Category: Economy

MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Holds Emergency Meeting with States Parties as the United Nations’ Financial Crisis Threatens its Survival

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Human Rights Committee today held an emergency meeting with States parties to discuss the financial challenges of the United Nations and the Committee’s future.

Committee Chairperson Changrok Soh, in opening remarks, said the Committee’s ability to fulfil its mandate was under serious threat. Austerity measures had been imposed on it that jeopardised not just its current work, but the very future of the Committee itself.

The Committee’s most pressing concern was the cancellation of its third session this year, Mr. Soh said. This was the first time in its 50-year history that such a cancellation had occurred. Losing a session meant serious delays in reviewing State party reports and in deciding on individual complaints of Covenant violations. Many victims had already waited years for justice. Now, they would wait even longer, he said.

Mr. Soh appealed to States parties to help the Committee find a solution. The Committee needed States’ political will, financial commitment, and concrete support — not only to help it find a way to hold its third session this year, but also to strengthen the system for the future.

In the ensuing discussion, States parties expressed support for the Committee and the treaty body system, and concern regarding the financial crisis and the cancellation of the third session. They called on the Committee to come up with new, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to address the structural issues underpinning the situation, while maintaining its work and integrity.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Soh said that treaty bodies were not receiving enough funding for their core work. They were doing their best in terms of rationalisation and increasing efficiency, but as allocated resources declined, support for the treaty bodies’ work diminished, creating a vicious cycle.

To address this situation, special measures were needed, such as utilising voluntary contributions transparently, he said. Without a properly functioning treaty body system, human rights protections would weaken around the world. Decisive and urgent action was needed to protect the treaty body system and human rights around the world, he concluded.

Speaking in the meeting were representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as Japan, Spain, Serbia, Egypt, Croatia, Colombia, Russian Federation, Costa Rica, Islamic Republic of Iran and France.

The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-fourth session is being held from 23 June to 17 July 2025. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage . Meeting summary releases can be found here . The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Tuesday 15 July to hear the progress report of the Special Rapporteur on follow-up to the Committee’s concluding observations.

Opening Statements by Committee Experts

CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chair, said the Committee had convened the emergency meeting to discuss a single, urgent issue: “The financial challenges of the United Nations and the future of the Human Rights Committee.” The Committee came before States today with a profound sense of urgency.

All members of the Human Rights Committee were deeply honoured to take enormous responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Covenant. They took this duty very seriously. But today, its ability to fulfil this mandate was under serious threat. The austerity measures imposed on the Committee jeopardised not just its current work, but the very future of the Committee itself.

These were truly unprecedented times — for the Committee and for the entire treaty body system. The Committee’s most pressing concern was the cancellation of its third session this year, scheduled for October and November, as announced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This was the first time in the Committee’s 50-year history that such a cancellation had occurred.

The cancellation put the Committee in a very difficult position. Its rules of procedure required it to meet three times a year. This was a fundamental obligation under the Committee’s mandate and indispensable to the effectiveness of its work. If it lost a session, nearly eight months would pass without a single meeting in Geneva. This meant serious delays in reviewing State party reports and in deciding on individual complaints of Covenant violations. Many victims had already waited years for justice. Now, they would wait even longer. Every delay weakened the Committee’s recommendations, diminished their impact, and undermined their ability to prevent further violations.

The Committee recognised that the United Nations’ financial crisis was serious, and that the Secretariat was doing its best under the current constraints. But it was clear that the rules and structures of the system were too rigid to cope with situations like this. For example, in early June, during the Treaty Body Chairs’ meeting, several Chairs explored the possibility of mobilising emergency funding to hold autumn sessions. However, they were told that this was not possible, as treaty bodies were required to rely exclusively on the regular budget to carry out their mandated activities. This rule was intended to safeguard the Committee’s independence. But it made little sense if, in practice, it prevented it from functioning at all when the regular budget fell short. The Covenant clearly obliged the Secretary-General to ensure that the Committee could carry out its work. If the current approach blocked the fulfilment of that obligation, then it needed to change.

The Committee therefore appealed to States parties to help it find a solution. Open and frank communication with the States parties was crucial because, ultimately, it was in States’ interest to ensure that the treaty bodies could continue their vital work, even in difficult times. The Committee needed States’ political will, financial commitment, and concrete support — not only to help it find a way to hold its third session this year, but also to strengthen the system for the future.

The Committee monitored the fundamental rights of individuals in 174 States parties — as part of the approximately 1,400 treaty obligations regularly reviewed by the treaty bodies. This was a remarkable early warning and accountability system — one that States parties created. The Committee urged States to ensure that this system could continue to function effectively. If not, what alternative was available?

This should not be treated as a one-time problem. If this unprecedented cancellation were allowed to be “normalised”, it would set a dangerous precedent. Each time the United Nations faced a funding shortfall, the credibility and effectiveness of the treaty body system, a core pillar of the United Nations’ human rights architecture, would erode further.

There was growing global pushback against human rights, especially the very rights the Committee was mandated to protect. This was not the moment to weaken United Nations human rights mechanisms. On the contrary, the world needed this remarkable early warning and accountability system now more than ever.

The Committee called on States to do three things. First, support the Committee — even at this late stage — in finding a solution to hold its third session this year, and commit to holding all three regular sessions in 2026. Second, allow voluntary contributions from States to be used transparently and responsibly to support the Committee’s work, while fully preserving the independence and impartiality of the treaty bodies. Third, help the Committee function effectively by fulfilling reporting obligations, engaging with the Committee in dialogue, and supporting its work financially and politically, both now and in the long term.

Statements and Questions by States Parties

In the ensuing dialogue, many States expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Committee and the treaty bodies and their firm commitment to the treaty bodies, which were a cornerstone of the international human rights system. The Committee, they said, made significant contributions to upholding civil and political rights around the world.

Several speakers expressed deep concern about the financial crisis, which was affecting the mandates of all treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures, among other mechanisms in the United Nations system. This situation had serious implications for these bodies’ important work.

One speaker said that their country had increased contributions to the treaty body system and was paying its dues on time, and had also increased unearmarked financial contributions to the Office of the High Commissioner. The speaker said that the country would work to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat through its contributions.

Some speakers said treaty bodies needed to work to harmonise their working methods. Cooperation between treaty bodies could lead to solutions to backlogs in individual communications. The Committee had a backlog of over 1,000 individual communications. One speaker asked if the Committee had assessed additional measures to address its backlog.

Many speakers expressed dismay that the Committee’s third session for the year was to be cancelled, and called for an urgent, mitigating solution to be found to hold the Committee’s third session in November. Without this session, the Committee’s backlog of cases would only increase. Was this issue related to the ordinary budget or to liquidity? One speaker suggested using new technologies and virtual meetings to hold the third session. The Committee needed to come up with new, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to address the structural issues underpinning the situation, while maintaining its work and integrity.

Some speakers commended the UN80 initiative and the United Nations’ efforts to address evolving global challenges. However, some speakers said that austerity measures implemented through the UN80 initiative should not affect the work of the treaty bodies and the international human rights system.

One speaker said it was worth exploring the Chair’s proposal regarding the use of voluntary contributions to facilitate the Committee’s third session, provided that there were no legal barriers to this solution and that the independence and impartiality of the Committee were not affected. The speaker commended the Committee’s efforts to find a solution.

Another speaker said that their country had attempted to fund one of the treaty bodies’ mandates directly but had been told that funding could only come from the regular budget. If a voluntary funding scheme for the Committee was established, it needed to be established for all the treaty bodies and other mechanisms receiving funds from the regular budget. The speaker said that their country would support solutions proposed by States, while working within the norms of the United Nations’ system.

A speaker said that one State had traditionally contributed significantly to the funding of the human rights system; the reasons for its sudden cessation of funding needed to be examined. States were the owners of the treaty body system.

One speaker said multilingualism needed to be an essential value of the treaty bodies; it should not be sacrificed to achieve budgetary austerity.

Responses by Committee Experts and Others

A Committee Expert said States were authors of the Covenant and the Optional Protocol on individual communications. The harmonisation of working methods related to individual communications began around three years ago, both formally and informally. There was no resistance from the Committee in this regard. The Human Rights Committee received the largest number of individual communications, given the broad scope of the Covenant. It was proud of its record in dealing with these communications. Delays in issuing decisions on communications affected the relevance and legitimacy of the decisions that the Committee adopted. The Committee had had only three days this session to assess individual communications, while it had had a full week previously.

The Secretariat had exerted efforts to maintain its staff in the financial crisis. The Committee had a human resources issue; there was a lack of staff to assess individual complaints, prepare draft decisions, and assess follow-up to the Committee’s decisions. The issue of resources needed to be addressed; simply freeing up time in sessions to assess individual communications would not fix the backlog.

Digitisation was a long-standing structural issue for the Committee. The system that the Committee worked with was not sufficiently digitised.

Another Committee Expert said the Committee welcomed States’ support and was encouraged by their presence in the dialogue. The Committee received over half of all the individual communications received by the treaty body system. If the Secretariat could not prepare individual cases for assessment, the Committee could not assess them. Without sufficient pre-sessional working time, the Committee’s backlog would only increase. Diplomats in Geneva understood the complexities of the treaty body system. They needed to mobilise with colleagues in New York to support treaty bodies’ efficiency.

This was the first time that the Committee had organised a special, focused meeting, and it had been very successful. It would be helpful to have annual meetings with States, as well as emergency meetings to discuss urgent issues.

One Committee Expert proposed that the Committee use digital technologies to hold the third session remotely. A decision on this issue needed to be taken rapidly. However, this was not a solution to the structural problems the Committee faced. The Committee needed to take slow steps forward in this situation.

Another Committee Expert said that the young generation was questioning the capacity of the human rights system to protect human rights, in the context of the recent increase in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law around the world. The Committee was witnessing the emergence of new challenges, including in relation to climate change and artificial intelligence. It was considering how to address these challenges while preserving human rights. The Committee’s objective was not to level accusations at States; it was to accompany them on their journey toward achieving the best implementation of their commitments. Member States needed to support the Committee now, in the same manner as they had supported it for decades.

A Committee Expert thanked States parties for their support to the international human rights system. States had created the Committee, recognising the need to monitor and protect civil and political rights. The Committee had an enormous workload and required appropriate financial resources, so that the Secretariat could hire necessary human resources to facilitate its work. The Expert called on States to take initiatives to address the crisis. Solutions needed to address the overall structural crisis over the long term.

CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chair, said the Committee would present a proposal to States regarding the use of voluntary contributions for holding the third session, but only States could approve this. Mr. Soh expressed support for the idea of holding annual meetings with States parties.

The Committee met online during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that these meetings were not effective for various reasons, including time difference and limitations on dialogue and interpretation. The treaty body Chairs had discussed this issue, but had decided that online meetings were not an effective option. However, the Committee would continue to use digital technology, including artificial intelligence, to increase the efficiency of its work.

WAN-HEA LEE, Chief, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , said that, in the past, the Office of the High Commissioner had reduced the working time of pre-sessional working groups to manage the financial crisis. The working group for the third session had been cancelled.

In the past, the treaty bodies had been facing a liquidity crisis. Dues were being paid, but did not reach the treaty bodies in a timely manner. However, it was not an issue of liquidity anymore. The budget of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for this year had been cut, and the situation had moved from a liquidity to a financial crisis. The financial outlook for next year was also not bright.

DINA ROSSBACHER, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , said that there was a structural problem in terms of the processing of decisions related to individual communications. The formula adopted by Member States regarding the processing of individual communications had not been fully adopted and this had been exacerbated by the financial crisis. The Committee had taken several steps to address the situation, including efforts to align working methods and increase the efficiency of processing individual communications. Last year, the Committee adopted a record number of decisions on communications – over 450. However, the large backlog remained, and the situation remained urgent.

Statements and Questions by States Parties

States expressed support for the work of the Committee, the treaty bodies and the human rights system. It was the responsibility of States to support the work of the Committee, one speaker said.

Speakers said creative initiatives were needed to address the financial situation, including digital meetings. One State expressed support for the Committee’s efforts to harmonise and increase efficiency for its work.

One speaker said the Committee needed to further consider the cultural diversity of States in preparing its concluding observations. If the Committee did not consider challenges such as terrorism and unilateral coercive measures, its recommendations would be considered irrelevant to the realities on the ground in some countries. The speaker called on the Committee to prepare a general comment on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on civil and political rights.

Responses by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said the treaty bodies were implementing innovative methods to review States parties. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had this year conducted a special, informal meeting in Fiji to review States parties in the region. This initiative was funded by States parties, and could be a model for other Committees to follow. The application of simplified procedures to individual communications would not be sufficient for fully addressing the Committee’s backlog.

Closing Remarks

CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chair, said treaty bodies were at the core of the human rights architecture. However, the Committee’s third session would not happen without extraordinary measures, and this trend would continue if the Committee continued to rely on the United Nations’ regular budget. Less than five per cent of the United Nations’ regular budget was allocated to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The treaty body system was not receiving enough funding for its core work. It was doing its best in terms of rationalisation and increasing efficiency. But as allocated resources declined, support diminished, creating a vicious cycle.

To address this situation, special measures were needed, such as utilising voluntary contributions transparently. Without a properly functioning treaty body system, human rights protections would weaken around the world. Decisive and urgent action was needed to protect the treaty body system and human rights around the world.

____________

This document is produced by the United Nations Information Service at Geneva and is intended for public information; it is not an official document.
The English and French versions of our news releases are different because they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CCPR25.017E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Ex-Google and Meta Engineers Launch Nauma: Personalized Financial Planning Tools for Tech Professionals

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A team of former Google and Meta engineers has launched Nauma, a new platform designed to help people working in tech navigate complex financial decisions with confidence. Nauma’s mission is to democratize fiduciary-quality financial guidance, providing highly personalized planning tools without the high costs of traditional financial advisors.

Today, most high-net-worth families rely on advisors who charge based on Assets Under Management (AUM)—typically 1% of a client’s assets each year. For a family with $5 million, that means paying $50,000 annually, even as the level of service often remains static. Worse, these fees tend to rise 6–8% per year as portfolios grow, creating a system where costs scale without a proportional increase in value.

“The AUM model is outdated and misaligned with clients’ best interests,” said Alex Sukhanov, co-founder of Nauma. “Advisors operating under this model are incentivized to keep assets under their control, which can lead to biased advice when clients actually want to use their money—to buy real estate, start a business, or donate to charity.

Nauma is designed to give tech professionals clarity and control over their financial lives. The platform addresses the complex challenges faced by this group, including optimizing taxes, managing equity compensation, planning for early retirement, and protecting generational wealth.

“Tech professionals are building substantial wealth earlier in their lives, but most tools and advisors aren’t designed for their unique needs,” said Simone, Nauma’s co-founder. “We’re building the modern, intelligent financial planning infrastructure we wish we had—one that puts people, not assets, first.”

For more information, visit https://nauma.ai

About Nauma
Founded by ex-Google and Meta engineers, Nauma provides advanced financial planning tools tailored for people working in tech. By replacing the legacy AUM fee model with scalable, technology-driven solutions, Nauma empowers users to navigate complex financial decisions and build wealth on their own terms.

Media Contact
hello@nauma.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74982a9a-7d84-4a5c-8e07-edb337b65345

The MIL Network –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Balanced development clause for islands and mountain areas – E-002132/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

As per the communication ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’[1] from 11 February 2025, the Commission’s proposal for the next multiannual financial framework will ensure a simpler, more focused and more impactful budget aligned with EU priorities.

The future budget will aim for a strengthened cohesion and growth policy, with regions at the centre, as underscored in the Commission’s political guidelines[2], and continue to actively support islands and mountain areas, considering their specific needs and challenges, notably in terms of economic development, adaptation to climate change, connectivity, migration and demographic transition.

At the core of this modernised budget will be a national and regional partnership plan for each country with key reforms and investments, focusing on EU’s joint priorities, including promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, and designed and implemented in partnership with national, regional, and local authorities to address their specificities.

A place-based approach remains essential to respond to the unique challenges faced by the regions and territories. By combining key investments and reforms within one plan, it will be possible to address these challenges in a way that is more targeted and comprehensive.

This approach will mix specific investments, legislative and regulatory levers, and technical support, to ensure rapid and effective deployment of funds aligned to local needs and European priorities.

The plan’s single rulebook, wide eligibility scope and large financial toolbox, enabling the use of leverage through financial instruments, will help reduce the administrative burden for beneficiaries and allow for the design of more effective measures, tailored to the needs of each territory.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/6d47acb4-9206-4d0f-8f9b-3b10cad7b1ed_en?filename=Communication%20on%20the%20road%20to%20the%20next%20MFF_en.pdf.
- [2] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en.
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Is the Commission funding the establishment of reception and support centres for unaccompanied foreign ‘minors’? – E-002539/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002539/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Catherine Griset (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Marie Dauchy (PfE), Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE)

At a time when France’s negligence in failing to protect its children has been criticised[1],owing to the proliferation of prostitution, drug trafficking and Islamism in homes for minors, the necessary resources to curb these scourges are not being provided by the state and local authorities.

The French authorities, however, are allocating ever more human and financial resources to opening reception and support centres for unaccompanied foreigners who claim to be minors, such as the recently established facilities in Dol-de-Bretagne, in Ille-et-Vilaine[2].

1.Is the Commission making a contribution towards the funding of these centres for unaccompanied foreign ‘minors’?

2.If so, how much EU funding is being provided?

3.What would the Commission do to ensure that these alleged foreign minors are returned to their home countries as quickly as possible?

Submitted: 24.6.2025

[1] https://www.bvoltaire.fr/20-000-enfants-prostitues-leffrayant-bilan-de-laide-sociale-a-lenfance/?fsp_sid=592

[2] https://www.letelegramme.fr/ille-et-vilaine/saint-malo-35400/une-preference-etrangere-scandaleuse-le-centre-de-mineurs-isoles-a-dol-de-bretagne-fait-reagir-le-rassemblement-national-6831560.php
Last updated: 10 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on Putin: “We need to cut off his sale of oil.”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

“Now, regardless of how you feel about the war in Ukraine, I think most fair-minded people can agree on two things. Number one: Vladimir Putin, who runs Russia—not the people of Russia, but their leadership—is a thug. He’s a pirate. He has blood under his fingernails. He can’t be trusted.

“The second thing that I think most fair-minded Americans can agree on is that we would all like to see the war ended. . . . I think Ukraine is willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement, but it takes two to tango, and we are not going to have a settlement until President Putin decides it is in his best interest to stop the war. “Not in Russia’s best interest because I don’t think he cares about his people. I think the war will stop when Putin thinks it is in his best interest.

“And I don’t think he is going to think it is in his best interest until he feels the pressure, Mr. President, because dealing with Putin is like dealing with most tyrants: It is like hand-feeding a shark. You can’t reason with them. You have to make them feel the pain.

“A lot of people think of Russia and think of Putin as this gigantic country with a lot of wealth and power, and that is not really the case. Yes, they have nuclear weapons, but, actually, the Russian economy is pretty small. . . . The Russian economy is only about $2 trillion. New York state, in America, has a bigger economy than Russia, and I think we need to keep that in mind.

“Russia’s economy is also not terribly diversified. It is mostly oil. . . . Number one: The price of oil is down. We know that. Number two: Russia is spending all of its money fighting the war with Ukraine, which has hurt other parts of its economy.

“The point I am trying to make, Mr. President, is: When you are dealing with a tyrant like Putin and you are trying to bring him to the negotiating table, what you have to do is get him down and choke him. And the way to get President Putin down and choke him is through his cash flow. Putin—and, remember, I am not talking about the good people in Russia. I am talking about their leadership. I am talking about Vladimir Putin, the thug.

“Putin is only able to prosecute his war through cash flow generated by his sale of oil. That is the only way. Without that cash flow from oil, he can’t continue. We need to cut off his money. We need to cut off his sale of oil.

“Now, we already have sanctions on Russia, and Europe has sanctions on Russia, but Russia has figured out how to evade those sanctions and continue to sell its oil. For example, India is buying a lot of Russia’s oil. China is buying a lot of Russia’s oil, but we can stop that.

“We have a bill—87 of us have signed on— that would apply what is called secondary sanctions on Russia. Our bill would not only sanction Russia and its sale of oil, but it would sanction everybody who buys Russian oil, a big difference.

“It would say to those who want to buy Russian oil: If you want to buy Russian oil, have at it—knock yourself out—but you are not going to be able to do business with America, and you are not going to be able to use the American dollar, which is the world’s currency, to do business in America. It will put Putin on his knees within three months, and he won’t have any choice but to come to the bargaining table.

“Now, President Trump has been very patient. President Biden wasn’t patient; he was giving. I remember when President Biden said to Putin: Well, you know, we don’t want you to go into Ukraine, but if it is just a little excursion, it might be okay. I remember that. What do you think Putin did? Do you remember hand-feeding a shark? He went right into Ukraine.

“President Trump, on the other hand, has really tried to be rational and negotiate with Putin and say: Look, we need to have an amicable solution to satisfy both sides. Ukraine is willing. Putin has done nothing but embarrass our president and our country.

“The time has come to put Russia on its knees. I hate to see it for the Russian people, but the time has come to put Putin on his knees. Get him down and choke him. The only way you are going to do that is to cut off his cash flow. And the only way you are going to cut off his cash flow is to cut off his oil sales because that is at least a third—and probably 40%—of his money.

“We have no choice. Otherwise, this war could go on forever.

“Now, we have the bill locked, loaded, and ready to go. We are waiting for President Trump to give us the high sign because we want to stay together. The president is the one who is trying to negotiate the peace, but I hope President Trump will seriously consider letting us pull the trigger because it is the only thing—it is the only thing—that is going to get Vladimir Putin to the table.

“I wish the world weren’t like that. There are just some people—I don’t know why. If I make it to heaven, I am going to ask. But there are some people in this world, they are not sick; they are not misunderstood; they are not mixed up. It is not really that their mom or daddy didn’t love them enough. They are just bad people. They are. And some of them run countries, and one of them is Vladimir Putin. So, let’s go do what we have to do.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minimum Wage Set to Increase October 1

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 10, 2025

On October 1, 2025, minimum wage in Saskatchewan will increase to $15.35 per hour.

Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is calculated using an indexation formula, which gives equal weight to changes to the Consumer Price Index and Average Hourly Wage for Saskatchewan.

“By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability,” Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter said. “Saskatchewan’s low personal tax rates continue to make our province a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

In 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan indicated it would make incremental increases to minimum wage which resulted in a 27 per cent increase from $11.81 per hour to $15 per hour by 2024. With that commitment having been met, the indexation formula is again in place.

In addition to indexation, the 2025-26 Budget delivered on 13 affordability commitments which included reducing income taxes for every resident, family and small business in our province.

“We know the benefits that increasing the minimum wage will have for employees, but we also want to create a balance for employers,” Reiter said. “Over the next few months, we will be working together with the Chambers of Commerce and other key stakeholders to understand the implications of increasing minimum wage for the business community and the impact on Saskatchewan’s economy.”

-30-

For more information, contact:

Gladys Wasylenchuk
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2411
Email: gladys.wasylenchuk@gov.sk.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB, SACE and Intesa Sanpaolo provide €1.5 billion for Terna’s Adriatic Link
Source: European Investment Bank

EIB
- The Adriatic Link, a strategic project for Italy’s energy system included in the National Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate, is Terna’s submarine power line that will connect the Marche and Abruzzo regions.
- The financing for Terna is structured as follows: a €750 million loan from the EIB, a €500 million loan from Intesa Sanpaolo, and an additional €250 million credit line from Intesa Sanpaolo with indirect EIB funding. All transactions are backed by SACE’s Archimede Guarantee for an amount exceeding 1 billion.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), Terna, Intesa Sanpaolo (IMI Corporate and Investment Banking Division) and SACE have signed agreements totalling €1.5 billion to back the development and construction of the Adriatic Link, the submarine power cable linking the Italian regions of Marche and Abruzzo. The main objectives of the project are to strengthen energy exchange in central Italy and promote the integration of renewable energy sources.

The signature ceremony took place in Rome today with the participation of EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti, Terna CEO and General Manager Giuseppina Di Foggia, SACE CEO and General Manager Alessandra Ricci, and Head of Industry Infrastructure in Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate and Investment Banking Division Riccardo Dutto.

The operation is financially structured into three tranches, all of which are covered by SACE’s Archimede guarantee for an amount exceeding 1 billion euros:
- A €750 million loan granted by the EIB to Terna, with a duration of 22 years;
- A €500 million credit line provided by Intesa Sanpaolo to Terna, with a duration of 7 years;
- An additional €250 million loan from Intesa Sanpaolo, with funding made available by the EIB and a duration of 7 years, in support of the project.
The Adriatic Link is strategically important for Italy’s power grid and is part of the country’s national energy and climate plan. It will strengthen energy exchange in central Italy, meeting the security and flexibility needs of the national power grid and development and renewable energy integration targets

The high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line will be 251 km long, 210 km of which will be submarine cable at a maximum depth of around 100 metres. It will have a nominal active transmission capacity of 1 000 MW and will link the Fano (Province of Pesaro and Urbino) and Cepagatti (Province of Pescara) electrical substations. The cable will be underground or under the seabed for the entire route, minimising the impact on the region. Work (authorised by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security in January 2024) on land began late last year.

The project will also have a positive economic impact in cohesion regions, contributing to local development.

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño said: “This investment will be key to boost a more stable and safer energy market in the country, improving the national power grid and speeding up the integration of renewable energy sources.” EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti added: “This agreement confirms the EIB’s central role in mobilising public and private sector resources to promote strategic autonomy and the energy transition in Europe.”

“The energy transition has given new impetus to investment to modernise and strengthen power grids across Europe, as shown in Terna’s updated business plan for 2024-2028 presented at the beginning of this year,” said Terna CEO and General Manager Giuseppina Di Foggia. “The financing signed today with the EIB (with which Terna has a strong, longstanding relationship) and Intesa Sanpaolo (which has a key role in backing the group’s financial strategy) recognises the strategic value of our network infrastructure, which is vital to promoting the integration of renewable energy sources and increasing Italy’s energy autonomy and security. At the same time, SACE’s role in the agreement shows Terna’s work creates economic and social value for the country.”

“In the IMI Corporate and Investment Banking division, we have always believed in the value of public-private cooperation, a key element in accelerating the construction of sustainable infrastructure and helping to modernise the country,” added Chief of Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate and Investment Banking Division Mauro Micillo. “A concrete example of this is our participation in the Adriatic Link project, which is of strategic importance for energy security. This operation confirms Intesa Sanpaolo’s role in backing the energy transition and supporting public institutions and businesses with high-impact investments for the future of local communities and the national economy.”

“The signature of this agreement is a very important moment for the Italian energy system, showing SACE’s crucial role in supporting innovation and the transition to a more sustainable future. A key pilar of this operation, the Archimede guarantee embodies our commitment to creating value for communities and the whole country,” said SACE CEO and General Manager Alessandra Ricci. “We are moving towards more resilient and integrated energy infrastructure capable of responding to global challenges. SACE will continue to be a strategic partner for projects shaping the future of Italy.”

Background information

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight key priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed over 900 projects worth nearly €89 billion in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security. The EIB Group signed 99 operations totalling €10.98 billion in Italy in 2024, helping to unlock almost €37 billion of investment in the real economy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment. Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the funds made available by the Group unlocked over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised a further €110 billion for startups and scale-ups. Around half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

The Terna Group is a leading electricity transmission operator in Europe and around the world. It manages Italy’s national high-voltage transmission grid, with around 75 000 km of power lines over 900 electrical substations across the country. Its mission is to guarantee the secure operation, quality and efficiency of the Italian electricity system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and to ensure equal access conditions for all market operators. A centre of excellence comprising over 6 100 professionals, Terna plays a guiding role in the energy transition process towards complete decarbonisation and the full integration of energy from renewable sources into the grid. For more information, visit www.terna.it.

SACE is an insurance and finance company owned by the Italian Ministry for the Economy and Finance. It specialises in helping Italian companies to grow through a wide range of tools and solutions backing exports and innovation, including financial guarantees, factoring, risk management and protection, advisory services and business matching. With a network of 11 offices in Italy and 13 more in Made in Italy target countries around the world, SACE currently supports 60 000 companies, enabling them to reach their national and international potential with a portfolio of insurance operations and guaranteed investments worth approximately €270 billion in 200 global markets.

Intesa Sanpaolo, with €417 billion in loans and €1.4 trillion in customer financial assets at the end of March 2025, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in wealth management, with a strong focus on digital and fintech. The Group will provide €115 billion of Impact lending by 2025 to support communities and the green transition, together with a €1.5 billion program (2023-2027) to help people in need. The Bank’s network of museums, the Gallerie d’Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value.

News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom

X: @intesasanpaolo

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/intesa-sanpaolo

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MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Call for action on fair enforcement of maintenance obligations and Czechia’s use of the European arrest warrant – P-002806/2025
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002806/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dirk Gotink (PPE)

A Dutch citizen has been sentenced to imprisonment in Czechia for failing to pay child maintenance, clear evidence of his being unemployed after his former employer went bankrupt. The court refused to carry out a reassessment of his financial capacity, in violation of Article 14 of the 2007 Hague Protocol on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations, which is binding under Regulation (EC) No 4/2009[1]. Criminal proceedings followed, resulting in the issuance of a European arrest warrant (EAW).

1.Is the Commission aware of this case, and is it prepared to assess whether Article 14 of the 2007 Hague Protocol by the Czech authorities in this and similar cases has been applied in line with Union law?

2.Does the Commission agree that issuing an EAW in cases of demonstrable economic incapacity, without prior assessment of the debtor’s means, undermines mutual trust and the proper functioning of judicial cooperation within the EU? If so, why? If not, why not?

3.What concrete measures does the Commission intend to take to prevent disproportionate use of the EAW and within what timeframe?

Submitted: 9.7.2025

[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations, OJ L 7, 10/01/2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/4(1)/oj.
Last updated: 10 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Removal of the Social Economy Unit from DG GROW and its impact on policy coherence – P-002803/2025
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002803/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Ciaran Mullooly (Renew)

On 1 May 2025, the Commission disbanded the Social Economy Unit in the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), transferring its responsibilities to the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). This move risks weakening the economic and industrial positioning of the social economy – an ecosystem employing over 11 million people – at a time when resilience, inclusion and competitiveness need to go hand in hand.

Given that all 27 Member States recently committed themselves to integrating the social economy into national industrial policy:

1.what was the rationale for removing the Social Economy Unit from DG GROW, and how will the Commission safeguard its presence in enterprise and industrial policy?

2.how will the Commission guide Member States on the interpretation and application of this shift in their national strategies given that a clear response is vital to avoid fragmentation and ensure continuity of support for this strategic sector?

Submitted: 9.7.2025
Last updated: 10 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: 71-Year-Old Repeat Felon Sentenced to 15 Months for Defrauding Taxpayer-Funded Program

Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

WASHINGTON DC –Geary Simon, 71, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for defrauding the STAY DC rental housing assistance program out of more than $38,500 and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Simon, aka “Robert Sutton,” pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2024, to one count of wire fraud in connection with a presidentially declared disaster or emergency and to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Simon to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the D.C. government of $38,560.

According to court documents, Simon obtained $38,560 from the city government program called Stronger Together by Assisting You D.C., known as STAY DC. The program was intended to provide financial assistance during the Covid pandemic to help tenants cover housing and utility expenses due to a loss of income. In April 2021, the District allocated $352 million in federal relief funds for the program. Applicants applied for funds from the STAY DC program via an online portal operated by the D.C. Department of Human Services

Simon applied to the program on June 22, 2021. In his application, Simon claimed that he was a tenant who rented a property in the District at 2433 H Street, NW; that his landlord was “Robert Sutton;” and that Simon owed “Robert Sutton” $72,000 in past due rent. All of the statements were false. Simon was not a tenant at that address; “Robert Sutton” was not Simon’s landlord; Simon did not owe “Robert Sutton” the sum of $72,000 in unpaid rent; and the phone number and email address that Simon provided for “Robert Sutton” were for a phone number and email account that Simon created and controlled.

Unaware of the fraud, DC-DHS granted Simon’s application and issued Simon a check for $38,560 that DC-DHS would not otherwise have approved. Simon deposited the check into an account in the name of “The Geary Stephen Simon 2016 Irrevocable Trust.”

Simon used the taxpayer-backed relief funds to pay private school tuition and to satisfy his court-ordered child support obligations.

On March 14, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Simon’s home. Officers recovered two firearms. Simon has two prior felony convictions, including a conviction for carrying a pistol without a license. By virtue of the prior felonies, Simon was prohibited from possessing any firearms under federal law.

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Borchert.

24cr284

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: 71-Year-Old Repeat Felon Sentenced to 15 Months for Defrauding Taxpayer-Funded Program

Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

WASHINGTON DC –Geary Simon, 71, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for defrauding the STAY DC rental housing assistance program out of more than $38,500 and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Simon, aka “Robert Sutton,” pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2024, to one count of wire fraud in connection with a presidentially declared disaster or emergency and to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Simon to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the D.C. government of $38,560.

According to court documents, Simon obtained $38,560 from the city government program called Stronger Together by Assisting You D.C., known as STAY DC. The program was intended to provide financial assistance during the Covid pandemic to help tenants cover housing and utility expenses due to a loss of income. In April 2021, the District allocated $352 million in federal relief funds for the program. Applicants applied for funds from the STAY DC program via an online portal operated by the D.C. Department of Human Services

Simon applied to the program on June 22, 2021. In his application, Simon claimed that he was a tenant who rented a property in the District at 2433 H Street, NW; that his landlord was “Robert Sutton;” and that Simon owed “Robert Sutton” $72,000 in past due rent. All of the statements were false. Simon was not a tenant at that address; “Robert Sutton” was not Simon’s landlord; Simon did not owe “Robert Sutton” the sum of $72,000 in unpaid rent; and the phone number and email address that Simon provided for “Robert Sutton” were for a phone number and email account that Simon created and controlled.

Unaware of the fraud, DC-DHS granted Simon’s application and issued Simon a check for $38,560 that DC-DHS would not otherwise have approved. Simon deposited the check into an account in the name of “The Geary Stephen Simon 2016 Irrevocable Trust.”

Simon used the taxpayer-backed relief funds to pay private school tuition and to satisfy his court-ordered child support obligations.

On March 14, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Simon’s home. Officers recovered two firearms. Simon has two prior felony convictions, including a conviction for carrying a pistol without a license. By virtue of the prior felonies, Simon was prohibited from possessing any firearms under federal law.

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Borchert.

24cr284

MIL Security OSI –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: China looks to optimize trade, expand cooperation with Egypt — Chinese Premier

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

CAIRO, July 10 (Xinhua) — China is committed to working with Egypt to promote the optimization and development of bilateral trade and create more bright spots of cooperation and new economic growth points, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Cairo on Thursday.

As Li Qiang noted during talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the two countries could expand cooperation in emerging areas such as new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and the digital economy. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dutch and European business leaders share insights on “Financial Services and FinTech, Business and Professional Services” at annual NHKBA summer event (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association (NHKBA), with the support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, organised the annual summer event under the theme “Financial Services and FinTech, Business and Professional Services” on July 7 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The event gathered around 100 representatives from Dutch and European business leaders, and Hong Kong representatives to exchange insights on key sectors under the theme.

Speaking at the event, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, highlighted the resilience of Hong Kong’s economy amid global challenges. She emphasised, “Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong has maintained a solid institutional foundation of the rule of law, independent judiciary, robust regulatory regime, a low and simple tax system, and free flow of people, goods, capital and information, and has remained a trusted gateway to Asia and a market for global capital.”

Ms Yung cited Hong Kong’s rankings in a number of recent surveys as one of the world’s top three international financial centres, among the top three in global competitiveness, the freest economy in the world, and home to five universities ranked in the world’s top 100.

She further underlined that financial services remain a pillar of Hong Kong’s economy. She remarked, “Our deep capital markets, efficient banking system, and strong legal and regulatory infrastructure provide an ecosystem in which businesses from around the world can thrive. We are also embracing the future through fintech innovation.”

Ms Yung also updated the audience on Hong Kong’s latest efforts to refine financial regulation to balance innovation with investor protection, including the recent completion of legislation on stablecoins. She also discussed Hong Kong’s leading role in green and sustainable bond issuance in Asia.

The NHKBA annual summer event concluded with networking sessions and engaging discussions on how Dutch and European enterprises can benefit from Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” between Europe, Asia, and China. The evening culminated in a dinner reception, at which the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, spoke on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EU Member States join programme supporting EU exports to Ukraine

Source: European Investment Bank

©Oleksandra Shliakhetska/ EIB

Ten EU Member States – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain – have joined InvestEU’s Ukraine Export Credit Pilot, a guarantee facility backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank Group. Three more countries are expected to join the programme soon.

Under the programme, national export credit agencies in each country each country will receive an EIF-backed guarantee for national exporters of goods and services to Ukraine. They are also eligible for support from InvestEU Advisory services.

The guarantees help reduce financial risks and keep exports flowing – from machinery and building materials to critical technologies – while also supporting Ukraine’s deeper integration into the EU single market and its longer-term path toward EU membership.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: In-Depth Analysis – The 2025 In-Depth Reviews under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure: A long walk for a small sandwich? – 10-07-2025

Source: European Parliament

On 13 May 2025 the Commission published ten In-Depth Reviews (IDRs) as a follow up to the Alert Mechanism Report (AMR) of 17 December 2024. However, decisions on the existence of imbalances were only made public on 4 June as part of the 2025 Spring Package of the European Semester. The present note discusses those reviews and how they interact with other surveillance mechanisms such as the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) and Post-Programme Surveillance (PPS) for Member States that have received Union financial assistance in the context of a macroeconomic adjustment programme.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European subsidies for South African wine producers – E-002728/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002728/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Céline Imart (PPE), Daniel Buda (PPE), Esther Herranz García (PPE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Jessika Van Leeuwen (PPE), Dolors Montserrat (PPE)

At a time when the European wine sector is experiencing an unprecedented crisis – marked by large-scale restructuring within its own vineyards, mass grubbing up, and growing distress among producers, including tragic cases of suicide – the South African wine sector has announced the release of a EUR 15 million EU subsidy to ‘promote diversity and inclusivity’ in farms across the country.

Beyond the legal considerations, the decision to release such an amount at the current time is a serious moral and political failure: how can financial support such as this for a non-EU country be justified when winegrowers in France and across Europe are on the brink of collapse, and essential funding is lacking?

Given the foregoing:

1.Where exactly do the funds for this subsidy come from?

2.Does the Commission intend to activate all possible political and legal levers to suspend or reverse this funding?

3.Will the Commission only react when tractors are rolling over the cobblestones of the Schuman roundabout?

Submitted: 3.7.2025
Last updated: 10 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Designate Astria Toppenish as a Critical Access Hospital

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Designate Astria Toppenish as a Critical Access Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced legislation to allow Astria Toppenish to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital, which is currently ineligible for certain rural hospital support due to unique geographic and economic factors and the number of patients it serves.

“This legislation helps address the unique financial situation of Astria Toppenish by allowing them to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital. Certain rural hospitals like Astria Toppenish face unique challenges qualifying for adequate federal reimbursements as the demand for services continues to rise. While there is plenty of work to be done in addressing these challenges, this legislation is a strong first step in reforming the way we support rural hospitals providing critical health services to our communities.” said Rep. Newhouse.

This legislation would directly benefit Astria-Toppenish as it delivers critical healthcare services to the area but is not currently eligible for CAH status. This status would allow it to access financial benefits that allow other rural hospitals to continue providing care to the communities they serve.

“I’m proud of the collective work done to propel forward legislation for a Critical Access Hospital designation for Astria Toppenish Hospital. This rural facility serves a vital role in the Yakima Valley, especially for the residents of Toppenish and the Yakama Nation. Without this hospital, families would be left without access to timely, lifesaving care—and that’s simply unacceptable,” said Brian Gibbons, President and CEO of Astria Health.

Gibbons continued, “Astria Health has stretched resources as far as they can go, doing everything possible to keep the doors open. But no health system—especially one serving multiple underserved communities—can continue reallocating funds without consequences.”

Cathy Bambrick, Administrator for Astria Toppenish Hospital, added, “A Critical Access designation would allow Toppenish hospital to receive enhanced reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid patients—who make up the majority of those treated at our facility. It’s a commonsense, fiscally responsible solution that supports rural health, preserves access to care, and upholds our commitment to underserved populations.”

The CAH designation is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. To accomplish this goal, CAHs receive certain benefits, such as cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.

See full bill text here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Designate Astria Toppenish as a Critical Access Hospital

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Designate Astria Toppenish as a Critical Access Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced legislation to allow Astria Toppenish to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital, which is currently ineligible for certain rural hospital support due to unique geographic and economic factors and the number of patients it serves.

“This legislation helps address the unique financial situation of Astria Toppenish by allowing them to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital. Certain rural hospitals like Astria Toppenish face unique challenges qualifying for adequate federal reimbursements as the demand for services continues to rise. While there is plenty of work to be done in addressing these challenges, this legislation is a strong first step in reforming the way we support rural hospitals providing critical health services to our communities.” said Rep. Newhouse.

This legislation would directly benefit Astria-Toppenish as it delivers critical healthcare services to the area but is not currently eligible for CAH status. This status would allow it to access financial benefits that allow other rural hospitals to continue providing care to the communities they serve.

“I’m proud of the collective work done to propel forward legislation for a Critical Access Hospital designation for Astria Toppenish Hospital. This rural facility serves a vital role in the Yakima Valley, especially for the residents of Toppenish and the Yakama Nation. Without this hospital, families would be left without access to timely, lifesaving care—and that’s simply unacceptable,” said Brian Gibbons, President and CEO of Astria Health.

Gibbons continued, “Astria Health has stretched resources as far as they can go, doing everything possible to keep the doors open. But no health system—especially one serving multiple underserved communities—can continue reallocating funds without consequences.”

Cathy Bambrick, Administrator for Astria Toppenish Hospital, added, “A Critical Access designation would allow Toppenish hospital to receive enhanced reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid patients—who make up the majority of those treated at our facility. It’s a commonsense, fiscally responsible solution that supports rural health, preserves access to care, and upholds our commitment to underserved populations.”

The CAH designation is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. To accomplish this goal, CAHs receive certain benefits, such as cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.

See full bill text here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Insurance Biz Africa launches pan-African Insurance Webinar Master Series
Source: APO – Report:

Digital news publisher, Insurance Biz Africa, is proud to announce the launch of a series of pan-African webinar sessions whose objectives are to take an unprecedented deep dive into the forces reshaping the insurance industry across Africa and the world.

The 8-part series, themed: “Innovate. Adapt. Insure the Future“, hosted by Insurance Biz Africa, will feature two-hour webinars designed to unpack the most pressing risks, opportunities, and regulatory changes facing insurers across Africa and beyond.

“This is a pivotal moment for the insurance industry. The annual webinar series will provide crucial insights into topics from AI and climate risk to ESG, equipping professionals and regulators to navigate volatility with confidence. The series is designed to ignite long-lasting conversations around pertinent areas of insurance and reinsurance upon which the industry can build solutions,” says Insurance Biz Africa Founding Editor and Managing Director of New Africa Business News Services (NABNS), Kwanele Sibanda.

“At NABNS, we believe the time is ripe for bold conversations and collaborative thinking. Our series will not only educate but spark innovation, ensuring insurance and reinsurance remain pillars of economic resilience,” adds Kwanele.

“Kicking off with Insuring Against Civil Unrests on the 23^rd of July, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect, especially seeing what is currently happening across Africa in countries like Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Mali and Lybia because of political tensions. This 2-hour session will see Sasria, the only riots and civil unrests insurer in South Africa present a case study in reflection of South Africa’s July 2021 civil unrests. Sasria will also participate in the panel of experts,” concludes Kwanele.

Insurance Webinar Master Series 2025 Themes & Dates:

22 July 2025 – Insuring Against Unrest: Lessons from SA’s July 2021 Riots and the Evolving Role of Insurers and Reinsurers

05 August 2025 – Cybersecurity and Systemic Risk: Building Insurance Resilience in the Digital Era

Discuss insurance solutions for large-scale cyber events affecting entire economies.

14 August 2025 – The Future of Underwriting: Leveraging AI, Data, and Automation Across the Insurance Value Chain

Explore how AI and advanced analytics can revolutionize underwriting precision and speed.
- Webinar 4:
26 August 2025 – Bridging the Protection Gap: Innovations in Inclusive Insurance and Risk Transfer
Innovative products, partnerships, and risk mechanisms that extend protection to underserved markets.

04 September 2025 – ESG and Sustainable Insurance: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
Move beyond ESG box-ticking towards long-term, sustainable profitability.

18 September 2025 – Index Insurance and Alternative Risk Transfer: Unlocking Scalable, Transparent Risk Solutions

Examine new models to insure communities and sectors exposed to systemic risks.
- Webinar 7:
30 September 2025 – Navigating AI and Digital Disruption in Life Insurance: Risks, Rewards & Regulation

Balance the transformative potential of AI with evolving consumer protection frameworks.
- Webinar 8:
09 October 2025 – Climate Change and Capital Strain: Managing Volatility in a New Risk Era

Understand how insurers can adapt capital models amid climate-driven losses.

Bonus Session:

October 2025 – Insurtech and Distribution: Reimagining Customer Engagement in Insurance

Explore new technologies reshaping sales, service, and product design.

Each session will bring together industry leaders presenting case studies and learnings, global experts, and policymakers engaging in robust discussions, live Q&As, and actionable insights.

Registration & Sponsorship Opportunities:

Insurance companies, brokers, reinsurers, regulators, and service providers are encouraged to register early or partner as sponsors to showcase leadership in this high-impact series.

For more details, registration, or sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://apo-opa.co/44yEOZH or contact info@insurancebiz.co.za

– on behalf of New Africa Business News Services.

Additional Information:
To Register: https://apo-opa.co/4nIgBrg
Insurance Biz Africa: https://apo-opa.co/4kzR4hb

Contact:
Issued By: New Africa Business News Services (NABNS)
Contact: Kwanele Sibanda
Email: Kwanele@nabns.com
Tel: +27 27 71 316 8517

About Insurance Biz Africa:
Insurance Biz Africa is South Africa’s premier digital news platform dedicated to the insurance, reinsurance, and wealth management sectors. Launched in 2013, the publication offers in-depth industry coverage, expert insights, executive interviews, and regulatory updates to a targeted audience of professionals, decision-makers, and thought leaders. It is owned and published by New Africa Business News Services (NABNS), a division of SAEN Media (Pty) Ltd. The publication adheres to the Press Council of South Africa’s Code of Ethics and remains committed to journalistic integrity and excellence in financial reporting.

Media files

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MIL OSI Africa –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DOGE Caucus Co-Chairs Lead House Effort to Eliminate Billions in Wasteful Payments
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

WASHINGTON—In response to more than $160 billion in fraudulent payments in Fiscal Year 2024, DOGE Caucus co-chairs Congressmen Aaron Bean (FL-04), Blake Moore (UT-01), and Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act to combat financial fraud and theft of taxpayer dollars.

This landmark bill will require the U.S. Department of the Treasury to enforce strict payment verification measures, cementing a key DOGE initiative to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability in government spending.

Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “For too long, improper and fraudulent payments have drained resources and undermined trust in government spending. The American people deserve responsible stewardship of their tax dollars, and this bill delivers exactly that. By ensuring federal payments are accurate, transparent, and verifiable, we are eliminating billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. This legislation brings real oversight and integrity to the way Washington manages taxpayer dollars.”

“Republicans in Congress remain focused on reining in wasteful spending, streamlining our bureaucracy, and making Washington work better for Americans. This legislation will help eliminate billions of dollars of improper payments by implementing pre-payment verification and up-to-date information on ongoing payments. This is a positive step in curbing fraudulent spending and enhancing fiscal accountability,” said Congressman Moore.

“I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation that brings increased transparency and accountability to the U.S. Treasury. As Co-Chair of the DOGE Caucus, I’m committed to stopping waste before it happens. With $162 billion in improper payments reported in Fiscal Year 2024, this commonsense bill will help protect taxpayer dollars and prevent fraud,” said Congressman Sessions.

BACKGROUND

This bill would promote financial integrity and ensure accountability to American taxpayers by requiring the U.S. Department of the Treasury to:
- Provide a complete description of the payment prior to disbursing funds.
- Link the payment to a verified budget account.
- Cross-check the payment against government databases to ensure accuracy and eligibility.
Along with these preventive measures, all expenditures will be publicly accessible on USAspending.gov, including annual updates for ongoing transactions.

Click here to view the bill and here to view a section-by-section breakdown.

Fellow DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Maxwell Frost and Senator Jeff Merkley Introduce Bicameral Pro Renters Bill, the End Junk Fees for Renters Act
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)
July 10, 2025

Frost and Gomez First Introduced the Bill to Increase Affordability and Transparency for Renters in 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the introduction of bicameral legislation aimed at addressing the housing crisis and standing firmly with working-class renters – the End Junk Fees for Renters Act.

Frost’s bill, which is being co-led by Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) in the House, chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus, comes as Florida and the U.S. face a housing affordability crisis that continues to squeeze working people and renters, too often forcing people to slip into homelessness at a time when cities are criminalizing folks who cannot afford to keep a roof over their heads.

Congressmen Frost and Gomez first introduced the bill in July of 2023 to put an end to the growing number of excessive and dishonest junk fees renters face when looking for and securing housing.

The End Junk Fees for Renters Act cracks down on junk fee profiteering by landlords and empowers tenants. Specifically, the legislation:
- Cracks down on junk fees by banning application and screening fees;
- Puts an end to late fee profiteering by capping late fees at 3% of monthly rent and requiring a 15-day grace period;
- Requires that landlords disclose in the rental contract:
  
  Past and present litigation with tenants;
  
  Ongoing pest and maintenance issues;
  
  Rent increase percentages year after year over the last ten years and;
  
  The total amount due each month to effectively eliminate surprise fees.
- Would help consumers comparison shop and make more informed choices when it comes to renting, inevitably driving down overall costs in the rental market and improving living conditions.
“Donald Trump ran for office under the promise of making American’s lives more affordable – that was a flat-out lie. Six months in, and Trump and Congressional Republicans have proven they only care about the ultra-wealthy, the 1%. Because if they cared about working people, bills like the End Junk Fees for Renters Act would be voted on today to offer immediate and straightforward financial relief to renters,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “This is about standing firmly on the side of renters and working people while holding greedy landlords and leasing companies accountable for nickel and diming people every chance they get. It’s time to end the ridiculous fees and fight for housing justice and transparency.”

“Billionaire corporations and huge rental companies are hiding fees and added costs to drive up rents and line their own pockets,” said Senator Merkley. “The End Junk Fees for Renters Act fights back against corporate landlords trying to squeeze every dime out of renters that they possibly can. Let’s crack down on these junk fees to ensure all Americans have a fair shot at a safe, affordable roof overhead and the power to fight back against absurd costs.”

“At a time when Donald Trump and Republicans are stripping away benefits from millions of Americans, households that rent have enough to worry about without being weighed down by hidden application costs and junk late fees. This bill will restore faith and transparency to the renting process by putting an end to the profiteering of predatory landlords and property managers,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “In my district, where up to 80% of households rent, this bill will lift an unnecessary financial burden and help working families build real stability.”

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Congressional Delegation Introduces Congressional Review Act to Repeal BLM’s Harmful Land Use Plan

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The introduction follows the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) determination that the plan qualifies for repeal under the CRA.

“North Dakotans saw the Biden administration’s plan for what it was: A backdoor attempt to shut down responsible energy development on federal lands. It would crush coal production, close off millions of acres to leasing, and devastate jobs and communities across our state,” said Rep. Fedorchak. “This legislation overturns this harmful rule and restores common sense for North Dakota’s landowners and energy producers. We need energy policy that embraces innovation, not one that caters to out-of-touch activists at the expense of our energy security and economic strength.”

“The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan for North Dakota represented another assault upon our state’s economy and energy producers,” said Senator Cramer. “Washington bureaucrats targeted our coal, oil, and natural gas reserves by blocking producers’ ability to develop them, ignoring the state’s input, clear text of federal law, and countless court precedents. Thankfully, the Trump administration is taking a new direction. This resolution under the Congressional Review Act is another tool at our disposal to get rid of this disastrous rule.”

“The RMP for North Dakota is an egregious example of the Biden administration’s overreaching Green New Deal agenda. This rule would lock away vast oil and gas acreage and nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage in our state, undermining our energy security and economic resilience,” said Senator Hoeven. “The CRA resolution we’re introducing will roll back this harmful policy, ensuring North Dakota remains a powerhouse for our nation, while helping the U.S. to become truly energy dominant.”

In the final days of the Biden administration, the Bureau of Land Management adopted the RMP for North Dakota, significantly constraining the state’s ability to access and develop its mineral resources. The plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres, or nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage. It also blocks 213,000 acres, or 44 percent of federally owned fluid mineral acreage, to future development. Throughout the drafting process, the state of North Dakota and theCongressional delegation expressed opposition to the draft RMP before the BLM finalized it.

In February 2025, the North Dakota delegation sent a letter to GAO asking the Comptroller General of the U.S. Gene Dodaro to “conclude the CRA applies to the North Dakota RMP, including specifically that GAO determine it is subject to CRA’s submission requirements and subject to review by Congress.”

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said, “We appreciate Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing the CRA joint resolution, which is the cleanest, fastest way to overturn the Biden administration’s disastrous plan. Instead of destabilizing the electric grid, raising consumer costs and making our nation less safe like the Biden plan threatened to do, North Dakotans deserve a Resource Management Plan that encourages responsible development of U.S. energy resources and supports our communities. The state stands ready to work with our delegation to repeal the RMP and replace it with a plan that protects states’ rights and recognizes our unique concerns about mineral ownership.”

Alison Ritter, Executive Director of the Western Dakota Energy Association, stated, “The Western Dakota Energy Association thanks our Congressional Delegation for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the anti-energy Resource Management Plan (RMP) President Biden imposed upon North Dakota. Rescinding this plan is key to unlocking North Dakota’s full energy potential, while also protecting good-paying jobs, sustaining strong local economies, and preserving responsible access to the vital resources that power our nation.”

Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, added, “As part of former President Biden’s over-reaching regulatory agenda, the BLM proposed a Resource Management Plan which was nothing but a transparent anti-energy power grab. The North Dakota Petroleum Council thanks Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution that would force the BLM to simply respect the rule of law.”

CLICK HERE to read the CRA.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and France agree major deal to crack down on illegal Channel crossings
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

News story

UK and France agree major deal to crack down on illegal Channel crossings

The Prime Minister and French President Macron agree to return illegal migrants to France.
The Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to take forward a groundbreaking partnership to address illegal Channel crossings and dismantle the people smuggling networks.

A new pilot scheme will see small boat arrivals being returned to France then an equal number of migrants will be able to come to the UK from France through a new legal route – fully documented and subject to strict security checks.

The pilot agreement is intended to prevent illegal migrant journeys across Europe to the UK and prevent dangerous small boat crossings, helping to undermine the business model of organised gangs profiting from people’s misery by showing others these journeys could result in them being returned back to France – ultimately saving lives.

Both countries are working to implement the pilot in the coming weeks, and, once in force, migrants who cross the Channel by small boat can be detained and removed.

The Prime Minister has made it a priority to reset relationships across Europe and the government is now unlocking, for the first time, the levels of co-operation needed to deliver new and bold approaches to tackle organised immigration crime.

The French government are working to implement new ways of cracking down on small boats, including a review of their maritime tactics so their operational teams can intervene on the water, ensuring taxi boats that pickup migrants waiting in the water can be stopped.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This ground-breaking deal is a crucial further step in turning the tide on illegal small boat crossings and restoring order to our immigration system.

For the first time illegal migrants will be sent back to France – targeting the heart of these gangs’ business model and sending a clear message that these life-threatening journeys are pointless.

By resetting our relationships across Europe we’ve made levels of co-operation possible never seen before. This is about grip not gimmicks, and what serious government looks like – taking down these criminal enterprises piece by piece as we secure our borders through my Plan for Change.

The Home Secretary hosted her French counterpart, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, in Downing Street this morning. The ministers discussed the work being done both internationally and domestically to prevent illegal migration, including issues like clamping down on illegal working and increasing removals of those with no right to be here.

Since the government came into power, Immigration Enforcement have increased illegal working activity by 51%, with 10,031 visits leading to 7,130 arrests, and will soon undertake a major nationwide blitz targeting illegal working hotspots, focusing on the gig economy and migrants working as delivery riders.

The UK will go further by changing the law to support a clampdown on illegal working in the gig economy. New biometric kits will be rolled out for Immigration Enforcement teams so they can do on-the-spot checks.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Dangerous small boats in our Channel undermine our border security and put lives at risk. That is why we are so determined to work with France to go after the criminal smuggler gangs, to undermine their business model, to begin returns and to prevent boat crossings.

This new pilot agreement with France is extremely important and allows us for the first time to return people who have paid to travel here illegally, and will sit alongside our wider joint enforcement action, including disrupting supply chains to seize boats and engines, shutting down social media accounts, and targeting finances.

Since last summer, we have returned over 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK and a major surge in immigration enforcement activity, with a 51% increase in the number of illegal working arrests.

We are building the foundations of a new and stronger approach to protecting our border security.

Under the new UK-France pilot, any asylum claim submitted by a migrant who has crossed the Channel will be considered for inadmissibility and, if declared inadmissible, the Home Office will organise readmission of the individual to France.

For those coming to the UK legally, an individual in France will submit an Expression of Interest application to the new route and the Home Office will make a decision once they have undergone biometric checks. Anyone who had arrived by small boat and returned to France will not be eligible for the legal route to the UK.

The innovative approach will be tested first before being gradually ramped up.

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Published 10 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: “Everybody who voted against our bill voted to raise taxes on the American people”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

“I’ve already heard, a lot, that the reconciliation bill that Congress passed is going to kill people. ‘People are going to die. It’s only going to help rich people.’ None of that’s true.

“The bill that we just passed is primarily a tax cut, and taxes are not terribly complicated. When you tax something, you get less of it, right? You want to stop people wearing wristwatches—I love wristwatches, I’ve had this one for like 30 years—but if you want to stop people from wearing wrist watches, just pass a bill where every time you buy a wristwatch, you have to pay a $200 tax. Boy, that’s going to be the end of wristwatches.

“Business is the same way. If you want businesses not to expand, tax the hell out of them so they don’t have any money to reinvest in their businesses. If you want people to work less, tax them. Take all their money. People are rational. They’ll go, ‘Why would I want to work an extra 10 hours this week? They’re taxing me. They’re going to take all my money.’

“So, our bill is a tax cut bill. That’s all it was.

“We passed the tax cut back in 2017, as you know, Mr. President. Those tax cuts would have expired at the end of this year. If we hadn’t passed this bill, taxes on the American people would have gone up $4.3 trillion. Not billion. $4.3 trillion. It would have tanked our economy. Our economy would have gone down like a fat guy on a seesaw.

“And some of my friends say, ‘You only cut taxes on the rich.’ That’s not true. That’s just a lie. I mean, well over half of the tax cuts that we extended go to ordinary Americans, working people, working moms, working dads. So, the first thing we did was extend the tax cuts. We avoided $4.3 trillion worth of taxes. And, frankly, everybody who voted against our bill voted to raise taxes on the American people in the amount of $4.3 trillion. That’s just a fact.

“Our bill did some other things, though. We added some new tax cuts. We cut taxes on tips. Now, not everybody who works for tips is going to get a tax cut, but most people are. We cut taxes on overtime. Most ordinary Americans work overtime. We cut the taxes on overtime. We cut taxes on Social Security income. We cut taxes on some car loans. We extended the child tax credit—$2,200 for every child. That’s important for most Americans. We increased the standard deduction.

“We strengthened Medicaid. One of the things—it’s really a lie, but I’ll call it rhetoric—going around is: ‘Well, they destroyed Medicaid.’

“Medicaid’s going to grow under our bill. It’s just not going to grow as fast as it was. But 10 years from now, we’ll be spending a minimum a 20% more on Medicaid—not less, more. You know the biggest change we made to Medicaid: work requirements.

“Now, the American people are the most compassionate people in the world. If you’re hungry, we’ll feed you. If you’re homeless, we’ll house you. If you’re too poor to be sick, we’ll pay for your doctor. We’re a generous people.

“But those who can work should work. And we’ve got some people on Medicaid who are perfectly healthy. They’re not disabled. They don’t have young kids at home. I’m not talking about a mom with a sick child in her arms. They don’t have minor children at home. They just don’t want to work. They want to get Medicaid, but they don’t want to work.

“Those who can work should work, and all our bill does is say, ‘Look, you can still keep your Medicaid, but if you can work—not if you’re disabled, not if you’re elderly, not if you’re in a nursing home—but if you’re a healthy adult at home playing video games, you’ve got to go look for a job. And you’ve got to work at least 20 hours a week—not 40 hours a week—20 hours a week. What’s unreasonable about that?

“The other change made to Medicaid was that some people—not most people, but some people—when they sign up for Medicaid, they lie. They say, ‘I’m only making $25,000 a year.’ In fact, they might be making $75,000 or $100,000 a year. I’m not exaggerating. I’ve seen that happen.

“What we’ve told the states is, ‘Twice a year for our folks on Medicaid, you have to check their eligibility. Make sure they’re not making more than they’re supposed to because Medicaid is not for everybody.’

“What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with saying to people, ‘You’re not entitled to Medicaid if you’re not eligible?’ What’s unreasonable about that? We’re not killing people. We’re trying to save Medicaid so that we can afford it for people who really need it.

“The other two things this bill did . . . it provided more money for border enforcement. Now, I know there are many people in America and many people in the Senate who believe in open borders. I respect that. They may not say it, but they do. They just think the border ought to be wide open, and they think that if you believe in secure borders, you’re a racist. I don’t agree with them, but this is America. They’re entitled to their opinion.

“Most Americans don’t think that. Most Americans want the border to be secure. They want to know who is coming in and out of their country, and this bill is going to provide the money to do that.

“The other part of our bill as you know, Mr. President, provides much needed money for our military because we live in a dangerous world, and I wish we didn’t, but we do. And weakness invites the wolves.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Investor Alert: Bitget and Captex Are Not Registered
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 10, 2025

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) warns investors of the online entities Bitget also known as Canada Bitget Limited, and CapTex.

“The FCAA urges Saskatchewan residents to always check an entity’s registration status at aretheyregistered.ca before making an investment,” FCAA Securities Division Executive Director Dean Murrison said. “Registration status indicates if a business is legitimate. Only dealing with registered entities is an easy way to protect yourself and keep your investments safe.”

Bitget claims to operate a cryptocurrency exchange platform and offers Saskatchewan residents trading opportunities in cryptocurrencies via margin trading and futures contracts. CapTex claims to offer Saskatchewan residents trading opportunities, including stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, forex and precious metals.

This alert applies to the online entities using the websites “bitget com” and “cap-tex io” (these URLs have been manually altered so as not to be interactive).

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

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

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

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

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: The One Big Beautiful Bill is Great for People Who Go to Work Every Day

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill being signed into law and address the devastating floods in central Texas.

“As I said on the House floor the other day, it takes a lot longer to build a lie than to tell the simple truth. Our Republicans are going to be out across the country telling the simple truth,” Speaker Johnson said. “And guess what? It will be demonstrated. Everyone will have more take home pay. They’ll have more jobs and opportunity. The economy will be doing better and we’ll be able to point to that as the obvious result of what we did. “

Click here to watch the full interview

On the One Big Beautiful Bill’s impact on working class families:

What we did in this bill is we made permanent the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, and that was geared for lower- and middle-class Americans. In spite of everything they said, the bottom 20% of earners saw their lowest federal tax rate in 40 years. Now we’re building upon that. We just made that permanent and we’re building upon it because now we’ve cut taxes on overtime and tips and have more tax relief for seniors. And we’re giving everybody a tax cut, and that’s going to help the economy. It’s going to be jet fuel for small business owners, entrepreneurs, risk takers, the people that provide the jobs, manufacturers, farmers get assistance here, and that will lift the economy.

The Council of Joint Economic Advisors is expecting a 3%, growth rate in the economy. That will be incredible. They’re expecting 4 million additional jobs to be added. The average American, the typical American household, will have $13,000 more in take home pay. This is a great thing for people who go to work every day. They’re going to feel that. And we’re excited about the upcoming election cycle in 2026 because people will be riding an economic high just as, as we did after the first two years of the first Trump Administration – this time’s on steroids.

On the One Big Beautiful Bill growing the U.S. economy:

If you make between $30,000 and $80,000 a year, you’re going to have a 15% less federal tax rate. You are going to save more money, you’re going to keep more of your hard-earned money, and that’s not going away. So, by making all these tax cut permanent, it’s the largest tax bill, the most important, most consequential tax bill that Congress has ever passed because of what it does for people who go out and work hard every day. We’re going to make it easier on them. And all the other pro-growth policies in this bill. We also, at the same time, achieve the largest savings for the taxpayers in US history, about $1.6 trillion in savings. All those things are going to have a great effect.

By the way, in the bill, we’re also going to secure the border permanently. We’re going to return to American energy dominance again, which is going to also be jet fuel of the economy. We’re going to take care of the peace through strength because we’re going to give important investments in our military industrial complex, which will help us in our competition with China. There is so much in this bill, it would be difficult for us to cover it in one segment, but people are going to feel that and we’re super excited about what we were able to deliver.

On the devastating floods in Central Texas:

In a moment like this, we feel just as helpless as everyone else does. I’ve talked to my colleagues there in Texas, Chip Roy and August Pfluger. You know that’s Chip’s district, August’s daughters were at the camp. We also had Buddy Carter of Georgia who had grandchildren there. It touches so many families, and all we know to do at this moment is pray. Every available resource has been deployed. The president, of course, is dialed in and watching this developed moment by moment as we are. And we will handle supplemental funding requests as they come in. But right now, they’re still trying to do rescue and recovery and our hearts go out to all of them.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: BlockchainCloudMining Launches XRP-Based Cloud Mining Contracts to Broaden Asset Utility

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlockchainCloudMining, a UK-based cryptocurrency cloud mining platform, today announced the launch of XRP-compatible cloud mining contracts, enabling holders of XRP to directly participate in crypto mining activities. This strategic update marks a significant step in broadening the utility of XRP beyond traditional cross-border transfers.

The new XRP-based contracts are now available globally on BlockchainCloudMining.com and come at a time when institutional interest in alternative mining strategies and blockchain infrastructure diversification is rising.

XRP is no longer just a transfer tool, but also an asset appreciation tool

“We’ve seen growing interest from users holding XRP who are looking to diversify their digital asset strategy,” said a company spokesperson. “With this launch, BlockchainCloudMining aims to provide an efficient way for users to engage in mining using XRP, without the need for physical hardware or technical complexity.”

XRP, originally developed by Ripple Labs for fast and low-cost transactions, has maintained a strong presence in the digital payments space. With the addition of cloud mining compatibility, BlockchainCloudMining addresses the evolving needs of digital asset holders seeking passive participation in blockchain infrastructure.

BlockchainCloudMining: Start mining machines with XRP and get passive income every day

The platform now supports a total of nine cryptocurrencies for mining contracts, including BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDT, and XRP. All mining operations are conducted via remote green-energy-powered data centers across multiple regions, emphasizing environmental sustainability and 24/7 uptime.

The platform contract income data is transparent, and the flexible period meets the needs of multiple types of users. BlockchainCloudMining provides a variety of period contracts, covering novices to advanced users:

⦁ [New User Experience Contract]: Investment amount: US$100, contract period 2 days, total income: US$100 + US$6.
⦁ [WhatsMiner M66S]: Investment amount: US$500, contract period 7 days, total income: US$500 + US$45.5.
⦁ [WhatsMiner M60]: Investment amount: US$1,000, contract period 14 days, total income: US$1,000 + US$196.
⦁【Bitcoin Miner S21+】: Investment amount: $3,000, contract period 20 days, total income: $3,000 + $900.
⦁【ALPH Miner AL1】: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period 35 days, total income: $10,000 + $5,950.
⦁【ANTSPACE HK3】: Investment amount: $33,000, contract period 40 days, total income: $33,000 + $26,400.

This announcement comes amid wider market discussions around the long-term role of XRP in the crypto economy. BlockchainCloudMining notes that the new feature is designed to give holders of XRP more ways to engage with blockchain infrastructure beyond traditional trading.

The platform is currently carrying out a global registered user program, where new users will be given a $12 upon registration, which can be used to offset the cost of the first contract. The platform also launched a multi-currency invitation rebate mechanism to support team contract profit sharing, further expanding the possibility of passive income.

Conclusion: You don’t need to understand technology to start your “mining machine business” with XRP

For most cryptocurrency holders, the trading market is too volatile and the mining equipment is too complicated. BlockchainCloudMining uses a simple way to allow users to use their XRP to start an “automatic money-making” system in the cloud, without burning their brains or watching the market, and the money will be automatically credited every day.

Between traditional investment and decentralized finance, such a BlockchainCloudMining platform provides a new middle option – safer, easier to use, and more sustainable.

To learn more about the XRP cloud mining option and other supported digital assets, visit the official announcement page at www.BlockchainCloudMining.com.

About BlockchainCloudMining

BlockchainCloudMining is a global cryptocurrency cloud mining platform headquartered in London. The company provides users with access to a network of energy-efficient mining infrastructure, supporting multiple digital assets across secure and transparent operations. With a commitment to simplicity, compliance, and sustainability, the platform enables a new generation of users to participate in the blockchain ecosystem.

Media Contact:

Website: www.BlockchainCloudMining.com

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

The MIL Network –

July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: FHLBank San Francisco Awards $5.1 Million in Grants for Affordable Housing in Nevada
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today announced $5.1 million in affordable housing grants awarded to Nevada-based affordable housing developers through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Nevada Targeted Fund. The grants are being awarded to five projects in Nevada that will collectively create over 270 units of new affordable housing throughout the state.

“The shortage of affordable housing is one of the most pressing challenges our country faces, and the need is especially acute in Nevada,” said Joseph E. Amato, interim president and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco. “As one of the nation’s least densely populated states, Nevada is home to a wide range of communities — urban, rural, and tribal — all experiencing significant housing challenges. We’re proud to support five impactful projects across the state that will help address this crisis and expand access to affordable housing.”

This year marks the third year of the Nevada Targeted Fund, which was developed in collaboration with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada to innovate meaningful solutions to encourage and fund needed affordable housing projects. To address the dire need in Nevada, FHLBank San Francisco launched the Nevada Targeted Fund, the first state-targeted fund in the FHLBank System, to specifically fund affordable housing projects in Nevada. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the supply of affordable and available rental homes in Nevada is 17 for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. Nevada is the state with the most extremely low-income households in the nation, earning between 0% to 30% of area median income who are severely cost burdened, meaning the household spends more than 50% of its income on housing costs, including utilities.

“I appreciate that the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco continues to support the Nevada Targeted Fund,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud of the partnership that we have built with the Bank to address housing needs in the Silver State, and I will continue to seek opportunities for the FHLBank to use its resources to meet more of our housing and community development needs.”

AHP General Fund and Nevada Targeted Fund grants help finance the development, preservation, or purchase of affordable multifamily and single-family housing for people in need, including the chronically unhoused, families, seniors, veterans, at-risk youth, people living with disabilities and mental health challenges or overcoming substance abuse. Grants are delivered through FHLBank San Francisco member institutions partnering with nonprofits and affordable housing developers to submit applications for grants for specific projects in an annual funding competition.

The 2025 AHP Nevada Targeted Fund grants will fund the following five new construction projects across Nevada:
1. Reno: Truckee Meadows Housing Solutions’ Gen Den Intergenerational Housing will create an intergenerational community with 10 new units, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Clearinghouse CDFI.
2. North Las Vegas: Foresight Housing Partners’ PuraVida Senior Living will construct 74 new affordable apartment units that prioritize accessibility and ADA compliance for very-low-income seniors, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Town and Country Bank.
3. Las Vegas: Nevada H.A.N.D., Inc.’s Southern Pines Apartments will create 48 new units of housing for families and individuals with on-site social services and recreational programs, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Wells Fargo National Bank West.
4. Las Vegas: Walter Hoving Home, Inc.’s Las Vegas Expansion project will create a new residential recovery facility for women and families, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member City National Bank.
5. Las Vegas: Blind Center of Nevada’s Visions Park will provide new critical housing for the blind and visually impaired, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Western Alliance Bank.
“At Western Alliance Bank, we are honored to play a role in increasing affordable housing options for people in communities across our national footprint,” said Aidan Tracey, assistant vice president of portfolio management for Western Alliance Bank’s Affordable Housing Investments Group. “Visions Park is an exciting opportunity to create and sustain innovative supportive housing for people who are visually impaired. We are pleased that we could work with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and support the Blind Center of Nevada in bringing this project to life to make Las Vegas a better place to live for those with vision loss.”

In 2025, FHLBank San Francisco awarded nearly $50 million in AHP grants, including funding from its 2025 AHP General Fund for projects in California and Arizona, and from its 2025 Nevada Targeted Fund for projects in Nevada. Since 1990, FHLBank San Francisco has awarded over $1.4 billion in grants for the construction, preservation, or purchase of nearly 155,000 affordable housing units. Collectively, the FHLBanks are one of the largest sources of private sector grants for affordable housing in the country, providing approximately $8.3 billion in grant funding for affordable housing and helping more than one million households purchase or preserve a home since 1990. Providing resources for affordable housing is central to FHLBank San Francisco’s mission, with at least 10% of the Bank’s net income from the prior year committed to fund affordable housing and related community investment programs.

Where AHP projects are developed, local economies also get a boost, as these projects create jobs, increase construction and consumer spending, and generate new tax revenues. Learn more about the communities, families, and individuals that have benefited from access to AHP-funded housing on the Bank’s website.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions — commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions —propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant and resilient.

Contact:

Tom Flannigan
Tom.Flannigan@fhlbsf.com
415.616.2695

The MIL Network –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: FHLBank San Francisco Awards $5.1 Million in Grants for Affordable Housing in Nevada
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today announced $5.1 million in affordable housing grants awarded to Nevada-based affordable housing developers through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Nevada Targeted Fund. The grants are being awarded to five projects in Nevada that will collectively create over 270 units of new affordable housing throughout the state.

“The shortage of affordable housing is one of the most pressing challenges our country faces, and the need is especially acute in Nevada,” said Joseph E. Amato, interim president and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco. “As one of the nation’s least densely populated states, Nevada is home to a wide range of communities — urban, rural, and tribal — all experiencing significant housing challenges. We’re proud to support five impactful projects across the state that will help address this crisis and expand access to affordable housing.”

This year marks the third year of the Nevada Targeted Fund, which was developed in collaboration with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada to innovate meaningful solutions to encourage and fund needed affordable housing projects. To address the dire need in Nevada, FHLBank San Francisco launched the Nevada Targeted Fund, the first state-targeted fund in the FHLBank System, to specifically fund affordable housing projects in Nevada. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the supply of affordable and available rental homes in Nevada is 17 for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. Nevada is the state with the most extremely low-income households in the nation, earning between 0% to 30% of area median income who are severely cost burdened, meaning the household spends more than 50% of its income on housing costs, including utilities.

“I appreciate that the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco continues to support the Nevada Targeted Fund,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud of the partnership that we have built with the Bank to address housing needs in the Silver State, and I will continue to seek opportunities for the FHLBank to use its resources to meet more of our housing and community development needs.”

AHP General Fund and Nevada Targeted Fund grants help finance the development, preservation, or purchase of affordable multifamily and single-family housing for people in need, including the chronically unhoused, families, seniors, veterans, at-risk youth, people living with disabilities and mental health challenges or overcoming substance abuse. Grants are delivered through FHLBank San Francisco member institutions partnering with nonprofits and affordable housing developers to submit applications for grants for specific projects in an annual funding competition.

The 2025 AHP Nevada Targeted Fund grants will fund the following five new construction projects across Nevada:
1. Reno: Truckee Meadows Housing Solutions’ Gen Den Intergenerational Housing will create an intergenerational community with 10 new units, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Clearinghouse CDFI.
2. North Las Vegas: Foresight Housing Partners’ PuraVida Senior Living will construct 74 new affordable apartment units that prioritize accessibility and ADA compliance for very-low-income seniors, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Town and Country Bank.
3. Las Vegas: Nevada H.A.N.D., Inc.’s Southern Pines Apartments will create 48 new units of housing for families and individuals with on-site social services and recreational programs, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Wells Fargo National Bank West.
4. Las Vegas: Walter Hoving Home, Inc.’s Las Vegas Expansion project will create a new residential recovery facility for women and families, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member City National Bank.
5. Las Vegas: Blind Center of Nevada’s Visions Park will provide new critical housing for the blind and visually impaired, in collaboration with FHLBank San Francisco member Western Alliance Bank.
“At Western Alliance Bank, we are honored to play a role in increasing affordable housing options for people in communities across our national footprint,” said Aidan Tracey, assistant vice president of portfolio management for Western Alliance Bank’s Affordable Housing Investments Group. “Visions Park is an exciting opportunity to create and sustain innovative supportive housing for people who are visually impaired. We are pleased that we could work with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and support the Blind Center of Nevada in bringing this project to life to make Las Vegas a better place to live for those with vision loss.”

In 2025, FHLBank San Francisco awarded nearly $50 million in AHP grants, including funding from its 2025 AHP General Fund for projects in California and Arizona, and from its 2025 Nevada Targeted Fund for projects in Nevada. Since 1990, FHLBank San Francisco has awarded over $1.4 billion in grants for the construction, preservation, or purchase of nearly 155,000 affordable housing units. Collectively, the FHLBanks are one of the largest sources of private sector grants for affordable housing in the country, providing approximately $8.3 billion in grant funding for affordable housing and helping more than one million households purchase or preserve a home since 1990. Providing resources for affordable housing is central to FHLBank San Francisco’s mission, with at least 10% of the Bank’s net income from the prior year committed to fund affordable housing and related community investment programs.

Where AHP projects are developed, local economies also get a boost, as these projects create jobs, increase construction and consumer spending, and generate new tax revenues. Learn more about the communities, families, and individuals that have benefited from access to AHP-funded housing on the Bank’s website.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions — commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions —propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant and resilient.

Contact:

Tom Flannigan
Tom.Flannigan@fhlbsf.com
415.616.2695

The MIL Network –
July 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Zinke, Daines, Sheehy, Downing Introduce Bicameral Resolution Removing Harmful Miles City RMPA

Source: US Congressman Ryan Zinke (Western Montana)

Washington D.C. – Representatives Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Troy Downing (MT-02), along with U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy today introduced a bicameral resolution disapproving and removing the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 Miles City Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA). The Miles City RMPA effectively ends future coal leasing within the Miles City Field Office planning area, which will have an adverse impact on Montana’s jobs, economy, and energy security.

“The only way we can achieve true American Energy Dominance is when we utilize all-of-the-above forms of energy to include Montana’s clean coal. Coal provides reliable, abundant and affordable baseload power. Our economy and people have always relied on Montana’s clean coal and that is only going to increase with the advancement of AI, data centers and population growth,” said Zinke.

“Energy security is national security, and Montana’s mining industry plays a vital role in ensuring America remains energy dominant. The Miles City RMPA halts all future coal leasing in the region and will cause hardworking Montanans to lose their jobs. Moreover, the plan will stifle our state’s growing economy and increase our dependence on foreign nations for coal and energy production. I’m proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Sheehy, Representative Downing and Representative Zinke to remove this plan from the books and allow President Trump to move forward with a Made-In-Montana and Made-In-America energy policy,”said Daines.

“It’s time to put an end to the Biden-era, job-killing, environmentalist mandates, and this resolution will help achieve that. As we work to unleash Montana energy, we must support Montana’s resource economy in building a successful future, creating jobs, and powering America. Montanans voted to make America energy dominant so we can bring down prices for families and boost real wages for the hardworking Americans who keep our economy running, and Montana’s delegation is delivering on this commonsense, America First agenda,”said Sheehy.

“Montana’s Second Congressional District keeps the lights on in the Treasure State. Under the Biden Administration, Montana energy production took a direct hit when an outright ban on coal leasing in the Powder River Basin went into effect. I’m proud to lead this CRA in the House to reverse this disastrous management plan amendment that threatens access to affordable, reliable energy and investment in the communities I represent,”said Downing.

Read the full resolution HERE.

Background:

The Miles City RMPA makes nearly 2,000,000 acres unavailable for coal leasing within the Miles City Field Office planning area and prohibits new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin. Daines is a strong supporter of leasing in the Powder River Basin- read more HERE.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 11, 2025