NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces Changes to the iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) (NYSE: BLK), is announcing that iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF (the “iShares ETF”) is expected to experience higher than normal portfolio turnover as a result of upcoming changes to the evaluation process used to determine the composition of the Morningstar Jantzi Social Index (the “Index”). The iShares ETF seeks to replicate the performance of the Index, net of expenses. The composition of the Index will change as part of its regularly scheduled rebalance on June 20, 2025 (the “Rebalance”). As a result of the Rebalance, the iShares ETF may experience higher than normal transaction costs and is also expected to realize net capital gains. However, the iShares ETF’s total net capital gains income for the year will not be known until its tax year ends on December 15, 2025. The iShares ETF will follow its normal process for determining and distributing capital gains in December 2025.

    Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”), the index provider of the Index, announced that effective June 20, 2025: (1) the name of the Index will change to Morningstar Jantzi Social Index; (2) the Index will be reviewed semi-annually in June and December instead of annually in March; (3) the new parent benchmark for the Index will be the Morningstar Canada Large-Mid Index; and (4) certain other changes will be made by Morningstar to the ESG exclusions and constituent selection criteria for the Index.

    For more information about the iShares ETF, please visit www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

    About iShares

    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1500+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.3 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    The ETF is not in any way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morningstar. Morningstar does not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of the use of the ETF or the underlying data. “Morningstar” is a trademark and is used under license.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email: Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Introduces Legislation to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund As North Carolina Prepares For Hurricane Season

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With hurricane season officially underway, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has introduced legislation to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to ensure FEMA has the financial resources it needs to respond to natural disasters in the months ahead.

    Tillis’ legislation would provide $25 billion for the DRF, which would fulfill President Trump’s historic DRF funding request for Congress. Since last year, North Carolina has received roughly $4.45 billion from the DRF to respond and recover from Helene. 

    “With Western North Carolina still recovering from Helene and an above-normal hurricane season expected this year, we have to ensure that FEMA has the constant flow of resources it needs to help states respond to natural disasters,” said Senator Tillis. “Congress shouldn’t wait until the last minute, and I’m proud to lead the effort to replenish the DRF and ensure that President Trump’s request is fulfilled so FEMA can focus on its critical mission of helping states and local communities respond to emergencies.” 

    Read the bill HERE.

    Background: 

    Senator Tillis has been pushing for federal assistance for Western North Carolina since the moment Helene made landfall. 

    On October 1, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm.   

    On October 16, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities could begin to heal. The Senators called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation.

    On October 23, 2024, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Tillis addressed to members of Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance.  

    On October 29, 2024, Senator Tillis and his colleagues announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program with families and small businesses across WNC unable to get loans approved until then. The Senators outlined their plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returned to session.

    On November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis attempted to pass legislation to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor, but was blocked by another Senator.

    On November 15, 2024, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The OMB sent the request to Congress a few days later.

    On November 18, 2024, Senator Tillis introduced the standalone RELIEF Act to provide Hurricane relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.   

    On November 20, 2024, Senator Tillis called on Congress to quickly pass Hurricane Helene relief during his testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

    On November 21, 2024, Senator Tillis met with Governor Cooper, Governor-Elect Stein, members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and the North Carolina General Assembly, and local leaders from Western North Carolina to discuss efforts to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. 

    On December 5, 2024, Senator Tillis joined Fox News’ Your World with Neil Cavuto where he discussed the urgent need for Congress to provide federal assistance to North Carolinians affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.  

    On December 10, 2024, Senator Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation.  

    On December 18, 2024, Senator Tillis committed to filibustering any continuing resolution that did not include disaster aid for Western North Carolina. 

    On December 21, 2024, Senator Tillis voted to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that included more than $100 billion in disaster relief for states and communities hit by natural disasters, including North Carolina during Hurricane Helene. 

    On January 7, 2025 Senator Tillis announced $1.65 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.  

    On January 24, 2025, Senator Tillis released a statement thanking President Trump for his visit to Western North Carolina to survey the devastation left behind by Helene. 

    On January 31, 2025, Senator Tillis introduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, legislation that excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any qualified catastrophe mitigation payment made under a state-based catastrophe loss mitigation program. 

    On March 11, 2025, Senator Tillis reintroduced the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to simplify the application process for federal disaster recovery assistance.  

    On April 1, 2025, Senator Tillis sent a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to work with Congress to quickly distribute the more than $23 billion Congress passed in December to assist farmers, ranchers and rural Americans in responding to devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.

    On April 3, 2025, Senator Tillis (R-NC) introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.  

    On April 24, 2025, Senator Tillis introduced the Helene Recovery Small Business Act and the Loans in Our Neighborhoods (LIONs) Act of 2025, legislation that would provide much-needed relief to small businesses as they work to recover from the devastation of Helene.

    On June 4, 2025, Senator Tillis announced he helped secure approximately $1.45 billion in federal funding for disaster-impacted communities, including those in Western North Carolina affected by Helene.

    In addition to Senator Tillis’ legislative efforts the Senator has met with local leaders, residents, and elected officials across Western North Carolina including in: Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Canton, Clyde, Fairview, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Marshall, Morganton, Spruce Pine, Swannanoa, Waynesville and Wilkesboro.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Florida Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Hurricane Milton

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Florida who sustained economic losses caused by Hurricane Milton occurring Oct. 9-10, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia as well as the adjacent counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Flagler, Glades, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Marion, Orange, Polk and Putnam.

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

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small 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 3.25% 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.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is Jan. 22, 2026.

    ###

    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 Minnesota Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Excessive Rain and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Minnesota of the July 7 deadline to apply for low  interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by excessive rain and  flooding occurring on May 26–July 31, 2024.  

    The disaster declaration covers the Minnesota counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, and Red Lake.  

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

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small 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.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 7, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, 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: Mrvan Discussion with Commerce Secretary During Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

    Washington, DC – Yesterday, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan discussed the recent Nippon agreement and tariff policy with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science hearing.  

    As Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, Congressman Mrvan pressed Secretary Lutnick about how the Administration is going to protect United Steelworker jobs in light of the recent agreement with Nippon, and that he wants to “make sure that the Administration hears the voices very loudly and clearly from my district that we want assurances, not based on market conditions, that this investment promised will protect steelworkers jobs and tradesmen, who provide the maintenance on those blast furnaces.”  

    Congressman Mrvan also questioned Secretary Lutnick regarding the Administration’s tariff policy and how bad actors may attempt to reshore manufacturing in order to evade U.S. trade laws, and stressed that the domestic steel industry and members of organized labor depend on the full enforcement of U.S. trade laws to thrive in our global economy. 

    Congressman Mrvan’s full questions with Secretary Lutnick are available here and here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to attend G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to travel to Canada, Kenanaskis from 14-17 June to attend and participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit.

    The theme and purpose of the G7 Leaders discussion is “to explore leadership and collaboration in driving a comprehensive approach to energy security with a focus on technology and innovation, diversification and strengthening critical mineral supply chains and infrastructure and investment”.

    “The President will use his participation at the summit to engage fellow world leaders towards finding solutions for energy security and related issues linked to South Africa’s G20 Presidency. 

    “This will provide the President with an opportunity to strengthen G7-G20 cooperation,” Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said during a media briefing on Thursday. 

    Response To Oral Questions in the National Council Of Provinces

    President Cyril Ramaphosa will then, on Thursday, 19 June 2025, respond to questions for Oral Reply by members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, in Cape Town.

    The Presidential Spokesperson said President Ramaphosa’s engagement with the NCOP is a mechanism for Parliament to hold the executive branch of government accountable and to ensure transparency and strengthen constitutional democracy.

    30 Years Anniversary of Constitutional Court

    On Friday, 20 June 2025, the Judiciary will host a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa. 

    Magwenya said President Ramaphosa is deeply honoured to attend and participate in this occasion and will deliver the keynote address. 

    “This celebration will reflect on the Court’s pivotal role in shaping our constitutional democracy, safeguarding human rights and upholding the rule of law. 

    “The Constitutional Court of South Africa remains the apex court on constitutional matters, ensuring the proper interpretation, protection, and enforcement of our Constitution,” he said. 

    World Council of Churches Summit in Johannesburg 

    President Ramaphosa will on Friday, 20 June 2025, present South Africa’s reflections on the role of religion and church in addressing domestic and global issues at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Summit in Johannesburg. 

    The World Council of Churches consists of 352 member churches with over 600 million Christians from 120 countries in the world.

    The council works with non-governmental organisations, interreligious leaders and others to seek justice, peace, reconciliation and unity in the world.

    “The WCC played a very significant role in campaigning against apartheid in the international community. Its program on combating racism provided an international platform to work against the evils of racism and apartheid in South Africa. 

    “The WCC efforts to put the issues of South Africa at that time on the international stage were very successful and led to the withdrawal of the Dutch Reformed Church from the WCC, they are now full members of the WCC again,” Magwenya said. 

    SACU Summit 

    At the invitation of Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her capacity as the Chairperson for SACU, President Ramaphosa will attend the 9th Summit of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Heads of State and Government scheduled for 27 June 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia.

    The Summit will receive an update from SACU Council of Ministers on the implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan 2022-2027 and the progress made on the process of the re-imagined SACU as adopted by the SACU Heads of State and Government. 

    The summit will also provide an opportunity for the leaders to engage on geopolitical developments affecting the region.

    South Africa will also assume the SACU Chairship from July 2025.

    4th International Conference on the Financing for Development 

    President Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s participating delegation to the 4th International Conference on the Financing for Development Summit that is taking place in Seville on 30 June 2025. 

    This is at the invitation of the President of Spain Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and United Nations Secretary – General António Guterres.

    This conference aims to address new and emerging issues in financing for development, including the need to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reform the international financial architecture.

    “South Africa’s participation at the Summit aligns with its G20 Presidency objectives of solidarity, equality and sustainability in complementing and supporting the summits’ goals of reshaping the global financial system in support of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Presidential Spokesperson said. 

    On the margins of the 4th Financing for Development Summit, South Africa will convene a side event under the theme: “Forging a common agenda to achieve debt sustainability in developing economies”.

    “South Africa seeks to advance through cooperation, collaboration and partnership sustainable solutions to tackle high structural deficits and liquidity challenges and extend debt relief to developing economies which disproportionately affect countries in Africa.  

    “This event will bring together leading voices from various debt-related initiatives to identify synergies and areas of convergence. It will seek consensus and highlight solutions that enjoy broad support,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20: SA champions shift in global financial inclusion

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa is championing a critical shift in global financial inclusion: moving beyond mere access to financial institutions but ensuring meaningful usage of these services.

    This according to National Treasury’s Director of Financial Inclusion, Nontobeko Lubisi, who was speaking during a G20 outreach programme with institutions of higher learning.

    The outreach programme shed light on South Africa’s presidency of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) which it took the mantle of when the country became G20 President last December.

    “For our presidential priority for 2025, for the GPFI…we wanted to explore how we can move people from access to usage of financial products and services.

    “We chose this particular presidential priority because we felt that it aligned very closely with the G20 theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability. It also then basically demonstrates the Minister of Finance’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the financial services ecosystem globally,” Lubisi said.

    She highlighted that although progress has been made to improve access to financial services, “we still have about 1.5 billion people globally that still lack bank accounts”.

    “So, this then highlights the need for ongoing efforts to expand both excess and enhance the usage of financial services particularly in [the] global South countries where substantial gaps exist.

    “We felt that this deliverable is crucial and it advances financial inclusion and aligns with the GPFI mandate of addressing the needs of both G20 and non-G20 countries. This particular presidential priority builds on the work that was started by Brazil in 2024, which actually focussed on…access through digital public infrastructure,” she said.

    Lubisi explained what the focus and role of the GPFI is and how this impact countries.

    “The GPFI efforts include helping countries to put into practise the G20 principles of innovative financial inclusion, strengthening data for measuring financial inclusion, as well as developing methodologies for countries that actually wish to set targets for financial inclusion.

    “So…the work of the GPFI is executed via the Financial Inclusion Action Plan, which was then developed and currently we are on the second year of implementing that action plan as the presidency and it will then end next year with the US. 

    “However, what you see [in] how we’re working in the GPFI is that when a country is the president of the GPFI, you are then given an opportunity to come up with a financial inclusion related priority that you would basically prefer to elevate to during your presidential term,” Lubisi said.

    For Africa, by Africans
    Also speaking during the outreach programme, National Treasury Chief Director and G20 Lead, Marlon Geswint, emphasised government’s position that the impact of the South African Presidency of the G20 goes well beyond the country’s borders.

    “South Africa is the only African country who is a member of the G20. The African Union [AU] was admitted to the G20 during the Indian presidency in 2023…but South Africa is the only African country.

    “So therefore, we found it very important to ensure that our Presidency is not only a South African Presidency, but it’s an African Presidency. So that we can showcase the issues that are pertinent to Africa, and then we help find solutions to issues that Africa is grappling with.

    “It is a very important feature of our Presidency, and it runs through the finance track and the Sherpa track. We are not just taking an inward-looking approach to say, this is all about South Africa, but…we have a responsibility to the continent because we are not operating in a vacuum and it’s important that we also advance the African cause,” Geswint said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Breaking barriers for youth in public service careers

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie

    The public service is often perceived as cumbersome and complex. In response, government has introduced targeted programmes to better prepare young people for careers in the public sector and the broader world of work.

    As the country marks National Youth Month, two key initiatives—the Breaking Barriers to Entry into the Public Service (BB2E) programme and the Cadet Programme—are empowering graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to thrive in public service roles. 

    Offered by the National School of Government, the five-day BB2E course and the 18-month Cadet Programme are designed for graduates with post-school qualifications, as well as interns in public sector departments and statutory bodies.

    Addressing graduate unemployment

    Graduate unemployment, particularly among those with post-school qualifications, continues to rise at an alarming rate. As one of the country’s largest employers, the public service has responded by creating opportunities for unemployed graduates through the Public Service Graduate Internship Programme, along with the BB2E and Cadet initiatives. 

    These programmes aim to equip graduates with practical skills and an understanding of how the public sector operates. They cover essential areas such as administration, communication, and job-readiness, providing a critical steppingstone toward meaningful employment. 

    This is a vital investment in youth development and capacity-building for the future of public service.

    About the BB2E Course

    The BB2E course introduces young participants to the structure and functioning of government. Key focus areas include: delivering quality public services; administration and management of public funds; performing basic administrative and communication functions; understanding policies guiding recruitment into public service; crafting effective CVs and interview preparation. 

    The orientation programme is underpinned by values and principles found in Chapter 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, (1996). It is aimed at orientating participants to the public service, how the public service is organised and the way the public service functions.

    About the Cadet Programme

    The 18-month Cadet Programme, a complementary initiative to BB2E, goes deeper by exploring the broader public sector landscape and touching on social entrepreneurship. It consists of four key modules: 1) The Constitution and the Administration of the Public Sector 2) Ethics in the Public Service 3) Writing for Government and 4) Personal Mastery. 

    The Personal Mastery module is particularly well-received by young people as it equips them with essential employability skills relevant in both public and private sectors, including: self-management; emotional intelligence; job search techniques; critical problem-solving; entrepreneurship and job creation.

    Shaping the public servant of the future

    These programmes aim to shape a new generation of public servants—cadres with a unique and progressive mindset. The ideal public servant is: 
    •    Innovative: Able to turn policy into effective action.
    •    Inspirational: Motivated and capable of motivating others.
    •    Exemplary: Committed to high standards at every level of work.
    •    Resourceful: Sees opportunity in challenges, not excuses.
    •    Impact-driven: Focused on tangible outcomes that meet public expectations.
    •    Collaborative: Values partnerships, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement.
    •    Accountable: Takes ownership of service delivery outcomes.

    Recent successes

    In the 2024/25 financial year a total of 1465 young people undergone training on the BB2E programme. While 4145 were trained on Personal Mastery and 1668 of these young people were part of the Youth empowerment and development programme within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE). 

    In the current financial year, a total of 570 young participants from the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC), an empowerment programme under the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, completed the Personal Mastery course.

    Feedback from both participants and departmental officials has been overwhelmingly positive and have requested that more young people undergo training on this programme.

    As the NSG, we strongly encourage departments and government entities at all levels to enroll their interns and young professionals in the Cadet Programme. Together, we can build a more capable, ethical, and responsive public service through empowering one young person at a time.

    Enrolment

    For enquiries and enrolment relevant officials in departments should contact The National School of Government call centre on 0861008326, via email on contactcentre@thensg.gov.za or visit the website on www.thensg.gov.za.

    *Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie is the Chief Director for Cadet and Foundation Management at the National School of Government.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: We can do more to protect our children 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Neo Semono 

    Murder, rape and mysterious disappearances are among the horrifying crimes committed against South Africa’s children.

    Over the years the nation has heard in horror, and watched in disbelief as news, always too inhumane to comprehend, unfolds about those we ought to be protecting the most. 

    Citizens have heard in horror of the now lifeless bodies of victims that have been found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches and seen in blow-by-blow detail, the violence that was perpetuated on often-lifeless bodies, more times than not found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches. 

    Communities and the police rush around frantically forming search parties for the missing, while agile keyboard warriors also do their bit by spreading the word on missing children and adults alike, on the various social media platforms.

    When children go missing, as was the case with six-year-old Joshlin Smith in 2024, law enforcement and communities go looking them. When children are mistreated and abused, the answer is to work together to rescue the child.

    Some will blame government for the onslaught of violence against children, but, government cannot solve the issue on its own. The onslaught of violence against children requires at its foremost a community approach, and a change in thinking around children. 

    Children are no lesser human beings than adults. In fact, our Constitution states that every child (any person under the age of 18) has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services as well as to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation. 

    The Children’s Act gives effect to certain rights of children as contained in the Constitution while also setting out principles relating to the care and protection of children while the Child Justice Act also exists to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

    The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act seeks to improve safety at schools. The legislation is in place to protect the lives of the nation’s children. And yes, while some will say that the existence of the legislation does not necessarily mean that they are effectively being implemented; when implemented properly laws do work.

    The judgement and sentencing of the trio involved in little Joshlin’s case is a victory in fighting back against the mistreatment of children, albeit the nation still being in the dark about what befell the Western Cape child.

    The recent news that a staff member at Laerskool Dalmondeor in Johannesburg was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a Grade 2 learner and the case whereby a Durban mother who beat and strangled her three-year-old daughter Fadillah Chantel Kok to death, must lead us to re-evaluate the type of people we are and the society we live in.

    The wellbeing of the nation’s children is important to government with Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe highlighting the worrying statistics of 26 852 cases of child abuse and neglect having been reported in the 2024/25 financial year.

    Sexual abuse was reported to be at 9859 cases across the provinces with deliberate neglect being the second most prevalent at 9485 cases among others. 

    These incidents and others in the past have many of us questioning in rage, our moral compass no matter one’s colour or religion.
    Children ought to be running around barefoot and getting up to mischief across parks and recreational facilities in communities. However, this is not the case for parents and guardians who fear for their safety while playing.

    According to the 2024 Mid-year population estimates released by Statistics South Africa, 27.5% of the population is aged younger than 15 years (16.8 million).

    The rate of abuse and shocking cases of violence should jolt us into action to do more to protect the nation’s children at all times of the year and not only on days when the country marks Child Protection Week or Child Protection Month in May.

    We should revisit the notion that your child is my child more than ever and not turn a blind eye when we see or hear of something untoward. 

    When we fail to protect children, we fail our country in the long term. If we are to raise generations of forward-thinking, responsible citizens that will take the country forward, it is in our best interest to do the best we can to shape the citizenry of tomorrow.
    And because the protection and care of children is a full-time job, government continues to provide the child support, disability and foster care grants as well as the school nutrition programme which provides meals to millions of children.

    Government is also paying attention to the boy child through the facilitation of dialogues and engagement to foster an environment of positive masculinity where boys are encouraged to express their feelings. Children living with disabilities have also not been left out as they are among the most vulnerable people.

    The enactment of legislation and the provision of funds through grants and government programmes are not the sole solution to protecting South Africa’s children.

    The protection of children involves taking proactive steps which include taking the time to truly listen to what children have to say and ensuring that we believe them when they say they have been violated by a family member, teacher, preacher or whoever they may cross paths with.

    Additionally, the inherent principle of ubuntu, also stresses that we help those around us. The wealth of a nation is not only measured in rands and cents, but also the priceless assets that are its children. Surely, we can ALL do better to protect them. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Democratic Republic of Congo Implements the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS)

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 6, 2025

    With the successful launch of the new data portal—the National Summary Data Page (NSDP) — the Democratic Republic of Congo has implemented a key recommendation of the IMF’s Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS) to publish essential macroeconomic and financial data. The e-GDDS is the first tier of the IMF Data Standards Initiative that promotes transparency as a global public good and encourages countries to voluntarily publish timely data that is essential for monitoring and analyzing economic performance.

    The launch of the NSDP is a testament to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s commitment to data transparency. It serves as a one-stop portal for disseminating various macroeconomic data compiled by multiple statistical agencies. The published data includes statistics on national accounts, prices, government operations, debt, the monetary and financial sector, and the external sector.

    The launch of the NSDP was supported by an IMF technical assistance mission, financed by the Government of Japan through the Japan Administered Account for Selected Fund Activities, and conducted in collaboration with the African Development Bank from June 2 to 6, 2025. The mission was hosted by the Ministry of Finance – Comité de Pilotage et d’Orientation de la Réforme de Finances,” in close collaboration with the Banque Centrale du Congo and the Institut National de la Statistique.

    With this reform, the Democratic Republic of Congo will join 76 countries worldwide and 34 countries in Africa that are using the e-GDDS to disseminate standardized data.  

    Mr. Bert Kroese, Chief Statistician and Data Officer, and Director of the IMF’s Statistics Department, welcomed this as a major milestone in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s statistical development. “I am positive that the Democratic Republic of Congo will gain substantial advantages from deploying the e-GDDS as a framework to enhance its statistical system.” Mr. Kroese stated.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Boris Balabanov

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/06/pr-25185-democratic-republic-of-congo-dem-repub-of-congo-implements-the-e-gdds

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Regressing into Progress: Remarks before the International Center for Insurance Regulation

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Thank you, Christian. I appreciate the chance to be part of this event. I must first let you know that my views are my own as a Commissioner and not necessarily those of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or my fellow Commissioners. Speaking of my views, they may not overlap much with those of Theodor Adorno, the famed early 20th century intellectual whose legacy is so prominent at this university. But his assertion that “progress occurs where it ends”[1] aptly describes my views of much of the global environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) movement.

    The ESG era, though marketed as progress, has harmed investors, companies, regulators, and society. Nothing is new about companies and investors taking a wide range of factors into account in deciding how to allocate capital. The materiality framework of our U.S. securities regulatory regime elicits disclosure about issues determinative to a company’s long-term financial value, including, when applicable, ESG issues. Our framework distinguishes between what is material to an investment decision and what is not material even though some investors might care deeply about it. Only the former warrants mandatory disclosure.

    The distinctive element that marks this new era is the presumptive categorization of anything bearing the ESG label as inherently material to long-term financial value. In doing so it departs from a near-century-old materiality-based disclosure regime. If ESG is treated as a short-hand for materiality, affixing the ESG label to something automatically justifies using it to drive capital allocation decisions. An ESG label substitutes for hard analysis by companies and investors about how something relates to long-term financial value. The thinking goes that if lots of people in society are talking about “fill-in-the-blank” issue, it needs to factor into all corporate and investor thinking and thus into regulatory mandates. That companies, investors, and their advisors may find certain ESG matters material to their decisions does not justify short-circuiting real analysis of what matters for the long-term financial value of a particular company or a particular investor’s portfolio. The current approach to ESG is harmful because it takes a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation. Instead of capital allocators performing individualized analysis of ESG criteria they are given a box-checking exercise composed of generic metrics and criteria concocted by a hodge-podge of interest groups. As a result, focused financial analysis is burdened by irrelevant and misleading red herrings which may lead to worse financial decisions.

    Let’s start with societal harm. ESG initiatives—even when couched in terms of disclosure—attempt to shift capital flows to uses favored by politicians, regulators, and powerful interest groups as embodied in the taxonomies that drive corporate and investor activity. These favored industries and companies are more likely to correspond to lobbying prowess than to the ability to improve society. Capital diverted to pet projects of the politically powerful is not available for companies working hard to meet people’s genuine needs or to solve society’s most pernicious and pressing problems. As political power shifts, the nature of the favored projects does too. Regardless of whose ESG it is, something other than people’s genuine needs determines who gets capital.

    Regulators, often driven by good intentions, have poured countless hours into devising and implementing ESG frameworks. Central banks, securities regulators, and insurance regulators scour their rule books for ways to inject ESG targets into their regulated entities’ decision-making so that money flows to ESG-positive projects. A sustainability standard setter now sits alongside the international accounting standard setter, which may lead to unwarranted confidence in the sustainability standards and unwanted degradation of the accounting standards.[2] International organizations of regulators have packed their agendas with ESG work streams. Regulators’ other responsibilities have suffered from the attention given to ESG. The climate rule, for example, consumed a tremendous amount of time and resources that could have been devoted to modernizing the disclosure rulebook. And bank regulators’ focus on climate risk may obscure other risks, such as interest rate risk.[3]

    The time and money regulators spend on ESG pales in comparison to what companies have spent. ESG initiatives coming from every level of government and reinforced by grifting, silver-tongued sustainability sirens consume tremendous amounts of corporate resources. Employees across the organization spend time collecting and analyzing ESG data—time which otherwise would be directed toward corporate value maximization. A growing list of ESG issues—amplified by proxy advisors, shareholder proponents, and ESG rating organizations—also demand the time and attention of boards and managers. ESG considerations influence product and supplier choices to the detriment of a company’s long-term value.

    Investors also have suffered from the ESG obsession. Most significantly, if ESG targets supplement financial goals for companies, holding company managers accountable for their performance may be difficult. Managers can claim success based on one of the company’s ESG metrics even if the company has failed to meet its goals related to maximizing the long-term value of the company. Further interfering with accountability, investors may find it hard to locate material information in disclosures brimming with mandated ESG items. So much for Plain English initiatives designed to make disclosure documents easier to read! As just one example in the decline of readability, from 1997 to 2017 the average length of an annual report has grown by almost 200%[4]. These lengthy disclosures are time-consuming and distracting to prepare and give ample fodder for costly shareholder class action litigation and SEC enforcement actions. In one recent case, a throwaway line about the recyclability of coffee capsules led to a $1.5 million penalty.[5] Increasing disclosure increases litigation risk. Shareholders foot the bill for non-litigation costs too. Besides aspiring plaintiffs, an ever growing outside industry of advisers, consultants, accountants, and attorneys who help companies prepare ESG disclosures and defend them in litigation are eager to take their cut. In addition, shareholders incur costs imposed by their fellow shareholders who submit proposals for inclusion on corporate proxies. These proposals increasingly focus on environmental and social issues rather than governance issues with a direct connection to financial returns, such as the presence of staggered boards and poison pills. Proponents, who come from both sides of the political spectrum and often own only a tiny percentage of company shares, impose large costs on companies. Even if the proposal never makes it to the proxy, it can serve as an express ticket to special backroom negotiations with company management. Companies, with the help of attorneys, process and analyze the requests and sometimes make quiet concessions to the proponents that may be wholly unrelated to—and might be directly deleterious to—the company’s long-term financial value. Even worse, shareholders often have no idea these deals are even taking place.

    Recognizing the dangers of an unthinking embrace of everything ESG, the United States at multiple levels, has paused to assess its approach. States have raised questions about how asset managers are taking ESG objectives into consideration in managing state investment portfolios. A knee-jerk prohibition on considering anything that might be categorized as ESG could impede legitimate investment analysis. But asking asset managers to be clear about what is driving their investment decisions can help to ensure that asset managers are fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to their clients.

    Change also is happening at the federal level. The U.S. Department of Labor will engage in new rulemaking to rescind ESG rules adopted under the prior administration.[6] The SEC’s signature ESG rulemaking faces a court challenge against which the current SEC has decided not to defend,[7] and other ESG initiatives, such as an ESG proposal for investment advisers, have lost steam. Earlier this year, Commission staff rescinded guidance that had made it easier for certain investors and their representatives to inundate companies with proposals that had nothing to do with the company receiving them. In rescinding this guidance, the staff returned to an analysis that considers the “policy issue raised by the proposal and its significance in relation to the company.”[8] This change should help prevent shareholder proponents from forcing companies to focus on ESG issues that are wholly unrelated to their business. To help prevent a shift back to ESG as an excuse for a disclosure mandate, I recommend embedding in the SEC rulebook an explicit commitment to materiality as the governor of disclosure mandates. This commitment is consistent with statute.[9] To complement such a rulemaking, the Commission could undertake a project, as appropriate, to remove from the SEC rulebook or modify any disclosure mandates that are not rooted in materiality.

    Europe too seems to be looking at its ESG regulatory framework with an eye toward streamlining it. Absent such streamlining, Europe could suffer economically. Also worthy of reconsideration is the direct and indirect imposition of Europe’s ESG mandates and regulations on American companies either because they have some European presence or have as investors European asset managers seeking to satisfy their own ESG mandates. These extraterritorial efforts threaten to spread economic malaise globally. International organizations would do well to work as hard to dismantle the ESG regulatory edifice as they have in building it.

    I look forward to a lively upcoming conversation. In this exchange of ideas, I hope that we can honor the legacy of Doktor Adorno in terms that are accessible to people like me who are not steeped in the erudite political, artistic, and philosophical discourse that flowed so readily from his pen.

    [1] Theodor W. Adorno, Progress, in Critical Models: Interventions and Catchwords 150, 143-60 (Henry W. Pickford trans., Columbia Univ. Press 2005).

    [3] See e.g. Governor Michelle W. Bowman, Statement on Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions (Oct. 24, 2023), https://federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bowman-statement-20231024b.htm (“The lessons learned from supervisory failures during the bank stress in the spring clearly illustrate that bank examiners and bank management should focus on core issues, like credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. Today’s guidance could ultimately distract attention and resources from these core risks.”).

    [4] Danny Lesmy, Lev Muchnik and Yevgeny Mugerman, Doyoureadme? Temporal Trends in the Language Complexity of Financial Reporting, SSRN Elec. J. 4 (Sept. 2019), https://ssrn.com/abstract=3469073.

    [9] See, e.g., Andrew Vollmer, Part 1: Reasons a Court Should Find that the SEC Lacked Legal Authority for the Climate-Change Disclosure Rules (Apr. 29, 2024), https://www.finregrag.com/p/reasons-a-court-should-find-that (“The statutory context of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act limits the SEC’s power to issue disclosure rules to specific types of information about the disclosing company’s business, finances, and securities that bear on investment returns.”); Sean J. Griffith, What’s “Controversial” About ESG? A Theory of Compelled Commercial Speech under the First Amendment, 101 Neb. L. Rev. 876, 923 (2023), https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4118755# (“The disclosure of financial material under an investor protection rationale must therefore be bounded by a baseline principle of relevance. Fortunately, securities law contains such a principle in the concept of materiality. . . . Using the concept of materiality as a guide to relevance suggests that in order to be justified under the investor protection rationale, mandatory disclosures must have a clear and plausible relationship to the financial return of the investment. Speculative or uncertain information would not meet this standard. Information that is immaterial . . . imposes a cost on investors.”).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Captivision, Inc. Announces Receipt of Staff Determination Letter from Nasdaq

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Captivision Inc. (“Captivision” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CAPT), a pioneering manufacturer and global LED solution provider, announced that on June 4, 2025, it received a staff determination letter (the “Determination Letter”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that it had not regained compliance with the Market Value of Listed Securities (“MVLS”) Requirement by June 2, 2025. The Determination Letter has no immediate effect and will not immediately result in the suspension of trading or delisting of the Company’s securities.

    As previously reported in a Current Report on Form 6-K filed on December 9, 2024, the Company received a deficiency letter from the Nasdaq Staff on December 3, 2024, notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the Company’s MVLS was below the minimum of $50 million required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A). The Company was provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until June 2, 2025, to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement.

    Additionally, on May 22, 2025, Staff notified the Company that since it had not yet filed its Form 20-F for the period ended December 31, 2024, it no longer complied with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Filing Requirement”). However, pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(2), this deficiency serves as a separate and additional basis for delisting, and the Company should also address this concern before a Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) if it appeals Staff’s determination.

    Accordingly, and as described in the Determination Letter, the Company intends to timely request a hearing before the Panel. The hearing request will automatically stay any trading suspension or delisting action for an additional 15 calendar days following the date of the request; however, Nasdaq provides a process for requesting an extension of the stay through the hearing date and any subsequent extension period granted by the Panel. In connection with its hearing request, the Company will request to have the stay extended through the hearing and any additional extension period that may be granted by the Panel thereafter. However, there can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company an extended stay or an additional extension to demonstrate compliance, or that the Company will be able to regain compliance by the end of any additional extension period.

    About Captivision

    Captivision is a pioneering manufacturer of media glass, combining IT building material and architectural glass. The product has a boundless array of applications including entertainment media, information media, cultural and artistic content as well as marketing use cases. Captivision can transform any glass façade into a transparent media screen with real time live stream capability. Captivision is fast becoming a solution provider across the LED product spectrum.

    Captivision’s media glass and solutions have been implemented in hundreds of locations globally across sports stadiums, entertainment venues, casinos and hotels, convention centers, office and retail properties and airports. Learn more at http://www.captivision.com/.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to expectations for future financial performance, business strategies, or expectations for the Company’s respective businesses. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts, and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this press release, words such as “believe”, “can”, “continue”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “will” or the negative of such terms, and similar expressions, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

    The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to raise financing in the future and to comply with restrictive covenants related to indebtedness; (2) the ability to realize the benefits expected from the business combination and the Company’s strategic direction; (3) the significant market adoption, demand and opportunities in the construction and digital out of home media industries for the Company’s products; (4) the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq; (5) the ability of the Company to remain competitive in the fourth generation architectural media glass industry in the face of future technological innovations; (6) the ability of the Company to execute its international expansion strategy; (7) the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property rights; (8) the profitability of the Company’s larger projects, which are subject to protracted sales cycles; (9) whether the raw materials, components, finished goods, and services used by the Company to manufacture its products will continue to be available and will not be subject to significant price increases; (10) the IT, vertical real estate, and large format wallscape modified regulatory restrictions or building codes; (11) the ability of the Company’s manufacturing facilities to meet their projected manufacturing costs and production capacity; (12) the future financial performance of the Company; (13) the emergence of new technologies and the response of the Company’s customer base to those technologies; (14) the ability of the Company to retain or recruit, or to effect changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; (15) the ability of the Company to comply with laws and regulations applicable to its business; and (16) other risks and uncertainties set forth under the section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F entitled “Risk Factors.”

    These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and the Company’s management team’s current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company and its directors, officers, and affiliates. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company management team’s views as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update, add or to otherwise correct any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, inaccuracies that become apparent after the date hereof or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    Investor Contact:
    Gateway Group
    Ralf Esper
    +1 949-574-3860
    CAPT@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Ocean Month, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
    This National Ocean Month, my Administration recognizes the foundational role our bordering oceans have played in our treasured national story — and we pledge to harness their resources, preserve their majesty, and channel their power to safeguard American interests and uphold our way of life.
    As President, I am steadfastly committed to restoring America’s maritime dominance — including in the realms of trade, military readiness, and resource production.  For this reason, on my first day in office, I proudly renamed the largest gulf in the world to the Gulf of America, recognizing its status as a vital extension of the Atlantic Ocean and its central role in our economy, history, and national identity.
    To further expand American leadership at sea, I signed an Executive Order to revitalize our Nation’s dominance in offshore critical minerals and resources.  Every day, we are rapidly developing our domestic capabilities for the exploration, production, and processing of critical minerals from the deep seabed that are vital to our economic and strategic advantage.  In April, I signed a proclamation to open the Pacific Remote Islands National Monument to commercial fishing.  As part of my America First vision, I also took action to bring back American seafood competitiveness, end trade practices that harm American fishermen, and boost domestic seafood production and exports. 
    Under my leadership, we are in the midst of a new chapter of American freedom, prosperity, and strength — both within our shores and beyond our coasts.
    This National Ocean Month, my Administration renews its resolve to usher in a new and radiant golden age both at home and at sea — using our oceans and their magnificent resources to empower our citizens, defend our homeland, and preserve our glorious American sovereignty for generations to come.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2025 as National Ocean Month.  This month, I call upon Americans to reflect on the value and importance of oceans not only to our security, environment, and economy but also as a source of recreation and enjoyment.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thissixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Pressley Highlights How Crypto Blockchain Enables Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Calls on Congress to Close Regulatory Gaps, Prevent Blockchain from Becoming Safe Haven for Abusers and Predators

    “Protecting survivors of abuse should not be a partisan issue. And it certainly should not be an afterthought in our digital financial future.”

    WASHINGTON – In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) highlighted how regulatory gaps in crypto blockchain enable abuse in intimate partner violence. Congresswoman Pressley called on Congress to close these gaps to prevent blockchain tools from becoming safe havens for abusers and predators.

    A transcript of the Congresswoman’s question line, as delivered, is available below, and the full video is available here.

    Transcript: Pressley Highlights How Crypto Blockchain Enables Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence
    House Financial Services Committee
    June 5, 2025

    REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you to Ranking Member Waters for convening this Minority Day Hearing. Thank you to our witnesses for joining us.

    Today, I’d like to speak not about market structure but actually about people. Specifically, women and survivors of intimate partner violence.

    Now we already know financial abuse is a core component of intimate partner violence.

    Abusers frequently control bank accounts, restrict access to money, stalk survivors through financial transactions, or drain shared assets to leave their partner economically trapped.

    With traditional financial systems, there are red flags and mechanisms to detect this such as bank alerts and flagged withdrawals.

    But in the crypto world, these protections vanish. Abusers can stash funds in anonymous wallets, bypass court-ordered freezes, or empty crypto accounts without a trace. We’ve seen reports where a husband hid $500,000 in Bitcoin during divorce proceedings and abusers used blockchain tools to exert coercive control.

    Professor Allen, you’ve researched this issue. In your view, how does the decentralization of financial services, such as in blockchain-based wallets, make it harder to protect survivors of intimate partner violence from economic abuse such as stalking?

    PROFESSOR ALLEN: Well, thank you very much for this important question.

    I think it helps us to talk about the things that are not in the bill that should be, right, and there’s lots of them. This bill doesn’t address conflicts of interest within exchanges. It doesn’t address the operational risks associated with blockchain, and it doesn’t address the privacy risks associated with using the blockchain.

    Blockchains are public. Anyone can see them. So if someone knows your public identifier, they can see every transaction that you do, and that can give away information about your location. It can give away information about if you’re trying to siphon off funds in order, well, not siphon, but put away funds in order to leave an abusive partner. All of that is going to be visible for all the world to see.

    So that’s before we even get to the issue of the abusers themselves using crypto for criminal purposes or abusive purposes. This publicity of the blockchain is something that this law doesn’t grapple with at all.

    REP. PRESSLEY: You know, and certainly, intimate partner violence is one of the most underreported crimes, making it challenging to quantify how many, specifically, victims of economic abuse. But it’s safe to say that without those elements being added, that many could be vulnerable.

    PROFESSOR ALLEN: Of course, I mean, without addressing the privacy issue, it’s not just an issue for women. It’s also an issue for immigrants who don’t want their locations necessarily revealed. It’s an issue for people being profiled by law enforcement officers. You know this kind of publicity about literally every transaction you do being visible to the whole world is something that just hasn’t even been, the surface scratched.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you, Professor.

    Traditional banks are subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) rules and fraud monitoring but crypto platforms, especially decentralized ones, currently operate outside that framework.

    Professor Allen, can you expand on this regulatory gap and how it allows abusers to hide and move money in ways that would be impossible in the traditional banking system?

    PROFESSOR ALLEN: Yeah. So the thing about crypto and the blockchain is that the technology is actually very inefficient. It’s slower and clunkier than your average database. Where it gets its efficiencies from is skipping regulatory requirements that apply to others, including AML and KYC checks. So using this technology, the sort of the end goal is, is skipping that process.

    And so when you have fewer barriers along the way, then there are fewer intervention points where law enforcement officers and others can crack down on illicit activity, including using funds in ways that could be used to harm women.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Right, fewer barriers, fewer intervention points.

    I’m particularly concerned by reports where abusers access their partner’s crypto wallet—and if they know the password—and raid the account, preventing their partners from recovering lost funds since crypto transactions are irreversible.

    Let me just close here and say that the promise of decentralization may be empowering for some, but for survivors of intimate partner violence, there is often no recourse due to the regulatory gaps in our system.

    We cannot allow blockchain tools to become safe havens for abusers and predators. Congress, Congress in the whole, needs to close these gaps.

    Protecting survivors of abuse should not be a partisan issue.

    And it certainly should not be an afterthought in our digital financial future.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: Russia is ready to share its digitalization experience with foreign countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Global Digital Forum is taking place in Nizhny Novgorod on June 5 and 6. The event serves as a platform for building a dialogue between representatives of Russian and foreign IT companies, government bodies, and the scientific and expert community. Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Government Dmitry Grigorenko delivered a report at the plenary session “New Digital World: From Monopolies to Equal Partnership”.

    Digital technologies have become an integral part of increasing the efficiency of processes in many areas in Russia – from public administration and provision of government services electronically to medicine and creation of additional opportunities in education. Thus, 85% of all permits and licenses in the country are issued electronically, and every second application to the registry office is submitted by newlyweds through “Gosuslugi”.

    “Russia is focusing on the development of domestic technologies and is in an active phase of introducing artificial intelligence in various industries. AI can have a great economic effect, speed up and simplify the execution of various tasks. Our country has many solutions that are not inferior to foreign ones, and biometrics services are available that make everyday life easier, for example, checking into hotels or services in MFCs,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Staff noted that the IT industry in Russia is demonstrating steady growth. Over the past five years, the number of participants in the register of accredited IT companies has doubled, and their profits have grown sevenfold. In addition, competitive IT solutions have emerged that are not inferior to foreign ones. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is important to consider them not only as products for the domestic market, but also as a full-fledged commodity for export. IT solutions in the field of information security, platform solutions and artificial intelligence have the greatest export potential.

    The Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin, addressed the participants of the Global Digital Forum with a welcoming speech.

    “Today, the Nizhny Novgorod Region is rightfully considered one of the key IT hubs in Russia. We are third in the country – right after Moscow and St. Petersburg – in terms of the level of development of the software development industry, first – in terms of the effectiveness of government support measures for the IT industry. We are building the only IT campus in the country, “Neimark”. Nearby, we will build a modern IT technopark, where the offices of leading technology companies will be located – from international IT giants to fast-growing startups,” emphasized Gleb Nikitin.

    Earlier, at CIPR-2025, the results of monitoring the IT industry for 2024 were presented: the contribution of accredited IT companies to the Russian economy amounted to 6%, and for every ruble of government support invested, 2 rubles were received in taxes.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Broadway Technology Inc Announces Entering into a Merger Agreement with Quartzsea Acquisition Corporation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAINING, China, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Broadway Technology Inc (“Gaokai”), a leading manufacturer of high-quality PET (polyethylene terephthalate) cups and lids through its operating subsidiary Zhejiang Gaokai New Materials Co., Ltd., announced the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) for a business combination with Quartzsea Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: QSEAU, QSEA, QSEAR) (“Quartzsea”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.

    Upon consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) Quartzsea will be merged with and into Cuisine Universal Packaging Solution, a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Quartzsea (“Cuisine Universal”) (the “SPAC Merger”), and (ii) concurrently with the SPAC merger, CUPS Sub Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Cuisine Universal, will be merged with and into Gaokai, resulting in Gaokai being a wholly owned subsidiary of Cuisine Universal (the “Business Combination” and the transactions in connection with the Business Combination collectively, the “Transaction”). Upon the closing of the Transaction, the combined company Cuisine Universal expects to be Nasdaq-listed under the ticker symbol “CUPS.”

    Gaokai Overview

    Gaokai, through its operating subsidiary Zhejiang Gaokai New Materials Co., Ltd., is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the manufacture of high quality customized PET (polyethylene terephthalate) cups and PET lids, with products widely used in packaging markets of aviation, yogurt, juice, fruit tea, coffee, and cold beverage markets. Established in 2021 and located in Haining Jianshan New District, Zhejiang Province, the company operates within the PET industrial park in convenience for sourcing and developing advanced PET raw material.

    Gaokai’s core competitive advantages include stable and high-performance raw PET materials, comprehensive upstream sheet manufacturing capabilities, advanced equipment and automated production lines, and high-transparency, innovative product designs. The company offers comprehensive PET cup customization services, including advanced cup printing technology for custom logos, sizes, and shapes.

    With the comprehensive capabilities of material R&D, innovative design, advanced manufacturing and efficient operation, Gaokai has established itself as a professional PET cup manufacturing base managed by experienced cup manufacturing professionals.

    Key Transaction Terms

    Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Quartzsea’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cuisine Universal, will acquire Gaokai, resulting in Cuisine Universal being a listed company on the Nasdaq Global Market. At the effective time of the Transaction, Gaokai’s shareholders will receive ordinary shares of Cuisine Universal. The shares held by certain Gaokai shareholders will be subject to lock-up agreements for a period of 180 days following the closing of the Transaction, subject to certain exceptions.

    The Transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Quartzsea and Gaokai, is subject to regulatory approvals, the approvals by the shareholders of Quartzsea and Gaokai, respectively, and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions, including, among others, a registration statement, of which the proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the approval by Nasdaq of the listing application of the combined company.

    The description of the Business Combination contained herein is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement relating to the Business Combination. A more detailed description of the Transaction and a copy of the Merger Agreement will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Quartzsea with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Advisors

    Celine & Partners, PLLC, Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, and B&D Law Firm serve as legal counsel to Quartzsea. Pryor Cashman LLP, Harney Westwood & Riegels, and Jingtian & Gongcheng, PLLC serve as legal counsel to Gaokai. Chain Stone Capital Limited (CTM) serves as the financial advisor to Gaokai.

    About Quartzsea Acquisition Corporation

    Quartzsea Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Cuisine Universal Packaging Solution, Quartzsea Acquisition Corporation, and their respective directors, executive officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Quartzsea ordinary shares in respect of the proposed Transaction. Information about Quartzsea’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Quartzsea’s ordinary shares is currently set forth in Quartzsea’s prospectus related to its initial public offering dated March 18, 2025, as modified or supplemented by any Form 10-K, Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of such filing. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in a registration statement on Form F-4 (as may be amended from time to time) that will include a proxy statement and a registration statement/preliminary prospectus (the “Registration Statement”) pertaining to the proposed Transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated below.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Quartzsea or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Important Information about the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Transaction, Cuisine Universal will file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement. Promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective, the proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Quartzsea shareholders entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the Transaction. Before making any voting decision, securities holders of Quartzsea are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the Transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the Transaction and the parties to the Transaction.

    Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC through Quartzsea through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to the contacts mentioned below.

    Contact Information:

    Quartzsea Acquisition Corporation:

    Qi Gong

    Chief Executive Officer

    M: +1(212) 612-1400

    E: qgong@quartzsea.com

    Zhejiang Gaokai New Materials Co., Ltd.:

    Chengji Zhang

    E: chengjizhang8@gmail.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Quartzsea’s and Gaokai’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “might” and “continues,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Quartzsea’s and Gaokai’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Business Combination and the timing of the completion of the Business Combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside the control of Quartzsea or Gaokai and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement relating to the proposed Business Combination; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Quartzsea or Gaokai following the announcement of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Quartzsea or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (4) delays in obtaining or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals (including approval from PRC regulators) required to complete the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (5) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close; (6) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-acquisition company’s ordinary shares on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; (7) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that Gaokai or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other risks and uncertainties to be identified in the Registration Statement filed by Quartzsea and Cuisine Universal (when available) relating to the Business Combination, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in other filings with the SEC made by Quartzsea and Gaokai. Quartzsea and Gaokai caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Quartzsea and Gaokai caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Neither Quartzsea nor Gaokai undertakes or accepts any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, subject to applicable law. The information contained in any website referenced herein is not, and shall not be deemed to be, part of or incorporated into this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: XOVR ETF Adds Anduril, Joining SpaceX to Offer Pre-IPO Access

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ERShares, the first Crossover ETF that offers retail investors access to Private companies, with SpaceX as its top weight, is ushering in the next generation of investing with a new private equity position in Anduril Industries. Through the XOVR ETF, which primarily invests (85% +) in the US Entrepreneurial Large Cap ER30TR Index, ERShares continues …its pursuit to provide retail investors access to private equity—which we believe offers exposure to high-growth, entrepreneurial companies typically reserved for institutions and high net worth investors, and does so at the same pricing available to those accredited investors.

    XOVR complies with SEC guidelines by keeping private equity exposure under 15%, with over 85% of the portfolio tracking the Entrepreneur 30 Total Return Index (ER30TR)—built on ERShares’ proprietary Entrepreneur model, applied to public markets for more than two decades. Given its weighting, the ER30TR Index drives the majority of XOVR’s return, while the private holdings offer potential upside and added diversification.

    Private equity investments can experience significant price swings—both upward and downward—over extended periods, even if valuations are not marked frequently. Additionally, private equities are inherently less liquid and less transparent than their public counterparts, resulting in higher risk profiles despite comparable market capitalizations.

    As with all investments, public equities can be volatile, though they have historically offered meaningful return potential over time. Private companies may magnify both opportunity and risk, which is why ERShares encourages investors to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    To help manage risk, ERShares applies structured parameters around the size and scope of its private holdings. The due diligence process for these positions mirrors the same rigorous methodology used in constructing the ER30TR Index—adapted for private markets.

    Relaunched on August 29, 2024, XOVR became the first ETF to blend public equities with private equity holdings – potentially delivering diversified, liquid access to both high-growth public companies and elite pre-IPO firms. This ETF Crossover structure helps bridge two previously disconnected markets in one transparent vehicle.

    On May 30, 2025, ERShares initiated a $3M (approx. 1%) investment in Anduril, marking XOVR’s third private equity holding – after SpaceX ($33M, approx. 10%) and Klarna ($2M, less than 1%) – and establishing Anduril as its second-largest private position. The move reflects ERShares’ conviction in companies that sit at the intersection of innovation, national importance, and scalable disruption. The position was selected after extensive internal research and due diligence, consistent with ERShares’ proprietary Venture Capital-style framework for evaluating private and public companies.

    “Our proprietary research model identifies category-defining companies before they go public,” said Dr. Joel Shulman, Founder and CIO of ERShares. “Anduril embodies the deep tech leadership and mission-driven innovation we seek for XOVR.”

    ERShares also recently increased its SpaceX position at $185 per share – matching its previous entries – to reaffirm confidence in the company’s valuation amid market speculation.

    Bridging Public and Private Markets

    “We’re not just following innovation – we’re positioning investors at its source,” said Eva Ados, Chief Investment Strategist at ERShares. “Whether private or public, our focus is on trying to identify the next Magnificent Seven (The “Magnificent 7” currently refers to a group of seven large-cap, high-growth U.S. technology companies: Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), and Tesla, Inc. (TSLA))—those rare, transformational companies that have the potential to shape entire decades of innovation and growth.” Anduril Industries: The Next Generation of Defense Technology

    Founded by Palmer Luckey – creator of Oculus and a key early collaborator with Palantir – Anduril Industries represents the next generation of defense technology. Anduril is rapidly becoming foundational to U.S. military modernization initiatives.

    Transparent Valuation Backed by Research

    ERShares uses a structured valuation methodology to price private equity holdings – drawing from tender offers, internal transactions, IPO indicators, and comparables – to help ensure pricing is fair, consistent, and market-aware. This framework helps protect investors while maintaining daily liquidity and regulatory compliance.

    Investing in the Future – Before the IPO

    With positions in SpaceX, Klarna, and now Anduril, XOVR remains the only ETF offering diversified access to potentially high growth private companies alongside expanding public innovators. The fund allows investors to participate in the potential next wave of value creation – before it goes public.

    “We built XOVR to give retail investors access to leading private companies at the critical pre-IPO stage,” added Dr. Shulman. “It is time they participate in the value creation that was once reserved only for institutions and accredited investors.”

    Past performance is no guarantee of future results, please refer to the disclosures below for important risk information: https://entrepreneurshares.com/disclosures/

    All investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

    Distributed by Vigilant Distributors LLC.

    Media Contact: info@ershares.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 5th, 2025 Heinrich Slams DOGE Attacks on USGS Scientists and Budget Cuts in Letter to Interior Department Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member on the Senate Committee of Energy and Natural Resources sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum expressing his grave concern surrounding the Trump Administration’s assault on the Department’s science agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The letter highlights President Trump’s proposed budget cuts on the USGS, and the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) reported planned terminations of hundreds of scientists and potential termination of USGS centers’ leases across the country as threats to our nation’s scientists, public safety responsibilities and operational continuity of the agency.
    In addition to Heinrich, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter.
    The senators opened the letter, “We write to express concern over recent and proposed actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and broader administrative decisions that together threaten the integrity and continuity of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).” The senators continued, “Specifically, the potential termination of General Services Administration (GSA) leases supporting USGS centers across the country— alongside USGS’s proposed FY2026 budget cut of $564 million and the reported planned terminations of hundreds of scientists—represents a multi-front assault on the nation’s scientific infrastructure.”
    Emphasizing the critical role USGS plays in monitoring and analyzing the nation’s resources, the senators highlighted, “USGS’s work underpins the ability of federal, state, and local governments, Tribal nations, industry, and communities tomake informed decisions—particularly in areas such as disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, water resource management, andecosystem protection,” the senators wrote.
    Stressing the impacts of cuts to USGS, “These proposed budgetcuts could mean abandoning research and monitoring that helps farmers guard against wildlife diseases like avian flu, delaying when real-time water and hazard data is provided for disaster response, and ending collaborations that monitor invasive species, harmful algal blooms and wildfire risks,” the senators wrote.
    “The scientific integrity, public safety responsibilities, andoperational continuity of the USGS must not be compromised by administration actions taken without proper oversight or consultation,” stated the senators.
    The senators highlighted the threat that the potential termination of USGS leases pose, many of which house Water Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, and Ecosystems Research Centers, “These facilities provide critical support to states, local communities, and Tribal Nations as they confront unprecedented drought, wildfires, habitat loss, and other climate-related disruptions”
    “While DOGE’s actions are framed as efficiency measures, the potential impact of terminating these leases – without transparent criteria or coordination – as well as slashing $564 million from the budget and crippling of the scientific workforce raises serious questions about continuity of operations. If implemented, these changes to USGS would directly impair the federal government’s ability to assess and respond to threats in real time,” stressed the senators.
    The senators concluded the letter by asking the Department of the Interior to respond to questions outlining the far-reaching implications of these actions by June 19, 2025.
    Read the full text of the letter here and below:
     Dear Secretary Burgum,
    We write to express concern over recent and proposed actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and broader administrative decisions that together threaten the integrity andcontinuity of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Specifically, the potential termination of General Services Administration (GSA) leases supporting USGS centers across the country— alongsideUSGS’s proposed FY2026 budget cut of $564 million and the reported planned terminations of hundreds of scientists—represents a multi-front assault on the nation’s scientific infrastructure.
    The USGS is a premier science agency with a critical role inmonitoring and analyzing the nation’s resources, including water, ecosystems, natural hazards, minerals, and energy. Its scientific expertise and robust data collection efforts support public safety, environmental stewardship, and national economic resilience. USGS’s work underpins the ability of federal, state, and local governments, Tribal nations, industry, and communities to make informed decisions—particularly in areas such as disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, water resource management, and ecosystem protection.
    The proposed budget cuts are not about “efficiency”— they represent a retreat from federal responsibility and a dismantling of the scientific infrastructure that communities, industries, andgovernments depend on every day. USGS supports work that directly protects public health, strengthens our economy, andinforms disaster preparedness and response. These proposed budget cuts could mean abandoning research and monitoring that helps farmers guard against wildlife diseases like avian flu, delaying when real-time water and hazard data is provided for disaster response, and ending collaborations that monitor invasive species, harmful algal blooms and wildfire risks. While these impacts are not yet certain, they represent serious risks for communities, Tribes, state and local governments, and natural resource managers who depend on USGS science to make informed, often life-saving decisions. As demonstrated throughout its nearly 150 years of existence, USGS science is not optional; it is essential.
    The potential termination of USGS leases, many of which house Water Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, andEcosystems Research Centers, threatens regional scientific capacity at a time when local expertise and place-based science are most needed. These facilities provide critical support to states, local communities, and Tribal Nations as they confront unprecedented drought, wildfires, habitat loss, and other climate-related disruptions. Reliable Page 2 scientific information is essential toboth our national economy and the safety of communities across the country.
    While DOGE’s actions are framed as efficiency measures, the potential impact of terminating these leases – without transparent criteria or coordination – as well as slashing $564 million from the budget and crippling of the scientific workforce raises serious questions about continuity of operations. If implemented, these changes to USGS would directly impair the federal government’s ability to assess and respond to threats in real time.
    Given this uncertainty and the far-reaching implications of these actions, we request immediate clarity on the following by June 19, 2025:
    1. What is the current status of all USGS leases and what facilities are at risk of lease termination?
    2. What criteria were used to select these leases for potential termination, and how was USGS consulted in this process?
    3. What plans are in place to ensure uninterrupted mission support—particularly for key activities under the Water Resources, Natural Hazards, and Ecosystems Mission Areas— if these facilities are closed?
    4. Where will affected employees be relocated, and how will critical field and lab operations be maintained in the interim?
    5. How will USGS ensure that existing commitments to state andlocal governments, tribal partners, and other stakeholders are honored, particularly for time-sensitive water data and hazard alerts?
    6. What USGS staff positions are on the list for termination (please include title and location)? When will the terminations be implemented?
    7. Do any of the USGS employees on the list for termination have salaries funded by reimbursable contracts with external partners? If so, how many such employees are affected, and what is the amount of federal savings that would be generated from their termination?
    8. Given the planned reduction in force, how will existing staff fill the gaps in order to fulfill the USGS mission?
    9. What programs will be eliminated by the $564 million proposed budget cut?
    The scientific integrity, public safety responsibilities, andoperational continuity of the USGS must not be compromised by administrative actions taken without proper oversight or consultation. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta is ready for its close-up! | L’Alberta est prête pour son gros plan!

    Now in its 46th year, Alberta’s government is solidifying its ongoing support for the Banff World Media Festival as a key platform to showcase Alberta’s state-of-the-art studios, competitive production incentives, beautiful landscapes and skilled talent to the world.

    Alberta’s government is proud to invest in the future of the provincial film industry with more than $1 million, over three years, in sponsorship support for the Banff World Media Festival. The funding is part of the government’s continued commitment to creating jobs, attracting investment and growing cultural industries across Alberta, including film, television and music.

    “Our film and television industry is a creative force and a major contributor to Alberta’s economy. By continuing to invest in the Banff World Media Festival, we bring global industry leaders right to Alberta’s doorstep, giving the world a front-row seat to everything that makes our province a top-tier destination for film and television production.”

    Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women

    The Banff World Media Festival welcomes to Alberta almost 1,600 key industry representatives from over 50 countries, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Banff National Park.

    It opens doors for Alberta creators to connect with global partners and investors. Building on last year’s success, the Alberta “Fill Yer Boots” Music Showcase returns to shine a spotlight on Alberta’s talented homegrown musicians and highlight more opportunities to feature local music in film and television productions.

    “We are incredibly grateful for the Government of Alberta’s continued investment in the Banff World Media Festival. This support strengthens our ability to convene global industry leaders in Alberta, foster creative and economic partnerships, and spotlight the province’s world-class talent, locations and production capabilities on an international stage.”

    Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director, Banff World Media Festival

    “This funding is a meaningful commitment to the future of Canada’s and Alberta’s screen industries. The Banff World Media Festival is a vital platform where global deal making, talent discovery and innovation thrive. Alberta’s support ensures the festival continues to deliver economic and creative impact across the province and around the world.”

    Sean Cohan, chair of the board, Banff Television Festival

    Previous investment in the film and television industry has already put Alberta centre stage, capturing global attention with several high-profile productions. With over sixty per cent of all Alberta-made projects filmed or planning to film in small cities, towns and rural locations across the province, investment in this growing industry is boosting the economy in every corner of Alberta.

    “Alberta has a growing film and television industry that is putting our talent and landscapes on the big screen for the world to see. Our government continues to prioritize increased jobs, investment and economic diversification, which we are achieving in part through film and television. To all those attending this year’s Banff World Media Festival, thank you for helping put Alberta on the map.”

    Joseph Schow, Minister for Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration

    Quick facts

    • The Banff World Media Festival runs from June 8 to 11, 2025.
    • The Government of Alberta has been a primary sponsor of the Banff World Media Festival since its inception in 1979.
    • Thanks to incentives like the Alberta Media Fund and the Film and Television Tax Credit, Alberta has been home to 337 film and television productions since 2020.
    • Every dollar of government support towards film and television production generates four dollars of investment back into the province.
    • To date, almost one-third of all productions participating in the Film and Television Tax Credit program did their filming in rural Alberta.

    Related information

    • Alberta Film Commission

    Related news

    • Lights, camera, Alberta! Boosting cultural industries | Lumières, caméra, Alberta! Stimuler les industries culturelles (April 16, 2025)
    • Movie star treatment for Alberta screen producers | Traitement de vedette pour les producteurs de l’Alberta (Sept. 18, 2024)
    • Lights, camera, action for film and television (June 7, 2024)
    • Investing in more chapters of Alberta’s stories | Investir dans d’autres chapitres des histoires albertaines (April 23, 2024)

    Le gouvernement de l’Alberta contribue à réunir des chefs de file du cinéma et de la télévision, des créateurs et des investisseurs du monde entier au Festival mondial des médias de Banff.

    Le gouvernement de l’Alberta renforce son soutien continu au Festival mondial des médias de Banff, qui en est à sa 46e année d’existence. Le Festival constitue une plateforme essentielle pour présenter au monde entier les studios ultramodernes, les incitatifs à la production concurrentiels, les paysages magnifiques et la richesse des talents de la province.

    Le gouvernement de l’Alberta est fier d’investir dans l’avenir de l’industrie cinématographique provinciale en affectant plus d’un million de dollars, sur trois ans, au parrainage du Festival mondial des médias de Banff. Ce financement s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’engagement continu du gouvernement à créer des emplois, à attirer des investissements et à développer les industries culturelles de l’Alberta, notamment le cinéma, la télévision et la musique.

    « Notre industrie cinématographique et télévisuelle est une force créatrice et une contributrice majeure à l’économie de l’Alberta. En continuant d’investir dans le Festival mondial des médias de Banff, nous invitons les chefs de file de l’industrie à découvrir l’Alberta et offrons ainsi au monde entier une place de choix pour se familiariser avec tout ce qui fait de notre province une destination de premier plan pour la production cinématographique et télévisuelle. »

    Tanya Fir, ministre des Arts, de la Culture et de la Condition féminine

    Le Festival mondial des médias de Banff accueille en Alberta près de 1 600 représentants clés de l’industrie venus de plus de 50 pays, dans le cadre époustouflant du parc national Banff.

    Il permet aux créateurs albertains d’entrer en contact avec des partenaires et des investisseurs du monde entier. Forte du succès de l’année dernière, la vitrine musicale albertaine « Fill Yer Boots » est de retour pour attirer l’attention des participants sur les talentueux musiciens albertains et multiplier les occasions de mettre en valeur la musique locale dans les productions cinématographiques et télévisuelles.

    « Nous sommes extrêmement reconnaissants au gouvernement de l’Alberta pour son investissement continu dans le Festival mondial des médias de Banff. Ce soutien renforce notre capacité à réunir les chefs de file de l’industrie mondiale en Alberta, à favoriser les partenariats créatifs et économiques et à mettre en avant les talents, les sites et les capacités de production de calibre mondiale de la province sur la scène internationale. »

    Jenn Kuzmyk, directrice générale, Festival mondial des médias de Banff

    « Ce financement constitue un engagement important envers l’avenir des industries cinématographiques du Canada et de l’Alberta. Le Festival mondial des médias de Banff est une plateforme essentielle qui permet de conclure des accords à l’échelle mondiale, de découvrir des talents et d’innover. Le soutien de l’Alberta permet au festival de continuer à avoir des retombées économiques et créatives dans la province et dans le monde entier. »

    Sean Cohan, président du conseil d’administration du Festival de télévision de Banff

    Les investissements antérieurs dans l’industrie du cinéma et de la télévision ont déjà permis à l’Alberta d’occuper le devant de la scène et d’attirer l’attention du monde entier grâce à plusieurs productions de premier plan. Plus de 60 % de tous les projets réalisés en Alberta ont été tournés ou prévoient de l’être dans des petites villes, des villages et des zones rurales de la province; l’investissement dans cette industrie en plein essor stimule ainsi l’économie dans tous les coins de la province.

    « L’Alberta possède une industrie cinématographique et télévisuelle en plein essor qui met nos talents et nos paysages sur le grand écran pour que le monde entier puisse les voir. Notre gouvernement continue d’accorder la priorité à la création d’emplois, à l’investissement et à la diversification économique, ce que nous réalisons en partie grâce au cinéma et à la télévision. Je remercie tous les participantes et participants au Festival mondial des médias de Banff de contribuer à faire connaître l’Alberta. »

    Joseph Schow, ministre de l’Emploi, de l’Économie, du Commerce et de l’Immigration

    En bref

    • Le Festival mondial des médias de Banff se déroule du 8 au 11 juin 2025.
    • Le gouvernement de l’Alberta est l’un des principaux commanditaires du Festival mondial des médias de Banff depuis sa création en 1979.
    • Grâce à des mesures incitatives telles que le Fonds des médias de l’Alberta (Alberta Media Fund) et le crédit d’impôt pour le cinéma et la télévision, l’Alberta a accueilli 337 productions cinématographiques et télévisuelles depuis 2020.
    • Chaque dollar d’aide gouvernementale à la production cinématographique et télévisuelle génère quatre dollars d’investissement dans la province.
    • À ce jour, près d’un tiers de toutes les productions participant au programme de crédit d’impôt pour le cinéma et la télévision ont été tournées dans les régions rurales de l’Alberta.

    Renseignements connexes (en anglais seulement)

    • Alberta Film Commission

    Nouvelles connexes

    • Lumières, caméra, Alberta! Stimuler les industries culturelles | Lights, camera, Alberta! Boosting cultural industries (16 avril 2025)
    • Traitement de vedette pour les producteurs de l’Alberta | Movie star treatment for Alberta screen producers (18 septembre 2024)
    • Lights, camera, action for film and television (Lumière, caméra, action pour le cinéma et la télévision) (7 juin 2024; en anglais seulement)
    • Investir dans d’autres chapitres des histoires albertaines | Investing in more chapters of Alberta’s stories (23 avril 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon declares quarterly dividend on June 6

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon declares quarterly dividend on June 6

    NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Board of Directors at Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today declared a quarterly dividend of 67.75 cents per outstanding share, unchanged from the previous quarter. The quarterly dividend is payable on August 1, 2025 to Verizon shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2025.

    Verizon continues to take a strategic and disciplined approach to achieving its financial goals by focusing on targeted customer segments and integrating its services to deliver greater personalization. Building on its financial strength, Verizon continues to invest in its business and drive innovation to better serve its customers.

    “As the nation’s leader in mobility and broadband for consumers and businesses, we create great experiences for a broad and high-quality base of customers,” said Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “This allows us to continue paying our dividend even in uncertain economic environments, while investing in our business to extend our network leadership, enhance America’s communications infrastructure and meet the present and future needs of all our customers.”

    Verizon has approximately 4.2 billion shares of common stock outstanding. The company made more than $11.2 billion in cash dividend payments in 2024.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help Coastal Workforce, Fisheries, and Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    06.06.25

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), reintroduced the Working Waterfronts Act, legislation which includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects.

    In October 2022, Senator Murkowski began soliciting feedback from Alaskans to help draft the Working Waterfronts legislation. After a two-year period of close collaboration with stakeholders and colleagues in the Senate, she introduced the legislation for the first time in February of 2024.

    “One of my priorities this Congress was reintroducing the Working Waterfronts Act, a comprehensive and collective effort to harness the potential of the blue economy for Alaska’s coastal communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “With 66,000 miles of coastline, it is vital Alaska strengthens our shoreside infrastructure and supports workforce development to ensure the sustainability and growth of our fisheries, tourism, and mariculture sectors. This legislation will provide essential resources for alternative energy initiatives, improve community processing facilities, and promote safety and wellness in the maritime workforce. Together, we can build a resilient future for our coastal communities while addressing climate change and preserving our precious marine ecosystems.”

    “Maine’s coastal communities are changing. From a warming climate to an evolving economy, the Gulf of Maine faces both historic opportunities and challenges that will define our state’s success for generations,” said Senator King. “The Working Waterfronts Act would provide Maine’s working waterfronts up and down the coast with the necessary financial, energy and infrastructure resources to adapt to the rapidly shifting dynamics of natural disasters affecting economic and tourism operations. It would also help support the necessary workforce to sustain our coastal businesses. Thanks to my colleagues for working with me to ensure our waterfronts have the necessary tools and resources to thrive for years to come.”

    “The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) thanks Senator Murkowski for her continued efforts to support Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, which provides tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact across the state. The Working Waterfronts Act would make impactful changes that are needed now, such as expanding access for fishermen and processors to USDA loans, grants for improving waterfront infrastructure that benefit commercial fishermen, and creating a new program to improve maritime workforce development. These changes, along with many others in the Act, provide needed help the Alaska seafood industry, a critical pillar of Alaska’s economy,” said Greg Smith, Communications Director at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

    “Senator Murkowski’s Working Waterfronts Act highlights the key priorities vital to the future of Alaska’s seafood industry. From modernizing infrastructure to building a resilient workforce and supporting innovation, this bill addresses the real challenges facing our coastal communities. We’re proud to support this effort and stand with Senator Murkowski in securing a strong future for Alaska’s working waterfronts,” said Kristy Clement, CEO of Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation.

    “Senator Murkowski’s Working Waterfronts Act is a comprehensive bill that invests in the modernization of our vital working waterfronts and the resiliency and success of our fishing and seafood industries,” said Robert Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network. “This bill champions crucial improvements to shoreside facilities and infrastructure that support thriving coastal economies and promotes the development of a stronger future workforce to ensure American fishing traditions can continue for generations. This legislation also supports research and stewardship of economically important ocean ecosystems and fisheries to help them endure in a changing climate. The Network supports the Working Waterfronts Act and thanks Senator Murkowski for listening to the needs of our fishing communities and providing a foresighted path to support their businesses and ways of life.”

    “The seafood industry has always been a critical part of the Blue Economy, even before the phrase was coined.  Alaska’s seafood industry produces an economic impact of $15 billion in the U.S. annually.  Senator Murkowski’s wholistic approach to a thriving waterfront is visionary.  The Working Waterfront Act supports and expands access to critical infrastructure and resources upon which the seafood industry relies.  Specific to seafood harvesting and processing, the Working Waterfront Act incentives co-investment by providing access to USDA loan programs which will help American fishermen and processors compete with other countries – an excellent example of good domestic economic policy,” Julie Decker, President, Pacific Seafood Processors Association.

    Bill Highlights:

    Investing in Energy and Shoreside Infrastructure

    • Tax Credits for Marine Energy Projects supports projects that produce electricity from waves, tides, and ocean currents.
    • Fishing Vessel Alternative Fuels Pilot Program provides resources to help transition fishing vessels from diesel to alternative fuel sources such as electric or hybrid, and funds research and development of alternative fuel technologies for fishing vessels.
    • Rural Coastal Community Processing and Cold Storage Grant increases support for community infrastructure such as cold storage, cooperative processing facilities, and mariculture/seaweed processing facilities by establishing a competitive grant program through the Department of Commerce for rural and small-scale projects.
    • Working Waterfronts Development Act establishes a grant program for infrastructure improvements for facilities benefitting commercial and recreational fishermen, mariculturists, and the boatbuilding industry.

    Boosting Maritime Workforce Development and Blue Economy

    • Maritime Workforce Grant Program establishes a Maritime Workforce Grant Program, directing the Maritime Administrator to award competitive grants supporting entities engaged in recruiting, educating, or training the maritime workforce.
    • Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act expands the Coast Guard and CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fishing Safety Research and Training (FRST) Grant Program to include projects supporting behavioral health in addition to the projects currently supported dedicated to occupational safety research and training.
    • Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act establishes at least one ocean innovation cluster in each of the five domestic NOAA Fisheries regions, as well as the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico regions. The ocean cluster model fosters collaboration between different sectors – including public, private, and academic – within a geographic region to promote economic growth and sustainability in the Blue Economy.

    Supporting Sustainable and Resilient Ecosystems

    • Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act enhances collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring through ongoing mechanisms for stakeholder engagement on necessary research and monitoring. This provision would also establish two Advisory Board seats for representatives from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.
    • Vegetated Coastal Ecosystem Inventory establishes an interagency working group for the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive national map and inventory detailing vegetated coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems. This inventory encompasses habitat types, species, ecosystem conditions, ownership, protected status, size, salinity and tidal boundaries, carbon sequestration potential, and impacts of climate change.
    • Marine Invasive Species Research and Monitoring provides resources and tools to mitigate the impact of invasive species and help limit their spread by authorizing research and monitoring grants for local, Tribal, and regional marine invasive prevention work. This includes training, outreach, and equipment for early detection and response to invasions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Discusses Importance of Protecting Women’s Sports, Boosting School Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with several of President Trump’s nominees, including Penny Schwinn, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Education at the Department of Education, Kimberly Richey, nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and Daniel Aronowitz, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration at the Department of Labor. They discussed the importance of protecting Title IX and promoting school choice.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON PROMOTING SCHOOL CHOICE:

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for all of you [being] willing to serve. It’s a privilege to have you all here. Doctor Schwinn, I wonder if people can give the definition of ‘national emergency.’ That’s what we have in our education system. It’s pitiful. I’ve been in it 35 years and it’s getting worse. The last four years, we just brushed over the problems, didn’t try to correct any. I would hope that you would be really involved in this. Our kids can’t read and write, [the] majority of them. It’s a disaster. It’s a shame. It’s criminal, to be honest with you.

    [Holds up cellphone] would you please get that out of the classroom? Because kids can’t learn when they’re looking at a text. I’m sick of hearing about ‘we need those in the classroom.’ Let’s take our schools back. We’ve given it over to the people who actually don’t want to educate our kids.

    So, thanks for your background in educational agencies. If confirmed, I hope you would assist Secretary McMahon in executing at the more local level. Can you address that?”

    SCHWINN: “Absolutely, and thank you for that. I couldn’t agree more as the parent of a thirteen-year-old. So, absolutely, one of the things that we did in Tennessee that I think was the secret sauce and has been over a long period of time is that locals know what’s best for their communities and their students. Memphis, Tennessee and Lake County, Tennessee are three to four hours apart and could not be more different. My home state of California and my adopted home state of Tennessee could not be more different. We need to make sure that locals are empowered to make the best decisions for their students. And when the money is closest to the child, when the decisions are closest to the child, we can best serve the child. And I am completely aligned with Secretary McMahon to ensure that we can help our states and our local communities to make the best decisions for their students in their communities.”

    TUBERVILLE: “School choice should be an option. I’ve been in many inner-city schools. For some reason, a lot of my colleagues do not want to educate kids in inner cities. School choice should be mandatory in a lot of our inner cities because they can’t read and write. If you can’t read and write, you can’t take advantage of the greatest country ever.”

    ON PROTECTING TITLE IX:

    TUBERVILLE: “Ms. Richey, Title IX, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, is what I’ve been trying to get passed for years. It makes no sense to me what’s going on. I mean, we’ve got a huge problem. We can’t define the difference of men playing in women’s sports. It’s dangerous. We all know that. I mean, it’s something that we’d better get straight because little girls aren’t going to get into sports and we’re not going to have women’s sports 10, 15years from now. We’ve got entire high school teams that are made now of transgender boys that can’t figure out that they’re not supposed to be in that—that it’s for women. But what are your thoughts on that?”

    RICHEY: “Yes, sir. Thank you, Senator, for the question. I grew up playing basketball, and played into college. I could not have competed against biological men. It just was not something that I would have been able to do. One of the things I’m really proud of under the first term is that [the] OCR investigated and took to enforcement one of the very first cases initiated by the federal government, which actually determined that policies that allow students to participate based on sexual orientation or gender identity actually violated Title IX because they deprive women and girls of the opportunity to participate in athletics. I’m very proud of that. I’m very proud of the way that the Secretary and the President have prioritized this issue, and I’m certainly committed to vigorously enforcing it and continuing to pursue these cases.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. We’ve got the Olympics here in a couple of years—[in] a few years in LA. We’re going be a joke if we allow that to happen on the world stage. So, hopefully we come to our senses by that time and show little girls that, ‘yes, you do have an opportunity.’”

    ON THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM ACT:

    TUBERVILLE: “[The] Financial Freedom Act. I think you, Mr. Aronowitz, are familiar with that. The Biden administration pretty much prohibited being able to put your finances where you wanted to, at the end of the day. I’ve been trying to get that passed. Would you commit to supporting legislation that would provide Americans the freedom to invest their own money how they see fit?”

    ARONOWITZ: “Absolutely, Senator. I believe that fiduciaries should decide what’s in retirement plans, not government bureaucrats, not plaintiff lawyers, no one else. Fiduciaries know what’s best, and I am committed to that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks About Importance of Protecting Alabama’s Family Farms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke about the importance of protecting Alabama’s family farms during a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville spoke with Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Jim Alderman, Owner of Alderman Farms, and Aaron Locker, Managing Director of Kincannon & Reed.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on Youtube or Rumble.
    ON HIGH COSTS IMPACTING AMERICAN FARMERS: 
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having and holding this hearing. In addition to being on the Aging Committee, gentlemen, I’m also on the Ag Committee. Let me tell you, the state of our agriculture economy, it’s in dire straits. We’re in trouble. We’ve lost 150,000 farms, [and] 25,000 farmers just in the last five years. Producers have lost over $40 billion dollars in net farm income since 2022 and the current agriculture trade deficit has grown to $49 billion dollars. Despite [this], in my state of Alabama, the producers [are] making bumper crops, they can’t even break even, much less make a profit due to the low commodity prices, high input costs, interest rates and inflation. We can’t keep this up. We can’t do it. The only way we’re going to help our farmers survive is to extend President Trump’s tax cuts, increase references prices, and hammer the heck out of foreign countries on tariffs. It is way out of control, way out of balance. We cannot continue this direction.”
    ON FARM LABOR:
    TUBERVILLE: “It’s concerning that one-third of our farmers are over the age of 65. And this creates a significant workforce problem for our ag industry as young people are not entering farming. Mr. Duvall and Mr. Alderman, this labor problem increases the need for reforms in H-2A programs. Can you two speak of the struggles of keeping up with H-2A’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) that is over $16 dollars an hour in my state of Alabama—that is double the minimum wage. Can y’all address that, please?”
    ALDERMAN: “Yes, sir. I can.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    ALDERMAN: “It costs me between $22 to $24 dollars an hour from my H-2A labor. Okay? Minimum wage in Florida, I think, is $12.50. I’m from Florida. And with the rates going up higher—next year they’re going up and they’re talking about going up another dollar—we still have to pay for their housing. We’d like some relief at least we could get the housing back from the people, the H-2A workers who we are bringing in. We spend, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars every year just for housing for the labor. Plus, we have to bring them in here, pay for their visas, pay for their ride here, their ride back. They’re great labor. They’re good. Without them, we couldn’t harvest our crops. But we can’t compete with the cheap prices of tomatoes coming from Mexico against us. They undercut the price—it’s so cheap. […] The tariffs that we’re talking about is not enough to make any difference. 20%, 17%, that’s not enough to help it. They need a floor of at least what our minimum growing cost is and then put a tariff above that. But try to protect the Florida farmers, the few that are left, not only just in Florida, because at first, it was just Mexico was coming after Florida tomato farmers right after NAFTA. Well, 20 years later, they’re growing pepper and squash and corn and beans and every vegetable we grow all the way up the East Coast, all the way to Jersey and past. They’re going to be competing with all of them, Mexico with all those products. And their labor is, I don’t know, what are they paying $10 dollars a day and we’re paying $25 dollars an hour? There’s got to be some help with the balance of trade. We don’t want the government to give us anything, but get us on a level playing field with Mexico and Canada.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Duvall, you want to add to that?”
    DUVALL: “Yes, sir. First thing we need to do is for Congress to freeze the AEWR wage rate so that farmers don’t have to take another increase and give us time to work on this H-2A program so that we can make it a workable program for our employees and for the farmer there. If the way we’re going now with the wage rate going up, we’re gonna price ourselves out of farming. We’re not gonna be able to pay the wage rate and stay in the farming and provide those jobs. And it’s gotta be done, it’s gotta be done quickly. And then we gotta work on creating an H-2A program or a program that speaks to all of agriculture. All of agriculture is suffering for the lack of labor, and we need to have year-round workers that’s not capped. We need to be able to control it, but we need to be able to fill those jobs, whether a small, medium, or large-sized farm, and we need to have those year-round workers in those areas like dairy and other places where the work never stops. And then, of course, the regulations that go along with those programs are just so burdensome. You heard him talk about the requirement of having housing—the liabilities that come along with that and the difficulty it is for our farmers to continue to abide by all these regulations because every regulation costs a lot of money to a farmer. And if we’re gonna continue to be able to compete with the world, we gotta be able to make sure that we have a workable program, bring reliable labor here so that we can get the job done. […] How can a young farmer come back to the farm and bring his expertise that he learned in college [and] expand that farm without having the labor force to do it with? That’s one of the biggest limiting factors we have. And that AEWR rate is set by a survey done by USDA that was created over 60 years ago to count employees, not to set a wage rate. The formula is totally […] unworkable, and we need to redo that formula and set a fair wage rate that encourages farmers to hire people and be able to still stay in business and to treat their employees right.”
    ON IMPORTANCE OF REPEALING THE DEATH TAX:
    TUBERVILLE: “I got one question, Mr. Locker, we’ll start with you. All of you can answer if you want—your thoughts on this. As long as I’ve been up here, I’ve been advocating to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, which is often called the ‘death tax.’ I know it means a lot to farmers. So, Mr. Locker, we’ll start with you—your thoughts?”
    LOCKER: “Well, Senator, I think, obviously, you look at modern agriculture today, I mean, it is a massive investment. Even small farms, I mean, if you add up all the assets. And, so, anytime that you want to pass that along to the next generation, it comes at a significant cost and in many cases is cost prohibitive. And so, yeah, doing away with the death tax. And I think we get, you know, bottled in with, you know, other businesses and it couldn’t be farther from the truth in terms of comparable that, you know, when you’re passing along a farm business, it comes with, like I said, a lot of costs, a lot of assets, it takes a lot to run a farm today. And so doing away with the estate, the death tax is the right thing to do. To be able to continue to pass it down to the next generation—otherwise it becomes cost prohibitive.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Duvall, you got it.”
    DUVALL: “It’s absolutely one of the necessary things that we need to do. [A farmer] works all his life. I’ve spent my whole life buying back my farm—my daddy had to sell part of it off—my whole life. And if we don’t fix that problem, if we don’t get rid of the inheritance tax, other generations will have to sell a farm and that farm will go out of production, and we will not enjoy the production from those farms. And it has to be done. You know, it’s just like people say, ‘Well, you got a lot of land, you got a lot of wealth.’ You have to have land to farm. It’s just like having a tractor. It’s just like having a car to go to work in every day, even if you’re not farming. It’s something you have to have to do that job. But, show me a farmer that has a retirement plan. It’s tied up in his land. It’s tied up in his land. And when he retires, he’s either got to sell his land or sell it to his children. And then if you pile inheritance tax on top of that, they have to sell part of the farm to be able to continue it. And it is one of the biggest devastating things that can happen to a family farm when you have a death and have to go through that difficult time.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Alderman?”
    ALDERMAN: “I agree with you wholeheartedly. It’s double taxation. It shouldn’t be there. You’ve already paid the taxes once. Why are you going to just put somebody out of business or make them sell their business or the farm? It shouldn’t be there. I agree with you.” […]
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada extends support to Ukraine by waiving tariffs on goods

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 6, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    Last month in Banff, Alberta, G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors unanimously reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.

    Building upon this consensus, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, today announced that Canada will extend the Ukraine Goods Remission Order until June 9, 2026.

    Canada is continuing to support Ukraine’s economy with a one-year extension on tariff-free importation of Ukrainian goods into Canada.

    Canada remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine as it fights to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy. The conflict initiated by Russia, with support from Belarus, continues to severely impact Ukraine’s economy, including its ability to export goods globally.

    Since the Ukraine Goods Remission Order was issued on June 9, 2022, Canada has imported over $35 million in goods from Ukraine with $8.5 million in customs duties remitted. The extension is expected to generate approximately $1.2 million in duties remitted from June 10, 2025 to June 9, 2026.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newmarket — RCMP arrest individual for exporting banned technology to Russia

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Ontario RCMP have arrested a Canadian businessman for violating Canadian sanctions that prohibit technology trade and exports to Russia.

    Following a three-year investigation, the Ontario RCMP’s Sanctions Unit has obtained Attorney General of Canada consent to commence a criminal prosecution under the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, and the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, SOR/2014-58.

    Anton Trofimov (43) of Toronto, Ontario, is facing the following charges for sanctions evasion:

    • Export, sell, supply or ship a good referred to in Column 1 of Schedule 7 to Russia, contrary to section 3.9 (1) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58), thereby committing an offence contrary to section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c.17;
    • Export, sell, supply or ship a good referred to in the Restricted Goods and Technologies List to Russia, contrary to section 3.6 (1) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58), thereby committing an offence contrary to section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c.17;
    • Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime, contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

    Trofimov made a first appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice at Toronto on May 22, 2025.

    “Canada’s sanctions are a critical component to our economic security, and these types of violations pose serious risks in maintaining international peace and global security. Individuals and businesses are responsible for ensuring the end destination of all exports do not fall under these sanctions. The RCMP will continue to pursue individuals or groups who attempt to profit from illegal trade.”- Chief Superintendent Chris Leather Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations, RCMP Central Region

    The RCMP works closely with domestic and international partners, including the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to prevent and disrupt the illicit trade of technologies with sanctioned states.

    “This arrest is an example of how close collaboration with our Canadian partners can result in significant impact such as disruptions to Russia’s attempts to evade U.S. and Canadian sanctions.” – Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office.

    “This arrest demonstrates both the importance of the CBSA’s ongoing work to interdict the proliferation of strategic Canadian technology and the crucial cooperation between the CBSA and RCMP in identifying exporters intent on violating sanctions. The CBSA’s Counter Proliferation Operations Section examines more than 1 million export declarations per year and collaborates with external and internal partners to meet Canada’s commitment to enforcing sanctions on strategic exports to Russia.” – Daniel Anson, Director General, Intelligence and Investigations, Canada Border Services Agency

    Prosecutions under the Special Economic Measures Act are conducted by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

    Fast facts

    • The purpose of the Canada Sanctions regime is to enable the Government of Canada to take economic measures against certain persons in circumstances where an international organization of states, of which Canada is a member, calls on its members to do so.
    • The RCMP Sanctions Program performs several roles within the Government of Canada’s sanctions regime, including conducting investigations into potential contravention of sanctions, the receipt of information from third parties in accordance with the legislation, and providing assistance to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. For more information on Canadian sanctions enforcement, please visit our website.
    • For more information about the high priority items list subject to export controls, please visit the Global Affairs Canada website.

    If you have any information related to violation of Canada’s sanctions legislation, you can contact the RCMP at Federal_Policing_Intake_Unit@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Wake of DCA Tragedy, Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 to strengthen aviation safety. The legislation follows Warner and Kaine’s years-long advocacy against further crowding in the capital area airspace – which will continue – and comes in direct response to the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet operating as American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that took the lives of 67 people.

    The crash exposed multiple system failures, including the Army Black Hawk not transmitting safety-enhancing ADS-B technology (radio systems that aircraft use to share their positions with each other and with air traffic control), unsafe route design for mixed traffic near DCA, and lack of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) coordination to prevent future incidents. The Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 addresses these specific failures, as well as broader long-standing FAA air traffic controller shortages, FAA internal safety management systems, and the need for important post-accident safety reviews.

    “Ensuring the safety of our nation’s air travel is critical, and as we have seen with tragedies and incidents in Virginia and across the country, an urgent matter,” said Sen. Warner. “The legislation takes important steps to strengthen critical safety measures, boost job training and recruitment efforts, and ensure coordination between the Department of Defense and FAA in order to better protect the millions of Americans who travel by air daily.”

    “The crash at DCA was a tragedy, and we have a responsibility to the loved ones of those we lost and the American public to make changes to ensure this never happens again,” said Sen. Kaine. “This bill includes a number of important steps, such as mandating a safety review of flight operations in the National Capital Region, improving air traffic controller hiring and training, and enhancing employee reporting and transparency. I will continue to do more to prevent another crash like this from occurring, including pushing to remove slots at DCA to address the congested airspace in the region.”

    “We are grateful to Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, whose teams were the very first we met with on Capitol Hill as we began our advocacy journey. Over the past four months, they have remained consistently engaged, responsive, and supportive. Senator Warner’s and Senator Kaine’s dedication to aviation safety – both for the people of Virginia and across our national airspace – has been clear and unwavering. We thank them for joining with Senator Cantwell and putting forth this comprehensive aviation safety bill,” said the families of Flight 5342.

    The Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 includes several of Sens. Warner and Kaine’s priorities and will: 

    • Strengthen Aviation Safety to Protect the Flying Public by:
      • Closing the ADS-B Out Military Loophole: The bill ends certain Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agency exemptions from using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out near DCA and other busy airports. The Army Black Hawk involved in the Jan. 29 crash was equipped with ADS-B Out, but it was not transmitting. The Army operated “100% of missions” in the National Capital Region with this critical safety technology deactivated and not transmitting, making military aircraft invisible to air traffic controllers and nearby planes.
      • Expanding Use of ADS-B In to Boost Safety: Within four years of enactment, the legislation requires all mainline and regional airlines to install ADS-B In and operate with it activated unless otherwise instructed by FAA air traffic control. This technology allows pilots to see nearby aircraft on their displays, and ensures better separation from other aircraft, dramatically improving situational awareness.
      • Initiating FAA Safety Review of DCA Airspace Management and Other Busy Airports to Prevent Close Calls and Tragic Crashes: The bill requires a comprehensive FAA/DoD safety review of DCA airspace to assess how helicopter, drone and military flights impact commercial operations and to better prevent future incidents. And it ensures a thorough evaluation of all non-commercial flight routes near the airport. The bill requires the same comprehensive FAA/DoD safety review of other busy U.S. airports (other Class B airports), prioritizing safety reviews of such airports with high volumes of mixed flight traffic.
      • Creating Independent Expert Review Panel for Effective SMS at FAA:  The legislation creates an independent expert panel to review FAA’s Safety Management System and ensure it is effective and integrated across all FAA operations within 180 days. The panel will include aviation safety experts, labor representatives, and NASA officials to lend their specific expertise to ensure the review is comprehensive.
      • Requiring Risk Assessments After Major Aircraft Accidents: The bill requires FAA to do a safety risk assessment – specifically a Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology (TARAM) analysis – following any major, fatal airline crash, regardless of whether the crash is linked to an aircraft design or manufacturing issue.
    • Grow and Protect FAA Staffing Now and in the Future by:
      • Expanding High-Quality Controller Training Pipeline and Boosts Hiring: The bill codifies FAA’s existing Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training (Enhanced AT-CTI) program, which boosts FAA controller training capacity and allows FAA to hire highly qualified college graduates directly into air traffic control facilities to begin as controller trainees. The graduates have to have completed FAA-certified air traffic curriculums and meet other FAA controller qualifications, which would ensure an equivalent level of education and training from qualified evaluators to that of the FAA Academy. By adding nine certified Enhanced AT-CTI schools for a target of 15 total schools, FAA will be able to hire hundreds more controller trainees each year into its controller training pipeline to boost controller staffing. The bill also extends the requirement for FAA to hire as many controllers as possible through 2033.
      • Protecting FAA Workforce from Cuts and Hiring Freezes: The legislation reverses the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and prohibits future hiring freezes on FAA’s safety workforce. It also prohibits any Executive Branch action to offer deferred resignation programs or voluntary buyouts to FAA workforce.
      • Closing Medical Review Backlogs: The bill requires FAA to hire more licensed medical professionals to fully staff its Aviation Medical Examiner team, addressing persistent backlogs in medical reviews for controllers, pilots, and other safety critical aviation professionals.
      • Creating New Controller Instructor Recruitment Program: The legislation requires a new FAA outreach program recruiting experienced controllers approaching retirement to become instructors at FAA’s Academy or at understaffed air traffic facilities.
    • Ensure Better FAA Oversight and Demand Information Sharing and Communication Between FAA and DOD
      • Establishing First-Ever FAA Oversight Office for Military Aviation Coordination: The bill establishes a dedicated FAA oversight office to oversee and coordinate military aircraft and helicopter flights and carry out airspace safety reviews, ensuring stronger communication between the Department of Defense and FAA offices to prevent future incidents.
      • Establishing a New Joint FAA-DoD Council on ADS-B: The bill establishes a joint FAA-Department of Defense Council to regularly review Federal government operations using ADS-B Out exemptions to ensure they meet the law.
      • Improving FAA and Military Aviation Safety Information Sharing: The bill would require aviation safety data sharing between the Department of Defense and the FAA via MOUs with each military service. For example, the Army does not typically share safety information from its Aviation Safety Management Information System with FAA except through lengthy Freedom of Information Act requests.
      • Preventing Conflicts of Interest at FAA: The legislation requires a Department of Transportation (DOT) rulemaking to ensure the DOT and the FAA are abiding by Federal government-wide financial conflicts of interest law and a DOT Inspector General Review of conflicts of interest at the DOT and FAA.
      • Requiring GAO Investigation of DOD Exemption Abuse: The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies have been misusing ADS-B, and determine whether agencies followed the law.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have been closely involved with the in the investigation of the January 29th collision, meeting with first responders and offering condolences to the families and loved ones of the 67 lives lost immediately following the tragedy. The senators also saw through passage of a legislation to remember the victims of the crash. Sens. Warner and Kaine also requested answers from FAA on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the January 29 collision. In March of this year, the senators responded to the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the crash. The senators have also sounded the alarm for years about the need for increased safety for the flying public, including fighting against additional flights out of DCA that contribute to overcrowding. 

    A copy of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid

    Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein today sent a letter to U.S. Senators Tillis and Budd laying out the consequences of the U.S. House reconciliation bill for North Carolina families, including cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That bill, along with impending expiration of health care marketplace subsidies, could cause nearly half a million North Carolinians to lose their health care. 

    Recent modeling estimates show that 255,000 North Carolinians are at risk of losing coverage under the Medicaid provisions alone in the House bill and a Kaiser Family Foundation study projected that the combination of Medicaid and Marketplace changes in the House Bill would increase the number of uninsured North Carolinians to an estimated 470,000 if Marketplace subsidies expire at the end of 2025. 

    “Medicaid and SNAP improve the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, support our economy, and provide critical support to local governments, hospitals, farmers, and grocers,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolina has taken bipartisan steps to strengthen our health system and protect working families. I urge the Senate to continue that progress by opposing these unprecedented cuts to SNAP and Medicaid that would leave North Carolinians, especially those in rural communities, without food assistance and health care.”  

    Estimates show that 255,000 North Carolinians would be at risk of losing health coverage under the House bill. The U.S. House bill also contains provisions that could jeopardize the enhanced federal matching funds (FMAP) for Medicaid expansion, which could immediately end health insurance coverage for the more than 650,000 North Carolinians who benefit from Medicaid expansion. 

    In March, Governor Stein sent a letter to Congress urging them to change course on proposed cuts to Medicaid. He has met with North Carolinians across the state, listening to their stories and hearing how cuts to Medicaid would impact beneficiaries, health care providers, and hospitals, especially those in rural communities. Medicaid is crucial to the state’s most vulnerable people, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, and potential cuts would put their well-being and the stability of the state’s health care system at risk.

    Proposals to shift up to 25 percent of SNAP food benefit costs to the states would force North Carolina to come up with $700 million annually to make up the difference or cut vital nutrition services. Rural counties in the state are already stretched thin, and these additional requirements and an administrative cost sharing increase from 50 percent to 75 percent would have a detrimental economic impact on local communities. SNAP adds $2.8 billion directly to North Carolina’s economy and supports local farmers, grocers, and the larger food distribution pipeline. The U.S. House Bill forces the state to make an unacceptable tradeoff between providing essential food support and health insurance coverage or diverting resources from public schools, law enforcement, and economic development. 

    Click here to read Governor Stein’s full letter to the U.S. Senate.  

    Click here to view county enrollment data for the SNAP program.  

    Jun 6, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European promotional institutions and EIB join forces to support EU security and defence

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • National promotional institutions of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain as well as EIB explore ways of stepping up cooperation and coordination in support of Europe’s security and defence industry.
    • Cooperation to foster pan-European approach in areas such as research, industrial capacity, and infrastructure.

    The national promotional institutions of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) will cooperate to bolster Europe’s security and defence industry. The six long term investors – Caisse des Depôts, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) and Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) and the EIB – agreed to further explore cooperation opportunities.

    The cooperation will focus on areas of investment and on potential joint financing in sectors such as research and development, industrial capacity, and infrastructure.

    The agreement reached today in Warsaw – in the margins of the European Association of Long-Term Investors (ELTI) CEO meeting hosted by BGK – marks a significant step to further boost and reinforce the collaboration between the national promotional institutions and the EIB in supporting Europe’s security and defence infrastructures, technologies and industrial capabilities.

    The initiative, which may also explore the development of potential joint collaborations, including on financial products and advisory services, is a pan-European approach to strengthening European security and defence. It is open to additional European long-term public investors, in particular national promotional institutions all over Europe, and it is part of increased efforts to strengthen the EU and tackle evolving security threats amid significant geopolitical shifts.

    Background information

    About the Caisse des Dépôts Group

    Caisse des Dépôts and its subsidiaries form a public long-term investor group serving the general interest and economic development of local areas. 

    It combines five areas of expertise: social policy (pensions, professional training, disability, old age, health), asset management, monitoring subsidiaries and strategic shareholdings, business financing (with Bpifrance) and Banque des Territoires.

    Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is the National Promotional Institution which has been supporting the Italian economy since 1850. The main goal of CDP is to accelerate the industrial and infrastructural development of Italy to boost its economic and social growth. CDP focuses its activities on sustainable development at local level, supporting the innovation and growth of Italian enterprises, also in the international arena. It partners local authorities, in a financing and advisory capacity, to create infrastructures and improve services of public value. CDP also participates actively in international cooperation initiatives to realize projects in developing countries and emerging markets. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is entirely financed by private capital, through the issuing of Postal Savings Bonds and Postal Savings Passbooks, and through issues on national and international financial markets.

    About the EIB   

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The EIB finances investments in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here. 

    About ICO

    Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) is the national promotional bank of Spain, attached to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. ICO has become a benchmark in financing both SMEs and large investment projects and contributes to sustainable growth by promoting economic activities that, due to their social, cultural, innovative or environmental importance, are worthy of promotion and development. www.ico.es

    About KfW

    KfW is one of the world’s leading promotional banks. With its decades of experience, KfW is committed to improving economic, social and environmental living conditions across the globe on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany and the federal states. To do this, it provided funds totalling EUR 112.8 billion in 2024 alone. Its financing and promotional activities are aligned with the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations and contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world.

    About Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego

    Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) is a Polish development bank, the only such institution in Poland. BGK supports the sustainable social and economic development of the country. Its activities influence job creation, housing construction, infrastructure development and air quality improvement. The bank cares about future generations – it builds social capital, develops entrepreneurship and provides responsible financing. It is present in every region of Poland, as well as abroad – it has representative offices in Brussels, Frankfurt am Main and Kyiv. The bank is involved in the implementation of European Funds in Poland, as well as products financed by the National Recovery and Reconstruction Plan. BGK supports exports and foreign expansion of Polish companies. Through cooperation with business, the public sector and financial institutions, it responds to economic needs.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters, Vargas, San Diego Delegation Members Demand Answers over South Park ICE Raid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    San Diego, CA — Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Juan Vargas (CA-52), along with Representatives Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Mike Levin (CA-49), and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the outrageous and militarized ICE Raid at Buona Forchetta, a community restaurant.

    In addition to this letter, Reps. Peters, Vargas, Jacobs, and Levin, and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter to Sec. Noem expressing their concern over the deliberate targeting of immigrants trying to follow the legal process at courthouses, such as the San Diego Immigration Court located in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building.

    In their letter, the members stated, “In 2024, President Trump’s now ‘border czar,’ Tom Homan, said immigration enforcement would focus on immigrants who are ‘public safety threats and the national security threats first.’  According to the facts outlined in the government’s warrant, the workers at Buona Forchetta do not appear to meet this standard. Instead, many immigrants, like those targeted in the operation, work challenging jobs and fill labor gaps in sectors like agriculture and construction. Immigrants are critical to the local and national economy, with those in the San Diego metro area contributing $11.3 billion in taxes annually.”

    They continued, “The role of law enforcement is to keep our community safe. The incident at Buona Forchetta last week did not make us safer. Witness accounts and video recordings show over 20 ICE and [Homeland Security Investigations] agents present on the scene, many armed with assault weapons and fitted in military tactical gear. Agents were then witnessed aggressively entering the restaurant to handcuff all employees—including those who were not enforcement targets. Agents also used three noise flash diversionary devices, which produce loud bangs and smoke, to disperse civilians at the scene. These tactics created chaos and fear, all to arrest four immigrants reportedly working hard as dishwashers and servers… The Administration’s use of these tactics also suggests the intent of the raid was not uphold the law in a responsible manner, but rather to intimidate. This is unacceptable. The use of such tactics to execute warrants for non-violent crimes not only harms public trust in HIS and ICE, it also raises legitimate questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

    And they concluded by asking that Sec. Noem promptly respond to the following questions:

    1. Has ICE or HIS received any new directive or informal communications from the Administration to expand enforcement priorities to immigrants who are not violent criminals or public safety threats?
    2. What is the process by which Department determines it is necessary to arm agents with assault weapons and military equipment during raids?
    3. How does Department account for the level of public safety threat of enforcement targets or the likely concentration of civilians when it makes these determinations?
    4. What tactics did ICE use to attempt to disperse the crowd before escalating to use noise flash diversionary devices?
    5. Prior to the operation, did ICE consider any of the targeted immigrants to be public safety or national security threats?

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Owner of Fuel Truck Supply Company Sentenced to Prison for Bid Rigging and Conspiracy to Monopolize

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The former owner of fuel truck supply companies was sentenced today in Boise, Idaho, to 12 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for his leadership role in conspiracies to monopolize, rig bids, and allocate territories for fuel truck contracts that assist the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to battle wildfires in Idaho and the mountain west. The conduct lasted at least eight years.

    Ike Tomlinson pleaded guilty in May 2024 to conspiring with Kris Bird, the owner of another fuel truck company to rig bids in each other’s favor. Both individuals pleaded guilty to the charges from the federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the fuel truck services industry.

    “This sentence sends a message that bid rigging—particularly bid rigging affecting federal agencies—will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Defendant’s conspiracies struck at the heart of the competitive process. They damaged essential taxpayer-funded services critical to protecting the American public and its property from wildfires while profiting at the expense of American taxpayers. The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to ensure that individuals who cheat and deprive their communities of these essential services are incarcerated.”

    “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who manipulate markets and undermine fair competition will be held accountable,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Antitrust violations harm consumers, distort markets and erode trust in our economy. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and disrupt all forms of corporate fraud.”

    “Competition is critical for fair and efficient federal contracting,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Jason Suffredini of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG). “GSA OIG special agents and our partners are committed to pursuing those who engage in any form of procurement fraud.”

    According to court documents, the co-conspirators coordinated their bids to inflate prices and to determine who would have priority to receive business from the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies in the event of a wildfire in a specific geographic area. These bids gave the false impression of competition when, in fact, the co-conspirators had predetermined who would receive priority from the Forest Service. The co-conspirators further coordinated to exclude and punish potential competitors to further maintain the success of their conspiracy.  Tomlinson participated in the conduct from 2015 through 2023.

    The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency, and General Services Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case.  Assistant Chief Christopher J. Carlberg and Trial Attorneys Elena A. Goldstein, Daniel B. Twomey, and Matthew Chou of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.

    In addition to today’s criminal sentence, on July 10, 2024, the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, entered into a civil settlement with Ike Tomlinson and other related entities and individuals who agreed to pay $1.1 million to resolve civil claims related to allegations that they obtained government contracts through bid-rigging and the submission of false SAM Certifications, submitted false claims for helicopter operations support trailers, wrongly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan, and other conduct.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General investigated the civil case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert B. Firpo and Civil Chief James Schaefer are handling the case.

    In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government—federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. 

    MIL OSI USA News –