the world. Fourthly, support measures and motivation tools are being developed for volunteers at the state level. At our university, we want to recreate a volunteer club taking into account modern realities and introduce a system for monitoring volunteer activities with further support. Our university is already registered on the largest social platform in Russia, Dobro.rf, where volunteers can find opportunities to help, and organizers can find people willing to help. We will actively cooperate on it. In addition, we plan to develop a system for awarding points that will influence the increase of the state academic scholarship for students of the budget form of education who have grades of “good” and “excellent”. The number of points will be awarded depending on the level of the event in which the volunteer participated and the degree of his/her participation,” Marina Malyutina said.

    Aleksandra Detkovskaya, a representative of the Roscongress Foundation’s Volunteer and Temporary Personnel Headquarters, clarified that SPbGASU students actively participate in international forums every year and have proven themselves well.

    “This year, we expect up to one hundred SPbGASU students to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Based on the results of their work at SPIEF, the volunteers who are among the best will be able to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok as part of a delegation, whose participants will be provided with travel, accommodation and meals. We also invite students to take part in the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum and the Nevsky International Ecological Congress, which will be held in St. Petersburg in May,” said Alexandra Detkovskaya.

    The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held from June 18 to 21, 2025. Those wishing to become volunteers at this event must register on the congress.ru website by March 31 and submit an application for participation in their personal account. Volunteer training is scheduled for the period from April 7 to 16, with exams taking place from April 22 to 26. Trainings and other preparatory events will be held in June.

    Irina Peretokin, a second-year student at the construction faculty of SPbGASU, joined the volunteer movement immediately after entering the university and took part in many university events and the all-Russian youth festival “Student Spring”. And when she learned about the recruitment of volunteers for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last year, she immediately applied.

    “Participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum seemed like an interesting volunteer experience and a good opportunity to expand connections with like-minded people. Because there are many experienced volunteers at events of this level. In addition, I wanted to improve my personal qualities: stress resistance, communication skills, composure, responsibility, punctuality. The forum really provided an excellent opportunity for personal development. Working according to a certain regulation not only disciplines, but also teaches how to act and communicate competently in any situation, including in a foreign language. This is also an opportunity to improve my business English skills in the field of economics,” explained Irina Peretokin.

    Last year, the student got her first experience working at the forum in the “Umbrella Provision” block: the weather was rainy, umbrellas were needed by many, and they were issued only to certain categories. Irina coped with the task, avoiding conflict situations. She admits that this turned out to be a good training in stress resistance, experience in multitasking and practicing communication skills. “This year, I plan to prepare for the exams even better in order to gain experience in other blocks. I want to get into navigation to coordinate guests,” Irina Peretokin summed up.

    Deputy Head of the Youth Policy Department of SPbGASU Ekaterina Kovalenko added that participation in international forums is also a great opportunity to personally see the country’s top officials and large companies, successful people known in various fields, and receive valuable gifts from the organizers.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –