NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CBA Emergency Assistance for Tropical Cyclone Zelia affected areas in WA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    Commonwealth Bank is providing Emergency Assistance to Tropical Cyclone Zelia affected areas across the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

    Commonwealth Bank is providing Emergency Assistance to customers and businesses in areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Zelia in WA.

    Retail Banking Services Group Executive, Angus Sullivan, said: “We are thinking of everyone affected by Tropical Cyclone Zelia across the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We are making a range of measures available, tailored to the needs of our customers.”

    CBA understands each customer will have different needs and encourages those affected to discuss their individual circumstances by either contacting the bank in the CommBank app, phoning 1800 314 695 or visiting their nearest Commonwealth Bank branch, if safe to do so. Business customers can also call 1800 314 695 or speak with their dedicated CommBank relationship manager.

    Special arrangements are in place to provide support to Commonwealth Bank customers should they need it, and the CBA team is ready to assist them with any financial concerns or enquiries.

    For more information on the support we’re providing to impacted communities, visit: commbank.com.au/support/natural-disasters

    CBA Emergency Assistance includes a range of options, including:

    Customised payment arrangements for home loans, credit card, personal loan and some business loans.
    Waiving fees and charges.
    Temporary overdrafts, additional loans or emergency credit limit increases (subject to credit approval).
    Waiving fees and notice periods for early access to Term Deposits.
    Emergency accommodation may be available for customers who have taken out Home Insurance provided by Hollard, distributed by CommBank, subject to making a claim and policy terms and conditions.
    Helping direct claims enquiries for customers seeking support through their Home Insurance provided by Hollard, distributed by CommBank.
    Loan restructuring for business customers with existing loans.
    Waiving fees for temporary and damaged merchant EFTPOS terminals, as well as support with merchant terminal rental fees.

    To access this support please either contact us via the CommBank app, on 1800 314 695 or visit us in branch, if it is safe to do so. Further information about our Emergency Assistance is available online at: commbank.com.au/emergencyassistance

    For emergency help call the State Emergency Service on 132 500. Alternatively, visit WA State Emergency Services. In a life-threatening emergency call 000 (triple zero). (ref. https://wases.com.au/ )

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Honda, Nissan call off merger talks amid disagreements

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo taken on Dec. 23, 2024 shows a Honda dealer in Tokyo, Japan. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. on Thursday announced the decision to terminate discussions on a potential merger, bringing an end to the restructuring attempt that could have created one of the world’s largest automotive group.

    Both companies held board meetings on Thursday, where they agreed to withdraw the basic agreement signed in December 2024 and officially end merger discussions.

    In the rapidly changing market environment in the age of electrification, prioritizing decision-making speed and the execution of management measures would make it more appropriate to forgo the merger at this time, Nissan said in a statement on its website.

    Despite the end of merger talks, the companies will continue to collaborate within the framework of the strategic partnership memorandum, the two companies said in separate statements.

    This photo taken on Dec. 23, 2024 shows a Nissan dealer in Tokyo, Japan. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The two automakers initially focused on forming a holding company that would oversee both brands, but negotiations stalled over the shareholding structure as tensions escalated when Honda proposed making Nissan its subsidiary, an idea Nissan strongly opposed.

    According to local media, Honda has been pushing Nissan to accelerate its restructuring efforts. In November 2024, Nissan announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs worldwide and reduce its global production capacity by 20 percent after reporting a more than 90 percent drop in net profit for the April-September period.

    The integration, if materialized, was expected to enhance development capabilities for electric vehicles (EVs) and software while reducing costs through cooperation. However, with the negotiations terminated, both companies must now reassess their strategic direction.

    On Thursday, Nissan revised its financial outlook for the fiscal year, estimating a net loss of 80 billion yen (about 520 million U.S. dollars). The company cited rising costs for restructuring its struggling U.S. operations, along with expenses related to workforce reductions.

    Revenue projections were also lowered, while operating income, which indicates profit from core business, is expected to be 120 billion yen, 30 billion yen less than the previous forecast.

    At a press conference, Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida acknowledged the challenges of continuing as an independent entity but ultimately believed that a holding company structure, rather than full acquisition, would have been the best way for Nissan to compete globally.

    He also signaled Nissan’s intention to seek partnerships in various fields to ensure future sustainability.

    Honda’s CEO Toshihiro Mibe expressed deep regret that both companies could not reach a consensus and take a step forward toward the merger.

    However, through these discussions, Honda and Nissan recognized the potential synergy effects of collaboration, he noted. Honda stated that they would leverage this understanding in their ongoing strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, which was announced in August last year.

    The focus moving forward will be on intelligent and electrified mobility solutions, with plans to put these ideas into practice, Honda stressed.

    Honda said Thursday that it booked a net profit of 805.26 billion yen in the nine months through December, down 7.4 percent from the previous year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 13th, 2025 N.M. Delegation Demands Trump Stop Unlawful Mass Firings of Probationary Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, Stansbury, Vasquez: “Large-scale firings of probationary employees would ripple through our communities, reducing consumer spending, straining local businesses, and creating unnecessary economic instability”

    “Federal agencies must be staffed by qualified professionals, not political loyalists”

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are demanding that President Trump immediately halt his unlawful mass firings of federal employees on probationary status.

    Nearly all federal employees are routinely in a probationary period for the first one or two years of service and more than 200,000 of them are on probationary status across the federal government. In New Mexico, there are approximately 2,200 federal employees in their probationary period – including individuals who serve in critical roles across key agencies, including the Veterans Health Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others. 

    “Abruptly terminating these employees without due process would not only undermine the delivery of essential government services but would also have widespread economic consequences for our state. Federal employment is a major contributor to New Mexico’s economy, supporting thousands of families and generating significant local revenue. Large-scale firings of probationary employees would ripple through our communities, reducing consumer spending, straining local businesses, and creating unnecessary economic instability,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to President Trump.

    The delegation emphasized how these firings could endanger the safety of New Mexicans, “Recent reports highlight the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s extensive training and reliance on probationary employees, with new agents and support staff actively investigating crimes nationwide. Dismissing these employees could have dire consequences on national security and public safety. Such firings are sure to weaken national security by removing personnel involved in critical investigations. The loss of these agents would leave vital work unfinished and could compromise public safety both in the present and for years to come.”

    Additionally, the delegation highlighted that probationary employees are subject to established federal workforce protections, underscoring the unlawfulness of terminating employees for reasons other than performance or conduct issues, “Concerns have already been raised about the legality of these terminations, noting that mass layoffs without individualized assessments violate existing federal workforce statutes. Federal law permits the termination of probationary employees based on performance or conduct. It does not allow for large-scale firings without individualized assessments or adherence to Reduction in Force procedures. Additionally, it explicitly prohibits dismissing probationary employees for partisan political reasons. Federal agencies must be staffed by qualified professionals, not political loyalists.”

    The lawmakers demanded, “We urge your Administration to halt any plans for mass firings of probationary employees in New Mexico and across the country.”

    The text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear President Trump,

    We write to express serious concerns about your Administration’s efforts to target federal employees, particularly those on probationary status.  Probationary employees are subject to established federal workforce protections, including adherence to Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures (5 C.F.R. § 351.201(a)(1)).  Any attempt to circumvent legal protections by imposing mass terminations would be unprecedented, disruptive, and illegal.

    Nationally, there are more than 2.4 million federal workers. Nearly all federal employees are routinely in a probationary period for the first one or two years of service and more than 200,000 of them are on probationary status across the federal government.  In New Mexico, there are approximately 2,200 federal employees in their probationary period – including individuals who serve in critical roles across key agencies, including the Veterans Health Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.

    Abruptly terminating these employees without due process would not only undermine the delivery of essential government services but would also have widespread economic consequences for our state. Federal employment is a major contributor to New Mexico’s economy, supporting thousands of families and generating significant local revenue. Large-scale firings of probationary employees would ripple through our communities, reducing consumer spending, straining local businesses, and creating unnecessary economic instability.

    Immediately terminating probationary employees also risks long-term harm to the federal workforce. Many of these probationary employees represent the next generation of skilled public servants – 27% are under the age of 30 – and they report the highest levels of job engagement across the federal workforce. Signaling that federal employment is unstable and subject to arbitrary dismissal will undermine recruitment and retention efforts, making it harder for agencies to attract and keep the skilled professionals essential to their missions (5 C.F.R. § 351.501).

    Concerns have already been raised about the legality of these terminations, noting that mass layoffs without individualized assessments violate existing federal workforce statutes. Federal law permits the termination of probationary employees based on performance or conduct. It does not allow for large-scale firings without individualized assessments or adherence to Reduction in Force procedures.  Additionally, it explicitly prohibits dismissing probationary employees for partisan political reasons. Federal agencies must be staffed by qualified professionals, not political loyalists.

    Particularly concerning are the potential implications for public safety. Recent reports highlight the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s extensive training and reliance on probationary employees, with new agents and support staff actively investigating crimes nationwide. Dismissing these employees could have dire consequences on national security and public safety. Such firings are sure to weaken national security by removing personnel involved in critical investigations. The loss of these agents would leave vital work unfinished and could compromise public safety both in the present and for years to come.

    Given all of the above, we urge your Administration to halt any plans for mass firings of probationary employees in New Mexico and across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Second Reading Speech – Early Childhood Education And Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you early education and care is an essential service. It helps them get back to work and helps their children get ready for school. Under
    the Liberals the cost went through the roof and the rules were tightened to make it harder for some children to get the start in life they deserve. We’re fixing that.

    Over 10 years the cost of child care exploded by more than 49 per cent—double the OECD average—under Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison. We said we’d cut the cost of child care and we have, for more than one million families right across the country. As a result of the changes we made and passed through this Parliament two years ago, a family on a joint income of about $120,000 has saved $2,768 since July 2023. That’s helped a lot of parents get back to work and put more money in their pockets, and it’s meant more children are now getting the benefits of our early education system. The number of children in our early education system is now about 100,000 more than it was when we were elected 2½ years ago. That’s a good thing. There are also 1,000 more centres and more services. That’s good, too.

    When we came to office 2½ years ago, something else was happening. The people who educate and care for our children were leaving the sector in droves. They were leaving the job that they loved. The attrition rate was through the roof. That’s now changed, too. The reason for that is the 15 per cent pay rise that we’re now rolling out. The best example of that is what’s happening at Goodstart Early Learning, the biggest childcare operator in the country. At their centres, across the country, job applications have now jumped by 35 per cent. Expressions of interest have jumped by 50 to 60 per cent, and vacancy rates are down by a massive 28 per cent. We’re seeing that right across the country. Vacancy rates right across the sector are now down by 22 per cent. It turns out that, if you pay people more, more want to do the job. Early educators are some of the most important workers in this country and some of the most underpaid. They were leaving the job that they love, the job that we need them to, not because they didn’t want to do it but because they couldn’t afford to keep doing it. That 15 per cent pay increase is fixing that.

    The next step in making our early education system better and fairer is making sure that more children who currently can’t get access to it get that chance. In February 2023, we asked the Productivity Commission to comprehensively review our early education system. We asked them to help build a blueprint for reform and tell us how we can build a truly universal early education system. We got their final report in June of last year. One of the things it says that we have to do if we want to build that universal early education system is build more centres where they don’t exist, what are sometimes referred to as ‘childcare deserts’. We’re doing that. In December, the Prime Minister announced that, if we win the next election, the government will create a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. This will be the single biggest ever investment by an Australian government in new childcare services. It will build or expand over 160 early education and care centres where they’re needed most. I want to thank GrainGrowers, who said that this is positive step and that this fund will help expand and build new childhood education and care centres in areas of need. I want to thank the National Farmers Federation too for imploring the Liberals and the Nationals to match what we’re doing. They get it. Unfortunately, the Liberal Party and National Party haven’t heard them, because they don’t support this. They’ve spent 2½ years in this Parliament talking about childcare deserts. They spent a decade in government doing nothing about it. Now there is a $1 billion fund on the table that they could support, but they choose not to. It’s unbelievable. The Productivity Commission also recommended something else that we need to do next. That’s to get rid of the Liberals’ activity test. This is a real barrier that was purposefully put in place by the Liberal Party to limit access to early education for a lot of children—in particular, a lot of disadvantaged children and kids from poor families. It is deeply unfair. A test to determine if your child is worthy of accessing early education is one that no family should have to pass. The Productivity Commission report gives us a definition of what a universal early education and care system could and should look like. It says it’s a system where every child can get access to affordable early education and care three days a week or 30 hours a week. This bill gets rid of the Liberals’ activity test and replaces it with a guarantee of access to three days a week of government supported early education and care for every child who needs it. It’s still means tested, but it means that families will not be left out because parents are looking for work or preparing to go back to study. It means that over 100,000 families will be able to get more subsidised hours of early education and care. And it means real cost-of-living relief for 66,700 families in the first full financial your alone. Those families will save an average of $1,370 per year on their childcare costs. About half of those families earn less than $100,000 per year. Lower-income families will save even more: an average of $1,460 a year.

    This is going to make a real difference for a lot of young families. It will help with the cost of living but it will do more than that. Fundamentally this is about helping every child get a great start in life—what every parent wants for their children and what every child deserves—helping them to get ready to start school, helping to make sure they don’t start school behind. That’s what early education does. This is not babysitting; it’s early education. The evidence is clear: children who get access to early education and care are more likely to start school ready to go, ready to learn. They’re also more likely to finish school and then go on to more study. Former US President Joe Biden often made the point that a child who goes to preschool is 50 per cent more likely to go to college. At the moment, while lots of Australian children get the benefit of this life-changing opportunity, not all do. As the Productivity Commission pointed out in its final report, at the moment it’s children who need it most who are least likely to access early education and care. In 2021 only 54 per cent of children in the most disadvantaged areas were enrolled in early education and care, compared with 76 per cent of children in the highest socioeconomic areas. The most recent Early Development Census report found that only 42.7 per cent of children experiencing the highest level of socioeconomic disadvantage were on track when they started school, compared with 54.8 per cent of all children. That’s what this is about: helping them, helping to make sure more children are ready to start school.

    This bill does something else, too. As part of our commitment to closing the gap we are setting a target of ensuring that at least 55 per cent of Indigenous Australian children are developmentally on track. At the moment it’s 34 per cent. That’s a big gap. Not unsurprisingly, Indigenous children’s attendance at early education and care is way below the national average, and the activity test is one of the reasons for this. That’s why this bill increases the base entitlement to 100 hours for Indigenous children. It’s a really important change—one that Indigenous families and communities have been calling for since the activity test was created. And we have listened. You only have to listen to the words of the CEO of SNAICC, Catherine Liddle, after the Prime Minister announced this policy to know how important this is. This is what Catherine said:
    This can be a game-changer for our babies. It will mean more children are developmentally ready for school, setting them up for a thriving future.

    It’s just one part of the work we need do to close the gap, and I am so very proud that it’s part of this bill. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his leadership in driving reform in this area, and I know how personally important it is to him to see these changes being made. I also want to thank my dear friend and colleague the Minister for Early Childhood Education, the awesome Anne Aly. I also want to thank our offices, and I want to thank our department for the work they have done in preparing this legislation. And I want to thank our early educators and our teachers, and I hope you see in this bill how this government values the important work you do. I also want to thank everyone who has called for this for years and years and years—groups like the Parenthood, whose CEO, Georgie Dent, called this ‘a paradigm shift’; people like Ros Baxter, the CEO of Goodstart, who said, ‘This will change lives;’ or Jay Weatherill at the Minderoo Foundation who called this ‘a momentous step’; or the Centre for Policy Development, who said that this guarantee ‘is a game-changer’ and that it demonstrates ‘a real dedication to delivering a universal system’; or the Business Council of Australia’s Wendy Black, who said that they have ‘long called for an early childhood education guarantee based on quality, universal access to give children a strong educational foundation’.

    This is important reform for an essential service for more than a million families across the country. It helps parents get back to work, but, even more important than that, it helps the next generation of Australians to prepare for school, to prepare for their life ahead. That’s what makes this reform so important, and I am so happy to commend it to the House.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Pulse Seismic Inc. Reports 2024 Financial Results and Declares Regular and Special Dividends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX:PSD) (OTCQX:PLSDF) (“Pulse” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2024. The audited consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and MD&A are being filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and will be available on Pulse’s website at www.pulseseismic.com.

    Pulse’s Board of Directors today approved a quarterly dividend of $0.015 per share and additionally declared a special dividend of $0.20 per share. The total of the dividends will be approximately $10.9 million based on Pulse’s 50,837,863 common shares outstanding as of February 13, 2025, to be paid on March 13, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 28, 2025. This dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. For non-resident shareholders, Pulse’s dividends are subject to Canadian withholding tax.

    “We are very pleased with the Company’s 2024 financial performance, and what we have accomplished so far in 2025. We remain focused on returning capital to shareholders, as deemed appropriate given the annual fluctuations inherent in our business. So far in 2025 we have secured $17.5 million in sales and today the Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $0.20 per share, in addition to the regular quarterly dividend,” stated Neal Coleman, Pulse’s President and CEO. “In 2024, 76% of free cashflow was allocated to dividends and share buybacks, and looking back to Q4 2021, after repayment of the majority of the 2019 acquisition debt, we resumed dividends and share buybacks and have declared $0.83 per share in dividends and decreased our share count by three million,” Coleman concluded.

    HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024

    • The return of capital to shareholders in 2024 including all dividends declared in the year and shares purchased under the Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB), totalled $9.5 million, and was 76% of shareholder free cashflow generated for the year;
    • Dividends of $0.10875 per share were declared in 2024. Regular dividends declared and paid totalled $0.05875 per share. The annualized regular dividend of $0.055 per share was increased by 9% to $0.06 per share in the second quarter of the year. A special dividend of $0.05 per share was paid in the third quarter of 2024;
    • 1,784,000 shares were purchased during the year under the Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) at an average price of $2.17 per share, for total cost of approximately $3.9 million;
    • Shareholder free cash flow(a) was $12.4 million ($0.24 per share basic and diluted) compared to $24.8 million ($0.47 per share basic and diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2023;
    • EBITDA(a) was $15.5 million ($0.30 per share basic and diluted) compared to $30.4 million ($0.57 per share basic and diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2023;
    • Net earnings were $3.4 million ($0.07 per share basic and diluted) compared to net earnings of $15.0 million ($0.28 per share basic and diluted) for 2023;
    • Total revenue was $23.4 million compared to $39.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023; and
    • At December 31, 2024, the Company had a cash balance of $8.7 million as well as $5.0 million of available liquidity on its credit facility.

    HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024

    • The regular quarterly dividend of $0.015 per share was paid in the fourth quarter;
    • A total of 97,700 shares were purchased under the NCIB in the fourth quarter, at an average price of $2.32 per share and total cost of approximately $226,000;
    • Shareholder free cash flow was $2.4 million ($0.05 per share basic and diluted) compared to $10.9 million ($0.21 per share basic and diluted) in the fourth quarter of 2023;
    • EBITDA was $3.8 million ($0.07 per share basic and diluted) compared to $13.6 million ($0.26 per share basic and diluted) in the fourth quarter of 2023;
    • Net earnings were $774,000 ($0.02 per share basic and diluted) compared to net earnings of $8.3 million ($0.16 per share basic and diluted) in the fourth quarter of 2023; and
    • Total revenue was $5.6 million compared to $16.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023.
    SELECTED FINANCIAL AND
    OPERATING INFORMATION    		        
             
             
    (Thousands of dollars except per share data, Three months ended December 31, Years ended December 31,
    numbers of shares and kilometres of seismic data) 2024 2023 2024 2023
         
    Revenue 5,576 16,861 23,379 39,127
             
    Amortization of seismic data library 2,263 2,270 9,090 9,103
    Net earnings 774 8,307 3,391 15,007
    Per share basic and diluted 0.02 0.16 0.07 0.28
    Cash provided by operating activities 2,337 7,001 14,195 23,524
    Per share basic and diluted 0.05 0.13 0.28 0.44
    EBITDA (a) 3,785 13,592 15,496 30,431
    Per share basic and diluted (a) 0.07 0.26 0.30 0.57
    Shareholder free cash flow (a) 2,440 10,946 12,408 24,829
    Per share basic and diluted (a) 0.05 0.21 0.24 0.47
             
    Capital expenditures        
    Seismic data – – 225 –
    Property and equipment – – 45 28
    Total capital expenditures – – 270 28
             
    Dividends        
    Regular dividends declared 763 724 3,018 2,862
    Special dividends declared – 10,527 2,548 18,519
    Total dividends declared 763 11,251 5,566 21,381
             
    Normal course issuer bid        
    Number of shares purchased and cancelled 97,700 59,500 1,784,000 1,005,006
    Cost of shares purchased and cancelled 227 112 3,880 1,943
             
    Weighted average shares outstanding        
    Basic and diluted 50,878,652 52,647,740 51,448,985 53,237,569
    Shares outstanding at period-end     50,837,863 52,621,863
             
    Seismic library        
    2D in kilometres     829,207 829,207
    3D in square kilometres     65,310 65,310
           
    FINANCIAL POSITION        
          December 31, December 31,
    (Thousands of dollars except working capital ratio)     2024 2023
    Working capital     9,222 7,468
    Working capital ratio     5.1:1 1.5:1
    Cash and cash equivalents     8,722 15,948
    Total assets     21,516 41,249
    EBITDA     15,496 30,431
    Shareholders’ equity     18,295 25,655
             
     

    (a) The Company’s continuous disclosure documents provide discussion and analysis of “EBITDA”, “EBITDA per share”, “shareholder free cash flow” and “shareholder free cash flow per share”. These financial measures do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because management, investors, analysts and others use them as measures of the Company’s financial performance. The Company’s definition of EBITDA is cash available for interest payments, cash taxes, repayment of debt, purchase of its shares, discretionary capital expenditures and the payment of dividends, and is calculated as earnings (loss) from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company believes EBITDA assists investors in comparing Pulse’s results on a consistent basis without regard to non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary significantly depending on accounting methods or non-operating factors such as historical cost. EBITDA per share is defined as EBITDA divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Shareholder free cash flow further refines the calculation of capital available to invest in growing the Company’s 2D and 3D seismic data library, to repay debt, to purchase its common shares and to pay dividends by deducting non-discretionary expenditures from EBITDA. Non-discretionary expenditures are defined as non-cash expenses, debt financing costs (net of deferred financing expenses amortized in the current period), net restructuring costs and current tax provisions. Shareholder free cash flow per share is defined as shareholder free cash flow divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period.
    These non-GAAP financial measures are defined, calculated and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

    OUTLOOK

    Pulse’s ability to predict future revenue generation has always been challenging due to the nature of the business, which naturally fluctuates from year to year. That said, Pulse has had a strong start to the year having closed $17.5 million in sales, representing approximately 75% of sales in 2024. There are generally a mix of positive and negative factors influencing the industry which contributes to the challenge, and at this time in particular, uncertainty concerning 2025 is high. Positive factors in 2024, and recent projections into 2025 include high levels of M & A activity, approximately $19.4 billion in 2024 compared to $16.5 billion in 2023, while the latest annual forecast by Sayer Energy Advisors for 2025 is approximately $15.0 billion. There were continuing high volumes of land sales in Alberta in 2024: approximately $365 million, down only slightly from the $370 million in 2023, and significantly higher than in recent years going back to before the 2014-2015 industry downturn. In British Columbia, land sales which had been paused since May 2021 finally resumed in December 2024. New infrastructure, such as the TMX pipeline expansion which was completed in 2024 has already provided increased export capacity and is a driver of increased drilling activity. The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors, in November 2024 forecast an increase to 6,604 wells to be drilled in 2025, an approximate 7% increase over 2024. The pending completion of LNG Canada’s liquified natural gas export facility is expected to contribute to the forecast increase in drilling and may lead to an improvement in Canadian natural gas prices. The positive factors are offset by factors that create uncertainty for the future, including economic, political, and environmental concerns. It is clear that Canada needs to continue to build pipelines and increase natural gas egress, to support the country’s energy security, as well as to secure new buyers of Canadian energy. The impacts of the recent change in administration in the United States and the uncertainty around energy tariffs and trade policy, together with Canadian federal government leadership changes are contributing to the lack of clarity for the future.

    Pulse, as previously stated, has low visibility regarding future seismic data library sales levels, regardless of industry conditions. The Company remains focused on business practices that have served throughout the full range of conditions. The Company maintains a strong balance sheet, has zero debt, no capital spending commitments, and a disciplined and rigorous approach to evaluating growth opportunities. This 15-person company, led by an experienced and capable management team, operates with a low-cost structure and focuses on developing excellent client relations as well providing exceptional customer service. Pulse’s strong financial position, high leverage to increased revenue in its EBITDA margin and careful management of its cash resources have resulted in the return of capital to shareholders through regular and special dividends and the repurchase of its shares.

    CORPORATE PROFILE

    Pulse is a market leader in the acquisition, marketing and licensing of 2D and 3D seismic data to the western Canadian energy sector. Pulse owns the largest licensable seismic data library in Canada, currently consisting of approximately 65,310 square kilometres of 3D seismic and 829,207 kilometres of 2D seismic. The library extensively covers the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, where most of Canada’s oil and natural gas exploration and development occur.

    For further information, please contact:
    Neal Coleman, President and CEO
    Or
    Pamela Wicks, Vice President Finance and CFO
    Tel.: 403-237-5559
    Toll-free: 1-877-460-5559
    E-mail: info@pulseseismic.com.
    Please visit our website at www.pulseseismic.com

    This document contains information that constitutes “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “forecast”, “target”, “project”, “guidance”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “estimate”, “predict” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook.

    The Outlook section herein contain forward-looking information which includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding:

    >   The outlook of the Company for the year ahead, including future operating costs and expected revenues;
    >   Recent events on the political, economic, regulatory, and legal fronts affecting the industry’s medium- to longer-term prospects, including progression and completion of contemplated pipeline projects;
    >   The Company’s capital resources and sufficiency thereof to finance future operations, meet its obligations associated with financial liabilities and carry out the necessary capital expenditures through 2025;
    >   Pulse’s capital allocation strategy;
    >   Pulse’s dividend policy;
    >   Oil and natural gas prices and forecast trends;
    >   Oil and natural gas drilling activity and land sales activity;
    >   Oil and natural gas company capital budgets;
    >   Future demand for seismic data;
    >   Future seismic data sales;
    >   Pulse’s business and growth strategy; and
    >   Other expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions, results and performance, as they relate to the Company or to the oil and natural gas industry as a whole.
         

    By its very nature, forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Pulse does not publish specific financial goals or otherwise provide guidance, due to the inherently poor visibility of seismic revenue. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking information.

    These factors include, but are not limited to:

    >   Uncertainty of the timing and volume of data sales;
    >   Volatility of oil and natural gas prices;
    >   Risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry in general;
    >   The Company’s ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital;
    >   Credit, liquidity and commodity price risks;
    >   The demand for seismic data and;
    >   The pricing of data library licence sales;
    >   Cybersecurity;
    >   Relicensing (change-of-control) fees and partner copy sales;
    >   Environmental, health and safety risks;
    >   Federal and provincial government laws and regulations, including those pertaining to taxation, royalty rates, environmental protection, public health and safety;
    >   Competition;
    >   Dependence on key management, operations and marketing personnel;
    >   The loss of seismic data;
    >   Protection of intellectual property rights;
    >   The introduction of new products; and
    >   Climate change.
         

    Pulse cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Additional information on these risks and other factors which could affect the Company’s operations and financial results is included under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual information form, and in the Company’s most recent audited annual financial statements, most recent MD&A, management information circular, quarterly reports, material change reports and news releases. Copies of the Company’s public filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    When relying on forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to Pulse, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Furthermore, the forward-looking information contained in this document is provided as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, except as required by law. The forward-looking information in this document is provided for the limited purpose of enabling current and potential investors to evaluate an investment in Pulse. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information may not be appropriate, and should not be used, for other purposes.

    PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/f55ea14e-e8ea-4d49-975a-eedb00bb9aa3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s economy poised for steady growth in 2025

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China’s economy is expected to maintain stable growth in 2025, according to the Q4 2024 monetary policy report released by the People’s Bank of China on Thursday.

    Stimulus measures rolled out in late 2024 have already begun to revitalize production, demand, and market sentiment, which will further sustain the recovery momentum, according to the report.

    Domestic demand has shown great potential for improvement, with measures to boost consumption and investment delivering standout results. Notably, retail sales for home appliances jumped 11.8 percent year on year in 2024.

    China will adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, prioritizing the stabilization of prices at reasonable levels, the central bank said.

    Monetary authorities will deepen market-driven exchange rate reforms, strengthen foreign exchange market resilience, and enhance cross-border capital flow monitoring, in a bid to ensure the yuan remains stable at an equilibrium level.

    China will accelerate institutional reforms and high-standard financial market opening, with measures to advance the yuan’s global use in cross-border trade and investment, and deepen international currency cooperation, the central bank added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Partnership with Apple recognition of Alibaba’s AI capabilities

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will partner with US consumer electronics company Apple Inc to roll out artificial intelligence features for iPhone users in China.

    The move, industry experts said, demonstrates the growing recognition of Alibaba’s capacities and strengths in the AI-powered large language model sector.

    Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Alibaba, confirmed the company’s partnership with Apple at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday.

    “They (Apple) talked to a number of companies in China. In the end they chose to do business with us. They want to use our AI to power their phones,” Tsai said.

    Some media outlets reported that Apple had considered models developed by ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent and Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, but it gave up DeepSeek as the company’s team lacked the manpower and experience needed to support a large customer.

    Both companies have submitted AI features they codeveloped for iPhones in China to the country’s regulator for approval.

    The deal comes as Apple is seeking to secure a local AI partner to boost sales of its iPhones in China, where the US tech company is facing a challenge as Apple Intelligence features are unavailable to iPhone users in the world’s largest smartphone market.

    Pan Helin, a member of the expert committee for information and communication economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said Alibaba has gained an upper hand in the field of LLMs, the application of AI models across industries, as well as computing power and AI infrastructure construction, which will provide a better AI experience for Apple users and help reinvigorate iPhone sales in China.

    Alibaba Cloud, the company’s cloud computing arm, recently unveiled its latest AI model, Qwen2.5-Max, which boasts enhanced math and coding capabilities and has outperformed other leading AI models such as US-based OpenAI’s GPT-4o and DeepSeek’s V3.

    The company’s Qwen model offers a low-cost DeepSeek alternative as US computer scientists have successfully developed a new reasoning model that has been trained for less than $50 with the help of Alibaba’s open-source technology.

    Lu Yanxia, research director at market research company IDC China, said Alibaba enjoys a huge consumer base in China and large amounts of user data based on its vibrant e-commerce ecosystem, and these advantages will help Apple better understand the personalized needs of users.

    Industry experts also said the e-commerce giant has a deep understanding of users’ shopping and payment habits, which could help it train models and deliver more customized AI services.

    Apple is facing mounting challenges from local rivals. Data from market consultancy Counterpoint Research showed that Huawei reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2024, capturing 18.1 percent of the market share.

    Xiaomi secured the second spot in the quarter with a 17.2 percent market share, while Apple held 17.1 percent, experiencing a sharp 18.2 percent decline in sales.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley said Alibaba’s partnership with Apple would be a critical catalyst for the latter’s competitive edge in China, and suggested it could solve Apple’s iPhone sales slump in the country.

    Industry insiders said AI capabilities on smartphones will drive upgrades and represent a significant opportunity for both vendors and application developers alike. Shipments of AI-powered smartphones across the globe are expected to rise by 73.1 percent year-on-year in 2025, according to a report from IDC.

    The triple-digit growth in 2024 will be followed by four consecutive years of double-digit growth as handset manufacturers look to incorporate generative AI features across their device offerings, the consultancy said.

    By 2028, IDC forecasts that global shipments of generative AI smartphone will reach 912 million units, with the compound annual growth rate hitting 78.4 percent between 2024 and 2028.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shopping centers have stellar year

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People shop at Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Feb. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s shopping centers saw broad growth in sales, foot traffic and rental income in 2024, according to a shopping center industry report, recently released by the China Chain Store & Franchise Association.

    The report found that 73 percent of surveyed venues recorded year-on-year sales growth, with the majority seeing moderate increases.

    Nearly half achieved growth of up to 10 percent, while 20 percent posted gains exceeding that threshold.

    More than half of venues surveyed also reported an increase in online sales, underscoring the effectiveness of an omni-channel strategy that integrates digital and offline operations with innovative marketing.

    Shopping centers have actively expanded their online business to drive sales. For instance, Wushang Group, a leading shopping mall operator in Wuhan, Hubei province, saw its online transaction volume rise 20 percent year-on-year in 2024, with online orders surging 77 percent and the number of online users 25 percent higher, according to the company.

    The report’s findings were based on a survey of CCFA member companies, including the top 100 shopping centers and major comprehensive retailers. A total of 113 venues spanning 41 enterprises participated in the survey.

    Foot traffic also saw an overall uptrend, with 15 shopping centers reporting increases of up to 20 percent, while others experienced more moderate gains. The data highlight a steady rise in consumer visits throughout the year, contributing to stronger overall sales performance, said the report.

    Member-driven consumption remained a key contributor to total annual sales, with 76 venues reporting an increase in the proportion of revenue generated by their membership programs, while 31 saw no change.

    Rental income also improved, with 70 percent of surveyed locations reporting year-on-year growth. Among them, several recorded increases of more than 10 percent, while a smaller proportion achieved gains exceeding 20 percent.

    Despite China’s vast retail market and diverse business entities, the sector still faces challenges such as uneven development and intensifying competition.

    Industry experts said that diversified supply will shape the next phase of retail growth, as new national policies create fresh opportunities in previously overlooked segments.

    Meng Yi, head of the northern commercial department at Cushman & Wakefield, said the commercial sector is shifting back to a demand-driven, people-oriented model.

    Meng told the Beijing News that both population density and increasing demand for high-quality services will drive future retail transformations.

    Sectors catering to the silver economy, healthcare, multigenerational education, and cultural, commercial and sports-related experiences are all poised for expansion, he said.

    With strong government policy support, these segments are expected to become key drivers of China’s next wave of retail growth, Meng added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 13, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,60,389.95 6.32 5.15-6.58
         I. Call Money 17,096.91 6.34 5.15-6.50
         II. Triparty Repo 3,75,991.85 6.31 6.24-6.50
         III. Market Repo 1,65,791.99 6.35 6.00-6.58
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,509.20 6.47 6.45-6.50
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 301.80 6.36 5.90-6.40
         II. Term Money@@ 620.00 – 6.40-7.95
         III. Triparty Repo 187.00 6.38 6.25-6.40
         IV. Market Repo 782.66 6.60 6.50-6.65
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Thu, 13/02/2025 1 Fri, 14/02/2025 2,35,619.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Thu, 13/02/2025 1 Fri, 14/02/2025 1,988.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 13/02/2025 1 Fri, 14/02/2025 54,539.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       1,83,068.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,756.81  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     58,766.81  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     2,41,834.81  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 13, 2025 9,06,851.56  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 21, 2025 9,12,240.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 13, 2025 1,43,346.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 24, 2025 -34,103.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2155

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Thune Introduce Death Tax Repeal Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The impacts of the federal estate tax, often referred to as the death tax, were reduced in 2017 with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which doubled the amount exempt from the tax and tied it to inflation. These tax cuts, unless extended, expire in 2025. In particular, the death tax significantly impacts family farms, ranches, and small businesses.
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) in introducing the Death Tax Repeal Act. This legislation would permanently repeal the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer taxes, reduce the federal gift tax from 40 percent to 35 percent, and retain the full step-up in basis.
    “Taxing the assets of people who have died is wrong on multiple levels, starting with the fact the same income is taxed twice, during life and after death,” said Cramer. “It’s hard to imagine a less moral government imposition than taxing death.”
    “Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota,” said Thune. “Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability.”
    Cramer supported related efforts when Congress debated the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
    The bill is endorsed by supported by more than 190 members of the Family Business Coalition and more than 105 members of the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, which includes the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Restaurant Association, the National Association of Home Builders, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
    Cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Joins Entire Democratic Caucus in Raising Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 13, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump administration has taken would create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, and could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds,” the lawmakers wrote.

    Last week, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent—creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system and stifle the development of new cures for disease. It won’t produce cost savings—it will just shift costs to states who can’t afford to pay the difference. Importantly, this action by the Trump administration is illegal—Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs.

    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators wrote. On Monday, a federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21st.

    The senators’ letter points out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023 and every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. 

    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research—they cost lives,” the senators continued.

    “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.”

    The letter was led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and signed by the entire Senate Democratic caucus: Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) signed onto the letter.

    A PDF of the letter is available HERE and the full text is below.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Demands Investigation Into Elon Musk’s Access To Americans’ Personal Information

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 13, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Gene L. Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), calling for an investigation into the legality and scope of the agreement authorizing Elon Musk and his aides to use private servers to access sensitive and classified information. Murphy also requested a review of their designation as ‘special government employees’ (SGEs) and urged the GAO to assess whether they adhered to federal ethics and security requirements.

    “While the designation absolves Musk and his aides of some government requirements that apply to most federal employees, it does not absolve them of all obligations, nor does such a designation afford Musk and his aides carte blanche access to government data and servers,” Murphy wrote. “I also believe that Musk and his aides are subject to various conflict of interest statutes which prohibit federal employees from participating in matters that impact their own financial interests. Given the authority that President Trump has ceded to Musk and his aides, it is imperative the public understands whether Musk and his aides have complied with the law and whether highly sensitive data could be at risk if accessed by private actors who seek to benefit from the information illegally, or worse, by foreign adversaries who wish to attack this country.”

    Murphy warned the SGE designation could be exploited to give Trump’s political allies access to sensitive data without complying with ethics rules, referencing concerns of his colleagues from 2015: “As Senator Charles Grassley has rightly noted, the use of this designation at times has allowed some of the President’s political allies to work for the government while keeping their private sector jobs. Under this designation, many standard ethics and disclosure requirements are circumvented, but not all. In this case, press reports state Musk and his aides have set up private servers in at least one, and possibly multiple, federal agencies. This is very alarming if true. As Senator Grassley noted, “[t]he public’s business ought to be public with few exceptions…When employees are allowed to serve the government and the private sector at the same time and use private email, the employees have access to everything and the public, nothing.”

    In 2013, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other Senate Republicans raised repeated concerns about Hillary Clinton’s use of the SGE designation as U.S. Secretary of State and the use of private emails and servers to conduct government business. At the time, Grassley warned, “This is worrisome because if the government isn’t properly tracking who holds this designation, it may be failing to catch conflicts of interest between government service and private-sector jobs.”

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Comptroller General Dodaro,

    I write to request an investigation into the legality and scope of the agreement authorizing Elon Musk and his private aides to utilize private servers to access, obtain information on, and otherwise enter varying levels of sensitive and classified information that belongs to the federal government, and to work in the federal government as ‘special government employees’ (SGE).

    On Monday, February 3, 2025, a White House official confirmed that Elon Musk (and by extension, his aides) have been designated SGEs. While the designation absolves Musk and his aides of some government requirements that apply to most federal employees, it does not absolve them of all obligations, nor does such a designation afford Musk and his aides carte blanche access to government data and servers. I also believe that Musk and his aides are subject to various conflict of interest statutes which prohibit federal employees from participating in matters that impact their own financial interests. Given the authority that President Trump has ceded to Musk and his aides, it is imperative the public understands whether Musk and his aides have complied with the law and whether highly sensitive data could be at risk if accessed by private actors who seek to benefit from the information illegally, or worse, by foreign adversaries who wish to attack this country.

    As Senator Charles Grassley has rightly noted, the use of this designation at times has allowed some of the President’s political allies to work for the government while keeping their private sector jobs. Under this designation, many standard ethics and disclosure requirements are circumvented, but not all. In this case, press reports state Musk and his aides have set up private servers in at least one, and possibly multiple, federal agencies. This is very alarming if true. As Senator Grassley noted, “[t]he public’s business ought to be public with few exceptions…When employees are allowed to serve the government and the private sector at the same time and use private email, the employees have access to everything and the public, nothing.”

    Specifically, I ask you to examine, and make publicly available, the following:

    1. any agreements, and any related documents, concerning the designation of Musk and his aides as ‘special designation employees;’
    2. all documents associated with required ethics compliance for Musk and his aides, including whether the required financial disclosures have occurred;
    3. whether all ethics officers at the relevant agencies were consulted or aware of the presence of Musk and his aides and compliance with federal law;
    4. the security of the private servers, including whether such servers can be exploited or accessed by individuals without appropriate security clearances;
    5. the names of the individuals who used, or continue to use, private e-mail addresses to conduct the business of the federal government (and for these individuals, identify any dual employment);
    1. whether any work-related emails from such servers have been deleted;
    1. whether any “Department considered any other candidates besides [Musk and his aides] for the expert position requiring expert knowledge on policy, administrative, and other matters? If so, please provide the supporting documentation. If not, why not?”
    2. whether [Musk and his aides] will be “reminded before [their] departure from government employment about [their] obligations in preserving [their] email communications and records;”
    3. whether Musk and his aides have adhered to legal obligations and otherwise to safeguard data, including, but not limited to, creating data inventories, undertaking data minimization and purpose limitation, and adhering to the highest levels of cybersecurity to protect the data from exploitation and exfiltration; and
    4. whether Musk and his aides can identify whether any data that they have accessed (within their authorized access level or not), has also been accessed impermissibly by any other party without authorization, and if so, what remedial measures have taken place.

    Given the stakes of what has occurred, I request that you expedite this investigation.

    Respectfully submitted,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Democratic Caucus Raise Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Indiscriminate Funding Cuts To NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 45 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump administration has taken would create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, and could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 
    “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others,” the senators wrote. “President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.”
    Last week, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent—creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system and stifle the development of new cures for disease. It won’t produce cost savings—it will just shift costs to states who can’t afford to pay the difference. Importantly, this action by the Trump administration is illegal—Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs.
    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators added. On Monday, a federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21.
    The senators’ letter points out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023 and every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. 
    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications ‘pause’ enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research—they cost lives,” the senators continued.
    They concluded: “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.”
    U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    We write to express our serious concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine the nation’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump Administration has taken will create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 
    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.
    Just last week, NIH announced an illegal plan to cap indirect cost rates that research institutions rely on. In capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent for NIH-funded grants, this policy would cut funding essential for conducting research, such as operating and maintaining laboratories, equipment, and research facilities. This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly.
    These confusing and harmful policy changes threaten patient safety. The strength of the American research enterprise – recognized as the best in the world – is built on Congress’ bipartisan commitment to supporting essential research infrastructure. This funding, which Congress has long appropriated on a bipartisan basis, fuels groundbreaking medical discoveries and cements the United States’ position as the global leader in biomedical research.
    In addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with everyone from custodians, to research trainees, to scientists facing potential layoffs. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023. Every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. These reckless policy changes not only threaten biomedical innovation and research, but also the livelihoods of thousands of workers in every state across the nation.
    The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research – they cost lives.
    The NIH plays a critical role in our nation’s efforts to fund scientific advancements that improve health and save lives. Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

    Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades.

    The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after just two hours of debate on amendments agreed to earlier by the Coalition. In blatant disregard for democracy, the government refused to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee for proper scrutiny.

    The amendments fail to address numerous deficiencies in the original bill that was introduced last November. Transparency has been wound back and hollow contribution caps have been locked in.

    In significant respects, however, the package is an improvement on the status quo, which has seen unrestricted donations and spending flourish. So, too, secrecy.

    We need to penetrate the sound and fury of partisanship and assess the substance of these laws. This will yield a much more nuanced picture than conveyed by cross bench claims of a major party stitch up.

    Some improvement to transparency

    The government originally proposed lowering the disclosure threshold for donations from $16,000 to $1,000. The revised bill settles on a new threshold of $5,000.

    The amendments fail to plug a loophole that allows a donor to give separately to all of the branches attached to a political party if each individual contribution is just under the threshold. For example, a donor could spread almost $45,000 to the nine state and federal branches of the ALP without being required to declare the amounts.

    But the new laws will usher in near-real time disclosure and substantially reduce “dark money”, a seismic shift from the secrecy and lack of timeliness in the regime it replaces.

    Hollow donation caps

    Under the reforms, a series of contribution caps have been introduced to curb the influence of big money in politics.

    In my assessment of the original bill, I highlighted how the caps would prevent multi-million dollar contributions from cashed-up individuals.

    The amendments go further by closing a number of sizeable loopholes. Self financing candidates, such as Clive Palmer and Malcolm Turnbull will be subject to the contribution caps. The current exclusions for membership and affiliation fees to associated entities – “disguised donations” – will also be caught by the caps.

    But any positives are emphatically outweighed by the “annual gift cap” more than doubling to $50,000. The same “spreading” loophole that applies to the disclosure obligations would allow a donor to to give just shy of this amount to each of a party’s state and federal branches across the country. The major parties could reap up to almost $450,000 per annum from a single donor.

    And the “overall gift cap” on total donations made to political parties and candidates is a generous $1.6 million, which means large contributions will still be permissible under the new framework.

    The government has also failed to remove the patently unfair provisions relating to “nominated entities”, which are likely to be used by the major parties as investment vehicles.

    As the Victorian Electoral Review Expert Panel has rightly noted, such entities:

    provide some (parties) with significantly more funds, creating a risk that those (parties) drown out other voices.

    Election spending contained and fairer

    The spending caps in the new finance laws are fundamentally unaltered by the government’s amendments.

    The $800,000 per electorate limit, and $90 million per party nationally, will contain the “arms race” that has necessitated “big money” fundraising and fuelled unfair contests.

    However, the limits are set too high and will benefit the established parties due to the narrow scope of the spending caps in individual electorates. This means the major parties will be able to shift funding to must-win seats without being caught by the electorate caps.

    This shortcoming has been seized upon as clear evidence that Labor and the Liberals are seeking to kneecap Teal election campaigns. While having some force, these criticisms should be viewed in the context of the current situation where the major parties have an unfettered ability to direct spending to marginal seats, a situation which the Teals are ironically defending with their opposition to spending caps.

    The importance of public funding

    The new regime includes a substantial jump in public funding from $3.50 to $5 per vote.

    Crossbenchers, such as Kate Chaney, are opposed, to the increase, saying it will entrench the might of the majors while making it harder for new independents:

    The effect of increasing public funding is that political parties don’t have to fundraise because they’ve got their war chests. But any challengers do have to fundraise.

    While there is a clear risk of unfairness, the crossbench position throws the baby out with the bathwater. It romanticises the role of private funding, skating over the risks of corruption and undue influence via large donations.

    The public funding of political parties and candidates is warranted. But there should be a conversation about the design and scope of taxpayer support.

    The political finance laws could be made considerably fairer by fixing the structural bias that favours incumbents, including teal MPs. And they don’t need to be as generous given the large flows of private funding that will continue under the shallow contribution caps.

    Unfinished business

    Bad processes tend to make bad laws. The government’s actions have cast a pall of illegitimacy over its political finance regime. The new framework is unfair and ineffectual in significant ways and yet democracy enhancing in others.

    We are all trustees of democracy, with an obligation to protect and deepen democratic practices. An urgent task in that continuing struggle is to protect the strengths of these laws while jettisoning the elements that are egregiously bad.

    Joo-Cheong Tham has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, European Trade Union Institute, International IDEA, the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Electoral Commission. He is a Director of the Centre for Public Integrity; Expert Network Member of Climate Integrity; a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; and the Victorian Division Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) of the National Tertiary Education Union.

    – ref. Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy – https://theconversation.com/parliament-has-passed-landmark-election-donation-laws-they-may-be-a-stitch-up-but-they-also-improve-australias-democracy-249588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    Juris Teivans/Shutterstock

    In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers remain stubbornly high.

    Strategies to reduce the road toll have largely focused on speeding, distractions and enforcement gaps, such as roadside drug testing.

    But hidden in these statistics is a lesser-known, deeply troubling reality: some of these crashes are not unintentional at all.

    A difficult area to explore

    A portion of road fatalities each year are deaths by suicide.

    For some, cars and trucks are not just modes of transport – they become a means to intentionally end their lives.

    The true scale of this issue is difficult to determine, as coroners and crash investigators often struggle to distinguish suicide from accidental death.

    The phenomenon is not confined to Australia – it has been studied and documented in several countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and the United States.

    International research suggests driver suicides may account for up to 8–9% of all fatal road crashes. But studies indicate up to half of these cases may go unreported.

    So what do we know about these cases? Why are they so difficult to identify and what patterns exist in these incidents?

    How bad is the problem?

    Between 2001 and 2017, the rate of suicide involving a road vehicle collision in Australia nearly doubled from 0.125 per 100,000 people to 0.25 per 100,000.

    These suicides take several forms.

    Some involve single-vehicle crashes, where a driver deliberately collides with a tree, pole, or concrete barrier.

    Others are multiple-vehicle collisions, where a driver or rider intentionally steers into oncoming traffic, often targeting trucks.

    There are also pedestrian suicides, where people step or lie in front of moving vehicles.

    Among driver suicides, single-vehicle crashes are the most common, with studies estimating more than half of driver suicides involve collisions with fixed objects (some studies suggest the figure is more than 70%).

    For multiple-vehicle collisions, almost 82% of cases involve colliding with an oncoming truck.

    More than half of pedestrian deaths by suicide also involve trucks.

    While there are variations in research findings, current evidence suggest males make up between 78% and 91% of those who die by road transport suicide.

    Certain demographics have been found to be more likely to die in a road suicide in Australia compared to other methods of suicide:

    This includes those who are:

    • male (15% more likely than females)
    • younger than 25 (nearly five times more likely than those older)
    • non-Indigenous (three times more likely than First Nations people)
    • born overseas (40% more likely than those born in Australia)

    The ripple effects

    Unlike most other suicide methods, road vehicle collisions pose a significant risk to others.

    Intentional crashes can involve unsuspecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians, turning a personal act of self-harm into a broader public safety issue.

    Studies show that when a suicide collision involves vehicles with a large weight disparity — such as a car colliding with a truck — nearly 30% result in injury to another person and almost 4% result in the death of another person.

    Beyond the immediate loss of life or injury, these incidents leave lasting psychological scars on the drivers involved.

    Why is it difficult to establish suicide on the road?

    Determining whether a fatal road crash was intentional or unintentional is fraught with challenges. Unlike other suicide methods, there is often no definitive proof of intent.

    Coroners and crash investigators rely on a patchwork of evidence: eyewitness accounts, vehicle behaviour before impact, the driver’s psychological history and physical crash characteristics.

    Even when red flags are present — such as high-speed impacts with no signs of braking, the driver not wearing a seat belt, collisions with trucks, or cases where drivers abruptly veer into oncoming traffic — these alone are not always enough to confirm intent.

    Investigators must also navigate the cultural and social sensitivities surrounding suicide, which can lead to hesitation in formally classifying a death as intentional. Families, religious beliefs and even financial factors such as life insurance claims can influence how these cases are handled.

    In many instances, those who use this method do so in a way that obscures their intent, deliberately staging a crash to appear unintentional.

    Without conclusive evidence, such as a documented history of suicidality or a suicide note, these cases often remain in statistical limbo — unconfirmed, unclassified, and possibly unreported.

    What can be done?

    While broader suicide prevention efforts are always relevant, reducing suicide-related road crashes requires targeted, practical interventions that make vehicles less likely to be used for suicide. Some ideas include:

    1. Vehicle safety features that reduce lethality, such as automatic emergency braking and collision avoidance systems, can make intentional high-speed crashes less likely to be fatal. As such, they could discourage the use of vehicles as a suicide method. Airbags, in particular, can play a crucial role, as they can make the outcome of a crash less predictable for people attempting suicide.

    2. A national standardised process for classifying intentional crashes would improve detection and data accuracy. Incorporating psychological autopsies and mandating coroners consider behavioural indicators (such as lack of evasive action) could help identify cases that currently go unreported.

    3. Heavy vehicle drivers and first responders should receive specialised training to recognise potential suicide crash indicators and manage the psychological toll of being involved in such incidents.

    Together, these measures can make vehicle-related suicide, as a very complex issue, less likely and more detectable.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for confidential support.

    Angela J Clapperton receives funding from Suicide Prevention Australia.

    Lay San Too receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for a fellowship.

    Matthew J. Spittal receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for an Investigator Grant (GNT2025205).

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

    – ref. Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia – https://theconversation.com/suicide-or-accident-the-hidden-complexities-of-intentional-road-crashes-in-australia-248673

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Secretary Wright Poised to Unleash American Energy Dominance

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON—This week, Chris Wright was sworn in as the 17th Secretary for the Department of Energy. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump for his leadership and experience in the energy sector, Secretary Wright has been at the forefront of expanding domestic production, strengthening critical infrastructure, and advancing policies that promote American energy independence. His expertise will be essential as the Department returns to regular order and works to advance President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.  

    Under Secretary Wright’s leadership, the Department will focus on streamlining operations, cutting regulatory burdens imposed by the previous Administration, prioritizing common-sense solutions and unleashing American energy to drive economic growth and strengthen national security. 

    Secretary Wright’s confirmation has been met with widespread praise from policymakers, industry leaders, and trade associations and others.

    What They’re Saying:        

    “As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new ‘Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace.’” – President Donald Trump 

    “America’s extraordinary new Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, will work alongside President Trump to restore American energy dominance. As an entrepreneur and leader in the energy sector, Chris has experienced the crushing weight of bureaucracy and knows that innovation – not regulation – is what drives down energy costs. House Republicans stand ready to work with Chris to advance policies that cut red tape for producers and lower costs for consumers.” – House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)

    “Chris Wright has seen what American-made energy can do to improve human lives, bring people out of poverty, and remake entire societies. He will be an asset to President Trump’s energy team, and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish to make our nation energy independent once again.” – U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Senator Majority Leader

    “Secretary Chris Wright will help usher in the golden age of American energy dominance. He understands that affordable, abundant energy is the source of American strength. Under his leadership, we will use all of our nation’s vast energy resources to lower prices for families and grow our economy. I look forward to working with Secretary Wright and Secretary Doug Burgum to promote energy projects in Wyoming and across the country.” – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip 

    “For the last four years, when Americans opened their energy bills, they didn’t see ‘climate plans’—they saw costs piling up and questions they couldn’t answer. With Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy, I am confident that we can reverse the irresponsible policies of the Biden administration and prioritize affordable and reliable energy. Under his leadership, the DOE will once again support the American worker, the American family, and the American future.” – U.S. Senator Mike Lee, Chairman, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (R-Utah)

    “Chris Wright is a successful Colorado entrepreneur with deep expertise in energy innovation and technology. He is passionate about strengthening America’s energy independence and lowering costs for Colorado families. While we don’t agree on everything, we look forward to working with him to ensure Colorado continues to lead the country in energy production and innovation.”  – U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

    “Chris Wright’s Liberty Energy company has been integral to the growth of North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields. From our shale play to carbon capture development, Chris knows the importance of energy innovation to the America First agenda.” – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.)

    “Christopher Wright has committed to an all-of-the-above domestic energy strategy that will advance and promote innovative solutions to achieve greater American energy excellence, leadership, and independence. He has an extensive background spanning many energy sources. Wright’s commitment to ensuring America is the leader in nuclear energy holds particular value for Idaho, which is home to one of the nation’s leading nuclear laboratories. Under his leadership at DOE, our nation will prioritize affordable, reliable, and secure energy sources that support American innovation and growth and improve the lives of Americans.”  – U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)  

    “Time to unleash American energy! I look forward to working with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to carry out President Trump’s agenda to support domestic energy production and jobs. Let’s get to work!” – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.)

    “Chris Wright is a scientist who has dedicated his life to the study and use of energy. He believes in science and supports the research that will deliver the affordable, reliable, and clean energy that will not only lower costs but make our country more secure. While we don’t always agree, we will work together because none of us have four years to wait to act.” – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)

    “Chris Wright is another great addition to the Trump administration, bringing a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to the job of Energy Secretary. He knows what it takes to develop new technologies and make them commercially viable. In North Dakota, we’ve seen firsthand his success in the private sector with the growth in the Bakken. We look forward to working with him in his new role to build upon that record of innovation and unleash America’s energy potential, including through North Dakota’s leadership in CCUS technologies.” – U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) 

    “Maintaining affordable and reliable energy will be key to both our economic success and national security in the years ahead. Secretary Wright understands the importance of utilizing our domestic energy resources to secure the grid, lower prices, and create family-sustaining jobs. I congratulate Secretary Wright on his confirmation and look forward to working with him to restore American energy dominance.” – U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce  

    “President Donald Trump made an excellent decision to nominate Chris Wright to be our next Secretary of Energy–I am confident that Secretary Wright will be a close ally and partner with me as Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations to expand civil nuclear energy, modernize our nuclear deterrent, revitalize America’s defense industrial base, bring back critical mineral supply chains, and unleash all forms of American-made energy to get our economy back on track, lower costs for workers and families, and make the United States the number one energy producer and exporter in the world.”  – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Chairman, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

    “Southeast Texas, the energy capital of the world, welcomes Secretary Chris Wright as our new leader of the Department of Energy. With his expertise and leadership, I am confident we will reverse the damage done to our energy industry, unleash American energy, and restore the United States as the dominant force on the world stage.” – U.S. Representative Randy Weber (R-Texas), Vice Chairman, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy   

    “I am greatly looking forward to working with Chris Wright in his new role as Secretary of Energy. Secretary Wright deeply understands the undeniable link between energy security and national security, the importance of reliable energy infrastructure, and how overregulation has killed innovation. I am eager to work alongside him to unleash domestic energy production, advance critical technologies, and restore American dominance on the global stage.”  – U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas), Chairman, Republican Study Committee 

    “I’m glad to see the Senate confirm Secretary Chris Wright. Under the Trump administration, reliable and proven energy sources such as liquefied natural gas and nuclear will thrive, and costs will decline. The Congressional Western Caucus is committed to supporting Secretary Wright’s efforts to ensure a golden age for American energy.” – U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Chairman, Congressional Western Caucus  

    “Congratulations, Chris Wright! You understand the importance of affordable, reliable, AND sustainable energy. I’m excited for your forward-thinking leadership at the Department of Energy, which will help secure our grid, lower costs, reduce emissions, and help our allies around the world.” – U.S. Representative Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.)

    “Congratulations to Chris Wright on his confirmation as President Trump’s Secretary of Energy! Under the Trump administration, we will unleash American energy—including biofuels—to lower prices at the pump and end our reliance on foreign countries for our energy needs.” – U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa)

    “Chris Wright’s strengths as an innovator and strategic thinker will be invaluable in bringing new ideas to the National Energy Council.”  – Gale Norton, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior 

    “Congrats to our next Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. With his background in engineering and developing the Bakken, Chris understands how innovation drives production—making America safer with abundant, affordable, and reliable energy. Good for our state, good for the nation.” – Governor Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.)

    “Secretary Chris Wright’s experience in the American energy sector gives him an important perspective that will inform his leadership of the Department of Energy. We look forward to working with him to bolster American geopolitical strength by swiftly approving new LNG export permits and ensuring the open access of American energy for our allies around the world.” – Mike Sommers, President and CEO, American Petroleum Institute   

    “Throughout their confirmation hearings, Governor Burgum, Congressman Zeldin, and Chris Wright have each proven their expertise and made clear they intend to advance an America-first, all-of-the-above energy strategy. With their leadership, I am confident we can collaborate on pragmatic, conservative policies to lower energy costs for American families and businesses and create good-paying jobs across the country—all while ensuring a cleaner future for generations to come.” – Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions 

    “We look forward to working with Mr. Wright to prioritize programs that help keep the lights on for families and businesses across America. We also look forward to working with Mr. Wright and DOE to make effective and efficient use of the remaining infrastructure funding appropriated by Congress that supports investments in electric infrastructure and helps co-ops harden their systems.” – James Matheson, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

    “We applaud the Senate’s confirmation of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy. In this new role, Secretary Wright will play a pivotal role in furthering our nation’s energy and national security goals through prioritizing reliable, 24/7/365 energy generation, like clean nuclear energy. We look forward to working with Secretary Wright to continue our progress toward building the resilient, reliable, and affordable energy grid of the future.” – Maria Korsnick, President and CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute

    “On behalf of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) community, I’m pleased to congratulate Chris Wright on his confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Energy. ASME continues to have strong alignment with the Department of Energy’s mission to advance our national energy goals, and we look forward to working with Secretary Wright to advance technology development, strengthen our energy workforce, and promote affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.” – Thomas Costabile, Executive Director and CEO, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

    “With the Senate’s confirmation of Chris Wright, Doug Burgum, and Lee Zeldin, the United States is poised for a new era of energy leadership. These individuals are proven champions of energy development, job creation, and technological innovation. Under their leadership, we are confident that the United States will lead in energy and technology advancement, which will continue to become more hand in glove over time. The Digital Energy Council looks forward to working alongside the administration to ensure continued progress in the digital energy sector.” – Thomas Mapes, President, Digital Energy Council

    “PLASTICS extends our sincere congratulations to Chris Wright on his confirmation to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Wright’s leadership in the energy sector, combined with his unwavering commitment to economic growth and job creation, aligns closely with the priorities of the plastics industry. We look forward to collaborating with Mr. Wright to implement practical, forward-thinking policies that will not only enhance the plastics industry but also promote sustainability, circularity, and responsible growth throughout the supply chain.” – Matt Seaholm, President and CEO, Plastics Industry Association 

    “Congratulations to Chris Wright on his confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Energy! With his expertise across nuclear, oil & gas, and renewables, America’s energy future is in strong hands.” – America First Policy Institute

    “Congratulations to Chris Wright on his confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Energy! With his deep expertise in energy innovation and commitment to affordability and reliability, we look forward to his leadership in shaping America’s energy future.” – The Colorado Business Roundtable

    “Chris is the right choice to reorient DOE toward a mission of bettering human lives—his passion has been evident for years.” – Western Energy Alliance

    “On behalf of EPSA and its members, I extend our congratulations to Secretary Chris Wright, Secretary Doug Burgum, and Administrator Lee Zeldin on their confirmations. We look forward to working with them to advance policies that enable infrastructure development and ensure Americans have access to reliable and cost-effective energy to meet the demands of a growing and evolving economy.” – Electric Power Supply Association 

    “Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy is a total game changer for American energy policy. We as a country are lucky that Chris’s vast energy knowledge, leadership abilities, and commitment to energy freedom will guide our energy policy.” – Alex Epstein, Author and Energy Advocate 
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China EximBank, UNICEF partner to support children in Nigeria

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Amakobe Sande (L), UNICEF representative to China, and Zhu Ying, general manager of the Sovereign Business Department of the Export-Import Bank of China, sign a memorandum of understanding in Beijing, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    The Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank) and UNICEF signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, marking the first collaboration between UNICEF and a financial institution based in China. This joint effort will focus on strengthening essential services for the well-being of children in Nigeria.

    The partnership will expand access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for vulnerable children and families. The program will reach 12 health-care facilities, 21 schools and 450 communities in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

    “UNICEF is grateful to the EximBank for this groundbreaking partnership,” said Amakobe Sande, UNICEF representative to China. “We look forward to working together to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improve critical services that safeguard children’s well-being.”

    Achieving universal access to WASH services by 2030 is a key goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In Nigeria, however, inadequate access to such services is a major contributor of child mortality and elevates the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea. It is estimated that only about 10% of Nigeria’s 110 million children have access to basic WASH services.

    “We appreciate UNICEF’s active contribution to the global cause for children,” said Yang Dongning, vice president of the China EximBank. “This program marks a new chapter in our cooperation, and its tangible outcomes will serve as a model for future collaborations.”

    Beyond WASH services, the initiative will also work to strengthen Nigeria’s primary health care system, enhancing maternal and newborn care, and immunization programs. It will further support community engagement and social mobilization and reinforce WASH-related systems and institutions to ensure greater impact. 

    “Waterborne diseases continue to pose a grave threat to children’s health in Nigeria,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative to Nigeria. She added that this initiative is a crucial step toward securing the rights and well-being of thousands of children in Nigeria.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Peace by chocolate: One Syrian refugee family’s journey to sweet success

    Source: United Nations 2

    “War can kill anything in a person, but it cannot kill values ​​and hope. Syrians are a naturally happy people, and we aspire to live in a spirit of giving, generosity and hospitality.”

    Just desserts

    With these words, Tareq Hadhad described to UN News the difficult journey his family took from the Syrian capital to the remote Canadian city of Antigonish.

    The Hadhads are a long-established Damascene family and from it came judges, engineers and doctors for generations. But, what they are best known for is chocolate, a legacy that Mr. Hadhad’s father, Issam, built in 1986.

    That year, the senior Mr. Hadhad decided to leave mechanical engineering and start making chocolate despite the fact that there were only a few well-known companies in the Middle East in that field at the time.

    Chocolate for good

    The younger Mr. Hadhad said his father wanted to be in a field “that made people around him happy” as frustration prevailed among Syria’s youth after the events of 1982, when the Hafez al Assad regime committed the Hama massacre.

    Founded “from scratch”, the company grew to employ hundreds of people.

    In 2008, it began exporting to several countries in the Middle East and Europe in line the senior Mr. Hadhad’s aspiration: to “deliver the message of the Syrians all over the world” through a universal product that everyone knew and loved, his son explained, adding that the goal was not only to increase sales, but to embark on several development and relief projects in Syria.

    “My father believed that if you are successful in your life, you have a responsibility to raise others to success,” Mr. Hadhad said.

    Peace by Chocolate

    Isam Hadhad makes chocolate in the factory.

    Time for survival

    Before 2013, the entire family of more than 60 people lived in one building chockful of memories just south of the Al-Midan area in old Damascus, standing their ground for two years after the war began.

    “I lost many members of my family,” Mr. Hadhad said. “My sister’s husband was arrested, tortured and then killed in prison. Many of my cousins ​​ disappeared, some of whom we still know nothing about and some of whom were summarily executed.”

    The chocolate factory was targeted in airstrike in 2012 and the following year, as Mr. Hadhad and his brother were walking in a street in downtown Damascus, a missile fell nearby.

    “Amid the dust, I thought my brother was dead,” he said. “I picked him up and ran home. When I got there, I told the family this is not the time to build a business or study. This is a time for survival.”

    ‘We are not victims’

    The family made the excruciating decision to seek refuge in Lebanon, leaving everything behind. The following year, they learned that the regime’s forces had “looted their homes, burned them down and bombed them to cover up the crime”.

    “There are many Syrians who have lost much more than us,” Mr. Hadhad said. “We are not victims. We are victors regardless of the outcome because we were able to survive the war with our lives and start our lives again.”

    The family registered with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and moved many times in Lebanon until they settled in the city of Sidon. While Mr. Hadhad said the Lebanese people were very hospitable to the Syrians, because no official agreements had been signed, they could not work, rent homes or go to school.

    Refugees giving back

    Lebanon, as a country of four to five million people at the time, received more than a million Syrian refugees in a very short period of time.

    “That’s equivalent to 10 to 15 million American refugees entering Canada in a year or two,” he said. “Of course, the country wouldn’t be able bear that burden. But, Lebanon absorbed that burden over 13 years.”

    Indeed, the burden of the war wasn’t just on Syria and the Syrian people, but on the peoples of the entire region, including the Jordanians, Lebanese, Turkish and Iraqis.

    However, the Hadhad family was determined “at every stage of our refugee story to prove to the world that we can give to the host community and not take”.

    For his part, Mr. Hadhad spent most of his days in Lebanon volunteering with several relief organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNHCR, providing his expertise in healthcare to both Syrian refugees and their Lebanese hosts alike, having reached the final stages of his medical studies before leaving Syria.

    Canada bound

    The family’s goal was to return to Syria, but when that seemed like a distant dream and their fears grew for the future of the young children who had missed years of education, they began applying for resettlement in other countries.

    In 2015, despite many interviews at embassies from around the world, not a single one would accept them, Mr. Hadhad said.

    “Late that year, things changed,” he said. “The new Canadian Government had pledged to receive about 25,000 Syrian refugees, and my family was one of them.”

    Peace by Chocolate

    The Hadhad family celebrating Canada Day.

    UN intervention

    The UN was the turning point in the Hadhad family’s story. Without being identified as refugees by the UNHCR, they would not have been able to even apply for resettlement in Canada.

    The Canadian embassy conducts cross-checks through the UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also played a key role in their resettlement process.

    But, the major credit goes to Canadians themselves. The tragic drowning of toddler Alan Kurdi and his family in the summer of 2015 while trying to reach Europe had spread throughout the globe, the cause of Syrian refugees became a global cause.

    Canadian hospitality, one family at a time

    Community leaders in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, home to 5,000 residents and 5,000 students at St. Francis Xavier University, raised enough money to host one Syrian family that matched the Hadhads, and so they sponsored them without knowing their names, the way they looked or even their backgrounds.

    “The community in Antigonish are pioneers in their DNA, and when they saw they could make a difference, they started the process of registering an organization called SAFE (Syrian Antigonish Families Embrace),” Mr. Hadhad said.

    “I don’t know how people who are almost 8,000km away from Syria or Lebanon could be so concerned with our ability to restart our lives and to see my siblings and my sister Alaa’s children go to school. I did not expect that there would be human beings among us on this planet with such a spirit of giving because we lived through wars and saw how people kill each other.”

    He said he came to Antigonish, on the eastern coast of Canada, because of them and because they believed that he, as a person, had the same values, dignity, respect, rights and freedoms that apply to anyone in Canada.

    One peace won’t hurt

    This act left a huge mark on him and prompted the family to do everything in their power to give back to the Canadian community “that believed in us and our humanity and tried to support us in every way”, he said.

    “This community restored our faith in humanity. Regardless of the colour of your skin, your religion or where you were born, you are qualified to be a human being.”

    It was also the community “that gave us the idea of ​peace with its kindness and generosity that match our values”, he added.

    Peace by Chocolate

    The original factory shed built by members of the community and located on the family’s property next to their home.

    ‘Peace by Chocolate’

    To prove that nothing is impossible with hope, the family spotted a niche job opportunity to build on the legacy they were forced to leave behind in Syria. While it took decades to register their chocolate company in Syria due to government corruption, it took only a few weeks in Canada.

    From there, the road to success began on all levels.

    “Our project did not start for a purely economic reason, nor did it start for a purely humanitarian purpose; it combined the two,” Mr. Hadhad said.

    “That is why we named it Peace by Chocolate. Many companies around the world aim to make profits, but our goal was to support the community and at the same time to try to grow the company to become one of the largest companies in Canada.”

    ‘Canadians pull together’

    A few months after the opening of Peace by Chocolate in 2016, wildfires swept through Fort McMurray in Alberta in Canada’s mid-west. The Hadhads were watching the news as Canadians lost everything as their homes burned down, forcing them to seek refuge at Canadian Red Cross shelters.

    “Canadians always pull together, so we felt a responsibility to give back to the people who welcomed us with such warmth and kindness,” Mr Hadhad said, explaining that they launched a fundraising campaign, donating profits from Peace for Chocolate to help aid organizations.

    In September of that year, at the UN Leaders’ Summit on Refugees in New York, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the Hadhad’s story and their contribution to the relief efforts in their new country just months after their arrival.

    Kindness pays off

    Since then, the Hadhad’s company has raised more than $655,000 to support relief projects for across Canada alongside 11 partnership agreements with such organizations as the Canadian Red Cross.

    “Thanks to the support of the Antigonish community and the country as a whole, we have been able to grow our company and have paid tens of millions in taxes to back into the Canadian economy,” Mr. Hadhad said.

    “Kindness pays off, and the best investment you can make is to be kind to others.”

    Peace by Chocolate is now the third largest employer in Antigonish, home to the company headquarters and factory. With the senior Mr. Hadhad as president and his son, Tareq, the CEO, the company has a branch in Halifax, the provincial capital, and its products are sold in more than a thousand stores across Canada.

    Mr. Hadhad said the Peace by Chocolate website has become the largest e-commerce platform in Canada’s Atlantic region, and it aspires to become the largest chocolate exporter in the country and to open branches in the United States, Japan and the Middle East.

    Peace by Chocolate

    Tareq and his father Isam meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the first time.

    Refugee to employer

    Despite the major differences that separate the family from their new community, what brought them together was “much stronger”, and they never felt like outcasts at any time or that they are obstacles to becoming part of that community.

    Mr. Hadhad said any successful refugee or migration story has two sides. There is, of course, a major role for the host community to play, but “the main responsibility lies primarily with the migrant or refugee”.

    “No one is going to knock on your door and ask about your story or your ambitions for the future. The first step always comes from the migrant or refugee themselves to tell their story,” he said.

    That is exactly what he did. He spoke with the local newspaper shortly after arriving and made the front page. The word spread. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) sent a correspondent to visit the Hadhad’s every month to follow up on their integration.

    A sense of belonging

    In addition to the warm welcome from Canadians themselves, stability was a major factor in the family’s integration, with the Hadhads granted permanent residency upon arrival.

    In many countries, as a refugee, “you can’t think beyond an hour, a week or a month because your situation is always temporary,” Mr. Hadhad explained.

    “What Canada also gave us was ambition for sustainability,” he said. “You can think 10 or 20 years into the future or even for the rest of your life. You can build projects and plan. Canada gave us a sense of belonging and citizenship even before we became Canadian citizens.”

    He said he has the utmost respect for “the Canadian brand” and what it stands for.

    “Regardless of what politicians, individuals or economists do, I am proud to belong to this great country and to be a Canadian citizen today.”

    UNHCR/Darren Calabrese

    Tareq Haddad with his family and friends in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for his citizenship ceremony in January 2020.

    ‘More than a miracle’

    After more than 13 years of war, destruction and displacement, Mr. Hadhad described the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime as “more than a miracle” as many Syrians had lost hope of getting rid of the oppressive regime that had terrorised the country for more than 50 years.

    The future of Syria seems “very bright” to him, thanks to the efforts of its heroic people who refused to leave Syria and those who sought refuge in other communities around the world and built strong relationships there, he said.

    “My city, Damascus, is the oldest city in the world. It has survived much greater disasters than what happened to it in the past 50 years,” he said. “God willing, we are on the road to recovery, and I have a strong belief that the Syrian people will overcome all the difficulties of the war and build a country that we can all be proud of.”

    After 12 years in exile, he is now looking forward to visiting the country soon to meet those loved ones he left behind, including one of his sisters.

    Pride and duty to the homeland

    Supporting the Canadian community was a duty to pay back those that embraced the Hadhads in their hour of need, and now the family is focusing on its moral obligation to help their homeland.

    From working on licensing in the Middle East to be closer to collecting donations through Peace by Chocolate sales, the Hadhads aim to support relief organizations and those helping Syrian refugees return home. Efforts are also underway to connect the Syrian-Canadian community by presenting models of projects in Syria that it can support.

    “It is an honour for us to contribute to rebuilding it again and to support our Syrian people,” Mr. Hadhad said.

    Peace by Chocolate

    The Hadhad family and many supporters join them in the opening of their factory in Antigonish in 2017.

    Creating a happy ending

    In a message to people facing hardship and forced expulsion, Mr. Hadhad stressed that “believing in values, in oneself and in a bright future is very important, but what is more important is fighting despair in all its forms”.

    “I advise anyone anywhere around the world looking for an opportunity – if you don’t find it, create it yourself,” he said.

    “As long as we are able to continue our lives, we are able to create new opportunities for ourselves and our new communities. We must not forget to give back to the countries that opened their doors to us, and at the same time be proud of where we came from, because we are ultimately ambassadors for our culture, our countries, and our values.”

    Mr. Hadhad cited author Mary Robinson: “nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In the quest to appease Israel, the media undermine our basic rights

    In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.

    COMMENTARY: By Bernard Keane

    Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ABC, insofar as they demonstrate how power works in Australia — and especially in Australia’s media.

    The first is how the ABC’s senior management abandoned due process in the face of a sustained lobbying effort by a pro-Israel group to have Lattouf taken off air, under the confected basis she was “antisemitic”.

    Managing director David Anderson admitted in court that there was a “step missing” in the process that led to her sacking — in particular, a failure to consult with the ABC’s HR area, and a failure to discuss the attacks on Lattouf with Lattouf herself, before kicking her out.

    To this, it might be added, was acting editorial director Simon Melkman’s advice to management that Lattouf had not breached any editorial policies.

    Anderson bizarrely singled out Lattouf’s authorship, alongside Cameron Wilson, of a Crikey article questioning the narrative that pro-Palestinian protesters had chanted “gas the Jews”, as basis for his concerns about her, only for one of his executives to point out the article was “balanced and journalistically sound“.

    That is, by the ABC’s own admission, there was no basis to sack Lattouf and the sacking was conducted improperly. And yet, here we are, with the ABC tying itself in absurd knots — no such race as Lebanese, indeed — spending millions defending its inappropriate actions in response to a lobbying campaign.

    The second moment that stands out is a decision by the court early in the trial to protect the identities of those calling for Lattouf’s sacking.

    Abandoned due process
     The campaign that the group rolled out prompted the ABC chair and managing director to immediately react — and the ABC to abandon due process and procedural fairness. Yet the court protects their identities.

    The reasoning — that the identities behind the complaints should be protected for their safety — may or may not be based on reasonable fears, but it’s the second time that institutions have worked to protect people who planned to undermine the careers of people — specifically, women — who have dared to criticise Israel.

    The first was when some members — a minority — of a WhatsApp group supposedly composed of pro-Israel “creatives” discussed how to wreck the careers of, inter alia, Clementine Ford and Lauren Dubois for their criticism of Israel.

    The publishing of the identities of this group was held by both the media and the political class to be an outrageous, antisemitic act of “doxxing”, and the federal government rushed through laws to make such publications illegal.

    No mention of making the act of trying to destroy people’s careers because they hold different political views — or, cancel culture, as the right likes to call it — illegal.

    Whether it’s courts, politicians or the media, it seems that the dice are always loaded in favour of those wanting to crush criticism of Israel, while its victims are left to fend for themselves.

    Human rights lawyer and fighter against antisemitism Sarah Schwartz has been repeatedly threatened with (entirely vexatious) lawsuits by Israel supporters for her criticism of Israel, and her discussion of the exploitation of Australian Jews by Peter Dutton.

    Targeted by another News Corp smear campaign
    She’s been targeted by yet another News Corp smear campaign, based on nothing more than a wilfully misinterpreted slide. She has no government or court rushing to protect her.

    Meanwhile, Peter Lalor, one of Australia’s finest sports journalists (and I write as someone who can’t abide most sports journalism) lost his job with SEN because he, too, dared to criticise Israel and call out the Palestinian genocide. No-one’s rushing to his aide, either.

    No powerful institutions are weighing in to safeguard his privacy, or protect him from the consequences of his opinions.

    The individual cases add up to a pattern: Australian institutions, and especially its major media institutions, will punish you for criticising Israel.

    Pro-Israel groups will demand you be sacked, they will call for your career to be destroyed. Those groups will be protected.

    Media companies will ride roughshod over basic rights and due process to comply with their demands. You will be smeared and publicly vilified on completely spurious bases. Politicians will join in, as Jason Clare did with the campaign against Schwartz and as Chris Minns is doing in NSW, imposing hate speech laws that even Christian groups think are a bad idea.

    Damaging the fabric of democracy
    This is how the campaign to legitimise the Palestinian genocide and destroy critics of the Netanyahu government has damaged the fabric of Australia’s democracy and the rule of law.

    The basic rights and protections that Australians should have under a legal system devoted to preventing discrimination can be stripped away in a moment, while those engaged in destroying people’s careers and livelihoods are protected.

    Ill-advised laws are rushed in to stifle freedom of speech. Australian Jews are stereotyped as a politically convenient monolith aligned with the Israeli government.

    The experience of Palestinians themselves, and of Arab communities in Australia, is minimised and erased. And the media are the worst perpetrators of all.

    Bernard Keane is Crikey’s politics editor. Before that he was Crikey’s Canberra press gallery correspondent, covering politics, national security and economics. First published by Crikey.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

    Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades.

    The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after just two hours of debate on amendments agreed to earlier by the Coalition. In blatant disregard for democracy, the government refused to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee for proper scrutiny.

    The amendments fail to address numerous deficiencies in the original bill that was introduced last November. Transparency has been wound back and hollow contribution caps have been locked in.

    In significant respects, however, the package is an improvement on the status quo, which has seen unrestricted donations and spending flourish. So, too, secrecy.

    We need to penetrate the sound and fury of partisanship and assess the substance of these laws. This will yield a much more nuanced picture than conveyed by cross bench claims of a major party stitch up.

    Some improvement to transparency

    The government originally proposed lowering the disclosure threshold for donations from $16,000 to $1,000. The revised bill settles on a new threshold of $5,000.

    The amendments fail to plug a loophole that allows a donor to give separately to all of the branches attached to a political party if each individual contribution is just under the threshold. For example, a donor could spread almost $45,000 to the nine state and federal branches of the ALP without being required to declare the amounts.

    But the new laws will usher in near-real time disclosure and substantially reduce “dark money”, a seismic shift from the secrecy and lack of timeliness in the regime it replaces.

    Hollow donation caps

    Under the reforms, a series of contribution caps have been introduced to curb the influence of big money in politics.

    In my assessment of the original bill, I highlighted how the caps would prevent multi-million dollar contributions from cashed-up individuals.

    The amendments go further by closing a number of sizeable loopholes. Self financing candidates, such as Clive Palmer and Malcolm Turnbull will be subject to the contribution caps. The current exclusions for membership and affiliation fees to associated entities – “disguised donations” – will also be caught by the caps.

    But any positives are emphatically outweighed by the “annual gift cap” more than doubling to $50,000. The same “spreading” loophole that applies to the disclosure obligations would allow a donor to to give just shy of this amount to each of a party’s state and federal branches across the country. The major parties could reap up to almost $450,000 per annum from a single donor.

    And the “overall gift cap” on total donations made to political parties and candidates is a generous $1.6 million, which means large contributions will still be permissible under the new framework.

    The government has also failed to remove the patently unfair provisions relating to “nominated entities”, which are likely to be used by the major parties as investment vehicles.

    As the Victorian Electoral Review Expert Panel has rightly noted, such entities:

    provide some (parties) with significantly more funds, creating a risk that those (parties) drown out other voices.

    Election spending contained and fairer

    The spending caps in the new finance laws are fundamentally unaltered by the government’s amendments.

    The $800,000 per electorate limit, and $90 million per party nationally, will contain the “arms race” that has necessitated “big money” fundraising and fuelled unfair contests.

    However, the limits are set too high and will benefit the established parties due to the narrow scope of the spending caps in individual electorates. This means the major parties will be able to shift funding to must-win seats without being caught by the electorate caps.

    This shortcoming has been seized upon as clear evidence that Labor and the Liberals are seeking to kneecap Teal election campaigns. While having some force, these criticisms should be viewed in the context of the current situation where the major parties have an unfettered ability to direct spending to marginal seats, a situation which the Teals are ironically defending with their opposition to spending caps.

    The importance of public funding

    The new regime includes a substantial jump in public funding from $3.50 to $5 per vote.

    Crossbenchers, such as Kate Chaney, are opposed, to the increase, saying it will entrench the might of the majors while making it harder for new independents:

    The effect of increasing public funding is that political parties don’t have to fundraise because they’ve got their war chests. But any challengers do have to fundraise.

    While there is a clear risk of unfairness, the crossbench position throws the baby out with the bathwater. It romanticises the role of private funding, skating over the risks of corruption and undue influence via large donations.

    The public funding of political parties and candidates is warranted. But there should be a conversation about the design and scope of taxpayer support.

    The political finance laws could be made considerably fairer by fixing the structural bias that favours incumbents, including teal MPs. And they don’t need to be as generous given the large flows of private funding that will continue under the shallow contribution caps.

    Unfinished business

    Bad processes tend to make bad laws. The government’s actions have cast a pall of illegitimacy over its political finance regime. The new framework is unfair and ineffectual in significant ways and yet democracy enhancing in others.

    We are all trustees of democracy, with an obligation to protect and deepen democratic practices. An urgent task in that continuing struggle is to protect the strengths of these laws while jettisoning the elements that are egregiously bad.

    Joo-Cheong Tham has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, European Trade Union Institute, International IDEA, the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Electoral Commission. He is a Director of the Centre for Public Integrity; Expert Network Member of Climate Integrity; a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; and the Victorian Division Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) of the National Tertiary Education Union.

    – ref. Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy – https://theconversation.com/parliament-has-passed-landmark-election-donation-laws-they-may-be-a-stich-up-but-they-also-improve-australias-democracy-249588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New appointments to the National Film and Sound Archive board

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government has appointed Mrs Lucinda Brogden AM as Deputy Chair of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Board.

    Mr Joseph Thorp, Ms Caroline Lilley and Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe have also been appointed as members of the Board, each for a term of three years.

    A treasured national collecting institution, the Archive collects, preserves and shares Australia’s audiovisual culture – providing an unbroken record of Australian creativity and diversity.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointments would strengthen the governance and strategic direction of the National Film and Sound Archive. 

    “Lucinda, Joe, Carol and Jackie have accomplished and varied careers in their respective fields with valuable experience working in Australia’s arts industry. 

    “Protecting our beloved cultural institutions for future generations means having the best leadership in place to safeguard them.”

    Mrs Lucinda Brogden AM has been a member of the Archive Board since December 2021 and has more than 30 years’ experience in accounting, finance and organisational psychology. She currently serves on a number of boards including as Chair of the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, Director of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance, Director at Australian Unity, and a Director of Be Kind Sydney. 

    In 2019, Mrs Brogden was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to workplace mental health and wellbeing. 

    Mr Joseph Thorp is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. Following a career in international business, Mr Thorp serves as Secretary of Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide and Director of professional advisory services firm Slingsby Taylor Pty Ltd. Mr Thorp sits on a variety of other boards including the Governance and Nominations Committee at AnglicareSA, and as a Director of the Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited. Mr Thorp has also served as Chairman and member of different boards including Chair of the Council of Governors of St Peter’s College, and Chair of Guide Dogs South Australia and Northern Territory.

    Ms Carol Lilley has over 25 years’ experience in financial statement audit, governance and assurance, internal audit and project and risk management, with a particular focus on government. She is currently a member of the Treasury, Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Aged Care Quality Safety Commission Audit and Risk Committees. Ms Lilley is also on the Financial and Performance Reporting Sub Committee and Chair of the Financial Statements Sub Committee. Previously Ms Lilley has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committees’ for Services Australia and for the National Library of Australia. She’s also previously served as Chair of the Department of Home Affairs Audit and Risk Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee of the Archive from 2014 to 2021. 

    Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe has more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing and digital transformation roles across the media and entertainment, financial services, telecommunications, technology and aviation sectors. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of Football Australia, Co-Chair of the Local Operating Entity Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Board Director of Hayes Theatre Co, and an External Member of the University of Sydney’s Risk and Performance Senate Committee. Prior to this, Ms Lee-Joe has worked as an advisor and manager at multiple media and communications companies including Netflix, BBC, Canva, Skype, K-Box Global and Virgin Mobile. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Balancing Environmental Considerations and Cost Optimization to Shape the Future of Sustainable Procurement: Daisuke Okumura

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Balancing Environmental Considerations and Cost Optimization to Shape the Future of Sustainable Procurement: Daisuke Okumura

    Key Figure in Raw Material Procurement for Sustainable EV Batteries
    Daisuke Okumura
    Engineering Procurement Promotion Department, Procurement DivisionMobility Energy Business DivisionPanasonic Energy Co., Ltd.
    Okumura joined the company in 2003, initially handling rare metal sales at the Corporate International Trade Division (at the time). He later spent five and a half years in Shanghai, China, gaining experience in group-wide centralized contracts for battery materials, steel, and resins. After returning to Japan, he engaged in lithium-ion battery material procurement. He is currently involved in cost reduction for raw materials, supplier selection, and BOM*¹ cost management, primarily for automotive applications.
    ＊1: Bill of Materials (BOM): The total cost of all components and materials required for product manufacturing.

    Taking on the Challenge of Reducing Environmental Impact Across the Entire Supply Chain
    As increasing importance is placed on sustainability and ESG, the role of procurement has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Sustainable procurement is now a key element of environmental consideration and social responsibility. In addition to the traditional Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD) criteria, reducing environmental impact has become a key factor in supplier selection.

    In the value chain of automotive lithium-ion batteries, a substantial portion of CO₂ emissions arises from raw material extraction, processing, and transportation, more so than battery production itself. Notably, the procurement of cathode and anode materials associated with battery performance and safety accounts for nearly half of these emissions. In response, Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. has set a goal to halve its carbon footprint (CFP)*² by FY2030 compared to FY2021. To achieve this, the company is advancing initiatives to minimize environmental impact across the supply chain in addition to realizing net zero CO₂ emissions at its own plants (becoming carbon neutral).

    Additionally, procurement must quickly adapt to price fluctuations caused by factors beyond our control, such as geopolitical risks and policy changes. To enhance resilience, we are not only diversifying supply sources but also working closely with customers to identify and secure safer, higher-quality raw materials, strengthening the resilience of our procurement operations.
    ＊2: Carbon Footprint (CFP): CO₂ emissions converted from greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire product life cycle—from raw material procurement to disposal and recycling of a product or service.

    Increasing the Local Procurement Rate to Accelerate a Sustainable Procurement Strategy
    Various initiatives are underway in the United States, the key battleground for automotive lithium-ion batteries. Since 2019, Panasonic Energy has partnered with the US-based battery recycling company Redwood Materials. Together, they are working to establish the first cathode material recycling system in the US by recycling battery waste materials from Panasonic Energy of North America’s factory and using them to manufacture new cathode materials.If successfully implemented, this initiative will also enhance local procurement rates in the US, aligning with the goal of strengthening North American supply chains. However, ensuring economic feasibility is critical to its success. In addition to improving material recycling rates, extensive discussions and negotiations are ongoing to keep costs competitive with existing cathode materials in the market.

    We showcased NMG’s environmentally friendly graphite powder at the Panasonic booth at CES 2025.

    Until now, much of the graphite used in anode materials came from Asia, creating issues with transportation costs and environmental impact. To address these issues, we have signed a long-term supply agreement with Canada-based Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG), a company that produces graphite using renewable energy from hydropower.By accelerating this sustainable procurement strategy, we aim to reduce the CFP of battery production and establish a low-environmental-impact supply chain.
    In the increasingly competitive market for automotive lithium-ion batteries, survival depends not only on quality and cost but also on speed. Introducing new materials, including the evaluation process, has traditionally taken several years. This is too slow to keep up with rapid global changes.Recognizing this challenge, we are reviewing evaluation methods, risk management processes, and other key procedures. By working closely with our customers to gain their understanding and cooperation, we are working to shorten the time required for material adoption.

    Leading the Development of a Circular Economy for EV Batteries
    Our goal is to first build an environmentally conscious supply chain in the US to establish a circular economy for automotive lithium-ion batteries and then expand the initiative to Japan. To scale these efforts, connecting recycling companies and cathode material manufacturers is essential, creating a cohesive ecosystem. While there are significant technological and cost-related challenges to overcome, advocating for the importance of tackling these issues and leading the way is a crucial role of procurement.
    Panasonic Energy’s mission is “Achieving a society in which the pursuit of happiness and a sustainable environment are harmonized and free of conflict.” To me, harmony means balancing environmental responsibility with economic viability. Without achieving this balance, our mission cannot be fulfilled. It is an extremely challenging goal, but by driving reforms with both caution and boldness, we are committed to advancing the adoption of EVs—key to realizing a decarbonized society—and will continue to take on this challenge with determination.

    Touring a factory to select a new supplier (Okumura is second from the left)

    The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panasonic Recognized with Top ‘A’ Rating by CDP for Climate Change Leadership for Third Consecutive Year

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Panasonic Recognized with Top ‘A’ Rating by CDP for Climate Change Leadership for Third Consecutive Year

    Osaka, Japan, February 7, 2025 – Panasonic Holdings Corporation (PHD) has been named by CDP*1, an international non-profit organization, as an A-list*2 company for 2024 in recognition of its leadership in disclosure transparency and performance in the area of climate change. This marks the third consecutive year, and the sixth time overall, that PHD has achieved CDP’s highest rating.

    CDP is widely recognized as the global standard for corporate environmental reporting, and the ratings published annually by CDP are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions toward a net zero, sustainable and resilient economy. In 2024, more than 24,800 companies, representing two-thirds of the global market value, reported their environmental data through CDP. Earning an “A” rating from CDP indicates that a company has been evaluated as positioning climate change as a critical management issue and has effectively managed governance, strategy, risk management, metrics, and targets related to climate change as per the guidelines of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)*3, which helps the company to gain the trust of investors and customers and facilitate its business.
    PHD received the highest “A” rating in the climate change category again for setting ambitious and meaningful goals to address and resolve climate change issues, for its emissions reduction activities, and for the transparency and comprehensiveness of its information disclosure. Moreover, in 2024, PHD received recognition from the international organization Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*4 for its “Net-Zero Targets”.
    Committed to making sure that my children and grandchildren and yours, and future generations can enjoy a healthy environment, the Panasonic Group will continue to promote efforts to solve global environmental problems and transparent disclosure of environmental information to achieve the mission of realizing “an ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind.”
    *1: CDP is an international NGO headquartered in the United Kingdom. It conducts activities to urge companies and local governments to disclose information about their environmental measures.
    *2: CDP rates companies using nine grades (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D-, and F).
    *3: Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): A framework for disclosing financial information on corporate climate change initiatives and impacts. The TCFD was established by the Financial Stability Board, which consists of central banks and other institutions from various countries, in response to a request from the G20.
    *4: A collaboration between the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), with a global team composed of people from these organizations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Join Democratic Colleagues in Raising Alarm Over Illegal and Indiscriminate Trump Funding Cuts to NIH

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) today joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s decision to cut NIH funding – a move that threatens to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. These illegal cuts would create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, undermining progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, and potentially costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

     “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds,” wrote the senators.

    Last week, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent – creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system and stifle the development of new cures for disease. It would also fail produce real cost savings and instead just shift costs to states who can’t afford to pay the difference.

    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators continued.

    The senators’ letter points out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023 and every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. 

    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research—they cost lives,” the senators stressed.

    “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.”

    This letter comes on the heels of a Monday ruling in which a federal judge temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21.

    A copy of the letter is available here and below:

     Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our serious concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine the nation’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump Administration has taken will create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.

    Just last week, NIH announced an illegal plan to cap indirect cost rates that research institutions rely on. In capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent for NIH-funded grants, this policy would cut funding essential for conducting research, such as operating and maintaining laboratories, equipment, and research facilities. This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly.

    These confusing and harmful policy changes threaten patient safety. The strength of the American research enterprise – recognized as the best in the world – is built on Congress’ bipartisan commitment to supporting essential research infrastructure. This funding, which Congress has long appropriated on a bipartisan basis, fuels groundbreaking medical discoveries and cements the United States’ position as the global leader in biomedical research.

    In addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with everyone from custodians, to research trainees, to scientists facing potential layoffs. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023. Every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. These reckless policy changes not only threaten biomedical innovation and research, but also the livelihoods of thousands of workers in every state across the nation.

    The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research – they cost lives.

    The NIH plays a critical role in our nation’s efforts to fund scientific advancements that improve health and save lives. Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to California Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Early Winter Coastal Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in California who sustained economic losses caused by the coastal storm and high surf event that occurred Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Feb. 11, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered 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 that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, 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 Friday, Feb.14, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at a Virtual Business Recovery Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application.

    Virtual Business Recovery Center
    Mondays – Fridays
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
    (916) 461-7673

    Closed on Monday, Feb. 17 for President’s Day

    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 economic injury applications is Nov. 13.

    ###

    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: Sen. Johnson Joins Finance Committee Republicans in Vowing to Oppose Any Short-Term Tax Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), members of the Senate Finance Committee, in sending a letter to President Donald Trump vowing to oppose any tax package that only provides temporary relief.

    “You were elected with a mandate to do big things. One of those big things is to provide lasting tax relief for small businesses and families across the country. As members of the Senate Finance Committee, we write to express our support for your position that the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act must be permanent and not sunset. After passage of your tax cuts in 2017, we had a booming economy with soaring investment, higher wages, increased productivity, and zero corporate inversions. Without action, at the end of this year, taxes will increase for Americans in every income group and nearly six million jobs are at risk. A temporary extension of these pro-growth and pro-family policies is a missed opportunity. Businesses need certainty while investing in their companies and taxpayers should not fear tax hikes due to Congressional inaction. Congressional Republicans have an historic opportunity to enact this lasting tax relief. Failure to act boldly does a disservice to the American people who entrusted us to deliver in November. Thus, we will not support a tax package that only provides temporary relief from tax hikes,” the senators wrote. 

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Demands Fair, Reciprocal Trade

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a plan for fair, free, reciprocal trade as he makes clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off. The U.S. has one of the most open economies in the world, yet our trading partners keep their markets closed to U.S. exports — and reciprocal trade will finally correct that imbalance.
    President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
    Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
    American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
    Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S. This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
    Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through ‘Made in America.’ Huge news for Main Street!”
    Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
    Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
    Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
    Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
    Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
    Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
    Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
    Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
    Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
    Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
    Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
    Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
    Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
    Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all.  For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
    Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
    House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”
    President Trump’s plan to restore fairness and put American workers first was met with immediate praise:
    Renewable Fuels Association: “For almost a decade now, we have spent precious time and resources fighting back against an unfair and unjustified tariff regime imposed by Brazil’s government on U.S. ethanol imports. What’s more ironic is that these tariff barriers have been erected against U.S. ethanol imports while our country has openly accepted—and even encouraged and incentivized—ethanol imports from Brazil. As the two largest ethanol producers on the planet, we long enjoyed a cooperative free-trade relationship with Brazil involving ethanol, relying on each other when there were shortfalls or disruptions in the U.S. or Brazilian marketplace. However, that bilateral cooperation was abandoned by Brazil in 2017, when they instituted a tariff rate quota scheme, and eventually adopted a tariff in 2020. The Brazilian tariff on U.S. ethanol now stands at 18 percent and has virtually eliminated all market access for U.S. ethanol producers. We thank President Trump for taking this action and hope this reciprocal tariff will help encourage a return to free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil.”
    American Iron and Steel Institute: “AISI applauds President Trump’s action today ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. American steel producers know well the negative impact of foreign unfair trade practices, including subsidies, currency manipulation and other unfair and discriminatory policies and practices, on domestic industries and their workers … We look forward to working with the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and other key administration officials as they develop their plan of action to ensure reciprocity in international trade and to preserve the competitiveness of the American steel industry and other sectors.”
    Growth Energy: “While American biofuel producers have been almost entirely blocked off from the Brazilian market, Brazilian producers have enjoyed unfettered access to the U.S. In some cases, certain policies in the U.S. even incentivize the use of imported Brazilian ethanol instead of ethanol produced here in the U.S.,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This runs contrary to putting America first, and is exactly why President Trump is taking steps to address this issue. Thank you, President Trump for taking action and pushing for a level playing field for American ethanol producers.”
    Small Business Administration: “President Trump is right: restoring a level playing field on trade will unlock the next blue collar boom – creating jobs and powering our economy through “Made in America.” Huge news for Main Street!”
    Energy Secretary Chris Wright: “President’s Trump’s ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ on trade puts the American people first. As a former businessman, it’s great to see our country being run like a business and fighting for fairness on trade– it’s the American way!”
    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump is making America strong again. His Fair and Reciprocal Plan is commonsense: if you impose tariffs on us, we will impose tariffs on you in return.”
    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Bravo, President Trump! Thank you for announcing the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, which is based on legislation we worked on together in your first term. Unfair trade practices have hurt America’s transportation and infrastructure sectors for too long. President Trump’s trade plan will strengthen supply chains, boost infrastructure investments, and expand American transportation solutions. We promised a golden age of transportation, and I will not rest until America’s transportation system is great again!”
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For too long Washington has put foreign interests above Americans — that ends today. @POTUS’ Fair and Reciprocal Plan will put American workers on a level playing field.”
    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: “The American people elected @POTUS with a mandate to grow our economy and bring back American manufacturing. When it comes to Reciprocal tariffs, no one should ever underestimate President Trump’s vision, long game, and determination to deliver the Great American Comeback.”
    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA): “For too long, foreign countries have exploited America through unfair trade practices. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to confront these countries, protecting American workers and businesses through trade that is fair again. The Trump policies are focused on leveling the playing field and putting America FIRST.”
    Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN): “The globalist approach to trade threw our workers under a bus driven by their foreign competitors. President Trump’s America First trade plan corrects this injustice that our industries and workers have faced for decades. The reciprocal tariffs announced today will bring back fairness and prosperity and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “President Trump is putting American workers and farmers first. He will end unfair trade deals and prioritize goods made in America! With President Trump at the negotiating table, we are going to get the best possible deal.”
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “Most countries charge us far more in tariffs than we charge them. Those days are over. I applaud President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs against our trading partners. Whatever tariffs they put on American products, we will put on their products. This will be a game changer. Simple and brilliant.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS): “Gone are the days of unfair trade deals that give foreign nations the upper hand. Today, President Trump put the world on notice: America will no longer be taken advantage of.”
    Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE): “The average weighted tariff on foreign products coming into the U.S. is 1.5%, yet the average tariff on U.S. products globally is 6%. President Trump promised to bring those numbers closer to balance. These tariffs are a step toward accomplishing that goal.”
    Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): “President Trump’s fight for a level playing field and reciprocal treatment is common sense. The U.S. is done treating others better than they’re treating us. President Trump understands the art of the deal, and thanks to his strong leadership, we’re getting better deals that will help our businesses and grow our economy!”
    Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): “President Trump is brokering deals that put American farmers, manufacturers, and producers first. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers and there’s no reason we can’t produce most things right here at home.”
    Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN): “The master negotiator strikes again. @POTUS is realigning the playing field with countries that have taken advantage of us for far too long and delivering on his promise to put America FIRST.”
    Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI): “President Trump is wasting no time leveling the playing field. I am optimistic the pressure applied by the ongoing tariff negotiations will lead to a wave of investment across the U.S. @POTUS is keeping his promise to put our economy first.”
    Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): “President Trump understands that American workers and manufacturers can outcompete those of any other nation. But for far too long they have been held back by a lack of reciprocity because other countries impose much higher tariffs and other barriers than the United States imposes on imports. President Trump’s Executive Order helps deliver a level playing field for American workers and manufacturers.”
    Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL): “President Trump has just announced RECIPROCAL TARIFFS for countries unfairly treating American products! If you want to sell to the USA, we must have access to your market as well. What is fair, is fair!”
    Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): “We will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by the rest of the world. Under President Trump, government is putting the American people first again. And that means RECIPROCAL TARIFFS”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA): “Brazil imposes an 18% tariff on U.S. ethanol while we only charge Brazil 2.5%. In 2024, that imbalance resulted in our nation importing $200 million in Brazilian ethanol while Brazil only imported $52 million in U.S. ethanol. Our farmers deserve better!”
    Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): “The days of America being taken advantage of are over. The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade.”
    Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN): “Our nation has been at the bad end of business deals regarding trade practices with other countries for far too long. That’s coming to an end. President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are putting the world on notice — the gravy train is over, and we won’t be taken advantage of anymore.”
    Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): “President Trump is a strong leader – he’s not allowing the world to take advantage of the United States any longer. These reciprocal tariffs will incentivize other nations to level the playing field and remove long-standing, exorbitant tariffs. America FIRST!”
    Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “President Trump just announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on the foreign countries who are ripping us off. I’m proud to be leading this effort in Congress.”
    Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL): “I thank President Trump for standing up for American workers with his bold plan to restore balance and fairness to the marketplace. He and his administration understand that our workers deserve trade policies that are fair and beneficial to all.  For far too long, blue-collar communities in the United States have been ripped off by foreign competitors benefiting from manipulative trade practices. If other countries believe they can continue to cheat the American people of their share of prosperity, they are sadly mistaken. President Trump has the right plan to secure our economy, restore fairness to international trade, and bring back good-paying jobs to the United States.”
    Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX): “American workers, farmers, and manufacturers finally have a President who fights for them! I applaud President Trump’s plan to combat unfair trade practices. Our best days are still ahead of us!”
    House Republican Study Committee: “The Trump administration just announced reciprocal tariffs for countries like China that rip off the United States. It’s past time to flip the script on this. President Trump is trying to restore fairness in trade, ensuring that other countries are held to account for slapping tariffs on American goods. Gone are the days of our great nation being taken advantage of. Period.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Boozman, Thune Reintroduce Legislation to Repeal the Federal Death Tax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    February 13, 2025

    Cotton, Boozman, Thune Reintroduce Legislation to Repeal the Federal Death Tax

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and 45 of their Senate Republican colleagues today to reintroduce legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this purely punitive tax that can hit family-run farms, ranches, and businesses as the result of the owner’s death.

    The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa).

    “Families shouldn’t have to sell major portions of their businesses or farms after the death of a parent just to afford the estate tax. Breaking apart a family’s livelihood is neither fair nor good for the economy. This legislation would end the federal death tax, making it much easier to preserve a family’s legacy and way of life,” said Senator Cotton. 

    “Arkansas’s farm families and small businesses should have the opportunity to preserve their legacies for the next generation instead of getting hit with a penalty that jeopardizes their livelihoods,” said Senator Boozman. “They need certainty and relief from this counterproductive burden. Repealing the death tax supports our agriculture producers and entrepreneurs so they can continue to grow their operations and benefit their local economy.”

    “Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota,” said Senator Thune. “Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability.”

    Text of the bill can be found here.

    Background on the Death Tax Repeal Act:

    • Fully repeals the Estate Tax.
    • Repeals the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) for when a grandparent transfers assets to a grandchild.  
    • Maintains step-up basis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regeneration and regrowth in Aceh: 20 years on from the Indian Ocean Tsunami

    Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

    Working with women 

    Working with ACIAR, Dr Malem McLeod, a soil scientist with the NSW DPRID, highlighted the kelompok wanita tani (KWT) women’s farming groups as a particularly successful initiative that grew organically from local efforts. 

    ‘In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, we met a group of women, of all ages, who were coming together, gardening using a vacant village land. It was a kind of a healing forum to recover from the loss of people and livelihoods and share the challenges of recovery while growing food for family consumption,’ said Dr McLeod. ‘It was also a place for socialisation and information exchange.’  

    The ACIAR-supported project tapped into this by facilitating the creation of around 30 women’s farming groups across the 4 regions of Aceh. Training was provided for local leaders and extension officers to help the women learn improved techniques for growing vegetables and engage with local business and government, leveraging the support from ACIAR.  

    In Aceh farming families, the man in the family is the main income earner through growing food crops such as rice and legumes. ‘Although the women contribute significantly to the work on growing the crops, the results are managed by the husband and most women are financially dependent on men,’ explained Dr McLeod. 

    By growing vegetables in groups, women were able to improve their household food security and generate their own income, which increased their confidence and independence.  

    Dr Malem McLeod, soil scientist
    NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

    ‘Some of the women’s group members became business-minded, even pre-selling their produce to wholesalers. The women also reported that working in the garden with the groups enhanced their physical health and wellbeing.’ 

    Technical training was provided for 245 women and agricultural extension officers, with about 750 women in farmer groups collectively benefitting by A$297,000 a year.  

    ‘The women’s groups facilitated a shift from financial dependence to self-reliant entrepreneurship,’ said Dr McLeod.  

    She noted that when new farming practices were introduced to men, they used it to improve their own food crop growing. But when new practices were shared with women, they brought them to the whole family and shared it with other women, effectively changing their whole community. ‘The information exchange and improvements became contagious,’ said Dr McLeod. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Repeal the Death Tax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.13.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) in reintroducing legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax.

    “Our legislation would repeal the death tax and prevent families, particularly those with family farms, from facing unnecessary hardship when a loved one passes away,” said Senator Hoeven. “It removes a major obstacle to estate planning and ensuring the future operations of small businesses and family farms, allowing them to stay intact and continue boosting the economy.”

    “Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota,” said Leader Thune. “Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability.”

    Joining Senator Hoeven and Leader Thune in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

    MIL OSI USA News –