Category: Economy

MIL-OSI Security: Peoria Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Multi-Year Fraud Scheme

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

PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Chad Duane Campen, 35, was sentenced on October 24, 2024, to 135 months (11.3 years) following his convictions for bank fraud (one count), wire fraud (three counts), illegal monetary transaction (one count), bankruptcy fraud (one count), and false statements under oath (one count).

At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Campen successfully swindled dozens of individuals and financial institutions between 2013 and 2021. During the course of the sentencing, the court heard from several of Campen’s victims who described themselves as “survivors” of Campen’s crimes. Campen pretended to be engaged in various business ventures ranging from farming to the construction of a solar farm. Via this elaborate scheme, Campen obtained loans from multiple banks using each fraudulent loan to not only enrich himself but also to pay off his previous victim. By the time his scheme collapsed, the government showed that Campen had obtained more than $17 million from these banks, of which almost $5 million was still outstanding.

Campen, however, did not limit himself to stealing from banks, he also defrauded individuals. Witnesses, victim letters, and other evidence demonstrated how Campen would pretend to befriend people over the course of years and be welcomed into their families and homes only to steal from them. Campen caused a family farm to have its equipment repossessed after he claimed their equipment as his to secure one of his fraudulent loans. In another instance, Campen offered to assist an elderly man, gained access to his home, and stole more than $50,000 from him. And Campen convinced a family to invest in a purported farming opportunity. The family took out a loan using their own farm as collateral. When Campen’s fraud scheme collapsed, the family not only lost the money they had given Campen, but their farm—which had been in their family for more than 100 years—had to be sold.

Another victim of Campen’s fraud was the Village of Bartonville, Illinois. Campen with co-conspirator Richard Weiss, convinced the Village to extend loans and additional funds to tear down the old Bowen Building in Bartonville. Campen lied to the Village and made promises that he could recoup the Village’s loan and investments through the sale of materials from the building. Campen secured these funds by falsely claiming that he already had buyers lined up for the stone for the building. As a result of Campen’s fraud, the Village lost the equivalent of half of all its property tax revenue for an entire year.

Campen’s co-conspirator in certain acts connected with that fraud, the owner of the Bowen building, Richard Weiss, 62, of Pekin, Illinois, was charged in a separate case in February 2024 with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, related to his and Campen’s receipt of funds from the Village. He pleaded guilty to both counts in February and was sentenced the same day as Campen to 15 months of imprisonment. Weiss’s sentence took into account his unique personal characteristics and significantly smaller role in the offense. In imposing the sentence, Judge Shadid noted that Weiss himself was a victim of Campen’s fraud.

As Campen’s scheme began to unravel, he tried to use the mechanisms of bankruptcy court to delay his creditors and prevent discovery of his fraud. Campen committed additional fraud in the bankruptcy court by filing counterfeit documents and making false statements in his pleadings and under oath. Campen’s fraud was quickly detected by the professionals with the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10, who added to the growing investigation of Campen by providing a criminal referral to the United States Attorney’s Office.

A seventeen-count indictment was filed January 19, 2022, and Campen was arrested and detained five days later. Although he has filed several motions and appeals requesting bond, he has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. Campen entered into a written plea agreement in March 2024, pleading guilty to seven of the seventeen counts.

The statutory penalties for the charges are:

Charge	Imprisonment Time	Supervised Release
Bank Fraud (Ct. 5)	Not more than 30 years	5 years
Wire Fraud (Cts. 6, 12, 13)	Not more than 20 years	3 years
Illegal Monetary Transaction (Ct. 14)	Not more than 10 years	3 years
Bankruptcy Fraud (Ct. 16)	Not more than 5 years	3 years
False Statements Under Oath (Ct. 17)	Not more than 5 years	3 years

During his term of supervised release, Campen is to refrain from engaging in any occupation, business or profession related to the banking industry, including, but not limited to, employment by a bank or any other financial institution.

“The defendant’s repeated acts of fraud caused great damage not only to financial institutions, but also to members of our community, including but not limited to the Village of Bartonville and its taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Our office is committed to protecting individuals and banks from predatory acts like those of the defendant and will vigorously pursue such cases. We are grateful to our federal law enforcement partners, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10.”

“Today’s sentence will go a long way in protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois (Region 10). “We are grateful to U.S. Attorney Harris and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect the interests of creditors and the public.”

“Driven by an unquenchable thirst for ill-gotten gains, Chad Campen embarked on an eight-year fraud spree which led to devastating results for those who put their trust in him,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This sentence sends a clear message about the consequences of greed and demonstrates the resolve of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to follow the money trail and ensure justice.”

“Over several years, Chad Campen defrauded dozens of victims, creating severe economic distress for families and straining resources for institutions that fell victim to his fraud scheme,” said Marta C. Grijalva, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “This sentencing reflects the consequences of actions that caused significant financial pain to not only institutions and communities, but also individual families. That is why IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners remain committed to safeguarding the financial security of our communities and holding accountable those who exploit the system for personal gain.”

The case investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. The bankruptcy fraud charge was referred for criminal prosecution by the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10, Nancy J. Gargula. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Bipartisan Colleagues Push for More Temporary Work Visas to Help Small Businesses in Colorado

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), alongside 37 of their bipartisan colleagues, to urge the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum allowable number of additional temporary, non-agricultural (H-2B) visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to support local economies and fill needed roles for American small businesses.
“Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the senators. “The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that ‘counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.”
In Colorado, more than 8,400 temporary H-2B visas were requested by over 250 employers in Fiscal Year 2021 – reflecting a strong demand for H-2B workers in the state. In the letter, the senators highlight recent data from DOL’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys illustrating the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The rate of job openings have increased annually for top five H-2B occupations. Landscaping, hospitality, and the ski industry – all key to Colorado’s economy – are among the industries with the highest share of certified H-2B workers.
“As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024—roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers,” continued the senators.
In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, King, and Rounds, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Teas.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.V.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also signed the letter.
Bennet and Hickenlooper have previously pushed DHS and DOL to increase the availability of H-2B visas and worked to ensure that the visa program is efficient and effective. In 2022, they welcomed an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Secretaries Mayorkas and Su:
We write on behalf of seasonal businesses in our states—including employers of housekeepers in tourist destinations, landscapers with defined seasons, seafood processors with short harvesting windows, and fairs and carnivals—who are struggling to hire a sufficient number of temporary, seasonal laborers to support their operations.
In light of these labor shortages, we strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), to utilize the authority provided by Congress in the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025, as you did for Fiscal Year 2024. These visas will help employers handle their labor challenges, and provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months. We urge you to promptly publish a temporary rule implementing the release of these supplemental visas.
Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that “counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.”
The most current employment data illustrates the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The Department of Labor’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (JOLTS) show the rate of job openings have increased year over year for the industries that represent the top five H-2B occupations. As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024—roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers.
Congress has acknowledged this seasonal labor shortage by providing DHS with the authority to lift the H-2B visa cap for each of the past eight fiscal years. Given the growing demand for H-2B workers as employers continue to struggle with staffing shortages, we encourage you to promptly promulgate a temporary final rule for FY 2025 along the same lines as the FY 2024 rule.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce Funding to Increase Women’s Access to Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Programs in Southern Nevada

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

LAS VEGAS, NV – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced more than $700,000 in federal grant funding to increase women’s access to skills training in Southern Nevada to enhance their participation in construction apprenticeship programs. The funding, awarded to the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, will help recruit, train, and retain more women in their construction training programs. The funding comes from the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program, which supports programs that train women for union jobs and nontraditional occupations.
“Skills training programs and apprenticeships open the door to good-paying jobs without having to get a four-year college degree, and I’m working to make these opportunities available to more Nevadans,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding are being awarded to the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union to expand access for more women in their apprenticeships programs. I’ll keep working to support Nevada’s workforce and economy.”
“Apprenticeships are a great way for hardworking Nevadans of all walks of life to build opportunity and access good-paying, union jobs,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This grant will allow Southern Nevada Building Trades to expand their apprenticeship programs, and will help more women, especially women of color, build union careers and provide for their families. I’ll always fight to make sure Nevada’s workers have everything they need to build the infrastructure of the future.”
“We are proud to be awarded the first federal grant in the history of the Southern Nevada Building Trades through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program,” said Vince Saavedra, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades. “This $710,000 award will help us launch stipend programs for childcare, transportation, and create other critical support services, removing barriers for women to join and thrive in the union trades. With major projects like Brightline West, the Athletics Stadium, and others on the horizon, growing our skilled workforce is more important than ever. This grant is just the beginning as we continue to work to expand access to union apprenticeships and build a stronger future for all.”
Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have been working to support Nevada’s workers and ensure they have access to the training they need. Earlier this year, both senators announced that they secured nearly $16 million in federal funding for community projects to bolster workforce development in critical sectors throughout the state, including mental health care, nursing, and education. They also announced the delivery of federal funding they secured for workforce development to fill in-demand jobs in Southern Nevada. Senator Rosen recently announced $4 million to support registered apprenticeships and skilled workforce development in Northern Nevada and introduced legislation to bolster the housing construction workforce and a bill to provide Nevadans skills training in high demand fields like manufacturing, construction, and IT.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Delivers $54.9 Million Federal Boost for Zero-Emission Ferry Project, Driving Cleaner Transit Solutions for Highlands and Central New Jersey

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

Major Investment Made Possible Through Historic Inflation Reduction Act Championed by Pallone

Highlands, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. has announced a major win for central New Jersey with $54.9 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program to advance zero-emission high-speed ferries through Seastreak, LLC. This award will support the deployment of zero-emission ferries and essential charging infrastructure, aimed at cutting dangerous pollution and easing travel between New Jersey and Manhattan. Pallone, who helped author the Inflation Reduction Act as the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, championed Seastreak’s proposal as a model for clean, efficient transit in coastal communities.

“Bringing these federal dollars back to New Jersey means cleaner air, less traffic on our busiest routes, and a long-term boost for communities like Highlands,” said Pallone. “This project is about more than cutting dangerous pollution; it’s about strengthening our local economy and supporting sustainable transit solutions that benefit residents and businesses alike. Projects like this put New Jersey on the cutting edge of homegrown, clean energy.”

Headquartered in Atlantic Highlands, Seastreak operates a vital ferry service for thousands of central New Jerseyans daily. This funding allows the company to take a critical first step in its fleet overhaul, advancing zero-emission technology and setting a national example in coastal air quality improvement. The project also includes workforce development initiatives, such as training partnerships with local schools and industry groups.

“Seastreak is committed to being the one of the most environmentally friendly passenger ferry operators in the country,” said James D. Barker, Seastreak Vice President. “High-speed electric ferry technology is a new and quickly evolving space. With this grant, we are excited to contribute to a new frontier in maritime technology while continuing our efforts to improve air quality within the communities we serve. We’re grateful for Congressman Pallone’s work in Congress to make this project possible.”

Additionally, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) will receive $344 million to expand zero-emission equipment across port operations. Programs like the ZE Equipment for Ports (ZEEP) Voucher Incentive Program and Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) will help replace polluting cargo vehicles and install new charging stations to reduce harmful port emissions affecting neighboring communities.

EPA announced the selection of 55 applicants across 27 states and territories to receive nearly $3 billion nationwide through EPA’s Clean Ports Program.

“Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s historic $3 billion investment builds on President Biden’s vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in globally competitive solutions of the future. Delivering cleaner technologies and resources to U.S. ports will slash harmful air and climate pollution while protecting people who work in and live nearby ports communities.”

The EPA’s Clean Ports Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, reduces climate pollution from our nation’s ports. It aims to cut harmful diesel pollution, including criteria pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics, both at ports and in near-port communities by funding transformative infrastructure deployment and air quality planning. The EPA will work closely with Seastreak and PANYNJ to finalize agreements, ensuring these projects fulfill their commitment to cleaner, healthier communities across the New Jersey region.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Arrington Meets with Constituents Across West Texas

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19)

Lubbock, TX – House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) recently concluded a West Texas Tour, during which he visited various areas of his Congressional District to tour hospitals, meet with small business owners and local leaders, and speak with constituents about their concerns.

Andrews County

“I had a great time in Andrews County visiting with local leaders discussing the economic hardships facing our communities,” said Chairman Arrington. “Biden and Harris have launched an all-out assault on Rural America – our agriculture and energy economy, our working families, and our values – and communities like Andrews are paying the price. We need to rein-in Washington, return to pro-energy policies, and put an end to the welfare state by unleashing the full potential of the American economy and, most importantly, the American people.”

Gaines County

“I had a great time meeting with friends and fellow West Texans at a townhall in Gaines County, answering questions and speaking about the direction of our country,” said Chairman Arrington. “We all agree, there needs to be a sense of urgency because our nation is at a historic inflection point: we will either renew our faith in God and freedom or submit to the rise of socialism and the tyranny of a woke and weaponized federal government.”

Martin County

“Our great nation does not reap the benefits of energy independence and food security without excellent rural health care keeping our hard-working, freedom-loving workers in Rural America healthy and taken care of, and nobody understands this better than the Martin County Medical Hospital District,” said Chairman Arrington. “Recognized as one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in 2023 and 2024, we take great pride in having one of the best hospitals in the country right in our backyard. Keep up the great work!”

Howard County

“I had the privilege of joining the Big Spring Economic Development Corp and Big Spring Chamber of Commerce for a Howard County Community Roundtable,” said Chairman Arrington. “Communities like Big Spring have suffered under the skyrocketing inflation, excessive regulation, and woke policies that have become the hallmark of the Biden-Harris administration. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to chart a new path and restore prosperity for hardworking families.”

Mitchell County

“I had the privilege of speaking to the Mitchell County Farm Bureau about the importance of supporting our cowboys and plowboys in West Texas and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed,” said Chairman Arrington. “Unfortunately, in Washington, many politicians take Rural America and the men and women who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation for granted. That’s why I’ll never stop fighting for them and making sure our hardworking farmers and ranchers have a voice in our nation’s capital.”

Taylor County

“Great to join my friends at Hendrick Medical Center who recently celebrated their 100th year anniversary of faithful service to Abilene and the Big Country,” said Chairman Arrington. “Hendrick’s story is one of resilience and community support, and, since the beginning, Hendrick Health has always been driven by its Christian mission to provide compassionate care to all in need. I’m thankful for their commitment to providing healthcare to a growing region and delivering exceptional care to thousands of West Texans every year.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Clarkston Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Embezzling Over Three Million Dollars From Former Employer

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

DETROIT- A Clarkston woman was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for wire fraud arising out of an embezzlement scheme targeting her former employer, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining Ison in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cheyvoryea Gibson.

Sally Lynn Elmore, 56, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one count of wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud her former employer that resulted in over $3 million in losses. In addition to the 3 years’ imprisonment, United States District Judge Brandy R. McMillion ordered Elmore to pay $2.2 million in restitution to her victims and to pay a $3.2 million forfeiture money judgment.

According to Court documents, from April 2019 to December 2022, Elmore abused her position of trust and used her access to the payroll and banking systems of her employer to execute a scheme to fraudulently direct electronic payments—in the form of salary, bonuses, and expense reimbursements that she knew she was not entitled to receive—from her employer’s bank account to her personal bank accounts. In order to conceal her fraud, Elmore prepared and presented falsified financial statements to her employer’s board, representing that the company was still in possession of funds that she had, in fact, fraudulently directed to herself. She also concealed the missing funds from the company’s insurer, causing the company to lose coverage for losses from theft. In total, Elmore stole over $3 million and gambled most of it away.

“Elmore violated the trust placed in her as the director of finance and human resources for her company, stealing over three million dollars, nearly driving the company to insolvency, and putting the livelihoods of her fellow employees in jeopardy, stated United States Attorney Ison. “Our office will aggressively prosecute those individuals who abuse their authority to line their own pockets at others’ expense.”

“Over the course of three years, Ms. Elmore betrayed her employer by exploiting her access to the company’s finances, stealing millions of dollars, and covering up her actions through deception,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI has zero tolerance for fraud against individuals or institutions and will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute those involved in embezzlement schemes. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who abuses their position of trust faces justice.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alyse Wu. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Three lessons the west can learn from China’s economic approach to AI

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jialu Shan, Research Fellow at the TONOMUS Global Center for AI and Digital Transformation, International Institute for Management Development (IMD)

Phonlamai Photo/Shutterstock

AI is already everywhere, ready to change the way we work and play, how we learn and how we are looked after. From hospitality to healthcare, entertainment to education, AI is transforming the world as we know it.

But it’s developing at a different pace in different parts of the world. In the west, it seems, there is a tendency to aim for perfection, with companies taking their time to refine AI systems before they are implemented.

China, on the other hand, has taken a more pragmatic path, on which speed and adaptability are prioritised over flawless execution. Chinese companies appear more willing to take risks, accept AI’s current limitations and see what happens.

And China’s desire to be the world leader in AI development seems to be working. Here are three important lessons the west can learn from China’s economic strategy towards AI.

1. Embrace imperfection

Many Chinese companies have adopted a “good enough” mentality towards AI, using it even when the technology is not fully developed. This brings risks, but also encourages fast learning.

For example, in 2016, Haidilao, a popular Chinese restaurant chain, introduced “Xiaomei”, an AI system which dealt with customers calling up to make reservations. While Xiaomei is not the most sophisticated AI system (it only understands questions about reservations), it was effective, managing over 50,000 customer interactions a day with a 90% accuracy rate.

It’s not perfect, but it provides a valuable service to the business, proving that AI doesn’t need to be flawless to make a big impact.

2. Make it practical

A key distinction between AI strategies in China and the west is the focus on practical, problem-solving applications. In many western industries, AI is often associated with cutting-edge technology like robot-assisted surgery, or complex predictive algorithms.

While these advances are exciting, they do not always bring immediate impact. China, by contrast, has made significant strides by applying AI to solve more basic needs.

In China, some hospitals use AI to help with routine – but very important – tasks. For instance, in April 2024, Wuhan Union Hospital introduced an AI patient service which acts as a kind of triage nurse for patients using a messaging app.

Patients are asked about their symptoms and medical history. The AI then evaluates the severity of their needs, and prioritises appointments based on urgency and the medical resources available at that time. The results are then relayed to a human doctor who makes the final decision about what happens next.

By helping to ensure that those with the most critical needs are seen first, the system plays a crucial role in improving efficiency and reducing waiting times for patients seeking medical attention. It’s not the most complex technology, but in its first month of use in the hospital’s breast clinic, it reportedly provided over 300 patients with extra consultation time – 70% of whom were patients in urgent need of surgery.

3. Learn from mistakes

China’s rapid adoption of AI hasn’t come without challenges. But failures serve as critical learning experiences.

One cautionary tale over AI implementation comes not from China, but from Japan. When Henn na Hotel in Nagasaki became the world’s first hotel staffed by robots, it received a great deal of attention for its futuristic concept.

But the reality soon fell short of expectations. Churi, the hotel’s in-room assistant robot, frequently misunderstood guest requests, leading to confusion. One guest was reportedly woken up repeatedly because a robot in his room mistakenly understood the sound of his snoring to be a question.

In contrast, many Chinese hotels have taken a more measured approach, opting for simpler yet highly effective robotic solutions. Delivery robots are now commonplace in hotel chains across the country, and while not overly complex, they are adept at navigating hallways and lifts autonomously, bringing meals to guests.

By focusing on specific, high-impact problems, Chinese companies have successfully integrated AI in ways that minimise disruption and maximise usefulness.

The Chinese restaurant chain I mentioned earlier provides another good illustration of this approach. After the success of its chatbot, Haidilao introduced “smart restaurants” equipped with robotic arms and automated food delivery systems. While innovative, the technology struggled during peak hours and lacked the personal touch many customers valued.

Instead of abandoning the project, Haidilao continued to adjust and refine its use of AI. Rather than adopting a fully automated restaurant model, it went for a hybrid approach, combining automation with human staff to enhance the dining experience.

This flexibility in the face of setbacks represents a crucial willingness to pivot and adapt when things don’t go as planned. Overall, China’s pragmatic approach to AI has enabled it to take the lead in many areas, even as the country lags behind the west in terms of technological sophistication. This is driven by a willingness to embrace AI’s imperfections, and then adapt where necessary.

Where speed and adaptability are critical, companies can’t afford to wait for perfect solutions. By embracing AI’s imperfections, focusing on practical applications and real-world feedback, Chinese companies have unlocked the economic value of AI in a way that others are being too timid to emulate.

Jialu Shan 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. Three lessons the west can learn from China’s economic approach to AI – https://theconversation.com/three-lessons-the-west-can-learn-from-chinas-economic-approach-to-ai-240598

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: For many Venezuelan migrants in the US, working all hours means hope for a life back home

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matt Wilde, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Leicester

Migrants seeking asylum at El Paso, Texas, on the US-Mexico border. Ruben2533 / Shutterstock

Donald Trump and his followers have eagerly whipped up anti-immigrant sentiment throughout the US presidential campaign, as a growing number of migrants from Haiti and Venezuela arrive due to continuing crises at home.

Stories about Haitians eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, have ultimately been proven to be false. And accounts of Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment blocks in Aurora, Colorado, have been called “an incredible exaggeration” by the city’s mayor.

Progressives have rightly challenged such accounts. But the absence of an effective counter-narrative about migration cedes ground to regressive messaging that reduces the complexities of human mobility to a zero-sum game between national populations and migrant-others.

As an anthropologist conducting research with Venezuelan migrants in Chicago, two points strike me as vital to changing the terms of this debate.

The first is that among the Venezuelans I work with – most of whom hold what’s known as temporary protected status – the US isn’t a place they ultimately plan to settle. Their overwhelming focus is on earning enough money to build a life back home. The second is that to truly understand migration, we need to place migrant experiences and motivations in historical context.

Working all hours

Two days after the televised presidential debate in September where Trump made repeated references to immigrants, I shared cold beers with eight young Venezuelan men in the backyard of a rented house on Chicago’s South Side.

Each had his own story of the journey to the US, with most making the perilous walk through the Darién Gap – or la selva (“the jungle”), as they call it – before claiming asylum at the Mexico-US border.

Having eventually been granted the right to work, the men are now employed on the same assembly line in a Chicago factory. Many of them also work as delivery drivers after hours.

“I don’t have to defend myself with words or argue with people,” says Hector, a 24-year-old from San Cristóbal in western Venezuela. “I just need to show that my work is good. In that way, I’m contributing to the better image of Venezuelans.”

Read more:
Venezuelan migrants are boosting economic growth in South America, says research

Guillermo, a 38-year-old from Venezuela’s third-largest city, Valencia, works 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week. When he isn’t working or resting, he’s on WhatsApp talking to friends and family, many of whom are among the estimated 8 million Venezuelans who now live abroad due to the country’s economic and political crisis.

Each week, Guillermo sends several hundred dollars home to his father, wife and daughter. He’s also been slowly working towards buying a house in his home city, a goal that motivates him amid the many hardships he’s endured abroad.

“I’m a guerrero [warrior],” he jokes as he recounts his journey since he left Venezuela in 2017. In that time, Guillermo has worked as a street vender in Colombia, a taxi driver under precarious conditions in Chile, and has crossed borders from Bolivia to Mexico on foot.

This determination to return is shared by Guillermo’s Venezuelan friends in Chicago, all of whom hope to go home despite recent allegations of electoral fraud against the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. “With Maduro, without Maduro, with whoever is there … eventually we want to return to our country,” Guillermo explains.

Read more:
Venezuela: Maduro’s declaration of victory isn’t fooling anyone

Guerrilla redistribution

The reasons for Venezuela’s present situation are complex. Few would dispute the claim that Maduro has grossly mismanaged the economy. But there’s a longer backstory rooted in the deep inequalities between the global north and the global south, as well as the country’s vulnerability as a postcolonial petrostate that has repeatedly experienced cycles of boom and bust.

And then there are the sanctions that were levelled against the country by the Trump administration. According to researchers Benedicte Bull and Antulio Rosales, the sanctions have accelerated Maduro’s transformation of Venezuela into what they term “authoritarian capitalism”.

The bitter irony for the young people I work with is that all of this means they have had to travel thousands of miles to have a chance of building a better life at home. For Hector and Guillermo, the biggest difference between the US and countries like Chile or Colombia is the US dollar, the strength of which means their labour goes much further when it’s sent home in the form of remittances.

In this sense, perhaps a better way of understanding these recent arrivals to the US is that, against all the odds, they’re enacting a form of “guerrilla redistribution” in a profoundly unequal world. For progressives, the urgent political challenge is to widen the terms in which we understand what migration is and what it could be on a more just planet.

The research for this article was funded by the British Academy (SRG2324240415). The author thanks Ana Mattioli for support with interview transcriptions.

– ref. For many Venezuelan migrants in the US, working all hours means hope for a life back home – https://theconversation.com/for-many-venezuelan-migrants-in-the-us-working-all-hours-means-hope-for-a-life-back-home-241648

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why Gen Z is saying ‘no’ to middle management — and why you might want to reconsider
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Leda Stawnychko, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Organizational Theory, Mount Royal University

Research shows that over half of Gen Z have no interest in pursuing middle management roles, meaning they are missing out on valuable opportunities. (Shutterstock)

Gen Z is poised to become the most populous generation on the planet, and their influence is already shaping the future of work. As one of the most educated and racially and ethnically diverse generations, they bring fresh perspectives and new expectations for how we work and lead.

Known as the first truly “digital native” generation, Gen Z grew up immersed in a world of technology and social media, giving them a natural edge in navigating the modern world. But there is more to Gen Z than their digital fluency.

What truly sets them apart is their ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, financial savviness, commitment to ethical consumption and strong sense of social responsibility. For Gen Z, work is more than just a paycheck — it’s about committing to a higher purpose. They do best in people-centred organizations that value their contributions, prioritize well-being and align with their sense of mission.

Gen Z is redefining leadership by choosing to lead through expertise rather than relying on formal positions of authority. One of the most striking trends is their growing reluctance to step into middle management roles — a phenomenon being called “conscious unbossing.”

This powerful shift is catching many in the business world by surprise.

No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

Read more from Quarter Life:
Where strategy meets execution

Middle managers play a vital role in organizations, acting as the crucial link between a company’s big-picture strategy and its day-to-day operations.

Unlike supervisors, who primarily focus on overseeing day-to-day tasks, middle managers are responsible for both their team’s performance and the implementation of broader organizational strategies. It’s a dynamic role where strategic vision meets practical execution.

Middle managers are often the bridge between a company’s big-picture strategy and its day-to-day operations.
(Shutterstock)

However, research shows that over half of Gen Z have no interest in pursuing middle management roles. There is an understandable reason for this: these roles are known for their high levels of burnout and may initially seem at odds with Gen Z’s values of autonomy, flexibility and personal well-being.

It is true that middle managers face real challenges. Over the past decade, their responsibilities have grown significantly. They manage competing priorities while contending with a polarized and rapidly shifting workplace. However, with the right approach, these roles can be deeply fulfilling and transformative, as my doctoral thesis research found.

Why middle management matters

Despite being highly ambitious, self-confident and driven by personal growth, Gen Z may be overlooking the valuable learning opportunities and influence that come with middle management.

Middle management roles serve as a crucial stepping stone for those seeking to make a real, systemic and lasting impact, offering a platform to advocate for the values Gen Z cares deeply about, such as social responsibility, sustainability and equity.

Additionally, middle management provides important opportunities to develop essential technical and human skills, including emotional intelligence, strategic thinking and complex decision-making. Embracing these roles can unlock the potential to lead change and inspire transformation.

How to find joy in middle management roles

If you are part of Gen Z and are unsure about middle management, reframing these roles to align with your values and aspirations can help you see it as a rewarding opportunity rather than a burden. This three-step framework can help you make the most of these roles while staying true to your values:

1. Use it as a vehicle to increase self-awareness

Middle management offers a unique environment to enhance self-awareness. By reflecting on how you respond to challenges, interact with others and make decisions under pressure, you can gain valuable insight into your strengths, areas for growth and leadership style.

For example, self-awareness can help you delegate more effectively — empowering your team, preventing burnout, and freeing up time to focus on what matters most to you.

Instead of viewing middle management as a burden or a step backward, consider how these roles can be an opportunity for growth, leadership and greater impact.
(Shutterstock)

2. Think of the role as a leadership incubator

Viewing middle management as a leadership incubator can help you shift the focus toward its long-term value. These roles offer a training ground where you learn to negotiate priorities at multiple levels of the organization and give you access to important networks and development opportunities.

The skills you develop — strategic thinking, negotiation and stakeholder management — not only prepare you for higher positions, but also equip you to effectively advocate for social change or succeed as an entrepreneur.

3. Leverage the role to scale your impact

Middle management is about expanding your influence and creating larger ripple effects. The role offers a unique vantage point to shape organizational culture and advocate for meaningful change. You can demonstrate to older generations in the workplace that ambitious goals can be achieved without compromising personal well-being or ethical standards.

The path forward

The world is counting on you and other members of Gen Z to lead the way forward. Middle management roles offer a powerful platform to exercise meaningful influence while developing the essential skills that will prepare you for success in any path you choose.

Rather than viewing the roles as a burden, see them as opportunities to grow, inspire others and leave your legacy. Middle management allows you to connect strategy with execution, shape organizational culture and advocate for the values that matter most to you.

By embracing the challenge of middle management rather than shying away, you’ll have a chance to shape the future of your organizations and become a leader who drives positive, systemic change for a better, more sustainable world.

Leda Stawnychko receives funding from SSHRC.

– ref. Why Gen Z is saying ‘no’ to middle management — and why you might want to reconsider – https://theconversation.com/why-gen-z-is-saying-no-to-middle-management-and-why-you-might-want-to-reconsider-241662
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Plans to cool the Earth by blocking sunlight are gaining momentum but critical voices risk being excluded

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Albert Van Wijngaarden, Phd Candidate, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Muratart / shutterstock

Solar geoengineering research is advancing fast, after a recent flurry of funding announcements. Yet these technologies are still speculative and have many critics, and we worry their concerns won’t be heard. If geoengineering is essentially allowed to self-regulate, with no effective global governance, future research could easily take us down a dangerous path.

Solar geoengineering refers to proposals to reduce global warming by reflecting a portion of sunlight back into space before it reaches the Earth’s surface. In its best-known form, this means using high-flying aircraft to inject tiny reflective particles into the upper atmosphere.

This so-called “stratospheric aerosol injection” hasn’t actually happened yet, beyond a few very small experiments with balloons. Yet for a long time, such ideas remained fringe and too controversial to even consider – and for some academics they still are.

The academic discussion was highly polarised from the start. Opponents, mainly governance scholars and social scientists, stood firmly entrenched against assumed proponents, mainly natural scientists and engineers. Both sides had their champions, arguments, assumptions, key publications and meetings, generally working on the topic without proper engagement with the other side.

This polarisation is still visible in publishing today. Take, for example, articles on The Conversation. Critics focus on potential negatives such as altered rainfall patterns, the infringement of human rights, or even a catastrophic “termination shock”. Advocates highlight potential benefits such as reducing extreme heat and preserving ice caps, while others suggest we may soon be forced to try it.

The authors of these articles are all academic experts. Yet they come from different disciplines and use different arguments.

A public and private funding boom

Though the two camps have not resolved their arguments, geoengineering research funding is suddenly booming. There are major philanthropic pledges of US$50 million (£38 million) and US$30 million from the Simons and Quadrature Climate foundations, which are vying for the title of biggest donor with the £10.5 million and £56.8 million of the UK government’s UKRI and Advanced Research and Innovation Agency programs.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines blocked so much sunlight the world temporarily cooled by a few tenths of a degree. Solar geoengineering works on a similar principle.
Dave Harlow / USGS

Other key organisations speaking about the need for more research include the European Commission, the US government and the World Climate Research Programme. This comes on top of the shock of controversial private enterprises pushing for solar geoengineering, most notoriously the US-based start-up Make Sunsets.

Support is certainly not unanimous. Many prominent scholars have signed up to a call for a moratorium, for instance. And at a recent UN Environment Assembly session in Kenya many climate-vulnerable nations mobilised against calls for further research into what they see as a highly risky technology that would enable big emitters to carry on emitting.

However, many powerful interests are seemingly in favour of more research, while the 1.5°C global warming target is moving ever further out of sight. In the near future, we can therefore expect further research, perhaps including including small-scale outdoor experiments.

As PhD students working on geoengineering, situated somewhere between both camps, we have found this polarisation deeply unproductive and difficult to deal with. Our own research sometimes feels like wandering through a minefield of opinions and perspectives. Yet we can also see the valuable concerns and hopes of both sides.

That’s why we believe that upcoming research projects must factor in the concerns of opponents, and not represent only supporters of geoengineering or those who have not been explicitly against it. Excluding critical voices would directly impact the scientific process, for one thing.

But this exclusion is especially worrying as there are currently no governance structures for solar geoengineering. If efforts to develop such governance only involve supportive researchers, they could lack the critical capacity to prevent risks or undesired effects. Disasters in the financial sector and the chemical industry warn us of the perils of self-regulation without critical voices.

Learn from the critics

There are other critiques that ought to be factored into any major research project. They include concerns that simply researching the technology will create a slippery slope towards it being deployed, or worries that geoengineering ignores the social and political dynamics behind climate change and addresses only its outcomes. There are also major governance concerns over issues such as the role of the military (could geoengineering be deployed for security reasons in contested regions like the Arctic?), or the concentration of research at influential institutions in the US and Europe.

Over time, geoengineering researchers have become more aware of such arguments and some are explicitly trying to include them in their work. The American Geophysical Union has recently published an ethical framework for geoengineering, which should provide valuable guidance for any research project. But without active dialogue with critical scholars, their arguments will likely only echo faintly in the pro-research space.

In practice, more engagement between the two camps would come with many difficulties. For advocates, it can be tempting to avoid such debates and exclude those who disagree with the very foundations on which their research is built. On the flip side, some scholars who have already explicitly argued against the continuation of solar geoengineering research would nevertheless have to participate in it.

The practical implications will therefore need to be carefully worked out. However, a more productive dialogue might still shape a future that can be acceptable to all sides.

Albert Van Wijngaarden receives PhD funding from Gates Cambridge. He is involved in UArctic’s Frozen Arctic Conservation project, and was an advisory board member of Ocean Vision’s Sea Ice Roadmap.

Adrian Hindes is also an analyst for Civilization Research Institute which does work pertaining to global catastrophic risks, including those related to emerging technologies such as solar geoengineering.

Chloe Colomer receives PhD funding from the UK Research Institute (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) with the grants EP/R513143/1 and EP/T517793/1.

– ref. Plans to cool the Earth by blocking sunlight are gaining momentum but critical voices risk being excluded – https://theconversation.com/plans-to-cool-the-earth-by-blocking-sunlight-are-gaining-momentum-but-critical-voices-risk-being-excluded-236882

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Weather doesn’t dampen the spirits of Foster Portsmouth Great South Run team

Source: City of Portsmouth

Three children in our care, three of our foster carers and two of their birth children completed the three races on Saturday which did dawn bright and clear.

Wearing branded running vests, they hoped to raise awareness of Foster Portsmouth and the need for more foster carers from diverse backgrounds to provide a safe home for the vulnerable children and young people in Portsmouth.

Foster carer Emma shared:

“I really enjoyed the run. Unlike Sunday, Saturday had perfect conditions, sunny but not too warm and no wind. I managed the race nice and slow and steady, and ended by finishing faster than my goal. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and supporters. Two birth children and two of our foster children gave me ‘power-up’ high fives and shouted how proud of me they are. My youngest wore the medal for the rest of the morning.”

Emma’s son and two of the children in her care also took part in the junior and mini races,

“They did so well! Our 10 year old started strong and went off fast with some of the biggest kids. He had slowed down a bit, but then when he heard and saw us on Avenue de Caen, he began to sprint and sprinted right to the end. It was his second time running the junior Great South Run and he managed to come 25th!”

“Our seven year old boys, one fostered and one birth child, did the mini run with my husband, Chris, assisting them. They set off together and both worked hard and ran the whole course. They were both so pleased and proud of themselves at the finish line. The boys loved the encouragement and high fives, and especially loved the goodie bags, finishers t-shirts and medals!”

“We sat in a play park and shared fish and chips for lunch afterwards, which was the perfect end to a busy morning!”

Unfortunately the remaining 15 foster carers and council staff in the Foster Portsmouth team were unable to take part this year in the 10-mile race on Sunday 20 October due to the weather. However, they are determined to take on the challenge again for us in 2025.

Cllr Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, commented:

“Despite the weather cutting the weekend short, we’re really pleased that three of the children in our care could once again join our team for this year’s Great South Run’s other races. It made the day extra special to see them enjoy taking part and achieving something new.”

“With the team of eight taking on the challenge of the first three races in our running vests, we were still able to once again successfully shine a light on the pressing need for new foster homes in the city and the surrounding area.”

“I was pleased to start the 5km race on the day, seeing off these foster families and many of Portsmouth’s and other local residents about to take in the sights of our great city.”

“Everyone at Foster Portsmouth would like to express their thanks to every member of the team, whether they were able to take part in the end or not. We hope the Saturday team of eight have enjoyed a well-earned break since.”

Foster carers receive a competitive financial package, local round the clock support and ongoing quality training including through our mentoring scheme and our innovative award-winning Mockingbird programme which provides a support network of other foster carers similar to that of an extended family.

The 5km race was also completed by foster carer Tania shared that the young person in her care who also completed the junior race on behalf of Foster Portsmouth:

“She really enjoyed it – ran the whole way! I’m so proud of her!”

Foster carer Rob, who ran the 5km with daughter Laura, reported:

“Luckily the 5k was still on. The weather was actually really nice with sunshine and a little breeze to keep us cool. Lauren and I proudly wore our Foster Portsmouth vests, and plenty of people commented and shouted our names as we ran by.”

“I’m super proud of Lauren running with me after having her baby daughter Rosie just 12 weeks ago! Rosie came to support us but was asleep from start to finish!”

“We really enjoyed our run and saw quite a few familiar faces including a couple of children who have spent respite care with me.”

The council welcomes all enquiries about fostering. Portsmouth City Council’s foster carers all share the same commitment and motivation to make a positive difference to a child’s life. This could be a short or long-term arrangement for a child, young person or siblings until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children seeking asylum or children with a disability, supported lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby placement, or respite care.

Foster Portsmouth needs more foster carers from diverse backgrounds to reflect the children and young people we look after in our city. Anyone aged 21 or over with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.

For more information on fostering with Foster Portsmouth, contact the Fostering SouthEast recruitment team on 0300 131 2797, visit www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk or email info@lafosteringse.org.uk

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s Remarks at the High-Level Segment of COP16 on Biodiversity [trilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Presidente Petro,

Gracias por acoger esta importante sesión, aquí en Cali – un microcosmos de la rica biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.

Excelencias, queridos amigos,

La naturaleza es vida.

Y, sin embargo, estamos librando una guerra contra ella.

Una guerra donde no puede haber vencedores.

Cada año, vemos las temperaturas subir más y más.

Cada día, perdemos más especies.

Cada minuto, vertemos un camión de basura de desechos plásticos en nuestros océanos, ríos y lagos.

No se equivoquen.

Así es como se ve una crisis existencial.

Ningún país, rico o pobre, es inmune a la devastación provocada por el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la degradación de la tierra y la contaminación.

Estas crisis ambientales están entrelazadas. No conocen fronteras.

Y están devastando ecosistemas y medios de vida, amenazando la salud humana y socavando el desarrollo sostenible.

Los motores de esta destrucción están arraigados en modelos económicos obsoletos, que alimentan patrones insostenibles de producción y consumo.

Y se ven multiplicados por las desigualdades – en riqueza y poder.

Cada día que pasa, nos acercamos más a puntos de inflexión que podrían alimentar más hambre, desplazamientos y incluso conflictos armados.

Ya hemos alterado el 75% de la superficie terrestre y el 66% de los océanos.

Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,

La biodiversidad es aliada de la humanidad.

Debemos pasar de saquearla a preservarla.

Como he dicho una y otra vez, hacer las paces con la naturaleza es la tarea definitoria del siglo XXI.

Ese es el espíritu de la Declaración de hoy de la Coalición Mundial por la Paz con la Naturaleza:

Un llamado a la acción para mejorar los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales hacia una relación equilibrada y armoniosa con la naturaleza – protegiendo la naturaleza y conservando, restaurando, utilizando y compartiendo de manera sostenible nuestra biodiversidad global.

Un llamado a reconocer el conocimiento vital, las innovaciones y las prácticas de los Pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes, los agricultores y las comunidades locales.

Un llamado por la vida.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace with those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellences, Chers amis,

Notre mission à Cali est claire : accélérer le progrès pour la biodiversité ; mobiliser les ressources nécessaires ; et renforcer le rôle des peuples autochtones, des personnes d’ascendance africaine et des communautés locales.

Nous pouvons – et nous devons – sauvegarder les écosystèmes qui nous font vivre et maintenir les objectifs climatiques à notre portée.

Tout autre chemin est impensable.

Il en va de la survie de la planète – et de la [nôtre].

Choisissons avec sagesse.

Choisissons la vie.

Faisons la paix avec la nature.

Je vous remercie.

****

[All-English]

President Petro,

Thank you for hosting this important session, here in Cali – a microcosm of our planet’s rich biodiversity.

Excellencies, dear friends,

Nature is life.

And yet we are waging a war against it.

A war where there can be no winner.

Every year, we see temperatures climbing higher.

Every day, we lose more species.

Every minute, we dump a garbage truck of plastic waste into our oceans, rivers and lakes.

Make no mistake.

This is what an existential crisis looks like.

No country, rich or poor, is immune to the devastation inflicted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution.

These environmental crises are intertwined. They know no borders.

And they are devastating ecosystems and livelihoods, threatening human health and undermining sustainable development.

The drivers of this destruction are embedded in outdated economic models, fueling unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

They are multiplied by inequalities – in wealth and power.

And with each passing day, we are edging closer to tipping points that could fuel further hunger, displacement, and even armed conflicts.

We have already altered 75% of the Earth’s land surface and 66% of its ocean environments.

Dear friends,

Biodiversity is humanity’s ally.

We must move from plundering it to preserving it.

As I have said time and again, making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.

That is the spirit of today’s Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature:

A call for action to enhance national and international efforts towards a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature – protecting nature and conserving, restoring and sustainably using and sharing our global biodiversity.

A call to recognize the vital knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous people, people of African descent, farmers and local communities.

A call for life.

Excellencies,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace for those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

We are in Cali to accelerate progress, commit resources, and elevate the role of Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

We can – and we must – save the ecosystems that sustain us and keep our climate goals within reach.

The alternative is unthinkable.

The survival of our planet — and our own — is on the line.

Let us choose wisely.

Let us choose life.

Let us make peace with nature.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Announces Third Quarter 2024 Dividends, Reports Earnings

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBank Indianapolis” or “Bank”) declared its third quarter 2024 dividends on Class B-2 activity-based capital stock and Class B-1 non-activity-based stock at annualized rates of 9.50% and 4.50%, respectively. The higher dividend rate on activity-based stock reflects the Board’s discretion under the Bank’s capital plan to reward members that use FHLBank Indianapolis in support of their liquidity needs.

The dividends will be paid in cash on October 30, 2024.

Earnings Highlights

Net income, for the third quarter of 2024, was $91 million, a net increase of $214,000 compared to the corresponding quarter in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to net changes in gains (losses) on investments, substantially offset by an increase in voluntary allocations to affordable housing, small business and community investment programs.

Net income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $275 million, a net increase of $1 million compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher earnings on the portion of the Bank’s assets funded by its capital.¹ However, such increase was substantially offset by net gains on the extinguishment of consolidated obligations in the corresponding period that did not occur in the current period and an increase in voluntary allocations to affordable housing, small business and community investment programs.

__________________¹ FHLBank Indianapolis earns interest income on advances to and mortgage loans purchased from its Michigan and Indiana member financial institutions, as well as on long- and short-term investments. Net interest income is primarily determined by the size of the Bank’s balance sheet and the spread between the interest earned on its assets and the interest cost of funding with consolidated obligations. Because of the Bank’s inherent relatively low interest-rate spread, it has historically derived a substantial portion of its net interest income from deploying its interest-free capital in floating-rate assets.

Affordable Housing Program Allocation

The Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (“AHP”) provides grant funding to support housing for low- and moderate-income families in communities served by its Michigan and Indiana members. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, AHP assessments² totaled $32 million. Full-year 2024 required allocations will be available to the Bank’s members in 2025 to help address their communities’ affordable housing needs, including construction, rehabilitation, accessibility improvements and homebuyer down-payment assistance.

In addition, as part of the Bank’s commitment to further support its AHP and additional affordable housing, small business and community investment programs, the Bank voluntarily allocated additional funding in 2024 totaling $23 million, based on 5% of its net earnings for 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, the Bank also committed additional voluntary funding of $10 million, raising the total voluntary allocation for 2024 to $33 million, of which $17 million has been recognized in the nine-month period and is reported in other expenses. The timing of the recognition of such allocations in other expenses can vary due to the application of the related accounting requirements.

As a result, the Bank’s combined required and voluntary allocation recognized in the nine-month period totaled $49 million, an increase of $11 million, or 30%, compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

Condensed Statements of Income

The following table presents unaudited condensed statements of income ($ amounts in millions):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Interest income ^(a)	$	1,090	$	974	$	3,140	$	2,743
Interest expense ^(a)		960		846		2,756		2,388
Provision for credit losses		—		—		—		—
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		130		128		384		355
Other income ^(b)		9		—		26		39
Other expenses ^(c)		37		27		103		89
AHP assessments		11		10		32		31

Net income	$	91	$	91	$	275	$	274

^(a)		Includes hedging gains (losses) and net interest settlements on fair-value hedge relationships. The Bank uses derivatives, specifically interest-rate swaps, to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of certain of its advances, available-for-sale securities and consolidated obligations. These derivatives are designated as fair-value hedges and, therefore, changes in the estimated fair value of the derivative, and changes in the fair value of the hedged item that are attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in net interest income.
^(b)		Includes impact of purchase discount (premium) recorded through mark-to-market gains (losses) on trading securities and net interest settlements on derivatives hedging trading securities, while generally offsetting interest income on trading securities is included in interest income.
^(c)		Includes voluntary allocations to the Bank’s AHP and other affordable housing, small business and community investment programs.

__________________
² Each year, Federal Home Loan Banks are required to allocate to the AHP 10% of earnings, defined for this purpose as income before assessments plus interest expense on mandatorily redeemable capital stock.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets, at September 30, 2024, were $81.1 billion, a net increase of $4.5 billion, or 6%, from December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in advances outstanding.

Advances ³

Advances outstanding, at September 30, 2024, at carrying value, totaled $38.6 billion, a net increase of $3.0 billion, or 9%, from December 31, 2023. The par value of advances outstanding increased by 7% to $38.5 billion, which included a net increase in short-term advances of 31% and a net decrease in long-term advances of 2%. At September 30, 2024, based on contractual maturities, long-term advances composed 67% of advances outstanding, while short-term advances composed 33%.

The par value of advances outstanding to depository institutions — comprising commercial banks, savings institutions and credit unions — increased by 11%, while advances outstanding to insurance companies increased by 1%. As a percent of total advances outstanding at par value, at September 30, 2024, advances to commercial banks and savings institutions were 50% and advances to credit unions were 15%, resulting in total advances to depository institutions of 65%, while advances to insurance companies were 35%.

Mortgage Loans Held for Portfolio ⁴

Mortgage loans held for portfolio, at September 30, 2024, totaled $10.0 billion, a net increase of $1.3 billion, or 16%, from December 31, 2023, as the Bank’s purchases from its members exceeded principal repayments by borrowers. Purchases of mortgage loans from members, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, totaled $2.0 billion.

Liquidity Investments ⁵

Liquidity investments, at September 30, 2024, totaled $11.3 billion, a net decrease of $874 million, or 7%, from December 31, 2023. The Bank’s liquidity remained well above regulatory requirements and continues to enable the Bank to be a reliable liquidity provider to its members.

Cash and short-term investments decreased by $1.4 billion, or 12%, to $10.2 billion. The portion of U.S. Treasury obligations classified as trading securities increased by $501 million, or 84%, to $1.1 billion. As a result of this activity, cash and short-term investments represented 90% of the total liquidity investments at September 30, 2024, while U.S. Treasury obligations represented 10%.

The total outstanding balance and composition of the Bank’s liquidity investments are influenced by its liquidity needs, regulatory requirements, actual and anticipated member advance activity, market conditions, and the availability of short-term investments at attractive interest rates, relative to the cost of funds.

Other Investment Securities

Other investment securities, which consist substantially of mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury obligations classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale, at September 30, 2024, totaled $20.3 billion, a net increase of $881 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2023.

__________________
³ Advances are secured loans that the Bank provides to its member institutions.
⁴ The Bank purchases mortgage loans from its members to support its housing mission, provide an additional source of liquidity to its members, and diversify its investments.
⁵ The Bank’s liquidity investments consist of cash, interest-bearing deposits, securities purchased under agreements to resell, federal funds sold and U.S. Treasury obligations.

Consolidated Obligations ⁶

FHLBank Indianapolis’ consolidated obligations outstanding, at September 30, 2024, totaled $75.0 billion, a net increase of $3.9 billion, or 6%, from December 31, 2023, which reflected increased funding needs associated with the net increase in the Bank’s total assets.

Capital ⁷

Total capital, at September 30, 2024, was $4.1 billion, a net increase of $383 million, or 10%, from December 31, 2023. The net increase resulted from issuances of capital stock to support advance activity, the growth in retained earnings and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The Bank’s regulatory capital-to-assets ratio⁸, at September 30, 2024, was 5.56%, which exceeds all applicable regulatory capital requirements.

__________________
⁶ The primary source of funds for FHLBank Indianapolis, and for the other FHLBanks, is the sale of FHLBanks’ consolidated obligations in the capital markets. FHLBank Indianapolis is the primary obligor for the payment of the principal and interest on the consolidated obligations issued on its behalf; additionally, it is jointly and severally liable with each of the other FHLBanks for all of the FHLBanks’ consolidated obligations outstanding.
⁷ FHLBank Indianapolis is a cooperative whose member financial institutions and former members own all of its capital stock as a condition of membership and to support outstanding credit products.
⁸ Total regulatory capital, which consists of capital stock, mandatorily redeemable capital stock and retained earnings, as a percentage of total assets.

Condensed Statements of Condition

The following table presents unaudited condensed statements of condition ($ amounts in millions):

	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Advances	$	38,600		$	35,562
Mortgage loans held for portfolio, net		9,955			8,614
Liquidity investments		11,278			12,152
Other investment securities ^(a)		20,332			19,451
Other assets		894			829

Total assets	$	81,059		$	76,608

Consolidated obligations	$	74,989		$	71,053
MRCS		363			369
Other liabilities		1,580			1,442
Total liabilities		76,932			72,864

Capital stock ^(b)		2,476			2,285
Retained earnings ^(c)		1,668			1,532
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(17	)		(73	)
Total capital		4,127			3,744

Total liabilities and capital	$	81,059		$	76,608

Total regulatory capital ^(d)	$	4,507		$	4,186

Regulatory capital-to-assets ratio		5.56	%		5.46	%

^(a)		Includes held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities.
^(b)		Putable by members at par value.
^(c)		Includes restricted retained earnings, at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, of $453 million and $398 million, respectively.
(d)		Consists of total capital less accumulated other comprehensive income plus mandatorily redeemable capital stock.

All amounts referenced above are unaudited. More detailed information about FHLBank Indianapolis’ financial condition as of September 30, 2024, and its results for the three and nine months then ended, will be included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Bank’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events and performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “will,” “believes,” “may,” “temporary,” “estimates,” and “expects” or the negative of these words or comparable terminology. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release reflects FHLBank Indianapolis’ current beliefs and expectations. Actual results or performance may differ materially from what is expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. FHLBank Indianapolis undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Readers are referred to the documents filed by the Bank with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which include factors that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements. These reports are available at www.sec.gov.

Media Contact:
Scott Thien
Sr. Communications Lead
317-902-3103
sthien@fhlbi.com

Building Partnerships. Serving Communities.
FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank included in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to provide access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded, and receive no Congressional appropriations. FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com. Also, follow the Bank on LinkedIn, as well as Instagram and X at @FHLBankIndy.

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s Remarks at the High-Level Segment of COP16 on Biodiversity [trilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English]

Source: United Nations – English

residente Petro,

Gracias por acoger esta importante sesión, aquí en Cali – un microcosmos de la rica biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.

Excelencias, queridos amigos,

La naturaleza es vida.

Y, sin embargo, estamos librando una guerra contra ella.

Una guerra donde no puede haber vencedores.

Cada año, vemos las temperaturas subir más y más.

Cada día, perdemos más especies.

Cada minuto, vertemos un camión de basura de desechos plásticos en nuestros océanos, ríos y lagos.

No se equivoquen.

Así es como se ve una crisis existencial.

Ningún país, rico o pobre, es inmune a la devastación provocada por el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la degradación de la tierra y la contaminación.

Estas crisis ambientales están entrelazadas. No conocen fronteras.

Y están devastando ecosistemas y medios de vida, amenazando la salud humana y socavando el desarrollo sostenible.

Los motores de esta destrucción están arraigados en modelos económicos obsoletos, que alimentan patrones insostenibles de producción y consumo.

Y se ven multiplicados por las desigualdades – en riqueza y poder.

Cada día que pasa, nos acercamos más a puntos de inflexión que podrían alimentar más hambre, desplazamientos y incluso conflictos armados.

Ya hemos alterado el 75% de la superficie terrestre y el 66% de los océanos.

Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,

La biodiversidad es aliada de la humanidad.

Debemos pasar de saquearla a preservarla.

Como he dicho una y otra vez, hacer las paces con la naturaleza es la tarea definitoria del siglo XXI.

Ese es el espíritu de la Declaración de hoy de la Coalición Mundial por la Paz con la Naturaleza:

Un llamado a la acción para mejorar los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales hacia una relación equilibrada y armoniosa con la naturaleza – protegiendo la naturaleza y conservando, restaurando, utilizando y compartiendo de manera sostenible nuestra biodiversidad global.

Un llamado a reconocer el conocimiento vital, las innovaciones y las prácticas de los Pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes, los agricultores y las comunidades locales.

Un llamado por la vida.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace with those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellences, Chers amis,

Notre mission à Cali est claire : accélérer le progrès pour la biodiversité ; mobiliser les ressources nécessaires ; et renforcer le rôle des peuples autochtones, des personnes d’ascendance africaine et des communautés locales.

Nous pouvons – et nous devons – sauvegarder les écosystèmes qui nous font vivre et maintenir les objectifs climatiques à notre portée.

Tout autre chemin est impensable.

Il en va de la survie de la planète – et de la [nôtre].

Choisissons avec sagesse.

Choisissons la vie.

Faisons la paix avec la nature.

Je vous remercie.

****

[All-English]

President Petro,

Thank you for hosting this important session, here in Cali – a microcosm of our planet’s rich biodiversity.

Excellencies, dear friends,

Nature is life.

And yet we are waging a war against it.

A war where there can be no winner.

Every year, we see temperatures climbing higher.

Every day, we lose more species.

Every minute, we dump a garbage truck of plastic waste into our oceans, rivers and lakes.

Make no mistake.

This is what an existential crisis looks like.

No country, rich or poor, is immune to the devastation inflicted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution.

These environmental crises are intertwined. They know no borders.

And they are devastating ecosystems and livelihoods, threatening human health and undermining sustainable development.

The drivers of this destruction are embedded in outdated economic models, fueling unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

They are multiplied by inequalities – in wealth and power.

And with each passing day, we are edging closer to tipping points that could fuel further hunger, displacement, and even armed conflicts.

We have already altered 75% of the Earth’s land surface and 66% of its ocean environments.

Dear friends,

Biodiversity is humanity’s ally.

We must move from plundering it to preserving it.

As I have said time and again, making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.

That is the spirit of today’s Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature:

A call for action to enhance national and international efforts towards a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature – protecting nature and conserving, restoring and sustainably using and sharing our global biodiversity.

A call to recognize the vital knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous people, people of African descent, farmers and local communities.

A call for life.

Excellencies,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace for those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

We are in Cali to accelerate progress, commit resources, and elevate the role of Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

We can – and we must – save the ecosystems that sustain us and keep our climate goals within reach.

The alternative is unthinkable.

The survival of our planet — and our own — is on the line.

Let us choose wisely.

Let us choose life.

Let us make peace with nature.

Thank you.

MIL OSI Africa –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pay boost for millions of workers next year
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Chancellor announces pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, as National Living Wage rises by 6.7%.
Chancellor announces pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, as National Living Wage rises by 6.7%

Pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.

18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour – the largest increase on record – and marks first step towards a single adult rate.

Over 3 million workers will receive a pay boost after the Chancellor confirmed the National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025.

The 6.7% increase – which is worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – is a significant step towards delivering the manifesto commitment to make sure the minimum wage is a genuine living wage.

The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour – the largest increase in the rate on record. This £1.40 increase will mean full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 next year. This marks the first step towards aligning the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage to create a single adult wage rate, which would take place over time.

The move comes ahead of the Budget tomorrow which will fix the foundations to deliver change by fixing the NHS and rebuilding Britain, while ensuring working people don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.

It builds on the commitment to be a pro-business, pro-worker, pro-growth Government. It delivers a key plank of the Plan to Make Work Pay, which is already set to boost the pockets of the lowest paid workers by up to £600 a year through the Employment Rights Bill.

The plan will boost productivity, creating a workforce that is fit and ready to help us deliver our first mission to kickstart economic growth – with good jobs and growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

This Government promised a genuine living wage for working people. This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Good work and fair wages are in the interest of British business as much as British workers.

This government is changing people’s lives for the better because we know that investing in the workforce leads to better productivity, better resilience and ultimately a stronger economy primed for growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

A proper day’s work deserves a proper day’s pay.

Our changes will see a pay boost that will help millions of lower earners to cover the essentials as well as providing the biggest increase for 18–20-year-olds on record.

The minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also boosted next year, with an 18-year-old apprentice in an industry like construction seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18.0%, a pay bump from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour.  

These increases will mean 3.5 million workers will receive a pay rise this year in total. They confirm the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations, whose advisory remit was overhauled by ministers in July to consider the cost of living.

Hilary Jones, Ethics Director at Lush Cosmetics said:

Lush staff making and selling our products are crucial to our success, so we commit to the Living Wage Foundation’s independently calculated real living wage rates each year to feel confident our rates of pay are fair and that our staff can afford what they need to thrive, not just survive. In these tough times where the cost of living continues to rise, it is great to see the Government increase minimum wage closer to these calculations to support the hardest working and most vulnerable workers across the UK.

Baroness Philippa Stroud, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said:

The Government have been clear about their ambitions for the National Minimum Wage and its importance in supporting workers’ living standards. At the same time, employers have had to deal with the adult rate rising over 20 per cent in two years, and the challenges that has created alongside other pressures to their cost base.

It is our job to balance these considerations, ensuring the NLW provides a fair wage for the lowest-paid workers while taking account of economic factors. These rates secure a real-terms pay increase for the lowest-paid workers. Young workers will see substantial increases in their pay floor, making up some of the ground lost against the adult rate over time.

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Published 29 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Career education sets students up for success
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Students deserve to pursue educational pathways that will set them up for their futures in post-secondary education, trade designations and meaningful careers in Alberta’s growing economy. To help Alberta’s youth get a head start on the future, Alberta’s government is continuing to enhance career education opportunities for students across the province.

Through the Alberta government’s mandate to support career education in the province’s education system, government is providing almost $4.9 million in dual credit grants to support 55 new programs and enhance 22 existing programs for the 2024-25 school year. These programs are available to students in 58 school authorities across the province.

“We are committed to providing students with every opportunity to pursue and explore career pathways throughout their education. This new funding for dual credit programming will help students discover and pursue their passions, all while helping them get a head start on their future by gaining valuable skills and post-secondary credit.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

“Health care aides are an essential part of Alberta’s health care system. The health care aide dual credit programming offers students a valuable opportunity to begin their health care careers early and develop the skills needed to enter and strengthen our province’s health care workforce.”

Adrianna LaGrange, Minister of Health

The dual credit program funding will lead students to pursue meaningful apprenticeship pathways in the skilled trades, and meaningful careers in agriculture, health care and much more. This expansion of dual credit programming will enable school authorities to help their students pursue career pathways and post-secondary opportunities around their interests and passions.

“We thank the Alberta government for its commitment to expanding dual credit education programming in Catholic schools. Together, we are equipping our youth with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. Dual credit programming empowers our high school students to explore and build on their career interests, setting them on a path towards reaching their full potential.

Bryan Szumlas, chief superintendent, Calgary Catholic School District

“We are grateful for this grant, which allows us to expand our dual credit programming by offering a health care aide course next semester. This program will provide more students with the opportunity to explore health care pathways, earn high school and post-secondary credits and build the skills needed to succeed in careers that are vital to Alberta’s future.”

Sandra Palazzo, board chair, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Dual credit programs are operated in partnership with post-secondary schools or in line with apprenticeship education pathways and are available to students in the public, separate, francophone, charter, First Nations and independent school systems. These programs provide career-based courses for students in grades 10, 11 and 12 to earn both high school credits and credits that count toward a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Quick facts
- Since 2019, $18.6 million has been provided to school authorities for dual credit programming.
- School authorities receive up to $50,000 to support the startup costs for new dual credit programs and up to $100,000 to enhance existing dual credit programs.
- Alberta Education is providing $4.3 million of the funding for dual credit programs this year.
- Alberta Health is providing $550,000 to support eight health care aide dual credit programs among the 77 funded programs.
- Between 2013 and 2023, about 83,000 high school students participated in at least one dual credit course.
Related information
- Dual credit – Start-up funding for school authorities
- Dual credit – Enhancement funding for school authorities
- Dual Credit Review Advisory Group
Related news
- Giving students a head start in Alberta’s job market (June 5, 2024)
- More career education for students (April 9, 2024)
MIL OSI Canada News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: How Changes in Revenues and Outlays Would Affect Debt Service, Deficits, and Debt

Source: US Congressional Budget Office

The interactive debt-service table in this workbook is similar to the model that the Congressional Budget Office uses to develop its baseline projections of net interest outlays. The worksheet allows users to see how revenues and outlays that differed from those in CBO’s June 2024 baseline budget projections would increase or decrease net interest costs and thus affect deficits and debt. That change in net outlays for interest is often referred to as debt service.

The worksheet is designed to generate results that approximate those that CBO would produce when using its methods for projecting debt-service costs to incorporate changes to revenues or outlays in its baseline projections. The results generated by the worksheet do not constitute an official CBO estimate. Moreover, debt-service costs are not typically included in CBO’s cost estimates.

In CBO’s baseline projections, which typically extend 10 years into the future, net outlays for interest are calculated by estimating the amount of debt that the Treasury would need to issue to finance government operations and the interest rates that it would pay on that debt. The interest rates underlying this interactive worksheet are from CBO’s June 2024 economic forecast. Projections of two of those rates are reproduced here in a separate table.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

October 29, 2024

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

October 29, 2024

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

October 29, 2024

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

October 29, 2024

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

October 29, 2024

Previous news Next news

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded employers participating in the Abilympics championship

The National Championship of Professional Skills among the Disabled and People with Limited Health Abilities “Abilympics” has ended in Moscow. 450 winners were awarded certificates for additional professional education and the purchase of technical rehabilitation equipment. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated the winners of the championship.

“It was a truly great success. Over the past 10 years, we have come a long way and have become convinced that the order of President Vladimir Putin to realize the capabilities and talents of each person in our country does not encounter any barriers. Every year, the championship is becoming more and more popular – it has already covered 120 thousand participants from all regions of Russia. And this is, of course, the merit of our regions,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted that Abilympics faces important challenges.

“The kids need support, it is important for them to see role models in front of them who give them hope and confirm that every person in our country is in demand and can be useful to the Motherland, themselves and their families,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that more than 2.5 thousand enterprises joined the Abilympics championship, creating jobs and conditions for young specialists. He emphasized that 93% of participants are already employed, which is a very good indicator.

Dmitry Chernyshenko presented letters of gratitude from the Russian Government Office to employers who employ the largest number of participants in the Abilympics championships and provide internships in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Thus, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, the United Engine Corporation, the Bank of Russia, Mobile TeleSystems and Ozon Holding were noted.

The Deputy Prime Minister also presented awards to the regions that demonstrated the best results in employing participants in the Abilympics championships and involving people with disabilities and people with limited health capabilities in the movement’s events. Among them are Moscow, the Republic of Tatarstan, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Ulyanovsk and Rostov Regions. The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania received an award for high indicators of the Abilympics movement development based on the results of 2023 and 2024.

On behalf of the regions, the awards were accepted by the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai Mikhail Kotyukov, the Minister of the Moscow Government, the Head of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the City of Moscow Evgeny Struzhak, the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilsur Khadiullin and others.

Head of the Russian Presidential Administration for Public Projects Sergei Novikov emphasized that over ten seasons, the participants of the Abilympics championship have become a big family, they are constantly in touch and support each other. He added that thanks to the movement, people with disabilities motivate each other to develop in their chosen specialty, compete successfully and show excellent results.

Sergey Novikov presented awards to representatives of the countries that won the overall team standings of the competitions with friendly countries. The first place was taken by the national team of the Russian Federation. The award for second place was received by the national team of the Republic of Belarus. Third place went to the Republic of Abkhazia.

First Deputy Minister of Education of Russia Alexander Bugaev expressed gratitude to everyone who created the Abilympics movement in all regions of Russia over the course of ten years.

“I would like to thank the huge army of participants in the movement over all these years – 120 thousand people. You can come to any region of our country and find your comrade, like-minded person. I am sure that each of those who participate in the tenth season of the Abilympics championship is already a winner. We must name the winners, but the best is everyone who is present in this hall today. Thank you for this, and always remain as wonderful,” said Alexander Bugayev.

In the overall team standings of the Abilympics championship, the Moscow team took first place. The Republic of Tatarstan team took second place. The St. Petersburg team came in third.

The 2024 National Abilympics Championship was held from October 26 to 29, 2024, at the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Center, as well as at six additional venues of professional educational organizations in Moscow and the Diana Gurtskaya Social Integration Center. The contestants were 869 people from 73 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including 290 schoolchildren, 276 students, and 303 specialists. The judging was carried out by 276 experts from 52 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The championship’s competition program included 50 competencies in the fields of education, IT technologies, decorative and applied arts, creative industries, industry, public catering, services, economics and management, construction, and medical professions.

Representatives of foreign countries competed in 12 main and 1 presentation competencies. Participants from Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Belarus, Zimbabwe and Qatar demonstrated their skills in person. Contestants from Armenia, Nicaragua and China took part in the competition remotely.

For participants with severe and multiple developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, a Festival of Opportunities was held. It included competitions in 11 competencies. The Festival of Introduction to the Profession brought together 50 preschool and primary school children with disabilities aged 6 years and older. They competed in 10 competencies.

The project operator is the National Center “Abilympics” of the Institute for the Development of Professional Education of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Thompson Okanagan communities receive over $725,000 to create memorable outdoor experiences and support sustainable tourism
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

The Government of Canada is making investments in tourism across British Columbia to attract visitors and drive local economic growth

October 29, 2024 – Kelowna, British Columbia – PacifiCan

British Columbia is home to breathtaking natural attractions and outdoor recreation experiences that bring the world to our doorstep. Tourism is important to Canada’s economy and creates good jobs in communities, from major city centres to rural and remote areas, to Indigenous communities. In the Thompson Okanagan, tourism business owners, operators and entrepreneurs have ambitious plans and PacifiCan is here to support those ambitions.

Today the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $727,500 in funding through PacifiCan’s Tourism Growth Program for four organizations based in the Thompson Okanagan. This funding will help enhance outdoor recreation, increase visitors to smaller communities and promote sustainable tourism in B.C.’s southern interior.

As part of today’s announcement, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Foundation is receiving $250,000 in funding to restore the historic Adra Tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in Naramata. Revitalizing the tunnel will preserve a vital piece of B.C.’s rail heritage, connect communities across the Okanagan, and attract more visitors to the region. Originally built for trains, the tunnel will soon be a pathway for hikers and cyclists, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to access and explore this early 20th-century landmark.

Silver Star Freestyle Club is receiving $250,000 to create a state-of-the-art freestyle ski and snowboard training park at SilverStar Mountain Resort in Vernon. This new facility will feature specialized equipment, including a landing airbag and a variety of terrain features to accommodate athletes of all skill levels. The project is expected to elevate the resort’s global reputation as a top destination for year-round activities, provide provincial, national and international snow sport training opportunities, and draw more visitors to the region.

Other investments included in today’s announcements are:
- $65,000 for Hunters Range Snowmobile Association to upgrade its grooming equipment and trail infrastructure in Enderby for an improved rider experience
- $162,500 for Wine Growers British Columbia Society to create a user-friendly trip planning resource on its website
More details about the organizations receiving funding can be found in the backgrounder here.

Projects like the ones announced today deliver memorable experiences for Canadian and international visitors alike. They create jobs, grow the local economy, enrich communities, and put B.C. on the map as a destination of choice.

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Thompson Okanagan communities receive over $725,000 to create memorable outdoor experiences and support sustainable tourism

Source: Government of Canada News

British Columbia is home to breathtaking natural attractions and outdoor recreation experiences that bring the world to our doorstep. Tourism is important to Canada’s economy and creates good jobs in communities, from major city centres to rural and remote areas, to Indigenous communities.

Today the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $727,500 in funding through PacifiCan’s Tourism Growth Program for four organizations based in the Thompson Okanagan. This funding will help enhance outdoor recreation, increase visitors to smaller communities and promote sustainable tourism in B.C.’s southern interior.

The projects announced today are:

Hunters Range Snowmobile Association
$65,000

Funding will allow Hunters Range Snowmobile Association, a non-profit that manages and operates the snowmobile trails on Hunters Range in Enderby, to upgrade its grooming equipment and trail infrastructure. This project will improve the organization’s snowmobile experiences, attract more visitors, and promote outdoor recreation in rural communities.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Foundation
$250,000

Funding will be used to restore the historic Adra Tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in Naramata. Revitalizing the tunnel will preserve a vital piece of B.C.’s rail heritage, connect communities across the Okanagan, and attract more visitors to the region. Originally built for trains, the tunnel will soon be a pathway for hikers and cyclists, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to access and explore this early 20th-century landmark.

Silver Star Freestyle Club
$250,000

Funding will help create a state-of-the-art freestyle ski and snowboard training park at SilverStar Mountain Resort in Vernon. This new facility will feature specialized equipment, including a landing airbag and a variety of terrain features to accommodate athletes of all skill levels. The project is expected to elevate the resort’s global reputation as a top destination for year-round activities, provide provincial, national and international snow sport training opportunities, and draw more visitors to the region.

Wine Growers British Columbia Society
$162,500

PacifiCan funding will be used to create a user-friendly trip planning resource on the WineBC website. This online platform will help visitors to discover wineries and other small businesses across all nine wine regions. The project will boost local tourism, draw visitors to the region during the off-season, and enhance B.C.’s reputation as a top wine destination.

Related products

Haley Hodgson
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
haley.hodgson@kpc-cpr.gc.ca

Follow PacifiCan on X and LinkedIn

Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378
TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on the results of the provincial election in Saskatchewan

Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the results of the provincial election in Saskatchewan:

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party on their re-election.

“I look forward to continue working with Premier Moe to deliver on priorities for the people of Saskatchewan and all Canadians. Our shared work will include growing the economy, building more homes, improving health care, expanding affordable child care, cutting emissions, and creating good middle-class jobs.”

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Smucker, Moore Introduce Bipartisan Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

Washington—Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Gwen Moore (WI-04), members of the Ways and Means Committee, announce jointly-introducing the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 10055). This legislation will amend the nation’s tax code to ensure survivors of sexual abuse and unwanted and illegal sexual contact do not have to pay taxes on settlement income when they prevail legally against their abuser. The Members have introduced this legislation during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Under current law and practice of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), payments for damages awarded on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness are exempt from gross income for federal income tax purposes. In implementing the requirement of a “physical injury” the IRS has imposed a standard that the victim must show visible physical conditions such as bruising, cuts or bleeding for the settlement to qualify for tax-free treatment. The observable harm standard can be especially difficult to meet and unfair in circumstances of sexual assault or sexual contact where such physical injuries may not be visible or have healed.

Representatives Smucker and Moore’s legislation narrowly expands current law to help survivors of sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact by tying the IRS tax exemption to the definitions of sexual act and sexual contact in federal criminal code.

“This legislation provides certainty for survivors of sexual assault and ensures that monetary settlements are exempt from federal income tax. I encourage my colleagues to stand with survivors by supporting this narrowly tailored legislation. I want to thank Rep. Gwen Moore for joining me in introducing this legislation,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11).

“Right now, sexual abuse survivors who prevail in legal actions against their abusers must pay federal tax on monetary awards they receive unless they prove to the IRS they suffered physical harm. I am honored to partner with Representative Smucker to remove the burdensome and unfair requirement on survivors of sexual abuse and highlight our joint work during Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04).

The legislation is supported by a number of organizations who are calling for the legislation to be passed without delay.

“On behalf of the thousands of courageous survivors of gender-based violence that the YWCA network supports each year, I applaud Representatives Lloyd Smucker and Gwen Moore for championing this legislation to provide certainty to all victims of sexual violence that monetary settlements are exempt from federal income tax,” said YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell. “We stand with survivors in all their steps of healing and this thoughtful and bipartisan bill is a helpful step.”

“On behalf of the members of the American Association of Settlement Consultants (AASC), whose professional efforts protect injured parties’ long term financial interests, we are grateful for the leadership of Reps. Smucker and Moore in advancing the commonsense and bipartisan Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act. Their efforts to support survivors are deserving of praise. We call on their colleagues to support this legislation which should be advanced without delay,” said AASC President Joanna Wynes and AASC President-Elect Louis Masry.

“As a survivor and advocate, I’ve seen firsthand how civil judgments provide a rare form of justice that can help survivors reclaim some control over their lives and begin to heal,” said Grace French, founder and president of the Army of Survivors. “But taxing these settlements forces survivors to give back part of what they sacrificed so much to attain. This legislation will allow us to receive full settlements, unencumbered by tax burdens that devalue the painful journey to justice. It’s a crucial step in helping survivors move forward with dignity, knowing they have the financial support they deserve.”

“Sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact are pervasive, devastating problems in our country and it can be extremely challenging to seek justice,” said MomsRising Elyssa Schmier, Vice President of Government Relations. “Those who do so successfully, and win the settlements they deserve, should not have those settlements taxed simply because their injuries are not visible or observable. That’s an unacceptable, harmful double standard that we must end. So America’s moms thank Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) for championing the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act, and urge Congress to pass it quickly.”

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Announces $21.2 Million in USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Memphis-based MidSouth Development District will receive $21,250,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program for a project providing sustainable improvements to agricultural land with its partners in Shelby, Tipton, Fayette and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County in Arkansas; and DeSoto County in Mississippi.

The project aims to enhance ecosystem health by establishing diverse habitats on the edges of production sites across the six counties, supporting ecosystem services that reduce synthetic inputs and improve water and soil quality. This approach will increase biodiversity, providing natural pest control and pollination, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Mid-South agriculture and the livelihoods it supports are a critical foundation of our regional economy and promoting biodiversity is an important goal. Applying best practices for sustainable and environmentally protective farmland use with the help of this substantial funding will be an economic boon to our region, its workers, and its plants and animals.”

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Moore, Smucker Introduce Bipartisan Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

Moore, Smucker Introduce Bipartisan Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), both members of the Ways and Means Committee, are jointly introducing the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 10055). This legislation will amend the nation’s tax code to ensure survivors of sexual abuse and unwanted and illegal sexual contact do not have to pay taxes on settlement income when they prevail legally against their abuser. The Members have introduced this legislation during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Under current law and practice of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), payments for damages awarded on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness are exempt from gross income for federal income tax purposes. In implementing the requirement of a “physical injury” the IRS has imposed a standard that the victim must show visible physical conditions such as bruising, cuts or bleeding for the settlement to qualify for tax-free treatment. The observable harm standard can be especially difficult to meet and unfair in circumstances of sexual assault or sexual contact where such physical injuries may not be visible or have healed.

Representatives Smucker and Moore’s legislation narrowly expands current law to help survivors of sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact by tying the IRS tax exemption to the definitions of sexual act and sexual contact in federal criminal code.

“Right now, sexual abuse survivors who prevail in legal actions against their abusers must pay federal tax on monetary awards they receive unless they prove to the IRS they suffered physical harm. I am honored to partner with Representative Smucker to remove the burdensome and unfair requirement on survivors of sexual abuse and highlight our joint work during Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04).

“This legislation provides certainty for survivors of sexual assault and ensures that monetary settlements are exempt from federal income tax. I encourage my colleagues to stand with survivors by supporting this narrowly tailored legislation. I want to thank Rep. Gwen Moore for joining me introducing this legislation,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11).

The legislation is supported by a number of organizations who are calling for the legislation to be passed without delay.

“On behalf of the thousands of courageous survivors of gender-based violence that the YWCA network supports each year, I applaud Representatives Lloyd Smucker and Gwen Moore for championing this legislation to provide certainty to all victims of sexual violence that monetary settlements are exempt from federal income tax,” said YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell. “We stand with survivors in all their steps of healing and this thoughtful and bipartisan bill is a helpful step.”

“On behalf of the members of the American Association of Settlement Consultants (AASC), whose professional efforts protect injured parties’ long term financial interests, we are grateful for the leadership of Reps. Smucker and Moore in advancing the commonsense and bipartisan Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act. Their efforts to support survivors are deserving of praise. We call on their colleagues to support this legislation which should be advanced without delay,” said AASC President Joanna Wynes and AASC President-Elect Louis Masry.

“As a survivor and advocate, I’ve seen firsthand how civil judgments provide a rare form of justice that can help survivors reclaim some control over their lives and begin to heal,” said Grace French, founder and president of the Army of Survivors. “But taxing these settlements forces survivors to give back part of what they sacrificed so much to attain. This legislation will allow us to receive full settlements, unencumbered by tax burdens that devalue the painful journey to justice. It’s a crucial step in helping survivors move forward with dignity, knowing they have the financial support they deserve.”

“Sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact are pervasive, devastating problems in our country and it can be extremely challenging to seek justice,” said MomsRising Elyssa Schmier, Vice President of Government Relations. “Those who do so successfully, and win the settlements they deserve, should not have those settlements taxed simply because their injuries are not visible or observable. That’s an unacceptable, harmful double standard that we must end. So America’s moms thank Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) for championing the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act, and urge Congress to pass it quickly.”

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Scanlon, Casey, Fetterman, Boyle, Evans Secure $79.6 Million to Make PhilaPort More Energy Efficient

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02) and Dwight Evans (PA-03) in announcing that Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PhilaPort) is receiving a total of $79,650,965 in federal funding to plan and implement projects that will transition the port’s operations to zero-emissions equipment. The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“The Port of Philadelphia is a critical driver of good-paying jobs for our region and a vital gateway for goods and passengers across the country,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I’m so pleased to see funding from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda continue to flow into our region, helping clean up pollution at our ports and improving air quality and public health in neighboring communities.”

“This investment from the Inflation Reduction Act will allow PhilaPort to bring down its energy costs and improve air quality in surrounding communities while incorporating the technology of the future into its operations,” said Senator Casey. “I will always fight to improve our shipping hubs to ensure that the Commonwealth’s waterways boost economic growth and create and sustain good jobs.”

“The nearly $80 million investment in PhilaPort is a transformative step toward a more efficient future for Philadelphia. Moving to zero-emission technology will help make our port cleaner and healthier for the community while boosting the local economy and creating good paying jobs. This is what the Inflation Reduction Act is all about—making big investments that keep Pennsylvania competitive and sustainable,” said Senator Fetterman.

“This funding, which I proudly supported as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, will enable PhilaPort to adopt cutting-edge technology that reduces carbon emissions and could help expand the port’s operations,” Rep. Boyle. “Philadelphia’s ports are vital to our communities, providing jobs and positioning our city as a key hub of commerce. This investment not only supports the hardworking port workers who drive our economy but also ensures that PhilaPort can continue serving the nation sustainably for years to come.”

“I was proud to vote for the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark clean-energy and health-care law, and this more than $79 million in federal funding for our area is just the latest way it’s benefiting Philadelphia and the region,” said Rep. Evans.

The Clean Ports Program funding will support two PhilaPort projects. $77.6 million will help PhilaPort deploy electric cargo handling equipment, install new charging infrastructure, and upgrade existing electrical infrastructure. An additional $2 million will support planning operations to better understand the port’s current emissions levels, identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved, and engage the surrounding community about the process of transitioning to zero-emission operations.

The announcement comes just a month after the members secured $217 million for PhilaPort to expand the operational capacity of the SouthPort terminal.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Tenth Annual Richard Goode Lecture: International Lending in War and Peace

Source: International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund will hold its tenth annual Richard Goode Lecture on November 5, 2024. The Richard Goode Lecture is an annual event hosted by the Fiscal Affairs Department for top academics to present their cutting-edge research on topical policy issues before a broad audience of policymakers, thinktanks, and staff of international organizations.

The theme of this year’s seminar is “International Lending in War and Peace” presented by Professor Christoph Trebesch. The lecture will present some key trends in international capital flows across 200 years, focusing on turbulent episodes during war and peace. It will illustrate the crucial role of official finance in helping avert military defeat or financial collapse.

Professor Trebesch is a professor at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the University of Kiel. His research focuses on international finance and macroeconomics as well as political economy and geopolitics. His research has been published in leading economic journals such as the American Economic Review, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and the Journal of Political Economy and is regularly cited in international media, including The New York Times, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He directs the CEPR Policy Network on “International Lending and Sovereign Debt” and co-directs the CEPR Network on “Geoeconomics,” for which he organizes an annual high-level conference on geopolitics and economics. He is also the creator of the widely referenced “Ukraine Support Tracker” on military and financial aid flows to Ukraine. In 2023, he was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant, one of the most prestigious research recognitions in Europe.

*Light refreshments will be served.

Questions for the speaker can be sent before the event to FADRG@imf.org

Agenda

10:02 AM – 10:05 AM	Welcoming remarks by Vitor Gaspar, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department
10:05 AM – 10:50 AM	Presentation by Professor Christoph Trebesch
10:50 AM – 11:05 AM	Conversation between Vitor Gaspar and Christoph Trebesch
11:05 AM – 11:25 AM	Audience Q&A

MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Alpha Capital Appointed as Exclusive Financial Advisor to CD8 Technology to Secure Funding Up To $50 Million

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alpha Capital Corp (“Alpha”), a global merchant bank, is pleased to announce that it has been retained as the exclusive financial advisor to CD8 Technology Services, LLC (“CD8 Technology”) in connection with financing a real estate facility whose primary focus is developing and manufacturing biologic products for cell therapy. By eliminating barriers to entry, in terms of capital and time to build GMP capabilities at scale, this venture will expedite manufacturing for CD8 Technology’s clients.

When completed, CD8 Technology will be among a handful of independent biologic contract manufacturing organizations in the United States. CD8 Technology has committed to providing a turn-key facility to Tevogen Bio (NASDAQ: TVGN) on a first-priority basis for its manufacturing needs to develop off-the-shelf, genetically unmodified T-cell therapeutics to treat infectious disease and cancers. Tevogen announced a $1b+ forecast earlier this month and through this facility, should be able to realize its revenue potential.

Alpha brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in life sciences and manufacturing. The firm will provide comprehensive advisory services, including capital structuring, valuation, and a full range of financing options to CD8 Technology. “We are excited to be selected by CD8 Technology as their trusted advisor for this transaction. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional advisory services and leveraging our extensive industry expertise to achieve CD8 Technology’s key objectives,” said representatives of Alpha.

For more information, please contact:

Alpha Capital Corp

info@alphacapital.us

+ 1 (732) 433-4332

About Alpha Capital

Alpha Capital Corp is a strategy consulting firm and a boutique merchant bank with a strong track record in the manufacturing and IT industries. Key aspects of advisory include merchant banking, mergers and acquisitions, and capital raising. Alpha maintains a primary focuses on the healthcare and hospitality sectors.

Forward Looking Statements

This Announcement includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the Company’s ability to raise sufficient capital to carry out the business plans, the long-term efficacy of the business plans, the ability to protect its intellectual property, general economic conditions, and possible decrease in demand for the Company’s services, and increased competition.

Although we believe that in making such forward-looking statements, expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. We cannot assure you that the assumptions upon which these statements are based will prove to have been correct.

When used in this announcement, the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements for a number of important reasons.

We cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this announcement after the date of this announcement.

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kean Highlights Over $1.1 Million Dollars in New FEMA, SAFER and AFG Grants for Local Fire Departments
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)

(October 29, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded over $1.1 million dollars for local fire departments in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program.

In February of this year, Congressman Kean hosted a FEMA AFG Webinar also wrote letters of support for fire departments to receive a FEMA grant in the 7th Congressional District that requested assistance. Congressman Kean’s Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law in July which provided the necessary federal resources through the AFG and SAFER programs.

“Every day, firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our communities,” said Congressman Kean. “It is essential that we provide our first responders with the resources they need, and I am grateful to see this funding coming back to the district. Investing in our local fire departments means we are investing in the safety and well-being of our families and neighbors.”

“Our agency is incredibly grateful to be chosen for a 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase new portable radios,” said Matthew Hoffman, Chief of Readington Volunteer Fire Company. “Radio communications are a vital part of our everyday operations and safety of our firefighters as they operate on incidents. These funds will help to take the financial burden off our agency and township in the upgrade process. We appreciate the letter of support from Congressman Kean and his office that was submitted with the application.”

“Quakertown Fire Company is thrilled to be receiving a $577,000 FEMA SAFER grant for recruitment and retention,” said Bradley Patkochis, Chief of Quakertown Fire Company. “The importance of AFG and SAFER cannot be understated, particularly the ability for local fire companies to complete critical projects without putting it on the backs of New Jersey taxpayers. Thank you to Congressman Kean for supporting FEMA AFG and SAFER programs through the Fire Grants and Safety Act.”

$1,171,231 in total going back to New Jersey’s local fire departments, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) were distributed as follows:
- $60,909 for City of Linden
- $44,788 for Tri-County Fire Co No 1 of Stephensburg (Hackettstown)
- $53,705 for Alpha Volunteer Fire Co (Phillipsburg)
- $189,735 for Readington Volunteer Fire Company
- $244,761 for Chester Township
- $577,333 for Quakertown Fire Company (Franklin, Hunterdon Co.)
Congressman Kean’s Fire Grants and Safety Act authorizes up to $750 million in funding from fiscal years 2024 through 2028, extending the sunset date of these programs to September 30, 2030. Additionally, it increases funding levels for the U.S. Fire Administration to $95 million in order to support initiatives such as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

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MIL OSI USA News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Invests $19.6 Million in Souris River Bridge Reconstruction

Source: Government of Canada regional news

October 29, 2024

Manitoba Government Invests $19.6 Million in Souris River Bridge Reconstruction

Replacement of Souris River Bridge on Provincial Trunk Highway 3 Guards Against Flooding and Supports Manitoba Communities: Naylor

The Manitoba government is investing $19.6 million in a major bridge crossing to improve Manitoba highways and enhance climate resiliency by reducing the impacts of future floods in southwest Manitoba, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today.

The Souris River Bridge on Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 3 at Melita is a vital east-west link over the Souris River connecting people, businesses and communities, noted the minister.

“Our government knows that infrastructure is critical to our economy,” said Naylor. “Manitobans depend on safe roads and bridges to grow their businesses, support their families and ensure they have access to important health services. I am pleased to see this project move forward to keep the communities of southwest Manitoba safe and to invest in the future of rural Manitoba.”

The bridge replacement contract has been awarded to MD Steele Construction Limited. The new three-span steel I-girder bridge is being constructed with improved hydraulic capacity for flood resiliency and will be wider than the existing bridge, with two 3.7-metre travel lanes and 2.5-metre shoulders. The work has already begun and is anticipated to be open to traffic by next fall, noted Naylor, adding full completion of all work related to the project is scheduled for later in the fall or early winter of 2025.

Traffic is being detoured during bridge construction onto a shoo-fly detour adjacent to the existing highway and will remain open throughout construction with a single lane controlled by signal lights at each end of the bridge. Drivers should exercise caution through the construction area at all times.

For more information on Manitoba’s Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/mti/myhis/index.html.

Up-to-date information on highway conditions, including detours, restrictions and road closures, is available at www.manitoba511.ca or by calling 511.

– 30 –

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare for Physicians and Patients

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, to support physicians and protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.

“America’s physicians are at a breaking point and access to high-quality, affordable care is at risk for millions of Medicare patients,”said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “When a physician sees a Medicare patient, they do so out of the goodness of their heart, not because it makes financial sense. Medical inflation is much higher and the cost of seeing patients continues to rise. Unfortunately, reimbursements continue to decline, putting immense pressure on doctors to retire, close their practices, forgo seeing new Medicare patients, or seek a less efficient employment position. This bipartisan legislation would stop yet another year of reimbursement cuts, give them a slight inflationary adjustment, and protect Medicare for physicians and patients alike.”

“Medicare payments to physicians are just not keeping pace with our economic realities and the cost of care,” said Congressman Jimmy Panetta. “Our bipartisan legislation would not only prevent harmful cuts but also would adjust provider reimbursements for inflation. Such a law would expand seniors’ access to quality healthcare by helping medical providers continue their care for Medicare beneficiaries.”

“Access to quality healthcare is a something every senior deserves, but declining Medicare reimbursement is putting that access at risk,” said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “The bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act is crucial to reversing the damaging trend of cuts that threaten our healthcare providers, especially in underserved communities. We must act now to prevent further burnout and consolidation in our system, ensuring that every Medicare beneficiary receives the care they need and deserve.”

“Having an outdated Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians makes it harder for healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care, putting patients at risk,” said Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. “Physicians, unlike the rest of the players in health care, have never received an inflationary update and consistently received cuts. This bill ensures a more stable Medicare payment system, allowing providers to focus on delivering care rather than worrying about losing their practice. With this bipartisan effort, we are working toward a system that supports both patients and doctors.”

“All patients deserve timely access to healthcare from quality physicians in their communities,” said Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. “Inadequate Medicare reimbursement threatens that access. I have long fought to correct the current trend of cutting reimbursement levels year after year, and I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. The current path toward further consolidation, physician burnout, and closure of medical practices must be corrected.”

“Over the past 22 years, adjusting for inflation, physicians have essentially taken a 26% pay cut from Medicare,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. “Their reimbursement has been flat or declining, while overhead costs have increased by about 47%: rent, labor, equipment, and insurance. I cannot think of another profession whose compensation has dropped by 26% over 2 decades. Physicians have been holding their breath, year after year, hoping that Congress will act to avert these devastating decreases in reimbursement. Without adequate reimbursement, solo and small practice physicians—most often in rural or underserved areas—are already closing their doors. It’s up to Congress to ensure that physicians are fairly compensated and can continue to practice, so that all Medicare patients have access to high-quality, affordable care, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that will achieve just that.”

“As a physician, I recognize that year after year cuts to Medicare reimbursement jeopardizes access to care for our nation’s seniors,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “We must work in Congress to create a more sustainable long-term solution to ensure that Medicare patients continue to receive the high-quality affordable care that they deserve. While we continue this important work, I am proud to co-lead the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, in order to protect access for Medicare beneficiaries and support Medicare physicians in the face of these proposed cuts.”

“As an emergency medicine physician, I know how important it is for families and individuals I serve to have access to the necessary health care services they rely on,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz M.D. “I am deeply concerned about the impact the outdated Medicare reimbursement rate has on health care access for my constituents. That is why I am co-leading the ‘Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act’ that will move us away from a system where every year seniors’ access to essential care is threatened due to potential cuts.”

Background
In July 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 2.8% beginning on January 1, 2025. Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 3.6% increase in practice cost expenses for next year, physicians will be faced with an 6.4% cut unless Congress acts.

According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 29% from 2001 to 2024.

Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians have significant ripple effects across our health care system, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The decline in reimbursement rates, while wages and operational costs continue to rise, is forcing many physician practices to consider layoffs, reduced services, or office closure.

At a time when we’re facing a physician shortage and a historic number of doctors are nearing retirement age, these cuts risk accelerating physician burnout and reducing access to care for Medicare patients.

Supporting Organizations
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, ADVION (formerly National Association for the Support of Long Term Care), Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, American Academy of Audiology, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Chiropractic Association, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiation Oncology, American College of Radiology, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Glaucoma Society, American Health Care Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, American Medical Women’s Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, American Optometric Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association – Private Practice Section, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, American Society of Dermatopathology, American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Hand Therapists, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Retina Specialists, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Urogynecologic Society, American Urological Association, Association for Clinical Oncology , Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, Association of Women in Rheumatology, Brain Injury Association of America, California Medical Association, CardioVascular Coalition, Clinical Social Work Association, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, College of American Pathologists, Community Oncology Alliance (COA), Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Emergency Department Practice Management Association, Endocrine Society, Federation of American Hospitals, Free2care, Healthcare Business Management Association, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Indiana Associations Pathologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infusion Providers Alliance, LUGPA, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Group Management Association, National Association of ACOs, National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies, National Association of Spine Specialists, National Infusion Center Association, National Rural Health Association, North Carolina Rheumatology Association, Office-Based Facility Organization, Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., Physician-Led Healthcare for America, Physicians Advocacy Institute, Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, Practicing Physicians of America, Renal Physicians Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of General Internal Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Hospital Medicine, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Texas Medical Association, and the US Oncology Network.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025

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Manitoba Government Invests $19.6 Million in Souris River Bridge Reconstruction