Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: Music Licensing, Inc. Announces Entry of Final Default Judgment Totaling $187,624.95 USD Plus Interest

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

     

    NAPLES, FL, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), also known as Pro Music Rights, announces the entry of a Final Default Judgment in its favor in the amount of $187,624.95 USD, as reflected in a recent court filing in Collier County, Florida.

    This judgment accrues interest at a rate of 9.15% per annum until paid in full, as mandated by applicable law. The judgment reflects Music Licensing, Inc.’s continued commitment to enforcing its legal rights and protecting the value of its intellectual property assets and contractual obligations.

    This outcome underscores Music Licensing, Inc.’s resolve in pursuing remedies through all appropriate legal avenues when obligations to the company remain unfulfilled.

    About Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) (ProMusicRights.com)

    About Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC:SONG)  (ProMusicRights.com)

    Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), also known as Pro Music Rights, is a diversified holding company and the fifth public performance rights organization (PRO) established in the United States. It is recognized under the federal registry of the United States government. The company licenses music to some of the most prominent platforms and businesses, including TikTok, iHeartMedia, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo, and many others.

    Pro Music Rights holds an estimated 7.4% market share in the United States, representing a catalog of more than 2.5 million works by notable artists such as A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, MoneyBagg Yo, Larry June, Trae Pound, Sauce Walka, Trae Tha Truth, Sosamann, Soulja Boy, Lex Luger, Trauma Tone, Lud Foe, SlowBucks, Gunplay, OG Maco, Rich The Kid, Fat Trel, Young Scooter, Nipsey Hussle, Famous Dex, Boosie Badazz, Shy Glizzy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Trinidad James, Chingy, Lil Gnar, 3OhBlack, Curren$y, Fall Out Boy, Money Man, Dej Loaf, Lil Uzi Vert, and many others, including works generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

    Additionally, Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) holds royalty interests in Listerine “Mouthwash” Antiseptic and a vast portfolio of musical works by globally renowned artists, including The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Elton John, Mike Posner, blackbear, Lil Nas X, Lil Yachty, DaBaby, Stunna 4 Vegas, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, XXXTentacion, BlueFace, The Game, Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign, Eric Bellinger, Ne-Yo, MoneyBagg Yo, Halsey, Desiigner, DaniLeigh, Rihanna, and many others.

    Forward-Looking Statements:

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Pro Music Rights, Inc., Music Licensing, Inc., or any other person.

    Non-Legal Advice Disclosure:

    This press release does not constitute legal advice, and readers are advised to seek legal counsel for any legal matters or questions related to the content herein.

    Non-Investment Advice Disclosure:

    This communication is intended solely for informational purposes and does not in any way imply or constitute a recommendation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, commodities, bonds, options, derivatives, or any other investment products. Any decisions related to investments should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor or professional. We assume no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this communication

    Contact: investors@ProMusicRights.com

    SOURCE: Music Licensing, Inc

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Wake Up America on Newsmax to Discuss Conflict in Middle East, Budget Reconciliation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Wake Up America on Newsmax to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, along with the budget reconciliation package.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on the stark contrast between Biden’s and Trump’s posture toward Iran: “What the Democrats did when they were in power is, actually, embolden Iran to do exactly what they’re doing. If you think about it, I worked in President [Donald] Trump’s first administration as U.S. Ambassador. We put the ‘Maximum Pressure Campaign’ on Iran. They were running out of money; they were broke. What does [former President Joe] Biden do? [He] comes back in and reimplements the Obama policies, flush with cash. Iran begins to pedal terror throughout the Middle East. That brought us the October 7th, 2023, massacre in Israel. The Houthis, basically, shut down the Red Sea. The Iranians have been fomenting terror all around the region. The time has come for this to stop. Israel has stepped up and put Iran in a very difficult situation. President Trump has some very important cards right now, and I don’t think the Senate should be interfering with him. I think this can be resolved in days.”

    Hagerty on Iran’s weak negotiating position: “I think the Iranian hand gets weaker by the day. Every missile they shoot [is] one less that they have in their stockpiles. They can’t replenish every time they shoot. They’re identifying a launch site that the Israelis can take out. The story is getting worse and worse and worse for the Iranian regime. I think the Ayatollahs need to hear it loud and clear: President Trump has been consistent in what he’s said for both the 45 term and the 47 term. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. The Ayatollahs now need to figure out what their best path is, but they need to come to the table very quickly. This needs to come to an end.”

    Hagerty on the need to resolve the situation quickly: “President Trump is tired of the carnage. He’s told me so himself. He wants to see this come to an end. He wants to see it come to an end swiftly. But you know that President Trump will take decisive action when need be. He’s the one who decided to take out Soleimani. What did that do? It actually calmed the region. He’s letting the Ayatollahs know that this is serious. He wants this resolved. He’s given them every chance to do it, but they have very limited time window left.”

    Hagerty on the budget reconciliation package negotiations:
    “The biggest sticking point of all is the fact that if we don’t get this done, the American public’s going to feel a tax increase like we’ve never felt before, north of $4 trillion. The White House budget model suggests that if that were to happen, we would see the GDP of the United States decline by six percent in 2026. We can’t let that happen. This bill is designed to stimulate more investment, more capital investment in America, which will create more jobs and more economic activity. The sooner we can make that happen, the sooner our economy takes off. So, I think one of the critical elements here that we need to talk about is, frankly, the speed to get this to the President’s desk. So, I’m all for getting this done by the 4th of July. Let him sign it. There are improvements that are underway right now here in the Senate. The senators that have been very focused on this are trying to make the bill more conservative. I’m all for that. We’ve got a real spending problem here in America, but we also have a problem of uncertainty. That uncertainty is, basically, forcing U.S. employers to hold back on the investments that they would normally make. I want to make certain that we get this done quickly, that certainty is returned to the marketplace, and we see capital investment moving, yet again, so that the America that we all know and love, under President Trump’s first term, will come back growing at twice the rate of any other major economy in the world […] I know that Leader [John] Thune is in very close contact with the House of Representatives, and it’ll probably be close on both sides because we’re going to make it as conservative as we possibly can, yet still hold 50 votes here and hold the House. So, that’s the negotiation that’s taking play. It’s complicated, but I think everybody understands the timelines, and I think everyone understands how crucial it is to get this done.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 18 June 2025 Donors making a difference: refugees and migrants

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Today, more than one billion people, about one in eight globally, are on the move, driven by war, conflict, disasters, environmental degradation or economic instability. Migration and displacement are powerful social determinants of health, shaping how and whether people can access the health conditions they need to survive and thrive.

    Climate change, recognized as a “threat multiplier”, worsens food insecurity, disrupts livelihoods, and fuels further displacement. Whether by choice or forced, being on the move is a part of human life, but for many, it brings disproportionate exposure to risk, inequality, and exclusion from basic health services.

    Refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) frequently face unsafe journeys and precarious living conditions, often with limited access to clean water, adequate nutrition, sanitation, or shelter. Their susceptibility to communicable diseases is increased by the environmental risk factors related to their precarious living and working conditions. Many also face barriers to managing noncommunicable diseases, accessing maternal and newborn care, or receiving mental health support.

    Thanks to the support of donors and partners, WHO works with governments and communities to deliver inclusive, equitable, and context-sensitive health services to people on the move. This includes immunization, disease surveillance, chronic disease management, reproductive and mental health care, support for health system resilience, amongst other efforts.

    These contributions are grounded in the recognition that health is a human right, and that universal health coverage must be inclusive of all people, regardless of migratory status. The stories presented below show how rapid, compassionate action can protect lives and advance dignity, equity, and resilience, especially in times of crisis.

    Landmark cholera vaccination campaign offers hope to Rohingya refugee camps

    A young girl receives the OCV vaccine in one of the remote blocks of camp. Photo by: WHO/Mehnaz Manzur

    Cholera has been endemic in Bangladesh for decades, with seasonal peaks. It has remained a major health concern in the Rohingya refugee camps since 2017.

    In a major joint effort, the Government of Bangladesh, with support from WHO, UNHCR, and health sector partners, launched a landmark cholera vaccination campaign in the Rohingya refugee camps on 12 January 2025. This initiative focused on children aged one year and older, following a rise in cholera cases detected through WHO’s disease monitoring system in both the camps and nearby host communities.

    The five-day vaccination campaign aimed to reach 943 174 people across 33 camps and Bhasan Char Island. Over 1 700 community health workers, supervisors, and health sector partners visited 194 907 households to administer the single-dose Euvichol Plus vaccine.

    Read the full story.

    Delivering lifesaving health services for flood-displaced families in Nigeria

    Delivering lifesaving health services for flood-displaced families in Nigeria. Photo by: WHO/Nigeria

    Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria, was severely impacted by recent floods, in September 2024, which displaced over 400 000 people. Almost 90 000 people in vulnerable situations were forced to take shelter in temporary camps with limited access to food, clean water and health services.

    Displaced populations are at especially high risk from malnutrition, and diseases such as cholera, malaria and measles in a region where health systems are already fragile and strained.

    Recognizing urgent health need, WHO, with financial support from USAID and the Government of Germany, deployed five mobile health teams made up of 35 public health experts, to provide routine immunization, maternal care and clinical services. So far, 34 camps and over 93 000 households have been reached and informed about how to prevent epidemic-prone diseases and adopt healthy household practices.

    Read the full story.

    Bringing health care closer to displaced communities in Somalia

    WHO drought response activities in affected districts in Somalia. Photo by: WHO/Somalia

    Somalia experienced a severe drought in 2022-2023. Donors responded swiftly with increased funding to save lives by treating severe acute malnutrition and the prevention and management of disease outbreaks.

    This support enabled WHO to meet urgent health needs while also investing in the long-term capacity of local health services. For example, the Sinkadheer health centre in Al-Adalada camp, west of Mogadishu, provides a full range of services through the Integrated Health and Nutrition Programme. The centre helps ensure access to essential health care for families who might otherwise face financial or logistical barriers to treatment.

    Supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), the German Federal Foreign Office, and other partners, the programme continues to improve health outcomes for Somali mothers and children, promoting dignity and resilience in the context of displacement. Each day, the centre serves around 200 patients, primarily from nearby internally displaced communities, offering primary health care, nutritional support, and services to prevent malnutrition.

    Read the full story.

    Bridging gaps in health and nutrition services for IDPs and crisis-affected communities in Ethiopia

    Bridging gaps in health and nutrition services for IDPs and crisis-affected communities in Amhara, Ethiopia. Photo by: WHO/Ethiopia

    Since November 2021, Ethiopia’s Amhara region has faced complex and protracted humanitarian crises driven by internal armed conflict, multiple disease outbreaks, and climate-related shocks- including drought and floods. The region also witnessed a growing influx of people fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Nearly a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living across 38 collective sites and host communities, alongside hundreds of thousands of refugees and returnees.

    To ensure access to essential health services for displaced and crisis-impacted populations, WHO, in collaboration with regional government authorities, deployed Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams. As displacements increased, the number of mobile teams was scaled up to 19 in April 2024, comprising 132 health workers. This increase was made possible through support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), and the People and Government of Japan.

    These teams have provided over 124 250 medical consultations, including referrals for patients requiring specialized care. Services include primary health care, immunizations, maternal and child health support, nutritional care, mental health and psychosocial support, and first-line assistance for survivors of gender-based violence. They also address both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, helping ensure that health care is available and accessible to all.

    Read the full story.

    Health on the frontlines: caring for Haiti’s displaced population

    A mobile clinic organized at the Lycée Argentine Bellegarde IDP site. Photo by: WHO/PAHO

    Since February 2024, Haiti has faced an escalating security crisis from escalating gang violence, political instability, and a humanitarian emergency, placing further strain on the country’s already overstretched health system. This has significantly disrupted access to health care for millions in Haiti.

    The crisis has most severely affected people living in precarious conditions, including the approximately 86 000 individuals residing across 84 IDPs sites of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

    To help maintain access to essential services, mobile clinics have been established by the Ouest Department’s health authorities with the support from PAHO/WHO and other partners such as UNCERF. Disease surveillance activities have also been reactivated, including for cholera, through the deployment of surveillance and response teams to each site- helping to detect and respond efficiently to potential outbreaks.

    Read the full story.

    Support for public health emergency preparedness and response in Niger

    WHO medicines and medical supplies donation in Diffa, Niger. Photo by: WHO/Niger

    In March 2024, WHO delivered 16 tons of medicines and medical supplies valued at nearly 100 million FCFA (US$ 170 000) to health facilities across eight regions of Niger, which host large numbers of IDPs, refugees, and returnees.

    This donation, funded through UNCERF and WHO’s own resources, include medical consumables and treatment kits for pneumonia, meningitis, malaria, diphtheria, cholera, and other common illnesses.

    “This donation comes at a crucial time when our health system in the Diffa region is under significant pressure. We will be able to strengthen access to quality health care and save the lives of the people of Diffa, who are already facing emergencies related to the growing number of IDPs, refugees and returnees,” said Colonel-Major Dr Garba Hakimi, Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs.

    Read the full story (French).

    Lessons from Malta: advancing refugee and migrant health

    Valetta from waterfront. Photo by: WHO/Marc Gallego

    As an island located at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has long been a transitional stop for people on the move. Today, it is home to over 11 000 refugees and 2 000 asylum seekers, primarily from Bangladesh, Libya, Syria, Sudan and Ukraine.

    With co-funding from the European Union, WHO, in partnership with Malta’s Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, hosted the first Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health in Malta in April 2024.

    The Forum brought together government officials, humanitarian organizations, civil society, United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, exchange experiences, identify opportunities for collaboration, and advance the implementation of WHO’s European Region Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health 2023–2030.

    Read the full story.

    Acknowledgments

    The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order) European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), European Union, Germany, Japan, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Thank you also to UNHCR for its strong partnership in responding to the needs of refugees.

    WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada is investing in flood mapping and adaptation projects

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 18, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    Canadians are experiencing record-breaking climate events—from wildfires and extreme heat waves to floods and extreme cold. Flood events are among the costliest impacts of climate change, causing significant damage to communities and infrastructure. It is now more important than ever to provide Canadians with high-quality data and insight as we adapt to the impacts of our changing climate.

    To that end, the Government of Canada today announced an investment of $6.8 million for 20 projects across the country through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, as part of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

    Environment and Climate Change Canada is investing $3.3 million in nine projects focused on advancing flood mapping science nationally and bringing together Canadian research institutions and departmental scientists. This science and research will gather the information needed to better understand the areas in Canada that are at the highest risk for damaging floods. Building this critical groundwork will result in more reliable tools for a resilient and thriving Canadian economy and for Canadians to protect themselves.

    Natural Resources Canada is investing $2.8 million in eight projects to develop and improve regional flood modelling approaches to advance flood hazard information coverage throughout Canada. Natural Resources Canada is investing an additional $750,000 to support three projects focused on the exchange between Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and other scientific practices related to flood hazard mapping. These projects will lead to a smarter, stronger, and more resilient future for Canadian-built infrastructure and communities.

    Each of the projects align with the National Adaptation Strategy’s framework to reduce the risk of climate-related disasters, improve health outcomes, protect nature and biodiversity, build and maintain resilient infrastructure, and support a strong economy and workers.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Keynote Remarks of Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson at RegHub Summit London 2025: The Future of Finance: Enabling AI Tools To Enhance Compliance and Surveillance

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Good morning. Thank you for the kind invitation to deliver keynote opening remarks at the RegHub Summit and to join TradingHub Executive Chair Neil Walker for a fireside chat. I appreciate that you have historically had the pleasure of hearing from the most senior regulators in our industry including our immediate past Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman, Russ Behnam; President and CEO of the National Futures Association, Tom Sexton; and a recent past Director of Enforcement, Ian McGinley.
    I’ll hope to offer insights to complement the important and cutting edge topics that you will explore today including managing model risk in trade surveillance, best practices for validation and compliance, and building a unified approach to trade surveillance and data governance. Mostly, I’ll aim to be brief and, if I am correctly using these idioms, not put a foot wrong or let the side down. To that end, I should acknowledge that that the views I express today are my own and not the views of the Commission, my fellow Commissioners or the staff of the CFTC.
    Three Dimensions of a Financial Markets Governance and Compliance Framework
    Financial regulation in the U.S. significantly depends on a three-dimensional approach to regulatory compliance.
    First, from the earliest periods of community or state-based regulation in the U.S.—which only go as far back as the late 1700s—you could argue that our regulation has required entities operating in financial markets to police themselves. In other words, market participants must demonstrate a commitment to ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and reporting instances of disruption or compliance failures.
    Second, our regulation imposes both formal and informal (soft law) requirements on firms operating as critical market infrastructure resources. These entities, and in some instances, industry trade associations, have exercised market policing authority. In 1792, for example, twenty-four stock-brokers gathered under a buttonwood tree in lower Manhattan in New York City to sign the Buttonwood Agreement.[1] While I am fairly certain they were not sorting out a crypto regulatory framework, addressing complex issues such as initial and variation margin requirements during periods of heightened market distress, default risk management, cross-product margining, or clearing U.S. Treasuries, they were establishing a precedent that would serve as a foundational understanding in U.S. financial markets regulation: firms and industry have obligations to facilitate market stability, market integrity, and surveil markets for evidence of fraud and manipulation.
    Third, financial market regulators play an important role in supervising markets and enforcing expectations regarding compliance. At the CFTC, our principles-based regulation includes a supervision framework where organizations that play a critical role in market infrastructure, such as exchanges and clearing organizations, engage in surveillance and report to the Commission on the compliance of intermediaries.[2] Within individual organizations, registered market participants are charged with supervising the actors who directly engage in trading as well as actors who directly engage in customer solicitation.[3]
    Relying on firms to engage in market surveillance and intermediaries to engage in supervision balances the costs and obligations of supervision. We might describe the three legs of this regulatory framework as a governance and compliance framework.
    Technology-Driven Governance and Compliance 
    In recent years, the advent of increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have promised to enable faster, more efficient, reduced cost supervision and compliance capabilities.
    This observation is not a revelation to anyone in this room. For decades, financial markets have integrated machine learning algorithms as a central aspect of predictive analytics. Increasingly advanced AI technologies—supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, neural networks, generative AI and more recently agentic AI—have accelerated both interest in and adoption of AI for broader front office, back office, reporting, and supervision and monitoring obligations that arise in financial markets regulation.
    Requests for Information Regarding the Adoption of AI: CFTC, Federal Regulators, and Global Initiatives
    Over the last several years, I have worked closely with our Commission, other federal regulators, regulators around the world, and market participants to understand the benefits and limits of integrating AI into financial markets compliance and surveillance infrastructure.
    I actively worked with the CFTC senior staff across all divisions to develop the Commission’s first request for comment (RFC) on the uses of AI in CFTC-regulated markets.[4] It’s been a priority of mine to engage with the staff, as well as our registrants, about issues related to AI long before that RFC, and remains so to this date. Compliance use cases were identified by a number of market participants as AI uses in CFTC-registered markets.[5] This is consistent with a trend that has been identified in financial markets more broadly.  I also worked directly or participated in the development of consultations organized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and global international standard setting bodies seeking to better understand AI compliance and surveillance use cases.
    Many industry trade associations are similarly engaged in better understanding the potential for AI use cases. The Institute of International Finance (IIF), for example, surveys its members annually about its uses of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In the most recent IIF survey report, published in January 2025, compliance (including anti-money laundering and trade surveillance) ranked in the top four predictive AI use cases for respondents.[6] Treasury’s report on Artificial Intelligence in Financial Markets reports that “AI is widely used for…AML/CFT and sanctions compliance, including analyzing large sets of data, detecting anomalies, flagging suspicious activities, and verifying customer identities under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) obligations.”[7] Other publications contain similar observations about compliance use cases as AI adoption in financial services continues to develop.[8]
    A recent consultation report published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) on AI in capital markets reports that IOSCO members and self-regulatory organizations (SROs) observed that market participants are:
    using AI to enhance the effectiveness of AML and CFT measures, particularly, and compliance more generally, including to identify suspicious transactions. For AML compliance, customer onboarding, and due diligence, respondents observed that market participants use ML models to perform pattern recognition and anomaly detection in surveillance software. They also use NLP to enhance the interpretation of unstructured data and to facilitate name screening and news analysis.[9]
    The IOSCO Report also noted that other recent reports had consistent findings, and cited numerous industry reports about how large language models (LLMs) are used for compliance tasks.[10]
    AI and Trade Surveillance
    Indisputably, AI technologies demonstrate significant potential for enhancing trade surveillance. The recent IOSCO Report referenced earlier notes the incorporation of “AI tools in surveillance and security solutions that could assist market participants to monitor client communications such as emails, calls, and mobile chat applications, and could raise alerts on suspicious communications for compliance review and investigation.”[11]
    One of the reasons that the markets that the CFTC regulates are the deepest and most liquid in the world is that our regulatory framework includes measures designed to ensure the integrity of the markets, a necessary feature for markets that so many rely on to hedge and manage risk.
    For example, Section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) sets forth core principles for designated contract markets (DCMs) that require DCMs to “establish, monitor, and enforce” compliance with a DCM’s rules and to establish and enforce certain rules and procedures to ensure financial stability of transactions on the DCM.[12] The implementing rules for each of these core principles include requirements related to surveillance. Rule 38.156 requires a DCM to “maintain an automated trade surveillance system capable of detecting and investigating potential trade practice violations” and includes additional requirements for the system including certain capabilities, features and timing.[13] Rule 38.604 states that “A designated contract market must monitor members’ compliance with the designated contract market’s minimum financial standards and, therefore, must routinely receive and promptly review financial and related information from its members, as well as continuously monitor the positions of members and their customers.”[14] Similarly, Section 5h of the CEA establishes compliance with rules and financial integrity as core principles for swap execution facilities (SEFs),[15] and implementing rules include requirements on SEFs to maintain an automated trade surveillance system pursuant to Rule 37.203 as part of their required rule enforcement program.[16]
    These are just a few examples, and perhaps one of the many reasons that it is not surprising to me that CFTC-regulated markets have always been among the most technology-forward, including with its use of AI.
    I continuously advocate for a number of policy initiatives related to AI, and the first one is the most fundamental: collaboration. I hope to continue to be able to learn how we can work together to discover how AI can be leveraged to enhance registrants’ ability to comply with our existing requirements, and to support a stronger, safer, and more vital derivatives market, while also enhancing efficiencies for registrants.
    A discussion of potential uses of AI in the derivatives markets requires also considering the broader financial market landscape. The IOSCO Report noted that respondents “observed efforts to enhance surveillance measures in the financial industry through the development of joint systems that can be used by multiple financial institutions to share data and intelligence to mitigate types of threats utilizing AI and other technologies.”[17]
    I have advocated for a number of policy initiatives related to AI consistently throughout my time at the Commission, and one of those policies is inter-governmental collaboration with other financial market regulators in the U.S. and globally. If we do not work together, we risk missing out on significant opportunities not only to learn from each other and build on best practices, but also opportunities to create broader initiatives that make our markets safer and more efficient.
    A Pause to Look Under the Hood
    As we consider the possibilities, we also need to be mindful of the risks. As AI tools become further integrated into organizational processes, especially those that relate to critical compliance or surveillance functions, those organizations, as well as regulators, need to have appropriate assurances that the tools will operate safely and reliably.
    It is imperative that we have a clear understanding of and appropriate guardrails to ensure the security and integrity of the data used to train AI models. Data governance must be a foundational, gatekeeping issue for the continued development of AI models, particularly LLMs that may rely on synthetic data. I have frequently raised concerns regarding these risks—including concerns regarding the potential for AI models to hallucinate or lack the ability to comprehend certain real-world roadblocks.[18] Agentic AI models, while able to overcome some of the limitations of generative AI models, are still limited by the data they are able to access.[19] I’ve also spoken about some of the other questions that need to be accounted for as we consider the integration of AI into financial markets, such as promoting explainability, implementing data controls and measures to address bias, focusing on governance of the models, and testing and monitoring output.[20]
    Market participants must understand the risks of data leakage which may include reduced accuracy, unfairness and bias, data privacy breaches, and other vulnerabilities.[21] I am hopeful that these are among the issues that participants at the Summit will explore today.
    Where Are We Going Next?
    Increasingly, I am asked this question on a frequent basis. In the context of AI, I believe there is significant potential for these technologies to enhance the tripartite approach to regulation—my earlier reference to three-dimensions or a three-legged stool of governance and compliance mentioned. Successful integration of AI will require careful consideration by firms and the industry as well as thoughtful regulatory oversight by domestic and international regulators. For a few hundred years, we have been on a journey to create a sound regulatory framework.
    My personal journey in service is not nearly as long but I am deeply committed to ensuring that we land on the right path as we integrate and potentially regulate AI. In becoming a CFTC Commissioner, I have had the privilege and the pleasure of fulfilling a personal professional goal—serving my country in a role that I hope fosters a healthy economy that enables responsible innovation, protects customers, and ensures the integrity and stability of financial markets for generations to come.
    Thanks for being on this journey with me. I look forward to continuing the conversation with you all today and in the coming years.

    [2] See, e.g., 7 U.S.C. § 7a-1(c)(2)(C)(ii); 17 C.F.R. § 39.12(a)(4) (requiring derivatives clearing organizations to have procedures to verify compliance of clearing members with participation requirements).

    [3] See, e.g., 17 C.F.R. §§ 38.604-605 (requiring designated contract markets to establish financial surveillance programs for futures commission merchants, retail foreign exchange dealers, and introducing brokers).

    [5] See, e.g., Letter from World Federation of Exchanges to CFTC, Regarding Response to Request for Comment on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets (Apr. 24, 2024), https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=73447&SearchText= (“AI can be used to reduce manual inputs for trade documentation and regulatory reporting, as well as reducing market manipulation….”); Letter from Futures Industry Association, FIA Principal Traders Group, CME Group, Inc., and Intercontinental Exchange Inc. to CFTC, Regarding Release No. 8853-24 (Jan. 25, 2024) Request for Comment on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets (Apr. 24, 2024), https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=73444&SearchText= (“We understand that FIA’s members may utilize AI, now in the future, across a broad array of areas, including…compliance processes and controls.”); Letter from Bank Policy Institute to CFTC, Regarding Request for Comment on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets (CFTC Release No. 8553-24) (Apr. 17, 2024), https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=73424&SearchText= (“Many banking organizations also use AI tools to enhance existing processes that facilitate compliance with BSA/AML and sanctions legal requirements and banking agency expectations. Some of these tools flag potentially suspicious activity, such as suspected money laundering, or potential sanctions concerns.”).

    [8] For example, a recent report by the Financial Stability Board on the financial stability implications of AI notes, “More broadly, the increasing regulatory requirements over the last seven years across multiple jurisdictions, for example, requirements on data protection, the growing use of principles to guide AI development and adoption, and the growing body of international standards, including in specific sectors such as financial services, have led financial firms to increasingly leverage AI to enhance their compliance capabilities.” Financial Stability Board, The Financial Stability Implications of Artificial Intelligence at 8 (Nov. 14, 2024), https://www.fsb.org/uploads/P14112024.pdf (citation omitted).

    [12] 7 U.S.C. § 7(d)(2), (11).

    [13] 17 C.F.R. § 38.156.

    [14] 17 C.F.R. § 38.604.

    [15] 7 U.S.C. § 7b-3(f)(2),(7).

    [16] 17 C.F.R. § 37.203(d).

    [17] IOSCO, Artificial Intelligence in Capital Markets: Use Cases, Risks, and Challenges: Consultation Report at 23.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: After celebrating State Parks Week, Newsom administration calls out federal assault on public lands

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 18, 2025

    What you need to know: After more than 170 events last week celebrating California’s state parks, Governor Newsom and his administration are calling out federal cuts to National Parks and public lands.

    SACRAMENTO – As the Trump administration threatens the future of federal public lands, California is celebrating its thriving state park system, the largest in the nation, and its commitment to expanding access to the outdoors. This comes after the state celebrated its fourth annual California State Parks Week with more than 170 events last week, highlighting the people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly unique.

    On Friday, the Newsom administration sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior warning of public safety risks and reduced access due to major cuts proposed to staff and programs that support National Parks and other federal public lands. In contrast, California is expanding access to the outdoors, investing in communities and laying the groundwork for further expansion.

    As the saying goes, national parks are America’s best idea – and putting them on the chopping block has to be one of the worst. As the Trump administration threatens our public lands, California continues to expand access to achieve our vision of outdoors for all.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    As outlined in the letter, the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to federal agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs threaten public lands, water supply, wildlife, and tribal sovereignty. These cuts would lead to reduced staff, services, public access, and increased risks such as wildfires and jeopardized public safety. 

    “While we support efforts to improve the efficiency of federal services, current and proposed cuts raise serious concerns regarding public safety, water supplies, public access, and outdoor recreation across California,” wrote California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Additionally, these cuts impact the national economy as agriculture and outdoor recreation are critical and powerful economic engines for the country.”

    Outdoors For All

    Connecting people to nature is critical for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Outdoor spaces also help communities adapt to climate change, can be good for wildlife and biodiversity, and are reliably a powerful economic engine for the state. Unfortunately, outdoor access and its many benefits are not equitably distributed to all communities.

    Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a historic investment of more than $1 billion has been dedicated to expanding parks and nature access, including to Californians who live in underserved communities.

    From the otherworldly beauty of Joshua Tree, to the soul-stirring splendor of Yosemite, our parks are part of our national story. Their very existence reflects the best in us: a century-long, bipartisan tradition to preserve our iconic natural wonders for the next generation — and make them accessible to all.

    In California, we’re not only standing to protect these sacred spaces, we’re working to open them up to even more children, including through our California State Park Adventure Pass, which gives fourth graders in the state and their families free access to 54 California State Parks.

    First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    The administration’s Outdoor Access for All and California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiatives have created innovative access programs for children and families to explore California’s state parks, mitigated impacts from climate change, and helped the economy.

    Here are some key accomplishments:

    • Free park passes: Three new state park pass programs were created for Californians to access participating park units for free. As of June 1, over the life of these programs more than 104,000 eligible Californians have received a Golden Bear Pass, 83,000-plus fourth graders have signed up for a California State Park Adventure Pass, and more than 33,000 free passes can be checked out at libraries throughout the state.
    • New state park: After more than a decade, California added a new park to the state park system. Located near Modesto in the San Joaquin Valley, Dos Rios is a multi-benefit park providing outdoor recreation opportunities for underserved communities, providing habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife, and advancing the state’s innovative efforts to combat the climate crisis using nature-based solutions. Nearly 10,000 people have visited Dos Rios since its official opening in June 2024, and the park has steadily increased public access to the approximately 1,600-acre property.
    • Cutting green tape: One year after the opening of Dos Rios, the Newsom administration continues to remove bureaucratic hurdles by cutting the green tape to lay the groundwork for potential future expansion of the state park system.  
    • Climate bond: In November 2024, a majority of voters across California approved a $10 billion Climate Bond to ensure resources are available to strengthen the resiliency of California communities to a changing climate. Specifically, the climate bond supports the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets, 30X30, and Outdoors for All. The administration is committed to rolling out these funds in a way that is strategic, coordinated, accessible, accountable, and prioritizes multi-benefit projects when possible.
    • Community investments: It is not just about state parks. State Parks has provided grants to local communities to establish indoor and outdoor recreation in every corner of the state, building trails, acquiring and restoring sensitive habitat, building natural and cultural interpretative facilities, and fostering outdoor natural experiences for thousands of children, youth, and families. This is just a small sampling of what community investments can accomplish.

    State Parks protects the best of the state’s natural and cultural history; more than 340 miles of coastline; the tallest, largest and among the oldest trees in the world; and deserts, lakes, rivers and beaches. There are more than 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, prehistoric and historic archeological sites, ghost towns, historic homes and monuments — all waiting to be explored.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    News What you need to know: Two sites in San Francisco are the latest to be transformed under Governor Newsom’s executive order converting excess and underutilized state land into affordable housing.  SAN FRANCISCO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the…

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom recently wrote an op-ed on the dangers of President Trump’s reach at authoritarianism, as well as the solution that lies within the power of each citizen to hold their electeds accountable to the Constitution they have sworn…

    News Sacramento, California – El Gobernador Gavin Newsom escribió recientemente un artículo de opinión sobre los peligros del autoritarismo del Presidente Trump, así como la solución que reside en el poder de cada ciudadano de exigir a sus elegidos que rindan cuentas…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Emergency Loan For Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval – Radcred Launches Online Platform for Urgent Loans and Quick Loan Options Up to $1,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, California, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radcred has launched an online platform designed to connect applicants to lenders offering emergency loan options for bad credit. This development addresses the growing need for alternative lending solutions in the United States. The platform enables borrowers to request up to $1,000 through a secure process that connects them with third-party lenders.

    Many individuals are unable to secure traditional credit products during unexpected financial challenges. The increasing demand for no credit check emergency loans guaranteed approval reflects these conditions. Radcred’s platform offers a streamlined process that allows applicants to submit requests from anywhere in the country, subject to local regulations.

    A Faster, Safer Way to Access Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    The rise of online lending platforms has changed how borrowers seek emergency financial assistance. Radcred’s new platform provides a secure method to request urgent loans for bad credit. The process is designed to reduce delays often associated with traditional credit applications.

    Borrowers can complete a loan request form online, which is then forwarded to a network of lenders. This approach removes the need for in-person visits or lengthy paperwork. The demand for emergency loans no credit check continues to grow, as many consumers seek efficient solutions during financial emergencies.

    Each lender sets its own terms, and approval is never automatic. Borrowers are encouraged to review offers carefully and consider their ability to meet repayment obligations. Responsible use of emergency loans online guaranteed approval claims should always be a priority for those in need of immediate funds.

    Need emergency funds? Submit your request for same-day options

    Meeting the Rising Demand for Emergency Loan Options in the U.S.

    In recent years, more borrowers across the United States have used online platforms to access emergency loan options. Traditional credit products can be difficult to secure, particularly for those without strong financial histories. This has led to greater interest in urgent loans no credit check services as part of the short-term lending market.

    Unexpected costs, such as medical bills or essential repairs, often create a need for fast solutions. Platforms like Radcred provide a way for borrowers to connect with lenders offering emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval options. This reflects a shift in consumer expectations, with greater demand for quicker, more convenient access to funds. Radcred’s platform aims to support these needs through efficient digital processes.

    Radcred’s Key Features Supporting Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    Radcred’s platform has been structured to help applicants seeking emergency loan with bad credit options. The service connects users to a network of lenders through a streamlined and secure process. Key features of the platform include:

    • Secure Online Request Process: Borrowers submit information through an encrypted form designed to protect personal data.
    • Network of Third-Party Lenders: The platform forwards loan requests to multiple lenders who review applications independently.
    • Quick Decision Framework: The digital process helps speed up review times compared to traditional loan applications.
    • Flexible Loan Amounts: Borrowers can request emergency loans online guaranteed approval offers up to $1,000, depending on lender terms.
    • Transparent Terms Presentation: Applicants can review loan terms, fees, and repayment schedules before choosing an offer.

    Radcred’s Technology Enables Urgent Loan Decisions for Bad Credit Borrowers

    Radcred uses digital tools to help support faster review of loan requests. The platform’s technology is designed to assist borrowers seeking urgent loans for bad credit by streamlining communication between applicants and potential lenders. Key aspects of Radcred’s technology include:

    • Automated Application Routing: Loan requests are securely shared with lenders without manual handling, improving response times.
    • Encrypted Data Transmission: Sensitive borrower information is protected during submission and while being sent to lenders.
    • User-Friendly Interface: The platform guides applicants through each step clearly, minimizing errors during the request process.
    • Compatibility Across Devices: Borrowers can submit emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval requests using desktop or mobile devices.
    • Support for Fast Lender Responses: The system is designed to allow lenders to evaluate applications efficiently and provide timely loan offers.

    Facing an urgent expense? Complete your loan request now.

    How Radcred’s Network Supports Emergency Loan Offers for Bad Credit

    Radcred’s platform connects applicants to a network of third-party lenders that consider a range of credit profiles, including those with bad credit. This network structure provides borrowers with an opportunity to receive loan offers quickly by submitting a single request. Each lender within the network sets its own criteria for evaluating emergency loan options.

    Key points about Radcred’s network:

    • Multiple Lender Access: Applicants are connected to various lenders through one loan request, expanding the possibility of receiving offers.
    • Independent Loan Terms: Each lender provides its own loan conditions, repayment schedules, and fee structures.
    • No Obligation to Accept Offers: Borrowers can review emergency loan with bad credit proposals without being required to proceed.
    • Coverage Across the U.S.: The network includes lenders operating in many states, subject to local lending regulations.
    • Streamlined Matching Process: The platform forwards loan requests efficiently, helping reduce the time it takes to receive a response.

    Radcred Focuses on Secure and Private Loan Application Handling

    Privacy and data security are critical concerns when applying for emergency loans online. Radcred’s platform is designed to help protect sensitive information during the loan request process. The system includes measures aimed at ensuring that personal data is handled responsibly while connecting applicants with potential lenders.

    Key privacy and security features include:

    • Encrypted Data Transmission: Borrower details are transmitted through secure, encrypted channels during submission and lender matching.
    • No Unnecessary Data Sharing: Information is shared only with participating lenders who review applications.
    • Compliance with Standards: The platform is structured to follow applicable data protection practices for online financial services.
    • Controlled Access: Only authorized lenders receive applicant information for the purpose of evaluating loan requests.
    • Clear Privacy Policies: Borrowers can review privacy terms that explain how data is used and stored.

    Understanding Emergency Loan Costs and Responsible Use

    Emergency loans can help manage unexpected expenses, but borrowers should be aware of the associated costs and responsibilities. When seeking urgent loans for bad credit, understanding terms is essential to avoid further financial difficulty. Key points to consider include:

    • Interest Rates: Higher rates are common due to increased lender risk.
    • Fees: Review origination fees, late charges, or other costs.
    • Repayment Terms: Ensure payments fit within your budget.
    • Responsible Use: Only borrow what is necessary and plan for repayment.
    • Compliance: Verify that loan offers meet state lending regulations.

    Radcred’s Application Process for $1,000 Loans Online

    Radcred’s platform provides a structured and secure way for applicants to request emergency loan options online. The process is designed to help individuals submit loan requests efficiently and connect with lenders offering urgent loans for bad credit.

    Key steps in the application process:

    • Complete the Online Form: Applicants provide basic personal, employment, and financial details using a secure form.
    • Request Submission: The system forwards the request to a network of third-party lenders for review.
    • Review of Offers: Lenders assess the request and provide loan offers with specific terms.
    • Decision by Borrower: Applicants review offers and choose if they want to proceed based on the loan conditions.

    Ready to proceed? Send your application and check for same-day loan options.

    About the Company

    Radcred is a digital platform that connects borrowers with third-party lenders for personal and emergency loan options. It does not issue loans directly but facilitates secure online requests. The company focuses on data security, regulatory compliance, and helping applicants access short-term loan solutions through its network.

    Disclaimer

    Radcred is not a direct lender and does not make credit decisions. Loan approval, amounts, rates, and terms are determined solely by the third-party lenders within its network. Submitting a loan request does not guarantee approval or specific terms. Borrowers are encouraged to review all loan offers carefully and ensure they meet repayment obligations before accepting any agreement. All loan offers are subject to applicable federal and state regulations.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Israel-Iran tensions might not raise prices at the pump as much as feared (for now)

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adi Imsirovic, Lecturer in Energy Systems, University of Oxford

    GreenOak/Shutterstock

    The unexpected attack by Israel on Iran, a major oil-producing nation, may undermine anaemic global economic growth and hinder central banks’ ability to cope in an already uncertain market.

    Iran exports up to 2 million barrels of oil and refined petroleum products per day (million barrels per day – mbd). Due to long-standing sanctions, most of this oil is sold to China at discounted prices.

    Normally, a sudden loss of the Iranian exports (equivalent to around 2% of global oil supply) would trigger panic. But Opec (the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is in the process of reversing the production cuts imposed early in the COVID pandemic (and subsequently). This leaves the organisation with an unusually large spare capacity of at least four million barrels per day, most of which is held by Saudi Arabia (up to 3.5 million) and the UAE (about one million).

    On top of that, the International Energy Agency (IEA) holds more than 1.2 billion barrels of emergency reserves across OECD countries, ready to be deployed if needed. China, too, has significant reserves, though the line between its commercial and strategic stocks is less clear.

    Additionally, some 40 million barrels of Iranian oil are stranded aboard anchored ships near China, unsold due to declining industrial demand and electric vehicles hitting petrol consumption. In May, China’s refinery throughput fell 1.8% year-on-year, with no signs of a swift rebound. What’s more, the IEA is expecting global oil production to exceed 1.8 mbd, compared to its earlier projection of only 0.72 mbd, leaving a massive surplus of supply over demand.

    China has proven to be an opportunistic buyer. It did not buy the excess Iranian oil supplies at US$65 (£48) a barrel earlier this year, and whether it buys at US$75 (at the time of writing) or higher, may be a signal of how seriously it views the Middle East tensions. Meanwhile, other Asian importers have been quick to secure prompt shipments from west Africa, and have eyes on US supplies as well.

    Thanks to this surplus capacity and stagnant demand, the oil market’s reaction has been more muted than many feared. Prices briefly spiked by US$10 but have since eased. It appears that the market is assessing whether the hostilities will escalate. If so, the impact on energy prices and inflation could be more significant.

    A conflict of convenience

    It remains somewhat unclear why Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose this moment to strike Iran, especially in the middle of peace negotiations between Iran and the United States. In a recent interview, former Israeli leader Ehud Barak admitted that even a full-scale attack would only delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions by weeks or months at best, with US support.

    Diplomacy, then, may remain the more effective route. This was the rationale behind the Iran nuclear deal brokered under US president Barack Obama, a deal later dismantled by Trump under pressure from Netanyahu.




    Read more:
    Why are the US and Israel not on the same page over how to deal with Iran? Expert Q&A


    So, Netanyahu’s endgame might be political survival and diverting attention from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

    If Iran feels sufficiently cornered, it may retaliate by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz – a strategic chokepoint through which up to 20 million barrels of oil pass daily. A lot of that oil can be diverted through alternative supply routes such as a large (6 mbd) Saudi East-West pipeline leading to the Red Sea. There is also the UAE pipeline, which avoids the Strait of Hormuz and leads to the port of Fujairah, in the Gulf of Oman.

    Iran could close off the Strait of Hormuz, causing widespread disruption.
    CeltStudio/Shutterstock

    Nevertheless, the increased risk and higher shipping costs would certainly result in much higher prices at the pump. The cost of insurance for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz have jumped 60% since the start of the conflict. That, combined with the broader economic fallout, could have global repercussions.

    The World Bank recently downgraded its global growth forecast to 2.3% for 2025 – nearly half a percentage point below previous estimates. While a worldwide recession is not yet predicted, the bank warned that growth this decade could be the slowest since the 1960s.

    Among the leading culprits is Trump’s tariff policy, which has strained global trade, reduced efficiency and effectively imposed a tax on consumers both in the US and elsewhere. The fear of inflation has led to rising long-term bond yields.

    Expectations of higher inflation and high bond yields, in turn, constrain central banks from stimulating the economy by cutting interest rates. This is a key tool used by the US Federal Reserve to influence the cost of borrowing throughout the US economy and thus attempt to stimulate economic activity.

    And in spite of the recent US-UK trade agreement, the deal includes a 10% tariff on imports from the UK – with steel still at 25%.

    UK economic growth had already slipped into negative territory before the conflict began. Now, with the added strain of geopolitical instability, households are bracing for higher petrol prices at the pump, sluggish wage growth and rising unemployment. The conflict in the Middle East may not have sparked a global oil crisis yet, but it certainly won’t improve anyone’s cost of living.

    Adi Imsirovic is affiliated with Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

    ref. Why Israel-Iran tensions might not raise prices at the pump as much as feared (for now) – https://theconversation.com/why-israel-iran-tensions-might-not-raise-prices-at-the-pump-as-much-as-feared-for-now-259211

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK’s warm homes plan has been saved – here’s how Labour can learn from a decade of failed insulation schemes

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Madeleine Pauker, PhD Candidate, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex

    Natalia Nosova/Shutterstock

    The UK government confirmed in its June 2025 spending review that it will honour its manifesto pledge and not cut the £13.2 billion warm homes plan, as had been speculated. The money will be spent over the next four years, marking a significant increase on funding for energy-related home upgrades compared to that offered by the previous government.

    The plan encompasses several programmes for cutting energy bills and reducing carbon emissions by making homes easier to heat and replacing gas boilers and other fossil fuel heating systems. Low-income homeowners and renters will receive grants for “retrofit” upgrades such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps through schemes delivered by energy companies and councils.

    All homeowners can benefit from the boiler upgrade scheme, which offers £7,500 towards the cost of a heat pump, and those living in the least energy efficient homes can get free loft or cavity wall insulation. Councils and housing associations will also receive funding to make upgrades to their properties.

    The British government has provided some form of financial support for insulation and other energy efficiency measures since the 1970s. Millions of homes were insulated over the 2000s, but over the last decade support has been cut and the number of households taking up grants has collapsed. Programmes have also not been designed to provide comprehensive, high-quality retrofits.

    Over the next few years, the warm homes plan will significantly increase the amount of funding available for retrofitting homes. This is an opportunity to reshape the UK’s strategy for fixing its cold, leaky housing stock, reduce reliance on gas heating and lower household energy bills.

    How support for retrofitting has evolved

    For the last 30 years, energy companies have been required to provide insulation and other energy efficiency measures to households. These programmes are funded by levies on energy bills rather than public spending.

    From 1994 to 2015 any homeowner, landlord, or renter could receive energy efficiency measures such as insulation from energy companies. Additional publicly funded schemes sought to eliminate fuel poverty and targeted low-income households. This approach proved broadly successful throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. At its peak in 2008-11, one in five UK households received insulation, more efficient boilers or another form of support.

    However, these schemes were never designed to provide the comprehensive retrofits that modern climate targets demand. Ultimately, they failed to take a whole-house approach that could address multiple energy-efficiency issues at once.

    A pivotal moment came in 2015 when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government removed universal eligibility from supplier-led schemes and shaved £30 off annual household bills. Low-income and vulnerable households, which had already constituted a priority group under energy company-led schemes, became the only demographic eligible for support. Following this decision – plus other modifications to the programmes – the number of insulation measures installed each year fell by about 70%.

    In 2023, the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak introduced the Great British insulation scheme which offers free cavity wall or loft insulation to homes registered given an efficiency rating of D or below (ratings run from A for the most efficient to G for the least). The universal boiler upgrade scheme was also introduced.

    Meanwhile, the energy company obligation, which provides a greater range of measures, including several types of insulation, heat pumps and solar panels, remains restricted to low-income and vulnerable households.

    However, due to complex eligibility requirements, low public awareness and a lack of trust, among other reasons, most of the financial support available is not reaching households and the number of homes receiving upgrades has not recovered.

    Heat pumps can get homes off gas, but installations trail boiler fittings.
    Martin Bergsma/Shutterstock

    The problems with current schemes

    While reinstating universal support is positive, the boiler upgrade scheme only covers about half the cost of installing a heat pump, making it a subsidy for wealthier households that can afford to foot the rest of the bill.

    Energy bill levies, which fund the energy company obligation, disproportionately burden poorer households, which spend a higher proportion of income on energy. At the same time, while everyone continues to pay for the programme via their energy bills, restrictive eligibility requirements leave most households who cannot cover retrofit costs independently without support.

    The scheme also incentivises companies and their subcontractors to meet the scheme’s carbon reduction requirements at the lowest possible cost. This discourages whole-house retrofits, more complex insulation measures, repairs prior to retrofit (such as removing damp and mould or repairing roofs) and work in certain types of homes.

    Resulting insulation failures have damaged public confidence in retrofit programmes. These problems highlight the mismatch between a market-driven approach and the comprehensive changes necessary to make homes healthier to live in and cheaper to heat, as well as meet climate targets and restore public trust.

    The case for replacing supplier-led schemes with public alternatives remains compelling, despite the government’s supposed fiscal constraints. Rather than relying on energy companies and their subcontractors for complex home interventions, councils could be empowered to guide households through the retrofit process and combine homes in area-based schemes.

    The warm homes plan includes funding for councils to retrofit low-income households, including those earning less than £36,000, receiving means-tested benefits, or living in certain postcodes. But the scale of the programme is much smaller than the energy company obligation, although investment will increase over the next few years.

    This is still a narrow approach to improve the country’s housing that focuses on low-income households, though most middle-income households cannot afford the cost of a retrofit either. The budget for other home improvements remains minimal – homes in poor condition are likely to be missed.

    Details of how most of the warm homes plan funding will be spent is due to be revealed in autumn 2025. There is still time for the government to choose a more progressive approach.

    An alternative would be to expand grant-funded upgrades for low-income homeowners and offer low-interest, long-term, property-linked loans for middle-income households. This could be designed to cover whole-house retrofits, encompassing insulation, ventilation, heat pumps, solar panels and other measures, as well as repairs.

    There are also emerging plans from consultancies working with local governments to develop area-based retrofit programmes that blend public and private investment, aiming to attract investment from pension funds to shift the cost of retrofitting away from households.

    However, it remains unclear whether such models will offer sufficiently competitive returns and low enough risk to appeal to institutional investors – and the UK cannot afford to wait for private capital to materialise when nationwide retrofitting is urgently needed.


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

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


    Madeleine Pauker receives funding from the Energy Demand Research Centre, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

    ref. The UK’s warm homes plan has been saved – here’s how Labour can learn from a decade of failed insulation schemes – https://theconversation.com/the-uks-warm-homes-plan-has-been-saved-heres-how-labour-can-learn-from-a-decade-of-failed-insulation-schemes-258719

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Recognizes June as National Dairy Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced a resolution to express support for the designation of June 2025 as National Dairy Month, honoring the hardworking farmers and producers who power one of New York’s most vital industries.

    This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Russ Fulcher (ID-1), Tony Wied (WI-8), Don Bacon (NE-2), Rob Bresnahan Jr. (PA-8), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Derrick Van Orden (WI-3), John Moolenaar (MI-2), and Mike Simpson (ID-2).

    New York is home to nearly 3,200 dairy farms that produce 15.7 billion pounds of milk annually, making it the fifth-largest dairy state and third-highest milk-producing state in the country. Wyoming County, located in NY-24, leads the state in milk production with approximately 1.1 billion pounds produced each year. This production is part of the reason why NY-24 is the fourth-largest dairy-producing district in the country. 

    Unfortunately, our nation’s dairy farmers face constant threats of unfair trade practices, overregulation, and rising input costs. Recently, Albany Democrats have even gone so far as to introduce legislation to limit the size of New York dairy farms to 700 cows per farm. This would be a death sentence to New York’s dairy industry. 

    “New York is home to over 3,000 dairy farms, many of which are right here in NY-24. These farmers are the backbone of our agricultural economy, providing nutritious, high-quality products to families across the country. As the Representative of the largest dairy-producing district in the Northeast, I am honored to introduce this resolution to express support for the designation of June as National Dairy Month and give our dairy farmers and producers the honor and recognition they have long earned,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to California Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by the Airport Fire

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in California of the July 18, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the Airport Fire occurring Sept. 9-Oct. 6, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the California counties of Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties as well as La Paz County in Arizona.

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

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

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

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

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

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than July 18.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Arizona Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Arizona of the July 18, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning Nov. 12, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Arizona counties of La Paz, Maricopa, Pima and Yuma as well as Imperial County in California.

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

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

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than July 18.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Blinding lights: the hidden science behind gambling’s glow

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glen Dighton, Research Officer at the Centre for Military Gambling Research (MilGAM), Swansea University

    MMPhoto21/Shutterstuck

    There’s a reason casinos rarely have windows or clocks, they’re engineered to make you lose track of time. But what if it’s not just time you’re losing? New research suggests that the lighting used in gambling environments could be quietly altering how we make decisions, making us more prone to take risks.

    The colour of the lights surrounding us can do more than just set the mood. It can shape our behaviour.

    The new study from researchers at Flinders University in Australia found that blue-enriched lighting (the same cold, bright hue used in many modern LED lights and digital screens) can reduce a gambler’s sensitivity to losses. In a controlled experiment, participants exposed to this kind of light took riskier bets and responded less emotionally to losing.

    The researchers believe this change in decision-making is rooted in our biology. The human body is sensitive to different wavelengths of light, not just for vision but also for regulating our internal clocks and emotional states. Blue light in particular has been shown to suppress melatonin production, a hormone which signals to the body it’s time to prepare for sleep.


    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.


    Research has also shown blue light can increase alertness and influence brain areas tied to reward and motivation by stimulating the neural circuits involved in anticipation and decision-making. In the case of gambling, this heightened arousal might dampen our natural aversion to loss, even when the odds are stacked against us.

    Light can influence us in many other surprising ways. Studies have shown that cooler, blue-toned lighting can enhance cognitive performance and alertness during the day, which is why it’s often used in offices and classrooms. Warmer lighting is more relaxing and is typically recommended by sleep scientists and health professionals for evenings to promote better sleep.

    Blue light can make you less sensitive to losing.
    Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock

    Retailers, too, have long exploited the psychological effects of lighting, using bright, targeted lighting – often in the form of spotlighting or high-intensity LEDs – to draw attention to products.

    The colour and intensity of lighting can also affect consumers’ perception of value and attractiveness. This encourages spending by increasing visual salience, making a product stand out more and grab your attention, and creating a more engaging sensory experience.

    Specific colours of light seem to have an array of effects in different environments. Red lighting may have effects which increase appetite. This is possibly because it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with arousal and physiological readiness. Meanwhile studies suggest green light may reduce pain and light sensitivity for migraine sufferers.

    But lighting is only one half of the sensory equation in casinos. Sound design plays a major role in immersive gambling environments. Upbeat music can make people less risk-averse by speeding up decision-making and creating a sense of urgency.

    Jingles and celebratory sounds serve as auditory rewards, reinforcing positive feelings even in the absence of a financial win. When players lose, slot machines often produce celebratory sounds and flashing lights, creating what researchers call a “loss disguised as a win”. This sensory mismatch tricks the brain into thinking it’s succeeding, distorting our ability to assess risk or stop playing.

    In gambling environments, red light combined with casino‑style sounds has been shown to eliminate the usual cognitive slowdown after losses during decision-making tasks, leading players to make faster choices without the normal pause for reflection.

    A 2018 study showed that flashing animations and vivid colours can increase arousal and attention, making gambling more stimulating and immersive. This, in turn, delays self-regulation and increases time spent gambling. In effect, your surroundings are constantly nudging you to stay, to play, and to believe the next win is just around the corner.

    As gambling moves increasingly online, these principles are being translated to digital platforms. Online slot games often use flashing animations, vivid colours, and background music that mimic the ambience of a physical casino. The blue light emitted from screens can be just as stimulating – especially late at night – potentially exacerbating the effects seen in the Flinders University study.

    Online and mobile gambling uses these techniques to keep you playing too.
    Marko Aliaksandr/Shutterstock

    If subtle changes to lighting can lead to riskier decisions, then regulating these features might help promote less harmful gambling behaviour. For instance, encouraging warmer lighting in gambling venues or digital settings could help prevent excessive play.

    The lights and sounds that surround us in these environments aren’t just decoration. They’re carefully designed to heighten arousal, dull sensitivity to losses, and encourage riskier decisions.

    Our responses to colour, brightness and sound happen at a subconscious level, meaning even informed players can still be swayed by them. Reducing your device’s screen brightness, using blue light filters at night, or turning off in-game sounds can help counteract some of these psychological effects for online gambling.

    But meaningful change will probably require policy intervention that treats environmental design not as a neutral backdrop, but as a powerful behavioural influence – one that should be shaped with responsibility to the wellbeing of the consumer, not just profit, in mind.

    If you believe your or someone else may benefit from support with gambling behaviour, please access the International Support Contact for your jurisdiction or GamCare for UK specific support.

    In the last three years, Dr Glen Dighton has received funding from Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, and an honorarium from Greo Evidence Insights for grant-proposal review

    ref. Blinding lights: the hidden science behind gambling’s glow – https://theconversation.com/blinding-lights-the-hidden-science-behind-gamblings-glow-258623

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Police in England and Wales to get more money – but increasing funding won’t necessarily mean less crime

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Graham Farrell, Professor of Crime Science, University of Leeds

    Ian Dewar Photography/Shutterstock

    Police spending will rise by a real-terms 2.3% per year between now and 2028-29, the government announced in its latest spending review, drawn from local council tax. The government says this will help its mission to put 13,000 neighbourhood police on the streets, and “keep communities safe”.

    Police say this is far from enough to meet the government’s ambitions, particularly on cutting knife crime and violence against women, and that it is likely to be “swallowed up” by pay rises for police.

    The awkward truth, however, is that marginal changes to police funding and hiring make little difference to crime either way. Austerity cuts of around 20% to policing budgets in the 2010s were accompanied by declining crime, including domestic violence and antisocial behaviour.

    Widespread security improvements were responsible for the close to 90% reductions in many crime types. For example, engine immobilisers prevent car theft, and secure household doors and windows prevent burglary.

    Crime has been declining across developed countries for decades. But those countries vary greatly in policing practices and funding, so it is clear more policing was not the cause.

    American policing researcher pioneer David Bayley wrote in 1994:

    The police do not prevent crime. This is one of the best kept secrets of modern life. Experts know it, the police know it, but the public does not know it. Yet the police pretend they are society’s best defense against crime and continually argue that if they are given more resources, especially personnel, they will be able to protect communities against crime. This is a myth.

    This does not mean we don’t need police – we do. If there were no police, crime rates would soar. The issue here is diminishing marginal returns (we’re at the level where more funding doesn’t have the same effect).

    But it means the spending review debate had little to do with crime prevention. Rather, it was about how senior staff in public services routinely seek more for their departments. And following the spending review, police chiefs gave themselves an escape clause by claiming the increase is insufficient.


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    In recent years, we’ve learned problem-solving policing can reduce some crimes in some contexts. For example, burglary at construction sites can often be theft of building materials and tools, so the crime problem can be reduced through improved site management (rather than just more arrests).

    However, problem-solving is not easy and so is not widely applied. Simply patrolling hotspots does not affect the crime opportunity structure (factors that tempt, facilitate or precipitate a particular cluster of crimes).

    Additionally, all types of crime, except homicide, are more likely to recur, and relatively soon, after prior victimisation. And while policing to prevent repeat victimisation can reduce crime, it has fallen by the wayside in recent years.

    A recent review by crime scientist Shannon Linning and colleagues examined the effect of more police hiring and more arrests on crime, concluding: “When a sensational crime happens, residents demand action. Often someone will cry for more police and more arrests … neither approach is likely to be helpful.”

    This makes it rather awkward that the government has recently committed to recruiting 13,000 additional neighbourhood police.

    Since most people don’t know the limitations of policing, both the government and the police have been able to maintain the illusion that more police means less crime. Academic police researchers will rarely admit it in case it risks their funding, and the media enjoy a perennially newsworthy topic. Taxpayers foot the bill as well as the emotional, financial and other costs of crime.

    How to stop crime

    There is, however, some room for optimism. What we have learned from the long-term international crime drop and dozens of small-scale successes against different crime types is that reducing crime opportunities is the best approach. With some strategic adjustment, there is much that police and government can do.

    A particular focus for the government and police should be encouraging businesses to take more responsibility for crime. Knife manufacturers and retailers should be involved in introducing a ban on pointed kitchen knives, the most common homicide weapon in England and Wales. The gradual approach over many years that research (in which I was involved) recommended is too long: it should be done within this government’s term.

    A lot of other crimes, including computer-enabled crimes, are generated, facilitated or hosted by businesses. Internet service providers and network providers benefit from advertising and payments, including when they are being used for crime (from stalking and sexual victimisation to fraud and terrorism).

    Manufacturers benefit from theft of phones and other products that need replacing. Online marketplaces profit from usage and advertising when stolen goods are sold, which inadvertently encourages shoplifting, theft and robbery. Online banking and financial services also host significant amounts of fraud, and are now sometimes required to pay up to £85,000 compensation to victims.




    Read more:
    Child sexual exploitation and abuse is a multibillion-dollar industry – new report shows who benefits


    Government and police should develop a portfolio of incentives and disincentives to promote private sector crime prevention, to include regulation and market-based incentives. When businesses have an economic incentive they are tremendously efficient at preventing crime, as car manufacturers showed by improving security that brought 90% reductions in car crime.

    Reducing crime opportunities is also the best way to stop criminality. When young people do not get involved in easy crimes like shoplifting, they do not progress to further crime, including violence against women and girls.

    In short, extra police funding will not reduce crime. A shift in strategy is what is really needed.

    Graham Farrell receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    ref. Police in England and Wales to get more money – but increasing funding won’t necessarily mean less crime – https://theconversation.com/police-in-england-and-wales-to-get-more-money-but-increasing-funding-wont-necessarily-mean-less-crime-258977

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese authorities issue directive to transform Shanghai into international financial center

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) — The transformation of east China’s Shanghai into an international financial center befitting China’s comprehensive strength and global influence will be basically completed within the next five to 10 years, according to a newly issued guideline.

    As noted in the policy document on supporting Shanghai’s accelerated development into an international financial center issued by the Central Financial Commission, the adaptability, competitiveness and inclusiveness of the city’s modern financial system are expected to be significantly enhanced, and its functions as a hub of financial openness will be greatly strengthened.

    The document states that in order to achieve these goals, it is planned to actively develop the Shanghai financial market. The scientific and technological innovation platform on the Shanghai Stock Exchange will play a more significant and inclusive role in promoting “hard technologies”. In addition, support will be provided to the Shanghai Futures Exchange in its transformation into a world-class exchange.

    According to the directive, Shanghai will take measures to attract a wide range of legal entities, branches of both Chinese and foreign large financial institutions, as well as licensed specialized organizations. The city will promote the formation and attraction of stable and effectively regulated financial holding companies, and encourage the placement of international financial organizations on its territory.

    By forming an advanced international financial infrastructure system, the metropolis will intensify the development of the cross-border payment and settlement system in yuan. Shanghai will consistently expand the institutional openness of the financial sector and achieve full compliance with high-standard international trade and economic rules.

    In addition, Shanghai will develop green finance standards in line with international practices and actively participate in international cooperation in this field. According to the directive, efforts will also be made to ensure financial security in an open environment using technologies such as blockchain, big data and artificial intelligence.

    To implement the directive, the State Financial Supervision Administration of China and the Shanghai People’s Government have issued an action plan that includes a series of measures to enhance the city’s competitiveness and influence as an international financial center. These measures cover areas such as streamlining financial services, expanding institutional openness, and strengthening financial regulation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden calls for renewed investment in American shipyards at Boston Ship Repair

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    BOSTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) joined other members of Congress and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Tuesday at Boston Ship Repair to call for the revitalization of America’s shipbuilding industry. 

    Golden, a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) was joined by fellow committee member Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) at the invitation of Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08). The trio of lawmakers met with management from Boston Ship Repair and Machinists who work at the shipyard.

    “America needs strong shipyards. On the defense front, we are lagging in the production of American warships necessary to meet current and future force needs. We also lack the commercial vessels we need to compete in the global economy,” Rep. Golden said. “The reality is simple: If we aren’t giving work to the men and women who power America’s shipyards, they will find new jobs and we will fall further behind. Congress needs to keep up demand for warships to sustain the world’s greatest Navy and we need to pass the SHIPS Act to strengthen our shipyards, our commercial fleet and our supply chains. Our future demands it.”

    Currently, about 80 U.S.-flagged ships are engaged in international commerce compared to over 5,500 China-flagged vessels. China recently overtook the U.S. in Navy fleet size.

    During HASC hearings last week, Golden questioned the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense (video) about the potential lapse in destroyer procurement in the FY26 Presidential budget request, and the risk it posed to Bath Iron Works, Maine’s shipbuilders, and the national defense. 

    The group has backed the U.S. Trade Representative penalties on Chinese ships and steps to incentivize the production and purchase of U.S.-built vessels. They are also championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which would rebuild the U.S. shipyard base and invest in recruitment and training of shipyard workers and mariners. The coalition is highlighting the need to efficiently utilize and grow domestic shipbuilding and repair capacity to increase the workforce at Boston Ship Repair and across the country.  

    “Our shipbuilding and ship-repair industries have a tremendous impact on our national security and our ability to maintain freedom of navigation for all nations,” said Rep. Lynch. “Today we are facing a critical shortage among our U.S. shipbuilding and repair capacity, and we are falling behind in production and upkeep of both our commercial and naval vessels. We must continue to make substantial federal investments in our shipyards and ship-repair facilities in order to maintain our position in the world. I am grateful to my congressional colleagues, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and Jared Golden for traveling to Boston Ship Repair in South Boston today to join me to show support for our shipbuilding and ship-repair industry. My thanks as well to International Machinists Union VP David Sullivan, BSR owner Jon Cronin, CEO Ed Snyder, and IAM Local President Andre Lavertue and all the union members of the IAM for their continued support of our regional ship-repair industry.”

    “Revitalizing American shipbuilding is critical to our national and economic security. It’s a bipartisan goal in Washington, and we need to use all of our available shipyard capacity to get the job done if we’re going to deliver on it,” said Rep. Courtney. “We must provide American shipyards and shipbuilders, like Boston Ship Repair, with the demand they need to make investments in their future and the future of our domestic shipbuilding industry.”

    “American national and economic security depends on urgent and long overdue investments in our shipbuilding and repair industry,” said IAM Union Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “That’s why the IAM Union has led the way toward tougher trade rules on China, much-needed investments in U.S. shipyard workers, and a strong call for the efficient use of our existing shipyards, like Boston Ship Repair. We’re incredibly grateful for our champions in this fight, including Congressmen Lynch, Courtney and Golden.”

    “We’ve invested in Boston Ship Repair because we believe in its potential—not just as a business, but as a critical national asset,” said Boston Ship Repair Owner Jon Cronin. “With a highly skilled union workforce, proven infrastructure, and the experience to deliver, BSR stands ready to be part of the solution to America’s shipyard capacity crisis. But we can’t do it alone. Without consistent work and federal investment, this vital facility — and the hundreds of jobs it sustains — are at risk. We’re calling on Congress and the Navy to recognize BSR not just as a shipyard, but as a strategic pillar of the defense industrial base. With immediate support, we can expand our capacity, modernize our infrastructure, and begin reducing the Navy’s repair backlog today — while preserving American maritime strength for generations to come.”

    Boston Ship Repair is one of the largest docks on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts and can handle vessels up to 1,000 feet with a 105-foot beam. It provides vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services for domestic, international and government customers.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, law enforcement partners arrest more than 80 illegal aliens during worksite enforcement operation at Louisiana racetrack

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LAKE CHARLES, La. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Louisiana State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI arrested approximately 84 illegal aliens June 17 during a worksite enforcement operation at the Delta Downs Racetrack in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana.

    The operation focused on the businesses that own and race thoroughbred and quarter horses out of the stables at the racetrack and the employees who work for them and take care of the horses.

    All of the aliens taken into custody during the operation were processed for administrative immigration violations and transported to the Lake Charles Border Patrol Station in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

    An investigation into potential criminal conduct related to the hiring of the illegal aliens remains ongoing and an assessment of whether any civil penalties are appropriate is being conducted.

    Authorities continue to process the aliens, but at least two criminal aliens have been identified. ICE arrested Enrique Gonzalez Moreno, a 36-year-old criminal alien from Mexico who has illegally entered the U.S. four times. While in the U.S. illegally, Gonzalez has been convicted twice for driving under the influence, and once for cocaine possession and illegal reentry. ICE also arrested a 40-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who has been arrested for criminal conspiracy, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, sexual battery, and video voyeurism. ICE is working to verify the disposition of those criminal charges and will provide additional details once in-processing is complete.

    “ICE Homeland Security Investigations is working closely with our federal and state partners to review each case of unauthorized employment at the racetrack to identify any other criminal activities that were taking place in addition labor exploitation and immigration violations,” said ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “Oftentimes, when we’re conducting these worksite enforcement operations, we uncover other forms of criminal conduct such as document and benefit fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. As a result, we’re able to bolster public safety in the local community by eliminating that criminal activity and removing any dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members or other egregious immigration offenders who illegally entered the country and are working at the business without authorization.”

    The operation was conducted after authorities received intelligence indicating that the businesses operating out of the stables at the racetrack were employing unauthorized workers. Those suspicions were further confirmed during a subsequent site visit.

    “These enforcement operations aim to disrupt illegal employment networks that threaten the integrity of our labor systems, put American jobs at risk and create pathways for exploitation within critical sectors of our economy,” said U.S. Custom and Border Protection Director of Field Operations New Orleans Steven Stavinoha. “CBP New Orleans is assisting ICE with multiple operations across the country to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability. Along the Gulf Coast, CBP remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade and travel while maintaining a strong enforcement environment.”

    “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners in operations like this one with the common goal to remove criminal threats from every community across the State of Louisiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office.

    The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to verify the identity and work eligibility of all individuals they hire and sets forth criminal and civil sanctions for employment-related violations. Employers are required to document information on those that they hire using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. ICE HSI uses a comprehensive inspection program to promote compliance with the law and deter illegal employment and illegal immigration.

    The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lake Charles Police Department also assisted with the operation.

    For more news and information on how ICE HSI combats illegal immigration and other transnational criminal activity in Louisiana follow us on X at @HSINewOrleans.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Bicameral Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Let Every American Choose Medicare

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 17, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representatives Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34) and Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08) in leading a group of bicameral colleagues in reintroducing the?Choose Medicare Act. This revolutionary proposal opens Medicare to all Americans with a new ‘Part E’ and builds on the system we have today by allowing Medicare to compete with private health insurance.

    “Instead of shielding big insurance companies from competition, we should give Americans the option to choose Medicare’s high-quality, low-cost coverage if it’s right for them and their families,” said Murphy. “While Republicans spike the cost of living and cut health care for millions of Americans, we’ll keep fighting to expand access and affordability.”

    “I’m proud to support the Choose Medicare Act which expands access to Medicare, making quality and affordable health care more attainable for all Americans,” said Blumenthal. “Every day, Americans across the country must choose between critical health care and other basic necessities. Our health care system needs updating and upgrading so that it works for everyone – not just giant private health insurers.”

    “In the richest country in the world, no person should have to worry about whether they’ll be able to afford care if they become sick or get into an accident.?At a time when?proposed cuts?from Republicans?threaten the health and financial security of millions, it’s more important than ever to expand access to high-quality, affordable?health?care,”?said Merkley.?“The?Choose Medicare Act?does just that by allowing every American to buy into Medicare, protecting and expanding this effective, popular system, and?putting consumers and businesses in the driver’s seat on the road to universal health care.”

    “I got pneumonia when I was seven years old, and my family almost went bankrupt because we were uninsured. Today too many families are still one medical emergency away from financial crisis,” said Gomez. “Our bicameral legislation lets every American opt into Medicare — which is affordable, effective, and trusted — and we’re going to keep fighting until everyone has access to the care they need.

    The Choose Medicare Act is co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL). The bill is supported by Families USA, MoveOn, American Federation of Teachers, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and the Center for Health and Democracy.

    “Now, more than ever, millions of people are grappling with skyrocketing health care costs and rising concerns that they won’t be able to access affordable health insurance and the care they need to keep their families healthy. Lawmakers should be doing all they can to ensure people across the country have more options for affordable health care, not less. The Choose Medicare Act is an important effort that creates a new pathway to make Medicare accessible to more consumers and employers, and makes important improvements to the current program like coverage of all reproductive health and essential health benefits,” said Jane Sheehan, Deputy Senior Director of Government Relations for Families USA.

    “The Choose Medicare Act would improve the existing Medicare program by creating a critically needed out-of-pocket cap in traditional Medicare,” said David Lipschutz, Co-Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “The bill would also enable people currently not yet eligible for Medicare to enjoy the benefits of traditional Medicare, without the restrictions of limited provider networks found in many Medicare Advantage plans.”

    “Big Insurance’s monopoly control over health care in this country has led to higher health care costs and a growing medical debt crisis, all while making health care unaffordable and inaccessible to a majority of Americans. It is a system designed to put profits over patients. This bill is a vital step towards breaking Big Insurance’s strangle hold over health care in this country and will open up the most successful health care program in our country’s history, Medicare, to even more people. I applaud Senator Merkley for introducing it,” said Wendell Potter, President, Center for Health and Democracy.

    Medicare ‘Part E’ aims to be self-sustaining and fully paid for by premiums. Plans would be offered on all state and federal exchanges, giving people the ability to use existing Affordable Care Act?subsidies to help cover their premiums. Additionally, employers could choose to select Medicare ‘Part E’ rather than private insurance to provide affordable and reliable health care to their employees.

    The?Choose Medicare Act

    Increases Access, Competition, and Choice ?

    1.      Opens Medicare to employers of all sizes and allows them to purchase high-quality, affordable health care for their employees without requiring replacement of employment-based health insurance.?

    2.      Addresses the discrepancy between consumer protections in the individual and group markets by extending the ACA’s rating requirements to all markets, to end discrimination based on pre-existing conditions once and for all.?

    ?

    Provides Comprehensive Coverage

    1.      Includes the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits and all items and services covered by Medicare.

    2.      Provides high-quality, gold-level coverage and cost-sharing.??

    3.      Ensures coverage for a wide range of reproductive services, including abortion.

    ?

    Improves Affordability

    1.      Establishes an out-of-pocket maximum in traditional Medicare.

    2.      Increases the generosity of premium tax credits and extends eligibility to all earners.??

    3.      Directs Medicare to negotiate fair prices for prescription drugs by incorporating in the program the drug price negotiation section of the Inflation Reduction Act.?

    4.      Drives down private insurance premiums through competition from Medicare by allowing the HHS Secretary to block excessive private insurance rates.?

    5.      Extends traditional Medicare protections on balance billing or surprise bills to ‘Part E’ plans.

    ?

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE worksite enforcement operation uncovers widespread identity theft affecting more than 100 victims across the nation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    OMAHA, Neb. — A recent worksite enforcement operation led by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed massive identity theft impacting unsuspecting U.S. citizens whose personal information was used by illegal aliens to gain unlawful employment at Glenn Valley Foods.

    The ICE-led multiagency investigation uncovered approximately 70 illegal aliens who were using stolen Social Security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences.

    “There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested last week as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,’” said Mark Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City, which covers Omaha. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”

    Some examples of the impact of these stolen identities include:

    • A healthcare provider was forced to deny medically necessary prescriptions to a victim in Pennsylvania after his identity was stolen. It was later determined that someone used the victim’s name and Social Security number to illegally gain employment and healthcare benefits based on fraudulent employment at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A disabled victim in Texas, who was unable to work, struggled to get their Social Security disability payments because an illegal alien was fraudulently using their identity and earning wages at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • The IRS requested a victim in Colorado to repay more than $5,000 after their income was falsely increased due to an illegal alien stealing their identity and using it to work at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A full-time nursing student from Missouri lost their college tuition assistance because it was fraudulently reported that they earned too much money. The investigation revealed that an illegal alien at Glenn Valley Foods was using their Social Security number for employment. The same victim was also unable to renew their Missouri driver’s license, until HSI contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles on their behalf, because the alien who stole her identity has multiple unpaid traffic violations.
    • A victim in California has been working for nearly 15 years to regain their identity and fix the financial damage done by an illegal alien who was working at Glenn Valley Foods.

    “The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” concluded Zito. “These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities.”

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.

    To schedule an interview please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE worksite enforcement operation uncovers widespread identity theft affecting more than 100 victims across the nation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    OMAHA, Neb. — A recent worksite enforcement operation led by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed massive identity theft impacting unsuspecting U.S. citizens whose personal information was used by illegal aliens to gain unlawful employment at Glenn Valley Foods.

    The ICE-led multiagency investigation uncovered approximately 70 illegal aliens who were using stolen Social Security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences.

    “There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested last week as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,’” said Mark Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City, which covers Omaha. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”

    Some examples of the impact of these stolen identities include:

    • A healthcare provider was forced to deny medically necessary prescriptions to a victim in Pennsylvania after his identity was stolen. It was later determined that someone used the victim’s name and Social Security number to illegally gain employment and healthcare benefits based on fraudulent employment at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A disabled victim in Texas, who was unable to work, struggled to get their Social Security disability payments because an illegal alien was fraudulently using their identity and earning wages at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • The IRS requested a victim in Colorado to repay more than $5,000 after their income was falsely increased due to an illegal alien stealing their identity and using it to work at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A full-time nursing student from Missouri lost their college tuition assistance because it was fraudulently reported that they earned too much money. The investigation revealed that an illegal alien at Glenn Valley Foods was using their Social Security number for employment. The same victim was also unable to renew their Missouri driver’s license, until HSI contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles on their behalf, because the alien who stole her identity has multiple unpaid traffic violations.
    • A victim in California has been working for nearly 15 years to regain their identity and fix the financial damage done by an illegal alien who was working at Glenn Valley Foods.

    “The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” concluded Zito. “These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities.”

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.

    To schedule an interview please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families

    NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families
    kcano1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), a new statewide information system that marks a major step forward in modernizing the administration of child welfare services. PATH NC equips child welfare staff with real-time data and decision-making tools to better protect children and to improve outcomes for children and families across the state.

    Until now, North Carolina’s 100 county departments of social services, who administer child welfare services, have operated with a patchwork of independent data systems – nearly half of counties are still largely reliant on manual processes and paper records for child welfare operations. PATH NC will bring all 100 counties together for the first time into a unified system.

    “PATH NC is more than a technology upgrade – it’s an investment in North Carolina’s children and families,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “By providing social services staff with better tools, clearer data and integrated support, we are laying the foundation for a safer, more responsive child welfare system that delivers better, more consistent results – no matter where you live.”

    NCDHHS’ goal for PATH NC was not merely to create a system that collects information, but also to improve child welfare practice through evidence-based tools and actionable insights for the workforce. While developing the new system, the department worked in close collaboration with county leaders to fully redesign the state’s Structured Decision-Making (SDM) tools. Nationally certified by Evident Change for accuracy and consistent results, the new SDM tools within PATH NC help frontline staff better identify and assess risk and safety concerns when responding to reports of child abuse or neglect.

    Over the last five years, NCDHHS has worked hand-in-hand with North Carolina’s county departments of social services to plan, develop and test both PATH NC and the SDM tools. The department’s projected total investment for the new system’s design, development, training and implementation is approximately $65 million. An early review of cases supported by PATH NC and the new SDM tools shows promising results – county intake decisions are consistently aligned with state policies and best practice in child protective services.

    “We’ve built PATH NC from the ground up in collaboration with county leaders to ensure it meets the current, real-world needs of North Carolina’s child welfare social workers,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs. “It’s designed to improve the everyday experience of staff while making it easier to track, report and respond to what’s happening in real time. PATH NC is a critical part of our work to transform the child welfare system and improve the lives of children and families in North Carolina.”

    The new system aligns with NCDHHS’ broader efforts to strengthen system oversight and modernize service delivery. Key features of PATH NC include:

    • Mobile-Friendly Design – The system supports documentation from the field, including some offline functionality, so that staff can update case records while conducting assessments, facilitating family visits, attending court and more.
    • Decision-Making Tools – PATH NC’s new certified SDM tools provide built-in risk and safety assessments, dashboards and real-time alerts for county staff and supervisors.
    • Advanced Capabilities – The system features global search functionality, comprehensive data analytics and dashboards. The platform also has the capability to add automated policy support functions and dedicated portals for providers and families in the future.
    • Comprehensive Case Management – Fully implemented, PATH NC will include modules for intake, assessment, in-home services, foster care, adoption, financials, licensing and eligibility all together in one system.
    • Data Accessibility – Once all counties have transitioned to PATH NC, staff will be able to access statewide data, including a family’s full history with child welfare services, regardless of whether they move or transfer to a different county.
    • Integrated Systems – PATH NC is designed to interface with other child-serving systems such as NC Medicaid, the NC Department of Public Instruction and other partner agencies in the future, which will streamline information sharing and reduce administrative burden across the system.

    The statewide rollout of PATH NC began June 2, 2025, with an initial cohort of 15 counties using the system to support child welfare intakes and assessments. Over the next eight months, all remaining counties will transition to PATH NC for intake and assessment. Implementation for ongoing case management modules will begin in early 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026. This phased rollout allows NCDHHS to provide targeted training and individualized support as each cohort of counties prepares to transition to PATH NC. The department will continue to update and improve the system based on user feedback throughout the implementation process.

    “PATH NC is going to be a game changer for the state, and we’re excited to be among the first counties leading the way,” said Christa Smith, Director of Forsyth County DSS. “The system gives our staff the right tools to make timely, informed decisions, and it gives our supervisors the data they need to identify trends and improve practice. We look forward to seeing everything PATH NC will do for us and our DSS partners across the state.”

    PATH NC is a critical step forward in NCDHHS’ ongoing effort to transform child welfare in North Carolina through systemic change, increased access to services, better data and stronger alignment among state and county systems. By streamlining documentation processes and providing real-time access to child welfare data for users across the system, PATH NC offers more opportunity for state and county staff to pinpoint trends or challenges in child welfare practice and address them sooner – ultimately leading to a stronger system and better outcomes for children and families.

    To learn more about ongoing initiatives to transform child welfare services in North Carolina, read NCDHHS’ Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families. 

    Click here for NCDHHS B-roll footage of PATH NC for intake and assessments.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anunció hoy el lanzamiento del centro de colaboración y tecnología PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), un nuevo sistema de información estatal que marca un importante paso adelante en la modernización de la administración de los servicios de bienestar infantil. PATH NC equipa al personal de bienestar infantil con datos en tiempo real y herramientas de toma de decisiones para proteger mejor a los niños y mejorar los resultados para los niños y las familias en todo el estado.

    Hasta ahora, los 100 departamentos de servicios sociales del condado de Carolina del Norte que administran los servicios de bienestar infantil han operado con una mezcla de sistemas de datos independientes: casi la mitad de los condados todavía dependen en gran medida de procesos manuales y registros en papel para las operaciones de bienestar infantil. PATH NC reunirá a los 100 condados por primera vez en un sistema unificado.

    “PATH NC es más que una actualización tecnológica: es una inversión en los niños y las familias de Carolina del Norte”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Al proporcionar al personal de servicios sociales mejores herramientas, datos más claros y apoyo integrado, estamos sentando las bases para un sistema de bienestar infantil más seguro y receptivo que ofrece resultados mejores y más consistentes, sin importar dónde viva”.

    El objetivo del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) para PATH NC no era simplemente crear un sistema que recopile información, sino también mejorar la práctica de bienestar infantil a través de herramientas basadas en evidencia e información procesable para la fuerza laboral. Mientras desarrollaba el nuevo sistema, el departamento trabajó en estrecha colaboración con los líderes del condado para rediseñar completamente las herramientas de toma de decisiones estructuradas del estado (Structured Decision-Making, o SDM, por sus siglas en inglés). Las nuevas herramientas de SDM dentro de PATH NC están certificadas a nivel nacional por Evident Change por su precisión y resultados consistentes y ayudan al personal de primera línea a identificar y evaluar mejor los riesgos y las preocupaciones de seguridad al responder a los reportes de abuso o negligencia infantil.

    Durante los últimos cinco años, el NCDHHS ha trabajado mano a mano con los departamentos de servicios sociales del condado de Carolina del Norte para planificar, desarrollar y probar tanto PATH NC como las herramientas de SDM. La inversión total proyectada del departamento para el diseño, desarrollo, capacitación e implementación del nuevo sistema es de aproximadamente $ 65 millones. Una revisión temprana de los casos respaldados por PATH NC y las nuevas herramientas de SDM muestra resultados prometedores: las decisiones de admisión del condado están alineadas consistentemente con las políticas estatales y las mejores prácticas en los servicios de protección infantil.

    “Hemos construido PATH NC desde cero en colaboración con los líderes del condado para garantizar que satisfaga las necesidades actuales y reales de los trabajadores sociales de bienestar infantil de Carolina del Norte”, dijo Michael Leighs, subsecretario de Oportunidades y Bienestar del NCDHHS. “Está diseñado para mejorar la experiencia diaria del personal al tiempo que facilita el seguimiento, la presentación de informes y la respuesta a lo que está sucediendo en tiempo real. PATH NC es una parte fundamental de nuestro trabajo para transformar el sistema de bienestar infantil y mejorar las vidas de los niños y las familias en Carolina del Norte “.

    El nuevo sistema se alinea con los esfuerzos más amplios del NCDHHS para fortalecer la supervisión del sistema y modernizar la prestación de servicios. Las características clave de PATH NC incluyen:

    • Diseño compatible con dispositivos móviles: el sistema admite documentación desde el campo, incluidas algunas funciones fuera de línea, para que el personal pueda actualizar los registros de casos mientras realiza evaluaciones, facilita visitas familiares, asiste a la corte y más.
    • Herramientas de toma de decisiones: Las nuevas herramientas certificadas de SDM de PATH NC proporcionan evaluaciones integradas de riesgos y seguridad, tableros y alertas en tiempo real para el personal y los supervisores del condado.
    • Capacidades avanzadas: el sistema cuenta con funcionalidad de búsqueda global, análisis de datos completos y tableros. La plataforma también tiene la capacidad de agregar funciones automatizadas de apoyo de políticas y portales dedicados para proveedores y familias en el futuro.
    • Gestión integral de casos: Completamente implementado, PATH NC incluirá módulos para admisión, evaluación, servicios en el hogar, cuidado de crianza, adopción, finanzas, licencias y elegibilidad, todo en un solo sistema.
    • Acceso a datos: Una vez que todos los condados hayan hecho la transición a PATH NC, el personal podrá acceder a los datos de todo el estado, incluido el historial completo de una familia con los servicios de bienestar infantil, independientemente de si se mudan o se transfieren a un condado diferente.
    • Sistemas integrados: PATH NC está diseñado para interactuar con otros sistemas de servicio infantil como NC Medicaid, el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte y otras agencias asociadas en el futuro, lo que agilizará el intercambio de información y reducirá la carga administrativa en todo el sistema.

    El despliegue estatal de PATH NC comenzó el 2 de junio de 2025, con un conjunto inicial de 15 condados que utilizan el sistema para apoyar las admisiones y evaluaciones de bienestar infantil. Durante los próximos ocho meses, todos los condados restantes harán la transición a PATH NC para admisiones y evaluaciones. La implementación de los módulos de gestión de casos en curso comenzará a principios de 2026 y se espera que se complete en el verano de 2026. Esta implementación gradual permite al NCDHHS proporcionar capacitación específica y apoyo individualizado a medida que cada conjunto de condados se prepara para la transición a PATH NC. El departamento continuará actualizando y mejorando el sistema en función de los comentarios de los usuarios durante todo el proceso de implementación.

    “PATH NC va a cambiar las reglas del juego para el estado, y estamos entusiasmados de estar entre los primeros condados que lideran el camino”, dijo Christa Smith, directora del Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado de Forsyth. “El sistema brinda a nuestro personal las herramientas adecuadas para tomar decisiones oportunas e informadas, y brinda a nuestros supervisores los datos que necesitan para identificar tendencias y mejorar la práctica. Esperamos ver todo lo que PATH NC hará por nosotros y nuestros socios del Departamento de Servicios Sociales en todo el estado “.

    PATH NC es un paso crítico en el esfuerzo continuo del NCDHHS para transformar el bienestar infantil en Carolina del Norte a través de un cambio sistémico, un mayor acceso a los servicios, mejores datos y una mayor alineación entre los sistemas estatales y del condado. Al agilizar los procesos de documentación y proporcionar acceso en tiempo real a los datos de bienestar infantil para los usuarios de todo el sistema, PATH NC ofrece más oportunidades para que el personal estatal y del condado identifique tendencias o desafíos en la práctica de bienestar infantil y los aborde antes, lo que en última instancia conduce a un sistema más sólido y mejores resultados para los niños y las familias.

    Para obtener más información sobre las iniciativas en curso para transformar los servicios de bienestar infantil en Carolina del Norte, lea Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families del NCDHHS

    Haga clic aquí para ver el video adicional del NCDHHS de PATH NC para la admisión y las evaluaciones.

    Jun 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day No Credit Check: Radcred Launches New Platform to Support Borrowers Of Poor Credit Score

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, California, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radcred, a trusted name in online financial services, has officially announced the launch of its enhanced digital platform, offering $255 payday loans online with same-day no-credit-check options for Americans facing emergency cash needs. This new service aims to streamline the process of accessing same day payday loan offers, especially for borrowers with poor or limited credit history.

    The platform is designed to deliver faster approvals, safer transactions, and a higher chance of matching applicants with instant online payday loans through Radcred’s network of direct lenders. By offering payday loans online same day $255, Radcred provides a lifeline for consumers dealing with urgent expenses, from medical bills to car repairs, where traditional banking solutions fall short.

    As the demand for small payday loans online continues to rise, Radcred’s focus on financial inclusivity ensures that users with poor credit scores can secure funds responsibly and efficiently.

    Start with a simple online form and see personalized loan offers—no hard credit check required.

    Radcred Launches Enhanced Platform for Faster, Safer $255 Payday Loans

    Radcred’s upgraded platform introduces several innovations tailored to meet the urgent needs of people seeking $255 payday loans online same day. The user-friendly interface, combined with a network of reputable lenders, ensures a smooth application process, often leading to approvals in under an hour.

    Unlike many traditional lenders, Radcred focuses on payday loans online same day no credit check, eliminating unnecessary delays caused by hard credit inquiries. Borrowers can apply within minutes, review offers transparently, and receive funds directly into their bank account,  sometimes on the same day.

    This digital solution emphasizes data security, quick decisions, and compliance with lending regulations, helping borrowers access instant payday loan options without hidden charges. With this initiative, Radcred is positioning itself at the forefront of responsible short-term lending.

    The Growing Demand for Small Payday Loans in USA

    In today’s economic climate, more individuals are turning to small payday loans online to handle unexpected financial hurdles. Rising living costs, coupled with economic uncertainties, have left many without sufficient savings for emergencies.

    Same day payday loan solutions, such as Radcred’s offering, address these gaps by providing fast, accessible funds that help consumers cover essential expenses without resorting to high-interest credit cards or overdraft penalties.

    Platforms that provide payday loans online same day $255 or similar quick loan amounts play an increasingly vital role in supporting financial stability for working individuals across the nation.

    Features of Radcred for Your Payday Loan Needs

    Radcred’s service model focuses on delivering convenience, speed, and fairness to borrowers in need of quick financial support. The platform is designed to help individuals secure online payday loans without unnecessary delays or hidden conditions. If you have poor credit or need emergency cash fast, Radcred offers features that simplify the lending process and promote responsible borrowing. Here are some standout features of its online payday loan platform:

    • Fast Application: Applicants can complete the process in minutes from any device. The platform connects borrowers instantly with lenders offering instant online payday loans.
    • No Hard Credit Checks: Radcred specializes in 1 hour payday loans no credit check, giving applicants with poor or no credit history a fair chance at approval.
    • Secure Data Handling: All personal and financial information is encrypted, ensuring privacy and safety throughout the application journey.
    • Transparent Offers: Users receive clear, upfront details about fees, APRs, and repayment schedules. No hidden charges or misleading terms.
    • Flexible Loan Amounts: While $255 payday loans online same day are a highlight, Radcred’s network also supports various small loan sizes to suit individual needs.

    These features make Radcred a go-to choice for individuals seeking instant payday loan options with minimal hassle.

    How Radcred Connects Borrowers to No Credit Check Payday Loans?

    Radcred’s strength lies in its ability to match borrowers quickly and efficiently with a network of trusted lenders who specialize in payday loans online same day no credit check. By using a streamlined digital platform, Radcred simplifies the process for applicants with poor or limited credit history. The service helps connect individuals to lenders offering fast approvals, transparent terms, and secure transactions, making it easier to access emergency funds without the stress of traditional loan applications. Here’s how the connection works:

    • Once an applicant submits basic details through the platform, Radcred uses advanced algorithms to find compatible lenders from its network.
    • The system prioritizes lenders offering 1 hour payday loans online no credit check instant approval, reducing waiting times and eliminating hard credit pulls.
    • Borrowers can review multiple offers and choose the one that best aligns with their repayment ability and financial situation.
    • Approved funds are transferred directly to the borrower’s account, often within 24 hours or on the same day.

    Radcred simplifies the process of accessing online payday loan services, helping consumers overcome cash shortages without added stress.

    Check your options in minutes and choose the offer that works best for your situation

    Radcred’s Lender Network and Support for Bad Credit Loans

    Radcred collaborates with a robust network of direct lenders who understand the unique challenges faced by borrowers with poor credit scores. These lenders offer payday loans 255 and other small loan amounts with flexible requirements, focusing more on the applicant’s income and ability to repay rather than credit score alone.

    By supporting bad credit loans, Radcred ensures that financial assistance remains within reach for a broader range of consumers, making same day payday loan approvals achievable for many.

    Understanding Costs and Responsible Borrowing for Payday Loans

    While $255 payday loans online same day no credit check can provide vital relief, borrowers should fully understand the associated costs to make informed choices.

    Radcred emphasizes responsible lending by ensuring applicants see the APR, fees, and total repayment amount upfront. For example, while instant online payday loans offer speed, they typically carry higher interest rates compared to long-term loans.

    Radcred encourages borrowers to:

    • Borrow only what’s necessary to cover the immediate need.
    • Plan repayment carefully to avoid late fees or extensions that increase costs.
    • Consider alternatives if the need is not urgent, such as personal installment loans or credit union options.

    By educating users on the realities of small payday loans online, Radcred fosters a more responsible borrowing environment.

    Radcred’s $255 Payday Loan Application Process

    Applying for a payday loans online same day $255 through Radcred is designed to be fast and simple:

    1️⃣ Complete the Online Form: Enter basic personal and employment information using the secure Radcred platform.
    2️⃣ Get Matched: The system identifies lenders offering instant online payday loans that meet your profile.
    3️⃣ Review Offers: Borrowers can compare offers, paying close attention to terms and repayment obligations.
    4️⃣ Receive Funds: Once approved, funds are sent directly to your account, often on the same day.

    This streamlined approach makes Radcred a trusted choice for those seeking 1 hour payday loans no credit check in times of need.

    About Radcred

    Radcred is a leading financial service platform dedicated to connecting Americans with trusted direct lenders. With a focus on accessibility, transparency, and security, Radcred specializes in online payday loan options that cater to individuals with varied credit profiles. The company’s mission is to provide fast, fair, and reliable loan solutions that support financial resilience.

    Disclaimer

    Radcred is not a direct lender and does not make credit decisions. The company serves as a connection point between borrowers and licensed lenders. Loan amounts, terms, fees, and approval timelines vary by lender and by applicant’s profile. Users are encouraged to read all loan terms carefully and borrow responsibly. Payday loans are intended for short-term financial needs and may not be suitable for long-term use.

    Media Contact:
    Sarah Johnson
    PR Manager, Radcred
    Email: press@radcred.com
    Phone: +44 20 7946 1234

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day No Credit Check: Radcred Launches New Platform to Support Borrowers Of Poor Credit Score

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, California, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radcred, a trusted name in online financial services, has officially announced the launch of its enhanced digital platform, offering $255 payday loans online with same-day no-credit-check options for Americans facing emergency cash needs. This new service aims to streamline the process of accessing same day payday loan offers, especially for borrowers with poor or limited credit history.

    The platform is designed to deliver faster approvals, safer transactions, and a higher chance of matching applicants with instant online payday loans through Radcred’s network of direct lenders. By offering payday loans online same day $255, Radcred provides a lifeline for consumers dealing with urgent expenses, from medical bills to car repairs, where traditional banking solutions fall short.

    As the demand for small payday loans online continues to rise, Radcred’s focus on financial inclusivity ensures that users with poor credit scores can secure funds responsibly and efficiently.

    Start with a simple online form and see personalized loan offers—no hard credit check required.

    Radcred Launches Enhanced Platform for Faster, Safer $255 Payday Loans

    Radcred’s upgraded platform introduces several innovations tailored to meet the urgent needs of people seeking $255 payday loans online same day. The user-friendly interface, combined with a network of reputable lenders, ensures a smooth application process, often leading to approvals in under an hour.

    Unlike many traditional lenders, Radcred focuses on payday loans online same day no credit check, eliminating unnecessary delays caused by hard credit inquiries. Borrowers can apply within minutes, review offers transparently, and receive funds directly into their bank account,  sometimes on the same day.

    This digital solution emphasizes data security, quick decisions, and compliance with lending regulations, helping borrowers access instant payday loan options without hidden charges. With this initiative, Radcred is positioning itself at the forefront of responsible short-term lending.

    The Growing Demand for Small Payday Loans in USA

    In today’s economic climate, more individuals are turning to small payday loans online to handle unexpected financial hurdles. Rising living costs, coupled with economic uncertainties, have left many without sufficient savings for emergencies.

    Same day payday loan solutions, such as Radcred’s offering, address these gaps by providing fast, accessible funds that help consumers cover essential expenses without resorting to high-interest credit cards or overdraft penalties.

    Platforms that provide payday loans online same day $255 or similar quick loan amounts play an increasingly vital role in supporting financial stability for working individuals across the nation.

    Features of Radcred for Your Payday Loan Needs

    Radcred’s service model focuses on delivering convenience, speed, and fairness to borrowers in need of quick financial support. The platform is designed to help individuals secure online payday loans without unnecessary delays or hidden conditions. If you have poor credit or need emergency cash fast, Radcred offers features that simplify the lending process and promote responsible borrowing. Here are some standout features of its online payday loan platform:

    • Fast Application: Applicants can complete the process in minutes from any device. The platform connects borrowers instantly with lenders offering instant online payday loans.
    • No Hard Credit Checks: Radcred specializes in 1 hour payday loans no credit check, giving applicants with poor or no credit history a fair chance at approval.
    • Secure Data Handling: All personal and financial information is encrypted, ensuring privacy and safety throughout the application journey.
    • Transparent Offers: Users receive clear, upfront details about fees, APRs, and repayment schedules. No hidden charges or misleading terms.
    • Flexible Loan Amounts: While $255 payday loans online same day are a highlight, Radcred’s network also supports various small loan sizes to suit individual needs.

    These features make Radcred a go-to choice for individuals seeking instant payday loan options with minimal hassle.

    How Radcred Connects Borrowers to No Credit Check Payday Loans?

    Radcred’s strength lies in its ability to match borrowers quickly and efficiently with a network of trusted lenders who specialize in payday loans online same day no credit check. By using a streamlined digital platform, Radcred simplifies the process for applicants with poor or limited credit history. The service helps connect individuals to lenders offering fast approvals, transparent terms, and secure transactions, making it easier to access emergency funds without the stress of traditional loan applications. Here’s how the connection works:

    • Once an applicant submits basic details through the platform, Radcred uses advanced algorithms to find compatible lenders from its network.
    • The system prioritizes lenders offering 1 hour payday loans online no credit check instant approval, reducing waiting times and eliminating hard credit pulls.
    • Borrowers can review multiple offers and choose the one that best aligns with their repayment ability and financial situation.
    • Approved funds are transferred directly to the borrower’s account, often within 24 hours or on the same day.

    Radcred simplifies the process of accessing online payday loan services, helping consumers overcome cash shortages without added stress.

    Check your options in minutes and choose the offer that works best for your situation

    Radcred’s Lender Network and Support for Bad Credit Loans

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    By supporting bad credit loans, Radcred ensures that financial assistance remains within reach for a broader range of consumers, making same day payday loan approvals achievable for many.

    Understanding Costs and Responsible Borrowing for Payday Loans

    While $255 payday loans online same day no credit check can provide vital relief, borrowers should fully understand the associated costs to make informed choices.

    Radcred emphasizes responsible lending by ensuring applicants see the APR, fees, and total repayment amount upfront. For example, while instant online payday loans offer speed, they typically carry higher interest rates compared to long-term loans.

    Radcred encourages borrowers to:

    • Borrow only what’s necessary to cover the immediate need.
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    About Radcred

    Radcred is a leading financial service platform dedicated to connecting Americans with trusted direct lenders. With a focus on accessibility, transparency, and security, Radcred specializes in online payday loan options that cater to individuals with varied credit profiles. The company’s mission is to provide fast, fair, and reliable loan solutions that support financial resilience.

    Disclaimer

    Radcred is not a direct lender and does not make credit decisions. The company serves as a connection point between borrowers and licensed lenders. Loan amounts, terms, fees, and approval timelines vary by lender and by applicant’s profile. Users are encouraged to read all loan terms carefully and borrow responsibly. Payday loans are intended for short-term financial needs and may not be suitable for long-term use.

    Media Contact:
    Sarah Johnson
    PR Manager, Radcred
    Email: press@radcred.com
    Phone: +44 20 7946 1234

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Oak Valley Bancorp and Oak Valley Community Bank Announce Director Retirements and New Director Appointment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OAKDALE, Calif., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY) (the “Company”), the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank (the “Bank”) announced the retirement of Thomas A. Haidlen and Danny L. Titus from the Bank and Company’s Boards of Directors, effective June 17, 2025. Concurrently, Erich A. Haidlen accepted his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank.

    T. Haidlen and Titus joined the board of Oak Valley Community Bank in 1991 and 1992 respectively. T. Haidlen was one of the original board members and Titus joined the original group shortly after the formation of the Bank; both were appointed directors of the holding company at the formation of Oak Valley Bancorp in 2008.

    “Tom and Danny played crucial roles in the establishment of the bank and in cultivating investor interest, particularly during its early years. For nearly 35 years, Tom and Danny contributed significant business acumen, local knowledge, and steadfast guidance, for which we are profoundly grateful,” stated CEO, Chris Courtney.

    E. Haidlen has been employed with Haidlen Ford Inc. in Oakdale, California since 1998. He is currently the General Manager and President. Prior to joining Haidlen Ford, he worked as a Financial Analyst at FMV Opinions, Inc., where he performed valuations of majority and minority interests in operating companies, partnerships, and intangible assets. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, and is a 2002 graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Association. (NADA) Dealer Candidate Academy.

    E. Haidlen is a past President of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce (2006–2007) and a former member of the Oakdale Economic Development Committee. He brings valuable business and financial expertise to the board, and as a fifth-generation resident of Stanislaus County, he offers extensive knowledge about the local community. E. Haidlen lives in Oakdale with his wife and their three children.

    “Erich is a welcome addition to the Board of Directors of Oak Valley Bancorp and Oak Valley Community Bank. He brings extensive business and financial expertise, demonstrated through his leadership as General Manager and President of Haidlen Ford. His background in financial analysis and deep connections in our region position him well to contribute meaningfully to our Board,” stated President and Chief Operating Officer, Rick McCarty.

    Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank and its Eastern Sierra Community Bank Division, offering a full range of loan and deposit services to individuals and small businesses. The bank currently serves customers through 18 conveniently located branches in Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, Roseville, two locations in Sonora, three in Modesto, and three in the Eastern Sierra communities of Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop. A 19th branch location is scheduled to open in Lodi later this year.

    For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

    Contact: Chris Courtney/Rick McCarty
    Phone: (209) 848-BANK (2265)
    Toll Free (866) 844-7500
    www.ovcb.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Willis Lease Finance Corporation Announces Closing of $596.0 Million in Fixed Rate Notes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and global provider of aviation services, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Willis Engine Structured Trust VIII (“WEST”), has completed the previously announced offering of $524,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Series A Fixed Rate Notes (the “Series A Notes”) and $72,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Series B Fixed Rate Notes (the “Series B Notes” and, together with the Series A Notes, the “Notes”).

    The Notes are secured by, among other things, WEST’s direct and indirect interests in a portfolio of 62 aircraft engines and two airframes, which WEST will acquire from WLFC or its other subsidiaries, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement. The final subscription was 3.60x (gross) and 5.10x (avail) on the Series A Notes and 7.15x (gross) and 13.00x (avail) on the Series B Notes.

    The Series A Notes and Series B Notes have a fixed coupon of 5.582% and 6.070%, respectively, an expected maturity of approximately six years, an expected weighted average life (based on certain modeling assumptions) of 5.1 years and a final maturity of 25 years. The Series A Notes and Series B Notes were issued at a price of 99.99721% and 99.99711% of par, respectively.

    The Notes offered by WEST have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any other securities laws of any jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Notes were offered only to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in, and in reliance on, Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

    This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services. Willis Sustainable Fuels intends to develop, build and operate projects to help decarbonize aviation.

    Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty
    Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
    sflaherty@willislease.com
    561.413.0112
       

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To End Food Deserts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to reintroduce her Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act, legislation to help end food deserts. Food deserts are areas where a significant portion of residents don’t have easy access to a grocery store and affordable, nutritious food. Instead, they are forced to rely on corner and convenience stores, which often sell little to no fresh produce, meat or dairy and whose prices are higher than those of a typical supermarket. 

    Gillibrand’s legislation would provide $50 million annually in mandatory federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). HFFI is a USDA program that offers loans and grants to incentivize grocery stores to establish locations in areas where residents lack easy access to fresh food retailers.

    An easily accessible grocery store is a basic necessity, but hundreds of communities across our state don’t have consistent access to one,” said Senator Gillibrand. “That means residents have to travel miles outside their neighborhood just to buy staple groceries, a trip that can take hours on foot or by public transit for those without access to a car. It’s unacceptable. This legislation would provide $50 million each year to a federal program that incentivizes grocers to open new locations or expand existing ones to bring fresh food to areas that need it. It is a commonsense bill that would help communities across our country, and I look forward to working to get it passed.” 

    A map of food deserts across New York State is available here.

    In New York State, HFFI has provided financial or technical assistance to 4 fresh food retailers in Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, and Brooklyn, as well as dozens more nationwide. A full list of recipients is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Crapo Releases Finance Committee Reconciliation Text

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today released legislative text within the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction for inclusion in Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill.
    “This bill prevents an over-$4 trillion tax hike and makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, enabling families and businesses to save and plan for the future. 
    “It delivers additional tax relief to middle-class families still recovering from record inflation under the Biden Administration.  It powers the economy by permanently extending critical pro-growth provisions and introduces new incentives for domestic investment, providing certainty for American job creators to spur domestic economic activity and invest in their workers.
    “The legislation also achieves significant savings by slashing Green New Deal spending and targeting waste, fraud and abuse in spending programs while preserving and protecting them for the most vulnerable. 
    “I look forward to continued coordination with our colleagues in the House and the Administration to deliver President Trump’s bold economic agenda for the American people as quickly as possible.”
    Click HERE to view bill text.
    Click HERE for a section-by-section.
    Click HERE for a bill overview.
    Click HERE to view the 2025 Tax Reform landing page.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo: Senate Republican Plan Powers Economic Growth, Delivers Tax Relief

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to talk about Senate Republicans’ plans to prevent the largest tax hike in U.S. history, power the economy through pro-growth tax policy, provide additional tax relief for working families and address wasteful spending.

    Click here or above to watch the interview

    On the importance of making pro-growth tax policy permanent: 

    [T]he Council of Economic Advisors has indicated that—together with some regulatory reform that President Trump is doing and some of the DOGE activities—we ought to generate somewhere between 4 and 6 percent growth in GDP, and what that translates into with regard to our tax bill is trillions of dollars for growth in capital formations, jobs, wages, benefits and new revenue to the treasury to pay down our deficits.

    This tax package will stop a $4.3 trillion tax increase, and it will make these taxes cuts permanent so that we don’t have to face another tax cliff like this in the future.

    Bonus depreciation—permanent; R&D—permanent; and the EBITDA accounting rules—permanent.  Those three business taxes that are now permanent are a big part of what is going to generate that capital formation in this country and help us grow back to the strength we did when we originally passed the [Tax Cuts and Jobs Act].

    . . .

    [The] 20 percent small business deduction is now permanent.  Our passthrough entities can get treated fairly like corporations do, and be a part of that incredible capital formation and growth that our country is going to see.

    On additional tax relief for American workers, seniors and businesses:

    [I]n addition to stopping a $4.3 trillion tax increase, we’ve got full factory expensing, as President Trump has asked for as well, and a number of other tax cuts. 

    We’ve got no tax on tips, an increase in the deduction for seniors, and we also have no tax on overtime.

    On Republican efforts to reduce spending: 

    We reduce actual spending in our entitlement programs by somewhere between one-and-a-half and $2 trillion, and that spending, as well as the growth element of these tax policies is going to generate a deficit reduction, not a deficit increase.

    The $1.5 to $2 trillion in actual spending reduction is the biggest entitlement reform that has ever been done by Congress.

    Legislative text within the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction can be found here, a section-by-section here and summary here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

    The 5th of June is World Environment Day and the aim is to raise public interest in actions that protect ecosystems. In Russia, this date coincides with Ecologist’s Day.

    Rosneft carries out a wide range of activities and projects aimed at preserving a healthy environment. In 2024, the Company’s green investments totalled 74 billion roubles, which was a 16% increase on the previous year. Over the past three years, this figure totalled almost 200 billion roubles.

    The key components of the Company’s long-term environmental agenda are captured in the Rosneft 2030: Reliable Energy and Global Transition strategy. The top priorities in this field for the Company and its subsidiaries are the implementation of programmes to remediate land, including historical heritage land; the improvement of pipeline reliability; and the preservation of water resources and biodiversity in the regions where the Company operates.

    For instance, in 2024, Samotlorneftegaz completed a large-scale programme to remediate historical heritage lands, with the total area exceeding 2.2 thousand hectares. Approximately 85% of all remediation works were carried out by the Company’s own environmental department. The project has led to the development of new technologies and unique experiences that are in demand by other enterprises.

    Rosneft devotes considerable attention to reforestation activities, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change. The Company is working in partnership with the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory to develop a far-reaching environmental forestation project. This project aims to unlock the region’s forests’ climate-regulating potential and to promote sustainable development. In 2024, the Company and its subsidiaries planted almost 11 million trees of various types in the regions where they operate.

    Rosneft is committed to the principles of the circular economy and is taking positive steps to implement them across its operations. Improving the efficiency of waste management processes is one of the priority goals of the Company’s 2030 strategy. The Company’s production enterprises have been successfully implementing zero-waste technologies that enable the production of artificial soil – an environmentally friendly construction material – from drilling cuttings.

    Furthermore, the Company’s Samara Group enterprises recycled almost 300 tonnes of exhausted catalyst. A total of 8,000+ tonnes of non-ferrous and ferrous metals were sent for processing by the Achinsk, Saratov, Syzran, Kuibyshev, Novokuibyshevsk refineries, RN-Vankor and Bashneft subsidiaries.

    Approximately 4,500 tonnes of waste oils and emulsions were sent for processing by the Kuibyshev Refinery, the Novokuibyshevsk Refinery, RN-Vankor and Bashneft enterprises.

    Biodiversity conservation is another important area of Rosneft’s environmental activities. For over a decade, the Company has been implementing annual initiatives to replenish Russia’s aquatic bioresources. In 2024, Rosneft’s enterprises released over 21.7 million young fish into the country’s water bodies.

    Volunteers from the Company, its subsidiaries and design institutes are also actively involved in various environmental initiatives and contribute to the development of a culture of rational and responsible consumption of natural resources. Employees and their children participate in activities involving the planting of greenery, with a view to enhancing both urban and natural recreational areas. These activities form part of federal environmental campaigns such as Green Spring, Memory Garden, Water of Russia, Clean Shores, etc.

    For more than 15 years, Samotlorneftegaz volunteers have been organising cleanup days to treat the shoreline of Lake Kymyl-Emtor as part of the nation-wide campaign Water of Russia.

    Samara oil workers assist the staff of the Botanical Garden of Samara University in a number of ways. These include the removal of deadwood and leaves, the purchase of rare plant species and plant seedlings, and the restoration and improvement of springs in the region. In 2024, volunteers in the Samara region collected over 30 cubic metres of rubbish from the banks of the Volga and Sok rivers. Volunteers from the Novokuibyshevsk Petrochemical Company participated in an environmental race, collecting a total of 930 kg of household waste.

    In 2024, RN-Nyaganneftegaz oil workers collected approximately 3 tonnes of household rubbish from the shoreline of the Nyagan-Yugan River.

    On the eve of Victory Day, Rosneft employees organised the cleaning of parks, memorial complexes and monuments dedicated to the Soviet people’s military achievements during the Great Patriotic War.

    The Company’s initiatives play a significant role in preserving natural resources by organising campaigns to collect used batteries, plastic, and waste paper for recycling. In 2024, Rosneft employees recycled over 1,100 kg of waste batteries, uninterruptible power supplies, and disposable batteries. They also handed over seven tonnes of plastic for recycling and collected approximately 180 tonnes of waste paper.

    Rosneft volunteers actively promote environmental education among young people, organising environmental quests, workshops, quizzes and eco-classes for schoolchildren. For instance, in 2024, Orenburgneft implemented the Eco-School project, collecting more than 10 tonnes of waste paper, over 70 kg of batteries, and over 17 kg of plastic caps with the help of students from regional schools.

    For the past 14 years, the company has organised annual environmental safety competitions, which contribute to raising the level of environmental awareness and encourage subsidiaries to develop their expertise and improve their work in this area.

    The public highly appreciated the successful environmental activities of Rosneft’s subsidiaries. In 2024, the Company’s Syzran, Novokuibyshevsk and Kuibyshev refineries received top honours at the nationwide Russian Environmental Leader contest.

    Department of Information and Advertising
    Rosneft
    5 June 2025

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister for the Cabinet Office speech at Constitution Unit Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Minister for the Cabinet Office speech at Constitution Unit Conference

    Delivered on Wednesday 18th of June 2025 by The Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office.

    Introduction

    It’s a pleasure to be here with you all.

    Before I start, let me commend the Constitution Unit…

    …not just for hosting today’s conference…

    …but for – this year – reaching its 30th birthday. 

    Don’t worry, I’m not going to sing…

    …but I will sing your praises…just a little.

    The esteem in which you are held speaks to the high quality and rigor of your work…

    …and I could not imagine a better audience to speak to on today’s topic.

    Today, I want to focus on Constitutional reform…

    …what it means for our democracy…

    …and, most importantly, what it means for the public.

    But before I start talking about the future, I would like to focus – briefly – on the past.

    Magna Carta

    This year, we celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the 1225 edition of Magna Carta.

    The definitive edition that, arguably, set the template for the United States Declaration of Independence…

    …and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    It may be surprising, then, to learn that the original Magna Carta from 1215 was revoked as quickly as it was ratified.

    King John wrote to Pope Innocent the Third to repudiate the agreement that he himself had struck…

    …and it was annulled a few months after it was sealed.

    As the comedian David Mitchell puts it: “King John thought the country was his to do with what he liked…

    …and the idea that the Kingdom could generate rules that he would then have to obey was absurd to him…

    …as if a billionaire found a ‘No Diving’ sign next to their private swimming pool”.

    But it was the determination of a few people that ensured it was reintroduced…

    …ratified by King John’s son, Henry III, and found its proper place on the statute book.

    Magna Carta began a constitutional thread…

    …to the Bill of Rights in 1689, which established parliamentary sovereignty and the right to free election…

    …the Reform Acts of the 19th Century, which led to the modern electoral system…

    …all the way up to the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998.

    For one of the country’s oldest historic written documents, it still delivers a few new surprises…

    …with Harvard University recently uncovering a Magna Carta original from 1300, after believing it was a much more recent copy. 

    Recent Context

    But what isn’t surprising is what a foundation that Magna Carta creates for our modern constitution…

    …made up of laws, conventions and rules…

    …that, crucially, outlined how no one person is above the law…

    …and that we must all be held to the same standard.

    That’s right in historical principle…

    …but when it comes to Government, has that always been the modern practice?

    To put it plainly: we have reached record levels of distrust and dissatisfaction with how the Government works…

    …and how it can get things done.

    The most recent National Centre for Social Research report found that 45% of people surveyed say they ‘almost never’ trust governments – of any party – to place the needs of the nation above their political party.

    That is at one level a remarkable statistic – but it is hardly surprising. 

    [political content removed]

    No wonder people became exhausted with Westminster… it felt like politics wasn’t working for them.

    What a shocking indictment of our political and constitutional system.

    Especially, when I know the change I can help secure for my constituents through Parliament…

    …and how MPs across parties are motivated by making a difference.

    Parliament remains the forum through which the British people can give an instruction for change.

    …but that is not to say it cannot – or should not – be strengthened.

    Nor is it to say that we should not, always, be looking at the adequacy of checks and balances.

    But, fundamentally, I believe that, through that change, we can restore the public’s faith in our constitution…

    …restore their capacity to feel like political choices can make their lives better… 

    …and make ordinary people feel like they have a stake.

    That couldn’t be more important to this Government. 

    [political content removed]

    Driven by the desire for change. To rebuild our country. National renewal. Returning politics to public service.

    These were not just words on a leaflet. They were something we felt angry about, driven by.

    After fourteen years, we have the opportunity to make people feel like they have a stake in their communities again…

    …a stake in their country again…

    …for people to see their politicians governing as an act of public service, not personal gratification.

    To put country before party.

    Changes to Date

    And we can do this in sensible ways, with tangible steps.

    Take the small task of restoring trust. 

    All of us in this room know that accountability and integrity are core parts of protecting our constitution.

    But what do those things mean to the majority of the population? 

    How can we show action … 

    …convey what that action represents, 

    …and what it will do. 

    If we want to govern in the name of public service, we need to show we care about it.

    That is why we brought in changes – holding our Government Ministers to account in a much stronger way than ever before. 

    The Prime Minister has given the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards the power to independently initiate investigations…

    …without retaining a veto. 

    And the new Ministerial Code, published in November last year, strengthened and clarified standards across the board…

    …enshrining the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’ directly into the Code. 

    For too long, standards slipped…

    …and few were interested in re-establishing the ideals and principles that should define the Government’s work.

    This is precisely what the Prime Minister promised… 

    …that we would get a grip on the problems we face. 

    And, crucially, that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words. 

    This is a Government focused on national renewal…

    …and, as part of that renewal, embedding higher standards in public life. 

    House of Lords

    Nowhere is our desire for sensible change more evident than in the House of Lords…

    …and the reforms we are finally bringing to that Chamber. 

    Now, I know that there are many hardworking Peers across the Lords…

    …I am incredibly fortunate, in working in the Cabinet Office, to work alongside the Leader of the House of Lords. 

    Peers are, undeniably, a crucial part of our democracy…

    …who use their expertise and experience to ensure legislation is scrutinised to an incredibly high standard.

    But that doesn’t mean we cannot improve it. 

    This belief is at the heart of our Hereditary Peers Bill, which is soon to have its Report Stage in the House of Lords.

    It is shaping up to be the largest constitutional reform to Parliament in the last 25 years…

    …and it was introduced in our first 100 days in office. 

    This could not be more important. 

    It is wholly indefensible that, in the 21st century, there are seats in our legislature allocated by an accident of birth. 

    So, finally, that historic wrong is being put right. 

    It is, in an important way, a gesture towards young people across our country. 

    I want people growing up in Blaenavon, Pontypool and Cwmbran in my constituency…

    …and, indeed, in every part of the country…

    …to feel that they have the same chance as anyone else to play a part in making the laws of the land.

    To remove the barriers, piece by piece, to ordinary people being able to feel like they have a stake in politics, and in parliamentary democracy.

    This sits alongside our other manifesto commitments on Lords reform…

    …like setting a retirement age, minimum participation requirements and making the appointments process more transparent

    …all making Parliament fit for modern Britain. 

    House of Commons

    But our ideas of constitutional reform are not solely focused on the House of Lords.

    No, we must look at the Commons, too…

    …and consider what we could improve. 

    So much of our constitution is wrapped up in the tradition displayed in the Commons. 

    Everything from the architecture, the layout, the procedures…

    …so much of it is symbolic of parliamentary sovereignty…

    …and the great tradition of open parliamentary debate. 

    But while tradition and ritual often protects the principles of our constitution, it can sometimes become a barrier if not updated for today’s world.

    I know that the vast majority of our MPs work hard to serve their constituents…

    …but they can often find that work is hamstrung by arcane procedures and outdated working practices.

    We should not forget that over half of MPs elected in the most recent General Election are new to Parliament.

    So, we need to make sure that the Commons is brought into the 21st Century…

    …and that these new MPs are able to navigate the historic system and use it to create modern, progressive change. 

    This is the precise objective of our Modernisation Committee.

    It’s headed up by my ministerial colleague, the Leader of the House of Commons…

    …and is considering many important issues to make the Commons more up-to-date so that MPs are enabled to deliver for their constituents.

    Everything from the accessibility of the physical parliamentary estate…

    …as well as the accessibility of procedures, language and information.

    It will also examine how to use MPs’ time better…

    …ensuring that sitting hours provide enough time to scrutinise legislation…

    …and give backbenchers a fair opportunity to raise issues on behalf of their constituents.

    The Modernisation Committee has, building on the changes we made in July 2024, asked the Committee on Standards to go further… 

    …exploring how the rules on MPs outside interests can be tightened even further, to ensure MPs are prioritising their constituents…

    …as I know the vast majority already do.

    This is all about making sure that those who turn up in Westminster are not blocked from speaking up for those they represent.

    Union and Devolution

    But I wouldn’t want anyone listening to think that we’re solely focused on what’s going on in Westminster. 

    England is one of the most centralised countries…

    …and my colleague the Deputy Prime Minister and I believe that it’s time we change that. 

    That’s why, in the English Devolution White Paper, we set out our plans to move power out of Westminster…

    …and move it back to those who know their areas best.

    We need to ensure that there is proper devolution throughout England…

    …and hand more power over to cities and communities to make the changes they see needed.

    I believe that devolution is crucial if we want communities to combat the challenges they recognise as uniquely their own…

    …while giving ordinary people a greater stake in shaping their region. 

    Only with strong local leadership and empowered institutions will we fix the foundations of the economy…

    …and bring about the kind of economic growth that is at the very heart of our ‘Plan for Change’.

    But it would be a mistake to think that the UK Government is only concerned with England. 

    We are a government of and for the whole of the UK. 

    My own constituency is in Wales…

    …and many of my ministerial colleagues are from Scotland. 

    But even if we weren’t, the UK Government has a responsibility for the entire UK. 

    Which is why the nations are – and always will be – at the heart of our thinking.

    In fact, an important part of delivering on our missions is rebuilding the UK Government’s  relationship with the devolved governments. 

    We’re putting an end to the disrespect that has been shown to the legitimate devolved Governments and Parliaments…

    …and focusing on a future built on partnership and recognition. 

    We introduced the Council of the Nations and Regions…

    …which creates genuine partnership between the UK Government, the devolved governments, and the mayors of England’s regions. 

    This has met twice since the General Election, most recently on 23rd May…

    …when the discussion was on trade and AI…

    …and how we can harness its potential and use it across the public sector to improve services.

    It’s about letting local leaders have more of a say…

    …and we will work together across the UK on legislation…

    …strengthening the Sewel Convention, which defines how the UK Government interacts with devolved legislatures.  

    A new Memorandum of Understanding will underpin this work. 

    It has been 25 years since power was devolved to governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland…

    …and it is through strengthening this partnership that we can make sure that all UK-wide decisions don’t just benefit one part of our nation…

    …but are made in the national interest – with every region and nation contributing, and shaping, that interest.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, I would like to thank you for joining me today…

    …and UCL, for putting on this important conference. 

    Outside of these four walls, the phrase ‘constitutional reform’ may not immediately mean much to the ordinary person.

    But they are more than familiar with the rationale for it. 

    Politics that feels divorced from their day-to-day lives…

    …decisions about their local area being made in another nation…

    …a system that seems to safeguard a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach to public life. 

    All that has to change…

    …and this Government is making that a reality. 

    We are serious about ensuring our political systems represent every member of our society.

    This isn’t going to be an overnight change…

    …but we have shown – whether it’s in the Lords, the Commons or in our approach to devolution, this is a Government that has heard the calls for change.

    People want to have more of a stake in how they live their lives…

    …and they want a system of Government that represents and empowers them. 

    Through our constitution’s historic foundations, we are building a modern and thriving society…

    …one that serves the people of this country better than before.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom