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Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ICC showed its might by arresting Rodrigo Duterte. Its reputation will take longer to fix

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Lecturer in International Law, Curtin University

    Only five days after the arrest warrant against former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was issued, he was apprehended and immediately put on a plane to The Hague to face charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    The prompt action – and the fact he is the first former Asian head of state before the ICC – have been heralded as “a pivotal moment for the court”.

    While this is a rare success story in the court’s tumultuous history, many challenges remain. The successful arrest of one defendant will unfortunately do little to change negative perceptions of the court or remove the many obstacles it faces in prosecuting cases.

    A long history of criticism

    The ICC was conceived as a “court of last resort” in 1998 under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established it. The aim was to try individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression in cases where a state’s domestic courts refuse or are unable to do so.

    Shortly after it began its work in 2002, however, the ICC faced criticism for its perceived focus on Africa.

    In more recent years, it has also been criticised for its limited effectiveness, its perceived hypocrisy, and a lack of support from major powers, such as the US, China and Russia, which are not members.

    The court has long faced a public relations crisis it may never be able to resolve. When it does not investigate a potential case, it is said to be ineffective. And when it does initiate investigations, it is often said to be biased or acting beyond its capabilities.

    Putin and Netanyahu

    Currently, the ICC has 12 ongoing investigations, mostly in Africa and Asia. It has issued 56 arrest warrants, half of which have yet to be executed.

    As the focus of the court is limited to those who bear the greatest responsibility for international crimes, the cases frequently involve high-profile individuals.

    Current arrest warrants, for example, have been issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of allegedly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.

    These two cases have been among the court’s most controversial. Critics say the ICC lacks jurisdiction because:

    • the alleged crimes did not occur in their own states
    • their states are not parties to the Rome Statute
    • the UN Security Council did not refer these cases to the ICC for investigation.

    Others have accused the court of selective prosecution and bias for pursuing a case against Netanyahu, specifically, instead of prioritising cases in states run by dictators, such as Syria.

    And some complain the court should be focusing on crimes allegedly committed by Western leaders in places like Iraq.

    Indicting leaders of states raises additional legal challenges. International law dictates that heads of state enjoy immunity in other states’ courts – unless this immunity is expressly waived by their own governments.

    The ICC defends its actions as fair. It argues it does have jurisdiction in the cases against Putin and Netanyahu because the alleged crimes took place in Ukraine and Palestine, two states who have explicitly accepted its jurisdiction.

    And Article 27 of the Rome Statute says the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over people with state immunity, although it’s debatable whether this must be first waived for leaders of states not party to the Rome Statute.

    Cooperation remains key

    The ICC is not only constrained by these complex legal questions, but also by the limited cooperation of states around the world.

    It relies on close cooperation with its 125 state parties, among others. But some states have been reluctant or even refused to cooperate with the court in executing the arrest warrants of controversial figures.

    For example, Putin was not arrested when he visited Mongolia, an ICC member, last year, in part, because Mongolia relies heavily on Russian energy. South Africa similarly refused to arrest Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir when he visited in 2015.

    Even when state parties do cooperate, the political fallout can impact the court’s reputation.

    Following Duterte’s arrest last week, a Filipino senator (the sister of the current president) launched an urgent investigation to ensure due process was followed and Duterte’s legal rights were upheld and protected. She acknowledged the arrest has “has deeply divided the nation”.

    The lack of support from the US – arguably, still the world’s most powerful democracy – remains a perennial problem, as well.

    While the US has generally supported the court’s mandate over the years, it has been wary of its jurisdiction over American citizens and those of its allies accused of crimes. Last month, President Donald Trump authorised new sanctions against ICC officials in an attempt to paralyse the international organisation.

    Although 79 states did declare their support for the ICC following the sanctions, the Trump adminstration’s rejection of the court’s jurisdiction, legitimacy and authority has had significant consequences for its operations.

    It remains to be seen how the case against Duterte will play out. Securing a conviction is not assured.

    However, his arrest demonstrates the court can fulfil its mandate and remain a relevant force in the fight against the gravest of crimes. It is also a significant moment for the families of those killed during Duterte’s rule, who have long sought justice for their loved ones.

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

    – ref. The ICC showed its might by arresting Rodrigo Duterte. Its reputation will take longer to fix – https://theconversation.com/the-icc-showed-its-might-by-arresting-rodrigo-duterte-its-reputation-will-take-longer-to-fix-252509

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Peters, Senate Committee Ranking Members in Demanding Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Senators Question Trump Administration Claims and Whether Actions Will Increase Waste and Abuse

    Washington (March 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 15 Senate Committee Ranking Members in sending a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the Senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  
    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 
    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the Senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”
    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  
    The letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget.
    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney

    Maria Symchych/Shutterstock

    If you’ve ever picked up your child from childcare and wondered if they’re living a double life, you’re not alone.

    Parents often receive rave reports from educators about kids’ adventurous eating habits, only to face a different reality at home, when the child who devoured a veggie-packed curry at lunchtime morphs into a fussy eater refusing anything but dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

    While this confusing behaviour is frustrating, it’s completely normal.

    Here’s why it happens and what you can do.

    How kids’ tastes and eating behaviour develops

    To understand why kids eat differently in different settings, we need first to understand two factors that shape their tastes and food preferences:

    1. Genetics. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors developed physiological responses for survival that are embedded in our genes and influence taste preferences from birth. These include developing “food fussiness” – a natural aversion to unfamiliar foods and bitter flavours to avoid ingesting toxins – and learning to seek palatable foods rich in natural sugars, fat and protein to avoid starvation.

    2. Eating environment. As kids grow, their surroundings at mealtimes – namely carers’ eating habits, feeding practices, routines and social cues conveyed – shape what they actually eat and enjoy.

    The interaction between these two factors drives how fussy kids will be, their likes and dislikes and how open they are to new foods.

    Why eating behaviour differs between childcare and home

    The simple reason kids may eat differently at childcare comes down to the eating environment. Here’s what typically makes childcare different to home:

    1. Childcare has strict routines

    Childcare runs to a strict schedule, teaching kids to expect meals and snacks at set times and places. Meals are also planned to ensure kids sit down to eat when they’re hungry, and food is offered for a limited time – factors that help kids focus on eating.

    When mealtimes are less structured at home, it often leads to kids snacking, reducing their appetite at dinnertime. Distractions, like screens, also take kids’ attention away from eating.

    2. Kids are exposed to peer influence and different role models

    Kids are natural copycats, so seeing friends enjoying healthy food makes them more willing to try it. This behaviour is supported by a study showing that seating a preschooler who dislikes a vegetable next to a peer who enjoys it can gradually shift their preference, leading them to eat the previously disliked vegetable.

    Additionally, the social nature of eating in a group setting encourages kids to try new foods and eat more.

    Research also shows carers – who are trained to model enthusiasm for nutritious foods – shape healthy eating habits and help kids learn other valuable behaviours like table manners.

    At home, time constraints and limited knowledge can make it harder for parents to model these same behaviours.

    3. Childcare regularly exposes kids to new foods

    At childcare, meals are carefully planned according to Australian Dietary Guidelines and are focused on exposing kids to new foods regularly and repeatedly to get them comfortable with different tastes and textures.

    At home, busy family lives often lead to repetitive meal routines.

    4. Kids are offered limited choices

    At childcare, meals are planned with military precision and served without negotiation, teaching kids to try to eat what’s provided.

    At home, mealtimes can involve high-stakes negotiations when kids refuse certain foods, leading parents to surrender and offer alternatives – a tactic that only reinforces fussy eating and teaches kids to hold out for favourite foods.

    5. Kids are given some control over what they eat

    Kids have very little control over their daily lives – we’re constantly telling them what to do and when they’ll do it.

    However, one way kids assert control is by refusing to eat certain foods at home.

    Childcare cleverly gives kids the control they seek, encouraging them to serve themselves from shared platters, making them more willing to try new foods.

    6. Kids experience less attention and pressure

    At home, we naturally focus on what our child is eating (and not eating) which makes mealtimes stressful for kids.

    At childcare, kids don’t have an audience watching their every bite, so they feel less pressure, eat more freely and are more willing to try different foods.



    Read more:
    5 picky eating habits – and how to help your child overcome them

    Six ways to bring childcare eating habits home

    1. Stick to a strict routine

    Serve meals around the same time each day and establish snack times, ensuring they’re two hours before mealtimes so your child sits down hungry and ready to eat. Your routine should include putting devices away so your child’s full attention is on eating.

    2. Be a positive role model

    Because kids observe and mimic what they see, if you show enthusiasm for trying new foods and healthy eating your child will do the same.

    3. Get creative

    Take a leaf out of childcare’s book and ensure your child’s plate features different colours, textures and flavours presented in fun ways to capture and hold their interest in new foods.

    And just like childcare, do this regularly, as repeated exposure is key – it can take eight to ten exposures before your child will accept eating a new food.

    4. Limit food choices (but in a fun way)

    Offer limited choices but in a way that gives your child some control, like serving platter-style meals where they can choose what they want.

    Don’t give into food demands. While it’s tempting to offer alternatives when meals are refused, this creates more problems than it solves, reinforcing food fussiness and narrowing their diet.

    5. Encourage independence

    Actively involve your child in meal preparation, asking them to pick healthy recipes, help you shop and complete simple tasks like washing veggies and mixing ingredients. This can make them curious to taste the meal they’ve helped prepare.

    6. Make mealtimes stress-free

    Prioritise sitting down to eat as a family and ensure mealtimes are relaxed and fun – especially when you’re introducing new foods – to create positive associations with healthy eating.

    Nick Fuller is the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids – a clinically proven blueprint to overcoming food fussiness.

    A/Professor Nick Fuller works for the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital and has received external funding for projects relating to the treatment of overweight and obesity. He is the author and founder of the Interval Weight Loss program, and the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids with Penguin Books.

    – ref. Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-kid-eat-so-well-at-childcare-but-not-at-home-247447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt.
     Memento

    This year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films from blockbusters and biopics to comedies and gripping thrillers for Australian audiences.

    I’ve written before about how this annual event, now in its 36th edition, is, in terms of tickets sold and films screened, the largest film festival dedicated to contemporary French cinema outside of France.

    The 2025 program once more shines a spotlight on the established icons and rising stars of French cinema.

    In the this year’s festival, 30% of the films are directed by women and thorny issues such as slavery, consent and caregiving are presented sensitively and provocatively.

    But from a competitive bunch, here are the best five films I saw this year.

    How To Make A Killing

    It’s Christmas in the Jura, France’s picturesque eastern region full of mountains, snow and pine trees. When Michel (Frank Dubosc) accidentally crashes his truck into a car, killing its driver and passenger, his wife Cathy (Laure Calamy) tells him he may have left fingerprints at the crime scene.

    They return – and discover two million euros in the car boot, and a loaded gun in the glove box.

    From this point on, How To Make A Killing features one improbable but amusingly nerve-wracking twist after another. There’s a local policeman in over his head and drug lords and contract killers who want their money back.

    Oh, and a black bear is on the loose.

    Writer-director Dubosc pays homage to the Coen brothers and sprinkles in a typically Gallic dose of black humour. What really gives the film zip and pizzazz is the fabulous Calamy. She has risen to the apex of contemporary French stardom and her performance is a delight.

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt

    Sarah Bernhardt can lay claim to being the first film celebrity. Born in Paris in 1844, Bernhardt was first a legendary stage actress, performing Shakespeare and Racine across the world (including Melbourne and Sydney in 1891) before gravitating to silent cinema.

    Known for her extraordinary talent and intense stage presence (hence “divine”), she refused to play just female roles, famously playing Hamlet. Her eccentricity was equally renowned: she often travelled with an extensive menagerie of exotic pets.

    Guillaume Nicloux’s sumptuous biopic unfolds in a radical way. Rather than tracing Bernhardt’s career in the fairly bog-standard biopic way, Nicloux jumps around, focusing on key events from her life – the amputation of a leg, her death, her bisexuality, her hedonistic lifestyle.

    Through this bold achronological prism comes another daring choice: we never see Bernhardt act on stage or film. Her stardom emerges through the extraordinary effect she has on people who enter her orbit.

    At the centre is a remarkable performance by Sandrine Kiberlain. She captures Bernhardt’s glamour and narcissism but also taps into her vulnerability to reveal her gradual hollowing out as the vagaries of fame take their toll.

    It’s a cautionary tale that speaks to our current ambivalence towards stage-managed celebrity and “stardom at all costs”.

    My Brother’s Band

    Ever since its Cannes debut last May, Emmanuel Courcol’s My Brother’s Band has received rave reviews. It is sure to be an instant classic.

    Two brothers are separated at birth and are only reunited decades later when Thibaut (Benjamin Lavernhe) needs a bone marrow transplant. The only suitable donor is long-lost Jimmy (rising star Pierre Lottin).

    All that bonds the two is a shared love of music. Thibaut is an esteemed orchestra conductor while Jimmy plays the trombone in a local brass band.

    Lavernhe’s and Lottin’s scenes together are wonderfully wry and tender as the two brothers learn to appreciate each other’s lifestyles and ways of seeing the world. We also see how music can bind communities together during times of personal and collective crisis.

    Courcol shuttles between the stuffy, cathedral-like spaces of a Paris conservatorium and the cramped parish halls of northern France. Think Brassed Off meets Tár. My Brother’s Band brings the feel-good to the festival.

    When Fall is Coming

    When Fall is Coming, the latest work by prolific auteur François Ozon, is a broody family drama set in Burgundy.

    Behind the autumnal landscapes and off-the-beaten-track villages lies hidden trauma. Michelle (the outstanding Hélène Vincent, now 81) nervously awaits the arrival of her grandson and the daughter from whom she is long estranged (for reasons we don’t understand until much later).

    An innocuous first night meal turns to tragedy, and kickstarts a deeply engrossing, often menacing film. Pierre Lottin features again, this time as an ex-con slowly drawn into this unsettling web of secrets and lies.

    The “fall” in the title can be read any number of ways. Suffice to say, this slow-burner reminds us of Ozon’s knack in withholding plot points and revealing them gradually. With its blend of spiteful intimacy and startling revelations, When Fall is Coming quietly chills. You’ll not look at mushrooms in the same way again.

    Lucky Winners

    French filmgoers love to laugh. The top ten grossing French films in history are all comedies.

    Lucky Winners is a jet-black comedy about four different winners of France’s national lottery. Each becomes a millionaire overnight – but that’s when their troubles begin. Romain Choay and Maxime Govare’s witty film features a fine ensemble cast and a healthy dose of cruelty and squabbling.

    The dream sours. Money does not bring happiness, only guilt, revenge and greed. Feel-good quickly descends into feel-bad. I imagine Hollywood will be remaking this very soon.

    The Alliance Française French Film Festival is in cinemas around Australia on various dates until April 27.

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

    – ref. Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival – https://theconversation.com/nerve-wracking-twists-remarkable-stardom-and-jet-black-comedy-the-5-best-films-of-the-2025-french-film-festival-250153

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Exercise of any kind boosts brainpower at any age

    Source:

    25 March 2025

    Whether it’s an early morning jog, or a touch of Tai Chi, groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults.

    In the largest, most comprehensive umbrella review to date, researchers found that regular exercise improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions, reinforcing exercise as an essential, inclusive activity for optimising cognitive health.

    Synthesising findings from 133 systematic reviews, covering 2724 randomised controlled trials and 258,279 participants, the systematic umbrella and meta-meta-analysis found that:

    • low- to moderate-intensity exercise had the greatest benefits for brain function and memory
    • children and adolescents showed the greatest improvements in memory, while people with ADHD saw the biggest gains in executive function
    • yoga, Tai Chi, and exergames (active video games) delivered the most significant cognitive benefits.

    Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says the findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how different types, intensities, and durations of exercise influence cognitive function.

    “Exercise has a profound effect on physical health, but we also know it benefits brain function. What this study confirms is that even low-intensity exercise – like yoga or walking – can improve cognition, making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities,” Dr Singh says.

    “In particular, we found that benefits were delivered quickly – with clear gains within 1-3 months, highlighting that even small bursts of activity can make a big difference. It also signals that trying out new activities could play a key role in keeping the brain engaged and active.

    “For children and teens, exercise was especially beneficial for developing memory, while for people with ADHD, it helped improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and enhance executive function.

    “We also found that mind-body exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga, had the most significant impact on memory, while exergames – such as Pokémon Go – were highly effective for general cognition. This is an encouraging finding, as it suggests that engaging, low-impact activities can offer real cognitive benefits.”

    Senior researcher, Professor Carol Maher says exercise should be encouraged as a cognitive health strategy across all ages and fitness levels.

    “Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases are growing global health concerns, underscoring the urgent need to identify effective strategies to preserve and enhance cognitive function across the lifespan,” Prof Maher says.

    “This study presents compelling evidence that exercise should be integrated into healthcare and education settings to promote cognitive well-being.

    “Knowing that even small amounts of exercise can improve memory and brain function – especially for those at higher risk – presents a clear opportunity for exercise to be included in clinical and public health guidelines.”

    The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Ben Singh E: Ben.Singh@unisa.edu.au
    Prof Carol Maher E: Carol.Maher@unisa.edu.au 
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to UKHSA’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the UK Health Security Agency’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool for R&D funders.

    Prof Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

    “I am pleased to see a guidance description for pathogens in a UK context being released, and that it will be up-dated yearly. As mentioned in the report, these lists cannot be comprehensive and different perspectives are likely to lead to different conclusions, but it’s release is likely to lead to more widespread consultations and honing of the findings for next year. While all the pathogen families are important, the three identified as priorities (Covid-19; Nipah virus; and avian influenza) are not surprising and I expect perhaps a more detailed, UK specific, priority list next year.”

     

    Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna, said:

    “This important work directly supports Moderna’s strategic partnership with the UK Government to strengthen national pandemic preparedness. By aligning our scientific innovation with the UKHSA’s priority pathogen list, we can help accelerate the development of vaccines where they are most urgently needed. This ensures our joint efforts are focused, forward-looking, and capable of responding rapidly to emerging biological threats—ultimately supporting the UK’s ambition to lead in global health security and protect public health through sustained innovation and collaboration.”

     

    Prof Miles Carroll, Professor of Emerging Viruses, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “This new Priority Pathogen Families R&D Tool from UK Health Security Agency is aligned with similar prioritisation from the UK Vaccines Network and the World Health Organization, but with a UK focus for obvious reasons.

    “The new R&D Tool is consistent with existing evidence, which is helping guide funders, policymakers and scientists on the most urgent research gaps in epidemic and pandemic pathogen threats.  Tools like this are important if we are to develop effective diagnostics, vaccines and treatments to support the UK Biological Security strategy.”

    Prof Robert Read, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Southampton, and Editor in Chief, Journal of Infection, said:

    “Lists like this have been made for many years, and they represent an effort to prioritise infections for advisory and funding purposes, ostensibly to align research funding as closely as possible to public health need.  Unfortunately, pathogens emerge or change constantly, and it is difficult to predict big infectious disease problems coming down the line.  For this reason, I think this list is at best pointless, and at worst potentially harmful to the public health.

    “Pointless because the list of viruses is so long that its tricky to name a significant viral pathogen that has not been included.  Potentially harmful because a prescriptive list like this could misdirect funding towards certain infections, and away from problems that need urgently to be solved.  For example, the list of bacteria of concern includes Yersinia pestis (the cause of plague, a massive problem in 14th-18th Century Europe) for which there is now good available treatment and potential vaccine candidates, but does not include Bordetella pertussis (the cause of Whooping Cough) which caused serious problems for the public during 2024 because vaccines remain sub-optimal and antibiotic treatment only works during the early phase.”

    Prof Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, and Director of the Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “A key recommendation of the UK Covid Inquiry’s Interim Report for Module 1 (Preparedness) was that prior to 2020 the UK was overly focussed on the risk of an influenza pandemic.  When Covid arrived, it took too long to adjust our response to a different threat, which was part of the reason we ended up in lockdown.

    “Since the pandemic, there have been many initiatives to better understand the diversity of pandemic threats that the UK and the world may face in the coming years.  The UKHSA’s pathogen prioritization exercise is a welcome contribution to this global effort.

    “Of the highest priority pathogens identified by the UKHSA, no one could argue with the inclusion of coronaviruses and influenza viruses (the latter being members of the Orthomyxoviridae family).

    “The UKHSA are also right to be concerned about another family of viruses, the Paramyxoviridae.  This is a group that includes the measles virus, itself a continuing cause for concern with large outbreaks regularly reported from around the world.

    “A novel measles-like virus would pose a threat far worse than Covid.  Such a virus would have a much higher R number than the original variants of Covid – making it impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown.  It would also be considerably more deadly, and (unlike Covid) it would be a threat to children.  This is the kind of pandemic that public health agencies around the world are most concerned about.

    “That said, there are many potential kinds of novel pandemic threats – so-called Disease X – and the UKHSA report is a timely reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket.  The possibility of different kinds of threat – different transmission routes, different types of disease, different populations at risk – means that our response needs to be scalable, adaptable and quick.  Knowledge, information and data collected in the first few weeks of the next pandemic will be crucial to tailoring our response appropriately.  We need the systems to gather that data in place in advance and ready to be activated, possibly at very short notice.”

    ‘Priority pathogen families research and development (R&D) tool: A reference tool to help guide England-based funders of research and development’ was published by the UK Health Security Agency at 00:01 UK time on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

    Declared interests

    Prof Mark Woolhouse: “I am a consultant for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and a member of the Scottish Committee for Pandemic Preparedness (SCoPP).”

    Prof Martin Hibberd: “I have no conflicts with this topic, but I do work on some of the pathogens listed and have been funded by Industry (most recently J&J) – amongst other government support, to work on them.”

    Prof Miles Carroll: “I consult for PicturaBio diagnostics. I am a member of the WHO R&D BluePrint Pathogen Prioritisation Committee, UKVN, APHA SAB and MRC/UVRI SAB.”

    Darius Hughes: In December 2023, Moderna entered a 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government to establish an mRNA research development and manufacturing facility in the UK. The strategic partnership is managed by the UK Health Security Agency on behalf of the UK government.

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Europe concerned over marginalization in Ukraine peace process

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    As U.S.-Ukraine and U.S.-Russia delegations held separate talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday and Monday, growing concerns are emerging in Europe over its marginalization in the peace negotiations.

    Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described Sunday’s talks as “productive and focused,” noting that “key points including energy” were addressed. Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal is “to secure a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and Europe at large.

    On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow and Washington share a “desire and readiness” to pursue a peaceful settlement. He noted that the talks covered various technical issues, including a potential resumption of the Black Sea Initiative.

    However, the absence of European representation at the talks has sparked concern among officials and analysts. From discussions on the Black Sea to broader peace efforts, some European observers warn that critical decisions are being made without European input.

    A Financial Times newsletter on Monday reported that officials from Romania and Bulgaria, two Black Sea nations, privately voiced concern over significant shifts in the region’s status quo, arguing such changes could impact their security without giving them a say.

    In an article published Monday, Salvador Sanchez Tapia, professor of conflict analysis and international security at Spain’s University of Navarra, wrote: “Europe has been left out of negotiating efforts … This disregard shows how little the continent matters to its North American partner.”

    He added that, lacking the capacity to support Ukraine as the United States once did, Europe may have little choice but to accept Washington’s approach while still attempting to make its voice heard.

    Former German diplomat Rudiger Ludeking echoed these concerns in an interview with German media, saying that since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office, diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow, as well as with Kiev, has intensified, largely bypassing NATO, the European Union (EU), and major European powers. He warned that “the EU could be the loser” in these negotiations.

    While some European voices express frustration, others view the talks as a potential step toward de-escalation.

    Balazs Orban, political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, welcomed the truce discussions, saying that changing circumstances would eventually compel Europe and policymakers in Brussels to adopt a more pragmatic stance. He warned that if the EU maintains its current position, it risks falling behind and becoming increasingly sidelined in the peace process.

    In an interview with local N1 Television on Monday, former Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac expressed optimism over the White House’s mention of a possible ceasefire by Easter, saying such a development would allow people to “stop dying because it no longer makes sense.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Multinational CEOs flock to China for business opportunities

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

    This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, capital of China. The China Development Forum 2025 is scheduled from March 23 to 24. The theme of this year’s forum is “Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy.” [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, March 24 — Heads of some 80 multinationals including Siemens, Apple, Samsung and Pfizer have flocked to China to seek new cooperation opportunities with the world’s second-largest economy.

    The transnational corporate chiefs were present at the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, scheduled from March 23 to 24. The annual event, hosted by the Development Research Center of China’s State Council, has become an important platform of dialogue for the Chinese government, global businesses, academia, and international organizations.

    China will continue to welcome enterprises from around the world with open arms, further expand market access, actively address the concerns of businesses, and facilitate the deeper integration of foreign-funded enterprises into the Chinese market, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.

    Prior to the forum, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark 2.5-billion-U.S. dollar agreement on Friday to invest in Beijing over the next five years, the largest single investment in Beijing’s biopharmaceutical sector in recent years.

    Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development.

    “The investment highlights our confidence in Beijing’s world-class life sciences innovation ecosystem, extensive collaborative opportunities, and exceptional talent pool,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in an interview with Xinhua.

    In 2024, BMW delivered over 100,000 battery electric vehicles to customers in China for the first time, making China its strongest single market for electric vehicles.

    The company is committed to expanding its investment in China and accelerating the localization of production as well as research and development, said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, in a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

    Zipse also noted that there are only losers and no winners in a tariff war. The company firmly opposes the EU imposing additional tariffs on Chinese EVs and hopes that both the EU and China can properly resolve their differences, he said.

    At a symposium of the forum, Zipse said he was impressed by the AI Plus initiative in China’s government work report this year, and that BMW is working with Chinese sci-tech leaders to apply generative AI and large language model technologies into its vehicles.

    Miguel Lopez, CEO of Thyssenkrupp AG, an industrial conglomerate, said China is not only one of the largest markets, but also the country with the most comprehensive industrial chain and supply chain in the world, as well as a good logistics system.

    Thyssenkrupp will continue to strengthen supply chain management in China and establish good relationships with local suppliers, which will not only reduce its costs and improves its resilience, but also improves its performance on global markets, Lopez said.

    Lim Boon Heng, chairman of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, said he truly feels during his visit the growing innovation and vitality of the Chinese market and the improved business environment.

    Noting China has become one of Temasek’s most important investment destinations, he said Temasek is full of confidence in the long-term prospects of the Chinese economy and will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market.

    For Otis, the elevator industry leader has benefited from China’s rapid urbanization over the past few decades.

    Judy Marks, CEO of Otis Worldwide Corporation, said the country still offers great opportunities in the future, and compared with decades ago, China is no longer just a production base and sales market, but also a research and development base for elevators.

    “I think most of the world will not only want to partner with China but also strengthen economic relations with China,” said Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University.

    Official data has shown that China remains a top destination for transnational investment. Some 60,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China in 2024 alone, a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase. The return rate of FDI in China has remained at approximately 9 percent over the past five years, ranking among the highest around the world.

    This year’s government work report notes that China will encourage foreign investors to increase their reinvestment in the country, and it will ensure equal treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in fields such as production factor access, license applications, standards setting and government procurement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown joins 20 other AGs to petition a federal judge to prevent shutdown of the Department of Education

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction as part of their lawsuit to stop President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to dismantle the Department of Education.

    On March 13, the attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it announced plans to eliminate half of the Department’s workforce. Following a March 20 executive order directing the closure and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, the attorneys general now seek a court order to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services not approved by Congress.

    “The devastating cuts and layoffs at the Department of Education will directly harm Washington’s youth and their families,” Brown said. “Our office will fight to defend the education and health of our students from President Trump’s illegal order.” 

    The attorneys general assert the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department have already had serious consequences for families and students throughout the country, including in Washington state. Mass staff layoffs led to the closure of its Office of Civil Rights outreach throughout the country, which protects students from discrimination and sexual assault. Federal approval of state programs is already delayed, and critical funding for state school systems will likely be delayed.

    States rely on billions of dollars every year in funding for elementary and secondary education, services for children with disabilities, vocational education, adult education and other crucial services. All of these programs will be severely disrupted if the administration’s cuts are not stopped.

    Brown and the other attorneys general assert that the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department are illegal and unconstitutional. It is an executive branch agency authorized by Congress, with laws that guide its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle the Department without an act of Congress. In addition, the attorneys general argue that Department’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

    Joining Attorney General Brown in filing today’s motion are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

    The motion can be found here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between freckles, sunspots and moles?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mike Climstein, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University

    Cottonbro Studio/Pexels

    You’ve got a new brown spot on your face, but is it a freckle or a sunspot? Or perhaps you’ve found a spot on your back that looks like a mole but is flatter than your other ones – is it a mole or a dark freckle?

    Here’s how to tell the difference between freckles, sunspots and moles – and when you need to get a spot checked to see if it’s skin cancer.

    Freckles

    Freckles, known as ephelides, are small, flat, light brown spots that appear on people with fair skin, or red or light-coloured hair.

    These people are more likely to have the MC1R gene, which leads to freckles forming.

    Freckles are caused by sun exposure and are more noticeable in summer. When sunlight hits the skin, cells called melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour.

    In people prone to freckles, the melanin doesn’t spread evenly. Instead, it clumps together, creating freckles.

    Melanin doesn’t spread evenly in people prone to freckles.
    Chermiti Mohamed/Unsplash

    Freckles generally appear in childhood and may fade with age, especially if sun exposure reduces. As we age we produce less melanin, or it can break down or disperse, resulting in lighter or fewer freckles.

    Using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing can help prevent new freckles from developing, especially on the face and arms.

    While freckles are completely harmless, they are a sign that someone is genetically at higher risk of developing skin cancer.

    Sunspots

    Sunspots are also called age spots or actinic keratoses (or liver spots, but they have nothing to do with the liver). They are larger than freckles: sometimes the size of a small coin, and appear as flat brown spots.

    Sunspots develop over time due to long-term sun exposure, which leads to excessive melanin production. They tend to appear on skin with greater sun exposure, such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms.

    Sunspots develop after years of sun exposure.
    Zay Nyi Nyi/Shutterstock

    Unlike freckles, which tend to get lighter with less sun exposure, sunspots will not fade with time, and may further darken with continued sun exposure.

    However, some people try to remove their sunspots for cosmetic reasons using either a laser, chemical peel or a prescription topical cream.

    While sunspots are not dangerous, they do increase your risk of other skin cancers in that area.

    It’s also important to monitor them, as slow-growing melanomas may initially look like sunspots. If you see the spot changes in size, shape or colour, see your doctor to rule out skin cancer.

    Moles

    Moles are often dark, raised or flat skin growths that can appear anywhere on your body.

    Although moles can exist from birth, they typically grow during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood (including during pregnancy, when hormones are changing), until around the age of around 40. Moles can increase in size, and new ones can also appear.

    Most adults have between ten and 40 moles on their body. A person with a high mole count has 50 or more, while someone with a very high mole count has 100 or more.

    Some moles are raised while others are flat.
    Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    Moles form when melanocytes grow in clusters instead of spreading evenly throughout the skin.

    Moles can either be raised or flat, depending upon their type, depth and age.

    Raised moles, referred to as compound nevi, have both flat and raised portions and typically have pigment that is deeper in the skin.

    Dermal nevi are skin-coloured or light brown moles that are also raised.

    Most moles are harmless. Some may have hair growing from them and some may disappear, whereas other moles may darken or alter with age or hormonal changes.

    However, some moles can develop into melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.

    When to see your doctor

    While freckles and sunspots are completely harmless, moles do require more attention, especially if they change in size, shape, colour or texture.

    If a mole shows any of the following warning signs, see your doctor, who will use the ABCDE rule to detect if a lesion is a skin cancer:

    • asymmetry: if one half of the mole looks different from the other half

    • border: if your mole is shaped irregularly, jagged or has poorly defined edges

    • colour: varied shades or sudden changes in colour of the mole

    • diameter: if it is larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser)

    • evolving: if your mole has any changes in its size, shape, colour, or sensation such as itching or bleeding for more than a few weeks.

    Our research shows only 21.7% of people can correctly identify melanoma on their own, so professional checks are essential.

    How to prevent skin damage

    Since freckles, sunspots and some moles are influenced by exposure to the sun, you can protect your skin by:

    • avoiding the sun when ultraviolet rays are strongest

    • wearing sunscreen with SPF 50 every day, even when it’s cloudy. Apply it 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours

    • wearing protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat to cover your face, neck and ears, and long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect your arms and legs.

    Mike Climstein received funding from Johnson & Johnson

    Jeremy Hudson receives funding from Agaibey Enterprises Ltd.

    Michael Stapelberg receives funding from Johnson & Johnson.

    Nedeljka Rosic received research funding from Johnson & Johnson

    – ref. What’s the difference between freckles, sunspots and moles? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-freckles-sunspots-and-moles-250768

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Seeks Court Order to Block Mass Firings, Transfer of Core Functions from Department of Education

    Source: US State of California

    Cites immediate and potentially devastating harms to California schools and students 

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a multistate coalition in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent the Trump Administration’s mass firing of U.S. Department of Education employees and the transfer of core statutory functions to other departments. These actions will devastate the Department of Education’s ability to meet its statutory obligations across numerous programs — direct funding for K-12 education, student aid, services for students with disabilities, civil rights enforcement, vocational training, and more. California schools alone receive $7.9 billion annually from the Department of Education, and these schools have already reported impacts and disruptions to their ability to provide public education to California’s children as a result of these actions. As such, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the actions violate the Administrative Procedures Act, are unconstitutional, and should be enjoined while litigation continues.

    “California receives billions of dollars each year from the U.S. Department of Education. The programs and initiatives these funds support help ensure all our children have access to a high-quality public education and are able to learn in a safe, healthy environment,” said Attorney General Bonta. “All of this is at risk with the Trump Administration’s mass firing of Department employees and outsourcing of core statutory functions like the administration of federal student loans. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to shut down the Department of Education for good – and we know that these actions are just a step toward that end goal. But as his own administration has acknowledged, he lacks the authority to unilaterally do so. I respectfully ask the court to block the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education from within while our litigation continues.”

    On March 11, the Department of Education initiated a mass termination impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s employees, as part of the Trump Administration’s “final mission” to dismantle the Department. The mass firings were not accompanied by any reasoning to explain why these employees — and indeed, some whole teams — were targeted. The rationale is nevertheless clear — the Trump Administration believes the Department should not exist and is using these firings as a tool in furtherance of that goal. President Trump’s directive last week for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to dismantle the Department is further evidence that the firings are part of a broader effort to undermine the Department’s ability to carry out its most vital, congressionally-mandated functions. These steps including transferring the administration of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration, which recently fired 40% of its workers, and of special needs and nutritional programs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    The U.S. Department of Education provides $7.9 billion annually in federal funding to more than 9,000 public schools across California – serving 5.8 million students. This includes funding for Title I to support low-income families, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and support for students with disabilities, school lunch programs, services to families living on military bases and Indian reservations, and post-secondary financial aid. Already, the mass firings have led to the closure of seven regional offices of the Office for Civil Rights, including the one in San Francisco, leaving 1,500 pending cases, including open investigations, cases in mediation, resolved cases under monitoring, and complaints under research by staff, in limbo. 

    It is clear that the mass firing of nearly 50% of all Department of Education employees will make it impossible for the Department to meet its current obligations under federal law, violating the separation of powers and the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed, and exceeding the Department’s authority under the law in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. Given the immediate and potentially devastating harm that these firings and subsequent transfer of core programs could cause to California’s schools and children, Attorney General Bonta, along with the coalition, respectfully asks the court to grant a preliminary injunction while the states’ litigation continues.  

    Attorney General Bonta is leading this lawsuit with Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. They are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the motion is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Presses USDA to Reverse $1 Billion in Canceled Local Food Purchases for Farmers, Schools & Food Banks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of her colleagues are demanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately reverse the cancellation of local food purchase programs that allow states, territories, and Tribes, including Wisconsin, to purchase food from Wisconsin farmers to be used by local emergency food providers, schools, and childcare centers. Specifically, Baldwin is calling on the administration to reverse course on the cancellation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced earlier this month that the Trump Administration had reneged on contracts with the state that support Wisconsin farmers and food banks through the LFPA program.

    “We ask that you reverse the cancellation,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We have grave concerns that the cancellation…poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.”

    In their letter, the lawmakers warned of the harmful impacts this move by the Trump Administration will have on American farmers and families. According to Governor Evers’ Office, as of the end of 2024, nearly 300 Wisconsin farmers had participated in the Wisconsin LFPA Program, which distributed more than $4 million in food and served all 72 of Wisconsin’s counties. More than half of the participating farmers—55 percent—were new or beginning farmers. The program was set to enter its third year in just a few weeks based on Wisconsin’s contractual agreement with the federal government. USDA also told school nutritionists that it would end a companion program that connects farmers with local schools. The loss of the two programs is estimated to cut off farmers nationwide from more than $1 billion in support and would cut Wisconsin’s promised funding by nearly $6 million.

    The letter was led by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and co-signed by 29 other Senate colleagues.

    A full version of this letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rollins:  

    We write to express serious concerns regarding the cancellation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs supporting local and regional food purchases providing assistance to those in need. These successful programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), allow states, territories, and Tribes to purchase local foods from nearby farmers and ranchers to be used for emergency food providers, schools, and childcare centers.  

    At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical. Notably, LFPA and LFS have benefitted producers and consumers by providing funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments. Through LFPA and LFS, USDA has prioritized the procurement and distribution of healthy, nutritious, domestic food. It has also taken an important step towards igniting rural prosperity by expanding and strengthening markets among farmers and rural economies. As of December 2024, the programs had supported over 8,000 producers, providing increased marketing opportunities.  

    Most importantly, we ask that you reverse the cancellation of LFPA and LFS. We also ask that you provide a thorough and complete update on USDA’s implementation of LFPA and LFS, including answers to the following questions:  

    1. What is the status of reimbursements for entities that have agreements with USDA through LFPA and LFS? What is the last date for which states, territories, and Tribes received reimbursements for food purchases under LFPA and LFS?
    2. Has the Administration conducted any assessments of how these program cancellations will impact producers and recipient organizations (e.g., food banks, schools, child care centers)? If so, please provide a copy of any such assessments.  

    We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.  

    Please provide responses to the information requested in our questions no later than Friday, April 4. Thank you for your attention to this urgent and important matter.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – ABC Afternoon Briefing

    Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register

    TOM LOWREY: Earlier I spoke with Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Jason Clare, thanks for joining Afternoon Briefing.
    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks for having me.
    LOWREY: The school funding puzzle is now somewhat complete, with Queensland having signed on. With this whole picture now in place, is money the solution to the problems education’s facing broadly? Is that sort of the message here?
    CLARE: It’s two things. It’s funding, but it’s got to be tied to real reform, reforms that are going to help our children who fall behind to catch up at school and to keep up and to finish school. You know, the big challenge that we’re confronting at the moment is the number of kids finishing high school is dropping. Not everywhere, not in the non-government system, but certainly in our public schools. It’s dropped from about 83 per cent about seven or eight years ago down to 73 per cent. And as you know, as everyone watching knows, it’s more important to finish school today than it was when we were at school. We’ve got to turn that around. And that’s why – I was, we have been insistent that this can’t be a blank cheque. This is the biggest investment by the Commonwealth Government in public education ever. It’s worth about $16.5 billion over the next 10 years. But it’s not a blank cheque. It’s tied to the biggest set of reforms to education in decades.
    LOWREY: I wanted to touch on those targets. I think you have a Year 12 completion rate target of around 84 per cent or so by the end of the decade. Is that achievable? That would be a record high.
    CLARE: The key to achieving that is making sure that the young people who are falling behind in primary school get the extra support they need. What NAPLAN data shows us is that the children who fall behind in their first test when they’re eight years old, four out of five of those children are still behind when they sat the NAPLAN test in Year 9. In other words, 80 per cent of the children who are behind when they’re little are still behind when they’re in the middle of high school. They’re the children most likely to not finish high school. What we also know is if you intervene early, if you identify those children early, even before they sit that test, maybe in kindergarten prep year one, and you provide them with extra individualised support, then they can catch up faster. Things like catch-up tutoring, where a child gets taken out of a class of 30 children into a class with three or four, four days a week for 40 minutes. If it’s done right, then a child can learn as much in six months as they normally learn in 12 months. In other words, they catch up. That’s the sort of real practical reform that’s going to make a difference to help more young people finish high school.
    LOWREY: Yeah. There’s a clause in these agreements that requires, I think evidence-based teaching is the language. For those that don’t know, what are you sort of referring to there? And are you intervening in how teachers should run their classroom?
    CLARE: No. I think the reading wars are over. I think the evidence is now pretty clear about how to teach children to read about all of the techniques that really work. Synthetic phonics is a classic example of that. All of the evidence shows us what works to help young people learn. We’re embedding that in the curriculum, in the university degrees. But this will help to roll that out in classrooms across the nation as well. And state ministers, state governments are doing a lot of the heavy lifting in that regard right across the country.
    LOWREY: Public schools aren’t going to be fully funded nationwide still for some time. There’s still a process to grow the funding to get to that point. And at the same time, we always hear stories about private schools building new pools or orchestra pits, or, I think, someone has a Scottish castle. Is there work to do on the private school funding side of ledger, do you think?
    CLARE: First this is not about building classrooms. It’s about the children in the classrooms. It’s the investment in the children.
    LOWREY: Is there something about school funding?
    CLARE: Yeah, no, absolutely. This takes us back to the work that David Gonski did more than 10 years ago. And he set a formula for how we should fund our schools, private schools and public schools. Private schools are funded at that level that David Gonski said they should be at all those years ago. Public schools aren’t, not until now. That’s why today’s a big day. You know, this is a big deal. No government has ever done this before, ever. This agreement that we’ve now struck with every state and territory means that every public school across the country is going to be funded at that level that David Gonski said they should be at. And it ratchets up year after year after year to get to that level. You know, I’m a kid from a public school in the western suburbs of Sydney. I’m the first person in my family to finish school, first person in my family to finish Year 10. I’m only here because of the schools I went to, the teachers who taught me. I understand how important it is. This sort of investment tied to these sorts of reforms are going to help kids like the kid I was, the kids that I went to school with. It’s going to help to make sure that every child in the country, wherever they go to school, whether it’s a non-government school or a government school, get the resources and the support that they need to get a great start in life.
    LOWREY: I want to touch on another issue going on in education, higher education. In fact, the US has been reviewing funding agreements with Australian universities. Do you have a picture yet of the impact of those reviews? I think they’re being sent questionnaires almost on their ideological positions to try and justify the funding they’re receiving.
    CLARE: Yeah, we’re starting to get more information. This emerges out of a review that the US Government has initiated into foreign aid and research has been caught in that. We understand that at least seven Australian universities have been affected by this, that they’re conducting research that’s either been suspended or stopped. I’ve asked my department to work with those universities, get more information from other Australian universities about potential research that might be affected. The Australian Embassy in Washington is working with US departments to get a better understanding of this. We expect that the outcomes of that review that the US has initiated will be clearer in the second half of April. 
    Australian universities do great research. To put it in perspective, we’re a nation that represents about 0.3 per cent of the globe’s population, but we do 3 per cent of the world’s research, so we punch above our weight. It’s the reason that countries like the US want to work with us and work with our universities. Ultimately, the US will make their own decisions about the research that they want to fund. But we think it’s worth working with Australia because we’ve got great universities.
    LOWREY: Yeah, look, some of these questions that academics are being asked, things like, can you confirm that your organisation does not work with any party that espouses anti-American beliefs, or that this work is not climate or environmental justice sort of projects. Is that appropriate to be asking Australian academics those kinds of questions about their research? Is it foreign interference even?
    CLARE: No, I don’t think it is. This is US-funded research of US universities working with Australian universities. Ultimately, it’s up to the US about what research it wants to fund. I would advocate for the US to want to work with our universities because they’re some of the best in the world. And that’s why the Australian Embassy is working with US officials to get a better understanding about this issue.
    LOWREY: What’s your advice to those universities? Should they write back? Should they fill in these questionnaires?
    CLARE: They are, they are. I think overwhelmingly, it’s not universities themselves, but it’s individual researchers in our universities that are responding to requests from individual researchers in individual US universities. But it’s not just the universities that are answering these questions. We’re seeking further information from the US.
    LOWREY: Would you consider, or the Australian government consider stepping in to fill the breach if some of this funding is pulled? You mentioned the sort of notable work they’re doing.
    CLARE: No, I don’t think it’s practical for the Australian Government to underwrite this sort of research. But whether it’s the United States or whether it’s Europe or anybody else that collaborates with Australian universities, they know, like we know, that our universities are some of the best in the world. Our researchers are extraordinary. I encourage them to continue the work they’re doing.
    LOWREY: Just quickly on the Budget we’re going to see tomorrow, anything in particular to look out for in the education space? And do you think there’s broadly concerns about the government handing down a big spending budget? Is that what Australians want to see at this point in time, with inflation still a concern?
    CLARE: I think most Australians want to make sure we’re investing in the areas that are going to set us up for the future, and that’s what education does. Three big things in my area. One is cutting the cost of childcare for more than a million Australian families. We announced that almost two years ago, implemented that almost two years ago. That continues to have a big impact for families across the country. For the average family with one child in childcare saves them more than $2,000 a year. Then there’s this, the big investment that we’re making in our schools that are going to help more children to finish high school. We want more young people to be able to finish high school, then go on to TAFE or to university, and that’s where free TAFE comes in. And that’s also where cutting the cost of HECS comes in. We’ve said that if we win the next election, we’ll cut the cost of HECS debt for 3 million Australians by 20 per cent. I’ll give you an example about what that means. The average HECS debt today is about 27 grand. If we win the election, will be able to implement that change that will cut that debt for that individual by $5,500. That’s a lot of money in people’s pockets. You’ll see that in the Budget tomorrow night.
    LOWREY: Just quickly, on your part of the world, in Western Sydney, there’s been a lot of talk about how the conflict in Gaza is cutting through to voters, particularly in your electorate and the electorate surrounding it. Are you concerned that issue might see Labor bleed votes to the Greens and to some high-profile independents as well?
    CLARE: I don’t take any vote for granted. I’ve had the privilege to represent Western Sydney, the area that I grew up, now for a long time. I work my guts out for my community every single day, but I also know that my community is hurting in a way that not every community is. This isn’t a conflict on the other side of the world, for my community it’s much closer to home. The dead bodies that they see on television sometimes are family, they’re relatives, and so it affects my community in a very unique and personal way, and so I’m very conscious of that. My job is to represent my community every single day the best I can, and I’ll continue to do that.
    LOWREY: Jason Clare thanks for joining me. 
    CLARE: Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce its financial results for the three months (“Q4 2024”) and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Highlights

    • The weighted average organic royalty growth1 of DIV’s diversified royalty portfolio was 5.9% in Q4 2024 and 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 6.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2023 (“Q4 2023”) and 8.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The weighted average organic royalty growth1 on a constant currency basis was 5.4% in Q4 2024 and 4.8% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
    • Revenue was $17.0 million in Q4 2024 and $65.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 3.9% and 15.0%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
    • Adjusted revenue1 was $18.4 million in Q4 2024 and $70.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 3.8% and 14.0%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
    • Distributable cash1 was $12.6 million in Q4 2024 and $44.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 21.5% and 17.5%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
    • Payout ratio1 was 82.3% in Q4 2024 based on dividends of $0.0625 per share for the quarter, compared to 84.2% in Q4 2023 based on dividends of $0.0609 per share for the comparable quarter and 90.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024 based on dividends of $0.2487 per share for the year, compared to 90.2% based on dividends of $0.2415 per share for the comparable year.
    • In celebration of DIV’s 10-year anniversary, we are proud to recognize the following:
      • On October 6, 2014, we announced our name change to “Diversified Royalty Corp.”
      • DIV’s very first dividend was $0.0157 per share, paid on November 28, 2014
      • The total dividends paid to shareholders since then is $269.1 million, or $2.25 per share

    Fourth Quarter Commentary

    Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of DIV stated, “Overall, DIV is pleased with how its royalty partners performed with weighted average organic royalty growth of 5.9% in Q4 2024 and 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024. As with all portfolios, there are varying degrees of performance within the portfolio. Mr. Lube, our largest royalty partner, continued to see strong double-digit growth, generating SSSG1 (defined below) of 12.0% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024, and 10.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024. This exceptional performance is the result of Mr. Lube’s management team working with their franchisees to share best practices and optimize the performance of each location. DIV’s other variable royalty partners generated mixed results with Oxford generating positive SSSG and Mr. Mikes generating negative SSSG in Q4. DIV’s fixed royalty partners, Nurse Next Door, Stratus and BarBurrito made their fixed royalty payments. DIV is deferring 20% of Sutton’s royalties to help them invest in the business and build on the positive momentum in Q4. DIV continues to see a decrease in royalty income from AIR MILES® because of the loss of Metro as a loyalty partner and continued softness across the AIR MILES® Rewards Program.”

    1. Adjusted revenue and distributable cash are non-IFRS financial measures, payout ratio is a non-IFRS ratio and weighted average organic royalty growth and Same-store-sales growth or SSSG are supplementary financial measures – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Fourth Quarter Results

       Three months ended December 31,
    		     Year ended December 31,
    		  
    (000’s)   2024     2023       2024     2023  
    Mr. Lube + Tires $ 8,602   $ 7,810     $ 31,190   $ 28,429  
    Stratusa   2,268     2,099       8,714     8,171  
    BarBurrito   2,101     2,032       8,403     2,032  
    Nurse Next Doorb   1,341     1,316       5,309     5,207  
    Oxford   1,206     1,162       4,530     4,521  
    Sutton   899     1,095       4,206     4,339  
    Mr. Mikes   1,040     1,130       4,226     4,570  
    AIR MILES®   896     1,044       3,640     4,352  
    Adjusted revenuec $ 18,352   $ 17,688     $ 70,218   $ 61,621  
                               

    a) Stratus royalty income for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, was US$1.6 million and US$6.4 million, respectively, translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.4000 and $1.3703 to US$1, respectively (three months and year ended December 31, 2023 – royalty income of US$1.5 million and US$6.1 million, respectively, translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.3610 and $1.3493 to US$1, respectively).
    b) Represents the DIV Royalty Entitlement plus management fees received from Nurse Next Door.
    c) DIV Royalty Entitlement and adjusted revenue are non-IFRS financial measures and as such, do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. For additional information, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” in this news release.

    In Q4 2024, DIV generated $17.0 million of revenue compared to $16.4 million in Q4 2023. After considering the DIV Royalty Entitlement2 (defined below) related to DIV’s royalty arrangements with Nurse Next Door, DIV’s adjusted revenue2 was $18.4 million in Q4 2024, compared to $17.7 million in Q4 2023. Adjusted revenue increased primarily due to incremental revenue received through the acquisition of the BarBurrito rights on October 4, 2023, positive SSSG2 at Mr. Lube + Tires and Oxford, the annual contractual royalty increases at Stratus and Nurse Next Door, partially offset by negative SSSG from Mr. Mikes and lower royalty income from AIR MILES® and the 20% deferral of the Sutton royalties, all as discussed in further detail below.

    2. Adjusted revenue and DIV Royalty Entitlement are non-IFRS financial measures and SSSG are supplementary financial measures – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Royalty Partner Business Updates

    Mr. Lube + Tires: Mr. Lube Canada Limited Partnership (“Mr. Lube + Tires”) generated SSSG3 of 12.0% for the Mr. Lube + Tires stores in the royalty pool for Q4 2024 and 10.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of 14.0% and 17.1%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023.

    3. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Stratus: Royalty income from SBS Franchising LLC (“Stratus”) was $2.3 million (US$1.6 million translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.4000 to US$1.00) for Q4 2024 and $8.7 million (US$6.4 million translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.3703 to US$1.00) for the year ended December 31, 2024. The fixed royalty payable by Stratus increases each November at a rate of 5% until and including November 2026 and 4% each November thereafter during the term of the license, with the most recent increase effective November 15, 2024.

    Nurse Next Door: The royalty entitlement to DIV (the “DIV Royalty Entitlement4”) from Nurse Next Door Professional Homecare Services Inc. (“Nurse Next Door”) was $1.3 million in Q4 2024 and $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The DIV Royalty Entitlement from Nurse Next Door grows at a fixed rate of 2.0% per annum during the term of the license, with the most recent increase effective October 1, 2024.

    4. DIV Royalty Entitlement is a non-IFRS measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Mr. Mikes: SSSG5 for the Mr. Mikes Restaurants Corporation (“Mr. Mikes”) restaurants in the Mr. Mikes royalty pool was -4.7% in Q4 2024 and -3.4% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of 7.3% and 10.1%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023. The lower SSSG percentage in the current period is primarily due to lower restaurant guest traffic. In addition, in the comparable period, SSSG was measured against quarters that included the impact from COVID-19 related government regulations, including vaccine mandates.

    Royalty income and management fees of $1.0 million were generated by Mr. Mikes in Q4 2024, compared to $1.2 million in Q4 2023, which excludes approximately $0.05 million from the partial payment of deferred contractual royalty fees and accrued management fees. Royalty income and management fees of $4.2 million were generated for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4.4 million generated for the year ended December 31, 2023, excluding approximately $0.18 million from the partial payment of deferred contractual royalty fees and accrued management fees.

    5. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Oxford: The Oxford Learning Centres, Inc. (“Oxford”) locations in the Oxford royalty pool generated SSSG6 (on a constant currency basis) of 4.0% in Q4 2024 and 0.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of -0.2% and 5.9%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023. Oxford’s SSSG has returned to being positive after lapping the completion of the Ontario Government funding of student learning support, which included private tutoring, which funding completed in the first half of 2023.

    6. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    AIR MILES®: In Q4 2024, royalty income of $0.9 million was generated from the AIR MILES® Licenses compared to $1.0 million generated in Q4 2023, a decrease of 14.2% from the comparable quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2024, royalty income of $3.6 million was generated compared to $4.4 million generated in the comparable year, a decrease of 16.4%. The decrease is largely due to the loss of AIR MILES® sponsor Metro and continued softness in the AIR MILES® Rewards Program.

    Sutton: In Q4 2024, royalty income of $0.9 million was generated by Sutton, which is net of a 20% royalty deferral, compared to $1.1 million generated in Q4 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, royalty income of $4.1 million was generated, which includes a 20% royalty deferral for Q4, 2024, compared to $4.3 million generated in the comparable year. DIV and Sutton entered into a royalty deferral agreement during Q4 2024, which provides Sutton with a 20% deferral of royalties from October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. The deferred royalties do not accrue interest and are due in full on December 31, 2027. Sutton finished 2024 on a strong note, opening two new franchise locations in Q4 and has a growing pipeline of franchise opportunities across Canada. Sutton intends to invest the deferred royalties to complete the rebuild of its management team, increase investment in marketing, roll out its rebranded logo across Canada, increase business development, and build on the positive momentum that began in the back half of 2024.

    BarBurrito: Royalty income from BarBurrito Restaurants Inc. (“BarBurrito”) was $2.1 million for Q4 2024 and $8.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The royalty payable by BarBurrito initially grows at a fixed rate of 4% per annum each March from and including March 2025 to and including March 2030 and, commencing on January 1, 2031, will fluctuate based on the gross sales of the BarBurrito locations in the royalty pool.

    Distributable Cash and Dividends Declared

    In Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, distributable cash7 increased to $12.6 million ($0.0759 per share) and $44.8 million ($0.2762 per share), respectively, compared to $10.4 million ($0.0723 per share) and $38.1 million ($0.2671 per share), in the respective periods in 2023.

    The increase in distributable cash7 for the quarter was primarily due to higher adjusted revenue7, lower general and administrative expenses, lower professional fees, lower interest expense, and lower salaries and benefits. The increase in distributable cash7 for the year was primarily due to higher adjusted revenue7, lower general and administrative expenses, and lower professional fees, partially offset by higher interest expense and higher and salaries and benefits.

    The increase in distributable cash per share7 for the quarter and year end were primarily due to an increase in distributable cash, partially offset by a higher weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

    In Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, the payout ratio7 was 82.3% on dividends of $0.0625 per share and 90.0% on dividends of $0.2487 per share, respectively, compared to the payout ratio of 84.2% on dividends of $0.0609 per share and 90.2% on dividends of $0.2410 per share for the same respective periods in 2023. The decrease in payout ratio for the quarter and year end were primarily due to higher distributable cash per share7, partially offset by higher dividends declared per share.

    7. Adjusted revenue and distributable cash are non-IFRS financial measures and distributable cash per share and payout ratio are non-IFRS ratios – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    Net Income

    Net income for Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $4.0 million and $26.6 million, respectively, compared to net income of $9.1 million and $31.7 million for the same respective periods in 2023. The decrease in net income in Q4 2024 was primarily due to impairment loss on intangible assets and higher share-based compensation expense, partially offset by higher adjusted revenue8 and lower general and administrative expenses, interest expense on credit facilities, and income tax expense. The decrease in net income for the year was primarily due to impairment loss on intangible assets, higher share-based compensation expense, salaries and benefits, and interest expense on credit facilities, partially offset by higher adjusted revenue8 and lower general and administrative expenses, and income tax expense.

    8. Adjusted revenue is a non-IFRS financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

    About Diversified Royalty Corp.

    DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

    DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.

    DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: Sutton having a growing pipeline of franchise opportunities across Canada; Sutton intends to invest the deferred royalties to complete the rebuild of its management team, increase investment in marketing, roll out its rebranded logo across Canada, increase business development and build on the positive momentum that began in the back half of 2024; DIV’s intention to pay monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular, risks and uncertainties include: DIV’s royalty partners may not make their respective royalty payments to DIV, in whole or in part; the decline in royalties received under the AIR MILES® licenses could cause AM Royalties Limited Partnership (“AM LP”) to be required to make partial or full repayment of the outstanding principal amount under its credit agreement, or cause AM LP to be in default under its credit agreement; current positive trends being experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (and their respective franchisees) may not continue and may regress, and current negative trends experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) may continue and may regress; DIV and its royalty partners performance may not meet management’s expectations; DIV may not be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; Sutton may not pay all deferred royalties in accordance with the timing required or at all; Sutton’s investment of the deferred royalties may not achieve their intended effects; Sutton may require further deferrals of royalties beyond those contemplated by the current deferral agreement; dividends are not guaranteed and may be reduced, suspended or terminated at any time; or DIV may not achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release is not a guarantee of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2025 and in DIV’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, copies of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; lenders will provide any necessary waivers required in order to allow DIV to continue to pay dividends; lenders will provide any other necessary covenant waivers to DIV and its royalty partners; the performance of DIV’s royalty partners will be consistent with DIV’s and its royalty partners’ respective expectations; recent positive trends for certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) will continue and not regress; current negative trends experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) will not materially regress; Sutton will pay all deferred royalties in accordance with the required timing in full and will not require further deferrals; Sutton’s investment of the deferred royalties will achieve its intended effects; the businesses of DIV’s respective royalty partners will not suffer any material adverse effect; and the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

    All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that it will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

    Non-IFRS Measures

    Management believes that disclosing certain non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures provides readers with important information regarding the Corporation’s financial performance and its ability to pay dividends and the performance of its royalty partners. By considering these measures in combination with the most closely comparable IFRS measure, management believes that investors are provided with additional and more useful information about the Corporation and its royalty partners than investors would have if they simply considered IFRS measures alone. The non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Investors are cautioned that non-IFRS measures should not be construed as a substitute or an alternative to net income or cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS.

    “Adjusted revenue”, “adjusted royalty income”, “DIV Royalty Entitlement” and “distributable cash” are used as non-IFRS financial measures in this news release.

    Adjusted revenue is calculated as royalty income plus DIV Royalty Entitlement and management fees. The following table reconciles adjusted revenue and adjusted royalty income to royalty income, the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the financial statements:

       Three months ended December 31,
    		     Year ended December 31,
    		  
    (000’s)   2024     2023       2024     2023  
    Mr. Lube + Tires $ 8,543   $ 7,750     $ 30,953   $ 28,196  
    Stratus   2,269     2,099       8,714     8,171  
    BarBurrito   2,080     2,013       8,320     2,013  
    Oxford   1,194     1,152       4,487     4,481  
    Sutton   872     1,068       4,096     4,229  
    Mr. Mikes   1,025     1,115       4,181     4,520  
    AIR MILES®   896     1,044       3,640     4,352  
    Royalty income $ 16,879   $ 16,241     $ 64,391   $ 55,962  
    DIV Royalty Entitlement   1,320     1,295       5,228     5,126  
    Adjusted royalty income $ 18,199   $ 17,536     $ 69,619   $ 61,088  
    Management fees   153     152       599     533  
    Adjusted revenue $ 18,352   $ 17,688     $ 70,218   $ 61,621  
                               

    For further details with respect to adjusted revenue and adjusted royalty income, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    The most closely comparable IFRS measure to DIV Royalty Entitlement is “distributions received from NND LP”. DIV Royalty Entitlement is calculated as distributions received from NND LP, before any deduction for expenses incurred by NND Holdings Limited Partnership (“NND LP”), which expenses include legal, audit, tax and advisory services. Note that distributions received from NND LP is derived from the royalty paid by Nurse Next Door to NND LP. The following table reconciles DIV Royalty Entitlement to distributions received from NND LP in the financial statements:

       Three months ended December 31,     Year ended December 31,
    		  
    (000’s)   2024     2023       2024     2023  
    Distributions received from NND LP $ 1,314   $ 1,284     $ 5,197   $ 5,095  
    Add: NND Royalties LP expenses   2     2       27     22  
    DIV Royalty Entitlement   1,316     1,286       5,224     5,117  
               
    Less: NND Royalties LP expenses   (2 )   (2 )     (27 )   (22 )
    DIV Royalty Entitlement, net of NND Royalties LP expenses $ 1,314   $ 1,284     $ 5,197   $ 5,095  
                               

    For further details with respect to DIV Royalty Entitlement, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    The following table reconciles distributable cash to cash flows generated from operating activities, the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the financial statements:

      Three months ended December 31,
    		     Year ended December 31,
    		  
    (000’s)   2024     2023       2024     2023  
               
    Cash flows generated from operating activities $ 11,724   $ 7,400     $ 46,491   $ 30,816  
               
    Current tax expense   (1,300 )   (845 )     (6,516 )   (5,061 )
    Accrued interest on convertible debentures   788     788       –     –  
    Accrued interest on bank loans   (13 )   –       (438 )   –  
    Distributions on MRM units earned in current periods   (34 )   (38 )     (138 )   (164 )
    Mandatory principal payments on credit facilities   –     (577 )     (643 )   (1,008 )
    Payment of lease obligations   (28 )   (28 )     (110 )   (107 )
    NND LP expenses   (2 )   (2 )     (27 )   (22 )
    Accrued DIV Royalty Entitlement, net of distributions   2     –       27     –  
    Foreign exchange and other   (13 )   394       146     229  
    Changes in working capital   (33 )   (527 )     303     3,579  
    Transactions costs   –     32       –     32  
    Taxes paid   1,512     1,648       6,012     7,691  
    Note receivable   –     2,130       (305 )   2,130  
    Distributable cash $ 12,603   $ 10,376     $ 44,802   $ 38,115  
                               

    For further details with respect to distributable cash, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    “Distributable cash per share” and “payout ratio” are non-IFRS ratios that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar ratios presented by other issuers. Distributable cash per share is defined as distributable cash, a non-IFRS measure, divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The payout ratio is calculated by dividing the dividends per share during the period by the distributable cash per share, a non-IFRS measure, generated in that period. For further details, refer to the subsection entitled “Non-IFRS Ratios” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    “Weighted average organic royalty growth” is the average same store sales growth percentage related to Mr. Lube + Tires, Oxford and Mr. Mikes (excluding the collection of Mr. Mikes deferred royalty management fees) plus the average increase in adjusted royalty income from AIR MILES®, Sutton (less 20% deferral in Q4, 2024), Nurse Next Door and Stratus over the prior comparable period taking into account the percentage weighting of each royalty partner’s adjusted royalty income in proportion of the total adjusted royalty income for the period, excluding BarBurrito as there was no full-period adjusted royalty income generated from BarBurrito in the prior period. Weighted average organic royalty growth is a supplementary financial measure and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. However, the Corporation believes that weighted average organic royalty growth is a useful measure as it provides investors with an indication of the change in year-over-year growth of each royalty partner, taking into account the percentage weighting of royalty partner’s growth in proportion of total growth, as applicable. The Corporation’s method of calculating weighted average organic royalty growth may differ from those of other issuers or companies and, accordingly, weighted average organic royalty growth may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers or companies.

    “Same store sales growth” or “SSSG” and “system sales” are supplementary financial measures and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. SSSG and system sales figures are reported to DIV by its Royalty Partners – see “Third Party Information”. For further details, refer to the subsection entitled “Supplementary Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    Third Party Information

    This news release includes information obtained from third party company filings and reports and other publicly available sources as well as financial statements and other reports provided to DIV by its royalty partners. Although DIV believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information cannot be verified with complete certainty. Accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed. DIV has not independently verified any of the information from third party sources referred to in this news release nor ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources.

    THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    Additional Information

    The information in this news release should be read in conjunction with DIV’s consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    Contact:
    Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8470

    Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP Acquisitions
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8471

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Announces Experts on First Amendment and Freedom of the Press as Witnesses for Hearing on So-Called ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch: “Newsflash for my colleagues across the aisle: their claims of a ‘vast cover-up’ against conservatives will get debunked as quickly as their claims about supporting free speech.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, announced the Minority witnesses for the Subcommittee hearing titled “The Censorship Industrial Complex.” Instead of focusing the first Subcommittee hearing on actual and proven instances of censorship by the Trump Administration against their political adversaries, the Majority has focused this hearing on a perceived—and unproven—censorship enterprise against conservatives.   
    “Newsflash for my colleagues across the aisle: their claims of a ‘vast cover-up’ against conservatives will get debunked as quickly as their claims about supporting free speech,” said Sen. Peter Welch. “The Republican party has pushed disinformation for years, and this sham hearing on the so-called anti-conservative ‘censorship industrial complex’ is yet another example. Instead of focusing on the actual censorship directed, unabashedly, by the White House, they’re pushing this false narrative that their voices are being silenced. I’m thankful to be joined by Professor Mary Anne Franks and Gabe Rottman tomorrow, who will speak on the importance of the First Amendment and press freedom.” 
    Witnesses for the Minority will include: 
    Mary Anne Franks. Ms. Franks is the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Civil Rights Law at George Washington University School of Law, and an expert in the First Amendment and technology.  
    Gabe Rottman: Mr. Rottman is the Vice President of Policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. In this role he works at the intersection of press freedom and technology.  
    Majority witnesses will include Mollie Hemingway, senior editor for The Federalist, Jonathan Turley, conservative legal scholar, and Benjamin Weingarten, a Senior Contributor for The Federalist.  
    More details on the hearing are included below: 
    Title:                      The Censorship Industrial Complex
    Date:                      Tuesday, March 25, 2025
    Time:                      2:00 p.m. ET
    Location:   Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building
    Livestream:           Watch live HERE.
    Media Note: Members of the media who wish to attend the hearing in person should RSVP to their respective Senate press gallery. Hearing room space is limited. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities sign UK-Borneo strategic forestry research partnership – University of Birmingham

    Source: University of Birmingham

    24 March 2025 – The University of Birmingham and the University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) have forged ties to create new opportunities exploring how forest ecosystems will behave in in the future as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise.

    Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Birmingham joined UCSF Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Rafiq Idris by video link to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  

    The MoU will see Birmingham climate change experts working with their counterparts in Borneo to explore the potential for major forest experiments and to investigate how the island’s forests respond to pressures cause by climate change – particularly in relation to biodiversity.

    The partners will explore opportunities to develop a global research and education centre around forestry management and biodiversity focussed on the needs of the people and nature of Sabah State and beyond.  

    Their partnership also aims to establish knowledge-exchange initiatives around energy infrastructure optimisation and decarbonisation – particularly related to sustainable energy derived from biomass sources.  

    Professor Robin Mason commented: “The University of Birmingham has an excellent track record in this space – particularly in relation to research at our own large-scale Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility and its counterpart in the Amazon.

    “As we prepare to contribute to the global discussion on climate change at COP 30 later this year, we look forward to developing our partnership with University College Sabah Foundation in Borneo – pushing forward the boundaries of global forestry research and adding to our understanding of the impact of elevated carbon levels on the world’s forests.”

    Development of the partnership has been supported by UK-Malaysia strategic business advisers WIPPD. Initial discussions between the partners will get to grips with Sabah State’s energy priorities, as well as exploring opportunities for educational and training initiatives.

    Datuk Dr Rafiq Bin Idris commented: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone for UCSF’s partnership with the University of Birmingham. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing research and innovation. UCSF with other stakeholders will work together to participate and support in this global forestry and carbon research wherever possible. By working together, we aim to strengthen collaboration, enrich learning experiences and conduct research in strategic areas of mutual interest. We are happy to formalise this relationship through the signing of this MoU.”

    Mature forests are recognised as medium-term (decades long) carbon stores and natural climate solutions. The long-running FACE experiment at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), in central England, has contributed significantly to increasing global understanding of how forests may behave in response to changes in atmospheric carbon levels.

    FACE experiments mimic future atmospheric composition and provide valuable data on interaction between forests, atmosphere, and climate. In 2017, researchers at BIFoR established the long-term FACE experiment in a 180-year-old deciduous woodland dominated by 26-m tall English (or ‘pedunculate’) oak trees – six 30 metre diameter plots, three exposed to elevated CO2 with the other three plots acting as a control. The southeast Asian rainforests are one of the most important ecosystems for which a FACE experiment has yet to be attempted.

    Notes:  

    The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.

    The most significant results to date from BIFoR FACE are published in Norby, R. J., … and A. R. MacKenzie (2024). Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2. Nature Climate Change. 14, 983–988. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02090-3 .  

    The University of Birmingham is committed to achieving operational net zero carbon. It is seeking to change society and the environment positively, and use its research and education to make a major global contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Find out at www.birmingham.ac.uk/sustainability 

    The University of Birmingham is ranked 38th in the 2025 QS World Sustainability Rankings and rose 19 places in the 2024 People and Planet sustainability league table. Our global sustainability research is unlocking effective and equitable climate action and sustainability solutions.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – The art of investing in alternative assets – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Lego, instruments, classic cars and baseball cards are among the alternative investments University of Auckland finance lecturer, Gertjan Verdickt, discusses in his new book The Passion Portfolio: Investing in Style.

    Co-authored with Jürgen Hanssens (senior manager at KPMG Belgium and an avid Lego collector) the book details the mechanics behind the world of ‘passion’ investing.

    The researchers offer readers an understanding of how the prices of passion investments evolve, along with the factors that drive these changes.

    “We want to help people navigate these often opaque markets, where transactions are infrequent, and where in some instances, exclusivity, rather than transparency, is both the norm and the value driver,” says Verdickt, whose investment portfolio includes wine.

    Verdickt and Hanssens discuss the pros and cons of various investments: wine, Lego, whisky, watches, bags, jewellery, art, stamps, instruments, vintage cars, precious metals and baseball cards.

    They provide average historical annual returns by examining at least twenty years of data for each object.

    Of all the investment options, whisky comes out on top with an average annual return of 17.52 percent. In second place is baseball cards, which posted an average annual return of nearly 13 percent compared to the stock market’s 10 percent.

    Research suggests that adding collectibles like whisky, baseball cards, or Lego to an existing stock portfolio can reduce overall portfolio risk, says Verdickt.

    Each chapter of his book follows a structured approach, examining the advantages and risks of different asset classes, their historical returns and key factors that influence their value. Readers can learn about the authentication process, assess long-term investment potential, and gain insights into platforms that track pricing.

    While passion investing can be lucrative, it’s also less regulated than traditional markets, increasing the risk of fraud. As such, Verdickt and Hanssens discuss how to spot counterfeit goods. They also explore arbitrage – where investors can take advantage of pricing discrepancies across different markets.

    A well-documented provenance and pedigree, says Verdickt, can significantly increase the value of an alternative investment and, in turn, boost its likelihood of being sold.

    The finance expert says passion investments require patience and expertise. “Unlike stocks, which can be sold at the click of a button, luxury assets are illiquid. A work of art is resold only once every nine years on average. Wine appreciates over decades. These are long-term investments that demand both knowledge and time.

    “Lego, on the other hand, is accessible to everyone, with relatively low initial capital required compared to many other collectibles.”

    Because demand for Lego sets remains high, while supply is relatively limited, it’s a more liquid investment than most other alternative assets, he says.

    “The book is for investors looking to diversify beyond traditional securities,” says Verdickt. “It’s also for people who are keen to put their money into something they love, something that’s tangible.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Washington Examiner: Tuberville is the Senate champion needed to protect female sports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the Washington Examiner published a story highlighting Senator Tuberville’s efforts to protect Title IX from the Radical Left’s attempts to erase women’s and girls’ sports.
    Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to preserve Title IX protections for female athletes. Unfortunately, every single Senate Democrat voted against the legislation to protect women.  
    Read excerpts from the Washington Examiner piece below or read the full story here.
    Tuberville is the Senate champion needed to protect female sports
    “Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear suits to the Senate and fight to protect women’s sports.
    Another day, another girls’ sporting event is dominated by a male athlete who thinks he is female — an occurrence that keeps happening because Democrats don’t want to protect female sports. Instead, they rather genuflect to the activist mob and allow such travesties to keep happening.
    Ada Gallagher is a 16-year-old at McDaniel High School in Oregon who runs on the school’s female track team. Last week, Gallagher dominated the girls’ 200-meter and 400-meter varsity races in the Portland Interscholastic League, reportedly winning one of the races by nearly seven seconds. It was a fantastic performance that would have drawn unanimous praise if not for one pesky detail: Gallagher is allegedly a boy claiming he is now a girl. 
    If the reports are accurate, this shows why the country desperately needs Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Senators voted along party lines earlier this month, 51-45. The proposed legislation failed to earn the necessary 60 votes to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Tuberville’s bill would have prevented Gallagher from defeating the actual high school girls who ran in the races. 
    How many high school and college-aged girls have to suffer because of the radical, left-wing political agendas of Democrats? Furthermore, what could possibly motivate Democrats, let alone any human being, to go against Tuberville’s bill?
    ‘Democrats have clearly learned nothing from this election,’ Tuberville told me in an exclusive interview earlier this month. ‘The American people decisively rejected Democrats’ anti-women, woke ideology and want us to get back to common sense. But surprise, surprise — the party that spent the past four years saying men can get pregnant apparently still thinks men should compete in women’s sports.’
    Gallagher’s athletic victory over actual high school girls competing in a track race is the kind of thing that happens because of Democrats. Their motives defy logic and common sense. Unfortunately, innocent young girls must suffer because of their radicalism, even though the overwhelming majority of the country is against boys competing against girls in sports. It is the country’s far Left, ideologically fanatical and unhinged, that allows this to keep happening.
    ‘It’s deeply unpopular, out-of-touch, and reveals that Democrats would rather stand up for a few trans people than fight for the rights of 50% of this country,’ Tuberville said.
    Boys are boys, and girls are girls. Males are bigger and stronger than females and enjoy a biological advantage when competing against them in sports. It’s the sole reason female athletic leagues were established. The fact that Democrats are intent on ignoring this reality leads one to conclude that they genuinely do not care about protecting female athletes or ensuring they are provided an opportunity to engage in fair athletic competitions and be protected from the dangers and harm of competing against bigger, larger, and stronger male athletes.
    ‘It’s hard to understand why Democrats are so willing to sacrifice the rights of women at the altar of woke ideology,’ Tuberville said. ‘Democrats claim to care about women, which is why I don’t understand why they don’t want women to have fair competition, equal access to scholarships, and safe locker rooms. It’s not about politics. It’s about right and wrong.’
    Democrats’ resistance to this is beyond puzzling, especially given their insistence on championing the rights of females. At this point, it would have to seem that interest groups are influencing them to promote these out-of-touch ideas while sacrificing the rights of female athletes in high schools and colleges. Tuberville mentioned links between interest groups and the left-wing political agenda to allow boys who pretend to be girls to compete in female sports.
    […]
    ‘One of Democrats’ most frequent talking points is that this bill is ‘hateful,’ Tuberville said. ‘That isn’t true. What is hateful is stripping opportunities away from millions of women in favor of the rights of a few trans people. This bill isn’t about excluding or alienating anyone. It is about protecting the rights and safety of our daughters, granddaughters, and nieces.’
    ‘We’ll keep pushing — this fight isn’t over,’ Tuberville said. ‘Nearly 80% of Americans are on our side. And we’ll continue to put pressure on Democrat senators to do the right thing and stand up for women.’”
    BACKGROUND:
    During President Biden’s administration, more than 900 women lost medals to men competing in women’s sports. The issue of men in girls’ and women’s sports proved to be one of the top concerns of voters during the 2024 Presidential Election. A recent New York Times (NYT) poll found 79% of respondents said men should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. This is a bipartisan issue—the same recent NYT poll found that 67% of Democrats agree that male athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.
    In February, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order banning men from competing in women’s sports. President Trump has spoken about the need to keep men out of women’s sports on multiple occasions.
    Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. That’s why on Monday, March 3, 2025, the Senate voted on Senator Tuberville’s bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would make President Trump’s Executive Order permanent. 45 Democrats voted to block the bill from proceeding. 
    Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville also introduced a bill to ban men from competing in women’s U.S. Olympic sports, following USA Boxing’s announcement that it would allow men to box against women.
    Senator Tuberville has vowed to continue fighting until women’s rights to compete fairly and safely are protected.
    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: Family doctors embrace new pay model

    Alberta’s government is committed to strengthening primary health care, ensuring every Albertan has access to a primary health care provider no matter where they live. This new compensation model is designed to not only support physicians in their essential work but also to enhance access to family doctors across the province.  

    Developed in partnership with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), this model was announced in December following months of collaboration. With the AMA meeting the threshold of 500 enrolled physicians, the program is now set to officially launch on April 1. As of March 24, 789 family physicians have signed up to receive compensation through the new model.

    “Implementing the new primary care physician compensation model is an exciting milestone in our journey to strengthen Alberta’s primary health care system. The model will support family physicians and be a recruitment and retention tool to give more Albertans access to the primary care they need.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    The new compensation model will ensure Alberta’s family doctors are competitively paid while promoting patient-focused care. Incentives include increases for:

    • Maintaining high panel numbers (minimum of 500 patients), which will incentivize panel growth and improve access to primary care for patients.
    • Providing after-hours care to relieve pressure on emergency departments and urgent care centres.
    • Enhancing team-based care, which will encourage developing integrated teams that may include family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, dietitians and pharmacists to provide patients with the best care possible.
    • Adding efficiencies in clinical operations to simplify processes for both patients and health care providers.

    Alberta’s government is committed to improving access to family physicians. This new model fosters growth while addressing patient complexity, striking a balance that enhances access to quality care for all Albertans.

    “This new model will strengthen comprehensive, cradle-to-grave primary care. These practices are the foundation of our health care system. The model will help us to retain the family medicine specialists and rural generalists we already have and will go a long way toward attracting more to Alberta.”

    Dr. Shelley Duggan, president, Alberta Medical Association

    “Family physicians welcome this announcement. For us, it signals government’s commitment to making primary care a priority within our health care system. I know many physicians are eager to begin working under this new model so they can stabilize their practices and focus on providing high-quality care to their patients.”

    Dr. Sarah Bates, president, Section of Family Medicine, Alberta Medical Association

    “Primary Care Alberta is pleased to see the extensive training, experience and leadership of family medicine specialists recognized. Primary care providers play an integral role in the health of Albertans. We look forward to working with government and family medicine specialists across the province to increase access to comprehensive primary care for all Albertans, particularly in rural and remote communities.” 

    Kim Simmonds, CEO, Primary Care Alberta

    “The PCPCM model is an important step forward in connecting every Albertan with a family physician and medical home.” 

    Dr. Melanie Hnatiuk, president, Alberta College of Family Physicians

    Alberta International Medical Graduate Program changes

    Alberta’s government is also making changes to the Alberta International Medical Graduate Program (AIMG) to better support Albertans who are studying medicine abroad and help them complete their residency in Alberta. The program assesses the qualifications of Alberta international medical graduates (IMGs) to determine their eligibility for medical residency positions at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, but it does not select who is chosen for a residency position.

    The changes will adjust the graduation deadline and remove the requirement for an externship assessment, which previously required Alberta IMGs to complete a clinical assessment period in Alberta before beginning residency. Now, they can begin right after graduation. The application period for 2026 is from May 1 to May 30, 2025.  

    For the 2026 application cycle, applicants will be eligible if they graduate by July 1, 2026. Previously, applicants would have had to graduate by Dec. 31, 2025. These changes will make it easier for more Albertans to complete their residency here, helping to retain skilled health care professionals and build a stronger, more sustainable health care workforce for years to come.

    Quick facts

    • If passed, Budget 2025 will provide $66.3 million for postgraduate medical education programs in 2025-26, including $2.3 million for the AIMG Program.
    • Alberta offered 55 IMG residency seats in 2025, with plans to expand to 70 by 2028, and additional IMGs will also have the opportunity to fill unfilled Canadian medical graduate seats.
    • Adjustments to the AIMG program will go into effect for the class of 2026; physicians wanting medical residency positions need to apply to the program in May 2025.

    Related information

    • Primary care physician compensation model
    • Alberta International Medical Graduate Program
    • Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS)

    Related news

    • New pay model, better access to family doctors (Dec. 19, 2024)
    • Competitive compensation for resident physicians (Oct. 9, 2024)
    • Modernizing how family doctors are paid in Alberta (April 17, 2024)
    • Stabilizing Alberta’s primary health care system (April 4, 2024)
    • Helping primary care providers support patients (Feb. 8, 2024)
    • New funding to stabilize primary health care (Dec. 21, 2023)
    • Strengthening health care: A collaborative effort (Oct. 24, 2023)
    • Strengthening health care: Improving access for all (Oct. 18, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Trump Slashing SBA, Decimating Service and Oversight, & Shifting New Student Loan Portfolio onto Agency is Another Economic Blow to Main Street and Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    PROVIDENCE, RI – After the Trump Administration announced plans to slash 43 percent of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) workforce while also reducing SBA capabilities and shifting management of the federal government’s student loan portfolio from the U.S. Department of Education to the SBA, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) denounced the move as irresponsible and harmful to small businesses, students, and taxpayers alike.
    “Small businesses are a big part of our economy and we should be helping them innovate, grow, and thrive,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the SBA.  “Instead of cutting red tape, President Trump is piling on new bureaucratic challenges and decimating customer service capabilities of federal agencies.  He is eliminating key SBA resources and staff that help small businesses access capital and create jobs while at the same time trying to tack on new student loan mandates.  His chaotic tariff taxes are already raising costs for entrepreneurs, and these latest SBA cuts will add more financial pressure and uncertainty for many small businesses.”
    “President Trump’s irresponsible decision to downsize the SBA and saddle it with overseeing a massive $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio of over 40 million-plus Americans makes zero sense. The intent to transfer these loans flies in the face of both education and appropriations law.  It would sow chaos and confusion, burden borrowers, and needlessly cost taxpayers.  If people don’t know where to turn or can’t get the expert help they need from the proper federal agency then it could lead to a spike in loan defaults,” said Reed, noting President Trump can’t legally transfer management of the loan portfolio to the SBA without Congressional authorization.
    Reed continued: “Putting the financial interests of students and small businesses at risk is a screwup by the Trump Administration.  I expect these cynical ploys will be challenged in court.  And I will work with my colleagues in Congress to uphold the law, support small businesses, and ensure that student borrowers can get the loan servicing and protections they need.”
    Reed says Congressional authorization is needed in order to legally transfer management of the extensive student loan portfolio from the U.S. Department of Education to the SBA.
    Created by Congress in 1953, the SBA helps American entrepreneurs nationwide start, build, and grow businesses. The SBA is a key partner for Rhode Island small businesses, offering a variety of services that small businesses can leverage, including:
    Financing: SBA offers a range of loans, grants, and other funding programs to eligible businesses.
    Education and training: SBA offers educational programs and counseling to help small business owners start and grow their businesses.
    Disaster assistance: When disaster strikes, SBA provides critical assistance to businesses, homeowners, and renters.
    Government contracting: SBA helps small businesses compete and win government contracts.
    Policy advocacy: SBA works with Congress and local governments to ensure small business input is heard in policy matters.
    Support underserved businesses: SBA helps level the playing field for veteran, women, and minority small business owners.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Services

    Source: NASA

    Overview
    Welcome to the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) services page. Provided here are different resources to support informed steps toward a new career opportunity in the public or private sector.
    Transition Assistance
    NASA is partnering with OPM to offer a 1-day workshop covering multiple areas associated with career transitions. The workshop will be offered virtually on pre-scheduled dates and will include:

    Career Exploration (1 Hour)
    Job Search Strategy (1 Hour)
    Resume Writing (2 Hours)
    Interview Techniques (2 Hours)
    One-On-One Counseling

    NASA will follow-up with employees eligible for CTAP to enroll them in the workshop and share participation details.
    Transition Resources
    Below are links to guidance, resources, and tools that are helpful during a career move, including resume preparation, interview preparation, networking strategies, job search assistance, and more.
    Resume Preparation
    Resources to help craft strong professional resumes that showcase personal skills and experience, including specialized training and tools.
    General
    Resume Tips Brochure to Launch Your Career
    JPL Resume Workshop
    Writing an Effective Resume
    CareerOneStop
    Federal/State/Local Government
    Federal employees who have been displaced due to a Reduction in Force (RIF) may be eligible for priority selection for another federal job under the CTAP. In their USAJOBS profiles, they can indicate their CTAP eligibility under the Federal Service section and make their resume and profile searchable for Agency Talent Portal (ATP) users by selecting a saved resume under the Documents tab.
    How to Build a Resume
    What Should I Include in My Resume
    How to Make Your Resume and Profile Searchable
    Private Sector
    Creating A Successful Private Sector Resume from Your Federal Resume
    Beyond Federal Service: How to Transition to the Private Sector
    Interview Coaching
    Resources to prepare for job interviews and improve interview skills, including information about the interview process, how to prepare and respond to interview questions, and platforms to conduct practice interviews and receive feedback on responses.
    Interview Process
    Interview Tips from Department of Labor
    Interview Tips from DOL’s CareerOneStop
    Interview Responses
    STAR Method: How to Use This Technique to Ace Your Next Job Interview
    Interview Practice
    Barclays Virtual Interview Practice Tool (Free)
    Google Interview Warmup (Free)
    Pramp (Free)
    Networking
    Guidance on how to leverage LinkedIn for job search and professional networking, and providing feedback on LinkedIn profiles, optimizing keywords, and increasing visibility to recruiters.
    Rock Your LinkedIn Profile Learning Series Videos
    LinkedIn Profile Best Practices
    LinkedIn Profile Summary Best Practices
    Leveraging LinkedIn for Job Search Success
    Make the Most of LinkedIn for Your Job Search
    Forming a Network
    Job Information/Job Search Assistance
    Free online resources for identifying adjacent or new career opportunities, including job matching websites and websites offering personality or career assessments.
    Career Search
    CareerOneStop
    O*NET Online
    Self-Assessment
    CareerExplorer Assessment
    CareerOneStop Self-Assessments
    O*NET Interest Profiler
    USAJOBS Career Explorer
    Job Search
    Apprenticeship Job Finder
    CareerOneStop Job Search
    Indeed
    Monster
    USAJOBS
    ZipRecruiter
    Other
    CareerOneStop Find American Job Centers
    Retraining
    Free and fee-based online e-learning resources to enhance current skills or acquire new skills.
    Codeacademy
    Coursera
    edX
    Harvard Online Learning
    Khan Academy
    LinkedIn Learning
    MasterClass
    MIT OpenCourseWare
    Skillshare
    Stanford Online
    Udemy
    Employment Counseling
    NASA’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential counseling that can be used to obtain employment counseling and support during a career transition, as well as referrals to other needed resources.
    NASA Enterprise EAP Page
    NASA Center EAP Pages
    Additional Transition Resources
    There are also additional career transition resources available through OPM including:
    The Employee’s Guide to Career Transition

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Takes to the Air to Study Wildflowers

    Source: NASA

    For many plant species, flowering is biologically synced with the seasons. Scientists are clocking blooms to understand our ever-changing planet.
    NASA research is revealing there’s more to flowers than meets the human eye. A recent analysis of wildflowers in California shows how aircraft- and space-based instruments can use color to track seasonal flower cycles. The results suggest a potential new tool for farmers and natural-resource managers who rely on flowering plants.
    In their study, the scientists surveyed thousands of acres of nature preserve using a technology built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The instrument — an imaging spectrometer — mapped the landscape in hundreds of wavelengths of light, capturing flowers as they blossomed and aged over the course of months.
    It was the first time the instrument had been deployed to track vegetation steadily through the growing season, making this a “first-of-a-kind study,” said David Schimel, a research scientist at JPL.

    For many plant species from crops to cacti, flowering is timed to seasonal swings in temperature, daylight, and precipitation. Scientists are taking a closer look at the relationship between plant life and seasons — known as vegetation phenology — to understand how rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may be impacting ecosystems.
    Typically, wildflower surveys rely on boots-on-the-ground observations and tools such as time-lapse photography. But these approaches cannot capture broader changes that may be happening in different ecosystems around the globe, said lead author Yoseline Angel, a scientist at the University of Maryland-College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
    “One challenge is that compared to leaves or other parts of a plant, flowers can be pretty ephemeral,” she said. “They may last only a few weeks.”
    To track blooms on a large scale, Angel and other NASA scientists are looking to one of the signature qualities of flowers: color.

    Mapping Native Shrubs
    Flower pigments fall into three major groups: carotenoids and betalains (associated with yellow, orange, and red colors), and anthocyanins (responsible for many deep reds, violets, and blues). The different chemical structures of the pigments reflect and absorb light in unique patterns.
    Spectrometers allow scientists to analyze the patterns and catalog plant species by their chemical “fingerprint.” As all molecules reflect and absorb a unique pattern of light, spectrometers can identify a wide range of biological substances, minerals, and gases.
    Handheld devices are used to analyze samples in the field or lab. To survey moons and planets, including Earth, NASA has developed increasingly powerful imaging spectrometers over the past 45 years.
    One such instrument is called AVIRIS-NG (short for Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation), which was built by JPL to fly on aircraft. In 2022 it was used in a large ecology field campaign to survey vegetation in the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve and the Sedgwick Reserve, both in Santa Barbara County. Among the plants observed were two native shrub species — Coreopsis gigantea and Artemisia californica — from February to June.
    The scientists developed a method to tease out the spectral fingerprint of the flowers from other landscape features that crowded their image pixels. In fact, they were able to capture 97% of the subtle spectral differences among flowers, leaves, and background cover (soil and shadows) and identify different flowering stages with 80% certainty.
    Predicting Superblooms
    The results open the door to more air- and space-based studies of flowering plants, which represent about 90% of all plant species on land. One of the ultimate goals, Angel said, would be to support farmers and natural resource managers who depend on these species along with insects and other pollinators in their midst. Fruit, nuts, many medicines, and cotton are a few of the commodities produced from flowering plants.
    Angel is working with new data collected by AVIRIS’ sister spectrometer that orbits on the International Space Station. Called EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), it was designed to map minerals around Earth’s arid regions. Combining its data with other environmental observations could help scientists study superblooms, a phenomenon where vast patches of desert flowers bloom after heavy rains.
    One of the delights of researching flowers, Angel said, is the enthusiasm from citizen scientists. “I have social media alerts on my phone,” she added, noting one way she stays on top of wildflower activity around the world.
    The wildflower study was supported as part of the Surface Biology and Geology High-Frequency Time Series (SHIFT) campaign. An airborne and field research effort, SHIFT was jointly led by the Nature Conservancy, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and JPL. Caltech, in Pasadena, manages JPL for NASA.
    The AVIRIS instrument was originally developed through funding from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office.
    News Media Contacts
    Andrew Wang / Jane J. LeeJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally YoungerNASA’s Earth Science News Team
    2025-041

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: CBED Program Awards Grant to INPEACE to Support Native Hawaiian Businesses at 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: CBED Program Awards Grant to INPEACE to Support Native Hawaiian Businesses at 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival

    Posted on Mar 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI

     

    BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT DIVISION

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    DENNIS T. LING

    ADMINISTRATOR

    CBED PROGRAM AWARDS GRANT TO INPEACE TO SUPPORT NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESSES AT 2025 MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 24, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) Program has awarded an $8,000 grant to the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) Center for Entrepreneurship. The funding will support nine Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses in participating as vendors at the Kākoʻo Hawaiʻi Merrie Monarch Market, taking place April 24-26, 2025 at Sangha Hall in Hilo, Hawai‘i, in conjunction with the Merrie Monarch Festival.

    “The CBED Program is committed to fostering economic opportunities that strengthen Hawaiʻi’s small business community, particularly those that align with cultural preservation and sustainability,” said DBEDT Business Support Division Branch Chief Mark Ritchie. “By supporting Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs at the Merrie Monarch Festival, we are investing in the long-term success of local businesses while celebrating and perpetuating Hawaiian culture.”

    As one of Hawai‘i’s premier cultural events, the Merrie Monarch Festival attracts thousands of attendees, including residents, visitors and cultural practitioners. The Kākoʻo Hawaiʻi Merrie Monarch Market, which runs alongside the festival, provides a unique opportunity for local artisans, food vendors and entrepreneurs to showcase their products, increase brand recognition and generate revenue.

    “This funding allows us to provide critical support for Native Hawaiian small businesses – helping them grow their brands, expand their customer base and contribute to the local economy,” said Lisa Pakele, program director of the INPEACE Center for Entrepreneurship. “We are grateful to the CBED Program for its commitment to community-based economic development.”

    The grant funding will cover vendor booth fees, travel expenses and marketing efforts to enhance visibility for participating businesses. The selected cohort includes:

    • Bujo Bae: Island-inspired stationery, paper goods, scrapbooking materials and journals. (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
    • Honolulu Baby Company: Keiki apparel and accessories that are comfy, conscious and cute. (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
    • Kākou Collective: Stationery, greeting cards, notebooks and apparel featuring hand-drawn artwork by Native Hawaiian artist Kea Peters. (‘Ewa Beach, O‘ahu)
    • Kaulana Mahina: A research-based resource promoting Hawaiian culture and language through mahina workshops, moon calendars, maps, keiki books and more. (Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi Island)
    • Keha Hawai‘i: A blend of classic and contemporary fashion for men and women that pays homage to the ʻāina, kānaka, ʻōlelo and moʻolelo of Hawaiʻi. (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
    • The Keiki Dept: A lifestyle brand for the ‘ohana that encourages families to have conversations about the plants and animals featured on their products. (ʻAiea, O‘ahu)
    • Mahina Made: A Hawaiʻi lifestyle brand of apparel, accessories and home goods. (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
    • Pawniolo Pets: Offering high-quality pet food and snacks rooted in the traditions of its family cattle ranch on Hawaiʻi Island. (Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island)
    • Sweetheart Farm: Farm-fresh products ranging from microgreens and chili pepper jelly to baked goods and lilikoi butter. (Hilo, Hawai‘i Island)

    The CBED Program supports initiatives that promote economic self-sufficiency and sustainable business development in Hawaiʻi. By investing in community-driven projects, DBEDT aims to strengthen local industries, enhance job creation and foster long-term economic resilience.

    For more information about the CBED Program and its initiatives, visit https://invest.hawaii.gov/business/cbed/. To learn more about INPEACE and its programs, visit https://inpeace.org/.

    About the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)

    DBEDT is Hawai‘i’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, as well as foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawai‘i economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawai‘i’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments and promotes innovation-sector job growth.

    About the Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) Program

    The CBED Program is dedicated to supporting the economic growth and sustainability of Hawaiʻi’s communities. By providing grants, loans and technical assistance, CBED empowers local businesses and organizations to thrive and contribute to a vibrant local economy.

    About the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE)

    INPEACE is a nonprofit organization committed to the education, culture and economic development of Native Hawaiians. Through a range of programs and initiatives, INPEACE strives to create opportunities that promote self-sufficiency and enhance the quality of life for Native Hawaiian communities. The INPEACE Center for Entrepreneurship supports new family-owned businesses and start-ups on the Leeward Coast of O‘ahu to increase their capacity to succeed. The center provides intensive individual support, personal and business finance training, 1-on-1 coaching, access to business micro loans, peer networking, business equipment, administrative back-office support, specialized services and expert mentors.

    # # #

     

    Media Contacts:

     

    Laci Goshi

    Communications Officer

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
    Cell: 808-518-5480

    Email: [email protected]

    Mark Ritchie

    Branch Chief, Business Support Division

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Phone: 808-586-2355

    Email: [email protected]

    Lisa Pakele

    INPEACE Program Director

    Center for Entrepreneurship

    Phone 808-693-7222 ext. 116

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Alarming increase in commissions charged by international payment card networks – E-000812/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has recently conducted in-depth market surveys in relation to electronic payments. A 2020 Report[1] on the application of the Interchange Fees Regulation 2015/751 examined developments in card fees.

    Supported by a comprehensive Study[2], it found that interchange fees declined and that ‘Scheme fees, which are not within the scope of the IFR, appear to have increased to a limited extent’. A follow-up Study in 2024 largely aligns with the previous Study on fees aspects[3].

    For more than 20 years, the Commission has focused antitrust enforcement actions on interchange fees, which resulted in several decisions addressed to Visa and MasterCard[4], upheld by the European Courts[5], leading to significant reduction in those fees.

    The Commission is continuously monitoring the payments market and actively investigating when relevant.

    • [1] Report on the application of Regulation (EU) 2015/751 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions, Commission Staff Working Document of 29.6.2020 SWD(2020) 118. https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d8055968-b4c2-424b-b281-c4c6959df19b_en?filename=IFR_report_card_payment.pdf
    • [2] Study on the application of Interchange Fee Regulation, 2020, prepared by Ernst&Young and Copenhagen Economics, available at https://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/reports/kd0120161enn.pdf
    • [3] https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/document/65d4f65a-6b23-49c7-91cb-e5cd166a19ed_en
    • [4] https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/financial-services/cases_en;
      https://competition-cases.ec.europa.eu/cases/AT.34579;
      https://competition-cases.ec.europa.eu/cases/AT.39398;
      https://competition-cases.ec.europa.eu/cases/AT.40049
    • [5] MasterCard judgments, Case C-382/12 (2014) and case T-111/08 (2012).
    Last updated: 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening early childhood education and care in the EU – E-000464/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission supports Member States to ensure the provision of high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) for all children.

    The European Education Area Working Group on ECEC[1] — in line with the 2019 Council Recommendation on high-quality ECEC systems[2] and the EU quality framework on ECEC — provides peer learning opportunities and evidence-based knowledge and examples to inform Member State reforms, addressing topics of governance, staff and inclusion. It plans to focus on curricula in 2026.

    The Commission also encourages free and effective access to ECEC for children in need, through the European Child Guarantee, with the support of the European Social Fund Plus[3].

    In addition, the Commission supports ECEC through various funding instruments:

    —With the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, 15 Member States committed to reforms and investments in this policy area with a value of almost EUR 7.5 billion.[4]

    —The Technical Support Instrument[5] has, since 2020, been supporting ECEC reforms in Bulgaria, Czechia, Austria, Cyprus, Portugal and Germany.

    —Erasmus+[6] funds mobility projects for (future) ECEC staff, and projects to develop innovative pedagogies and cooperation.

    • [1] https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/display/EAC/ECEC
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=oj:JOC_2019_189_R_0002
    • [3] https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en
    • [4] Figure as of 10 March 2025. Data are based on the pillar tagging methodology for the Recovery and Resilience scoreboard and correspond to the measures allocated to the policy area ‘early childhood education and care’ as primary or secondary policy area.
    • [5] https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/technical-support-instrument/technical-support-instrument-tsi_en
    • [6] https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/
    Last updated: 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Development aid to Pakistan – E-000242/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In Pakistan, the EU has been supporting education reforms in Balochistan[1] and in Sindh[2].

    This support extends to the school education departments of the provincial governments, which oversee financing and operations of only the state schools. The EU support is focusing on institutional capacity strengthening, school rehabilitation, training of teachers, and learning.

    To ensure that the EU support is in line with EU values, the subjects and content for teachers’ training are specifically selected. For example, the teachers’ training support to Balochistan school education department covers English, mathematics and science.

    The EU scrutinises its projects including those on education via field visits, reporting, results oriented monitoring missions, evaluations and other monitoring mechanisms.

    The EU’s investment in education takes place under the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway (GG) strategy[3] towards enhancing EU’s global role and economic security. GG is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals[4] and with Europe’s industrial capacity and interests.

    The quality and sustainability of GG investments will depend, however, on the availability of an educated, skilled, and competent workforce.

    Improving employment and educational opportunities in countries with significant migration outflows to Europe also directly addresses some root causes of migration.

    The EU is committed to education as a basic human right, in particular in fragile, emergency or post-conflict settings, recognising that everyone deserves access to education regardless of geographic or cultural backgrounds[5].

    The EU’s investments support education pathways and studies that lead to recognised accreditation and qualifications within formal education systems.

    • [1] Balochistan Education Support Programme II (BES II) adopted in 2019 as part of the Annual Action Programme 2019, C (2019)7736. This support will end in 2025.
    • [2] Development through Enhanced Education Programme (DEEP) adopted in 2017, C (2017)8796. This support ended in 2024.
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/global-gateway_en
    • [4] https://sdgs.un.org/goals
    • [5] COM(2018) 304 final — Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises, https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/news/Communication_on_Education_in_Emergencies_and_Protracted_Crises.pdf

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the nomination of Lucian Romașcanu as a Member of the Court of Auditors – A10-0039/2025

    Source: European Parliament

     

    ANNEX 1: CURRICULUM VITÆ OF LUCIAN ROMAȘCANU

    ABOUT ME

    Married, two children

    Politician with top parliamentary and governmental experience with a wealth of prior experience in the private sector.

    Solid experience in working with public and European funds in the public positions held, minister, senator or head of a higher administrative territorial unit.

    EDUCATION AND TRAINING

    [ 2000 – 2002 ] Executive MBA

    University Of Washington, Seattle / ASEBUSS Bucharest

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania |

    [ 1986 – 1991 ] BSc

    Academy Of Economic Studies

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania |

    WORK EXPERIENCE

    [ 28/10/2024 – Current ] President

    Buzău County Council

    City: Buzău | Country: Romania

    • uninominal elected position

    • administrative coordination of Buzău county, 404 000 inhabitants and 87  administrative territorial units

    • yearly budget – over EUR 100 million

    [ 21/12/2016 – 27/10/2024 ] Senator

    The Senate of Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    Various positions in the parliament of Romania:

    • Chair, Culture and Media Committee

    • President, Romanian parliament delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

    • Leader, Social-Democratic Party senators

    [ 11/2021 – 06/2023 ] Minister Of Culture

    Government of Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • yearly budget – over EUR 300 million

     

    [ 06/2017 – 01/2018 ] Minister Of Culture

    Government of Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • yearly budget – over EUR 270 million

    [ 2015 – 2016 ] Management Advisor to the President of the Board

    Romanian National Television

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • 100 % state owned

    • 5 TV Channels

    • EUR 67 million yearly turnover

    • 2 450 employees

    [ 2012 – 2015 ] Managing Director

    Dogan Media International

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • Turkish capital

    • EUR 20 million yearly turnover

    • over 400 employees

    • 32 % y-o-y revenue growth

    [ 2009 – 2012 ] General Manager

    Cancan Media

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • EUR 8 million yearly turnover

    • 140 employees

    • 12% y-o-y revenue growth

    [ 2006 – 2009 ] Managing Director

    Ringier Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • Swiss capital

    • EUR 30 million yearly turnover

    • 240 employees

    [ 2004 – 2006 ] Managing Director

    Best Print Services

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • EUR 10 million yearly turnover

    • 110 employees

    • financing negotiations, investment programme supervising

    • ERP design and implementation

    • 18 % y-o-y revenue growth

    [ 2002 – 2004 ] General Manager

    HL Display Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • Swedish capital

    • start-up

    • EUR 1 million yearly turnover

    • 5 employees

    • Accountable for the Profit and Loss (P&L) statement

    • budgeting, revenue and cost control responsibility

     

    [ 1999 – 2002 ] Sales Director

    Ringier Romania

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • Swiss capital

    • sales team coordination (14 people)

    • crafting sales strategy, planning action, setting sales objectives

    • sales presentations delivered to media agencies, key clients; contract negotiation

    [ 1997 – 1999 ] Sales Director

    MediaPro Holding

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • organising and harmonising the sales structures of the different group companies

    • crafting sales strategy, planning action, setting sales objectives

    • sales presentations delivered to media agencies, key clients; negotiating sales budgets responsibility, in depth reorganisation of the sales structure of 16 different companies

    [ 1993 – 1997 ] Country Representative Amorim Irmaos

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • start-up

    • EUR 4 million yearly turnover

    • building the presence on the Romanian market, obtaining and maintaining the leader position (90 % market share)

    [ 1991 – 1993 ] Account manager

    Vinexport Trading Co.

    City: Bucharest | Country: Romania

    • coordinating exports to Dutch, Canadian and Israeli markets

    • taking part in negotiations, supervising deliveries, preparing export documents.

    MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

    Team leader, good negotiator

    • good teams coordination

    • precise identification and delimitation of competences and hierarchies, multitasking with attention to detail

    • analytical but also action and results oriented

    • very good communication and presentation skills

    • strong negotiation skills with different typologies or cultures

    COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

    Excellent communicator, adaptable and perseverant

    • excellent interpersonal and communication skills within different environments, coordinating and motivating teams of various sizes

    • committed, self-starter, dynamic, perseverant, adaptable, rapidly assimilating new information from various fields

    LANGUAGE SKILLS

    Mother tongue(s): Romanian

    Other language(s):

    English

    LISTENING C2 READING C2 WRITING C2

    SPOKEN PRODUCTION C2 SPOKEN INTERACTION C2

    French

    LISTENING B2 READING B2 WRITING B1

    SPOKEN PRODUCTION B1 SPOKEN INTERACTION B1

    Levels: A1 and A2: Basic user; B1 and B2: Independent user; C1 and C2: Proficient user

    DIGITAL SKILLS

    My Digital Skills

    Excellent command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) | Proficiency of using computer and internet | Enterprise-Resource-Planning-Software (ERP) | Implement change management: from organisational changes to CRMs launch

    DRIVING LICENCE

    Motorbikes:  A

    Cars:  B

    HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

    Avid reader, passionate about sports and music

    ANNEX 2: ANSWERS BY LUCIAN ROMAȘCANU TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE

    Questionnaire for Candidates for Membership of the Court of Auditors

    Professional experience

    1. Please list your professional experience in public finance be it in budgetary planning, budget implementation or management or budget control or auditing.

     A:

    • As manager in the private sector

    i. I proposed, negotiated, approved and controlled budgets of EUR tens of millions in the different companies I managed.

     

    • As Senator in the Romanian Parliament:

    i. I discussed, amended and approved eight of the Romanian yearly budgets with all the activities involved in this laborious process.

    ii. I received, analysed, and was involved in amending, approving or rejecting the budgets of the institutions that operate directly under the supervision of the Senate of Romania – Romanian National Television, Romanian National Radio, the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Audio Visual Council, among others.

    iii. I was involved in top level decisions during major crises, including the pandemic and the energy crisis, where the budgetary impact and control over decisions was a key priority.

     

    • As Minister of Culture

    i. I analysed past years’ budgets and drew conclusions on the performance of the previous budgets and implemented corrective measures where necessary.

    ii. I drew up the yearly budgets, negotiated them with the Ministry of Finance and presented them in front of the Romanian parliament – the yearly budget of the Ministry of Culture is about EUR 300 million.

    iii. I oversaw the execution of the yearly budgets both in terms of performance and legality.

    iv. I worked closely with the Romanian Court of Accounts in all aspects related to their activities concerning my ministry.

     

    • As President of Buzau County

    i. I analysed the previous years’ budgets to allow me to draw conclusions on the County’s financial performance and subsequently prepared budgetary corrections for the next period.

    ii. I drew up the 2025 budget and supervised its approval by the County counsellors – the yearly budget is about EUR 110 million.

    2. What have been your most significant achievements in your professional career?

     A: Considering the scope of this questionnaire, I would list some of the achievements related to the financial and budgetary fields:

    i. In my first mandate as Minister, I was able to increase the budget of the Ministry of Culture by 47 % and oversaw an execution rate of more than 98 % without any adverse opinion from the Romanian Court of Accounts.

    ii. As the leader of the group of the Social Democratic Party senators I was a key actor in the negotiation and successful vote of the Romania’s annual budgets in due time.

    iii. As member of the Parliament during the COVID-19 crisis I was able, together with my colleagues, to ensure – through the necessary Parliamentary decisions – all the resources that the state needed to fight the pandemic and follow-up the way the resources were allocated and spent.

    3. What has been your professional experience of international multicultural and multilinguistic organisations or institutions based outside your home country?

     A:

    i. In the private sector I worked on top executive positions for multinational companies, where I exposed to different cultures within the organisations I worked for.

    ii. As a member of the Romanian parliament and a committee chair, I was constantly involved in activities of parliamentary diplomacy with representatives of different countries and cultures. As the President of the Romanian Parliament delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) I was involved in meetings, discussions and negotiations with representatives from more than 50 member countries.

    iii. As a minister I had the opportunity to have a full international agenda with meetings and negotiations with colleagues from different countries and cultures.

    4. Have you been granted discharge for the management duties you carried out previously, if such a procedure applies?

     A: The duties I carried out previously were not subject to a discharge procedure.

    5. Which of your previous professional positions were a result of a political nomination?

     A: For the past eight years of my career, I was in the public service following general or local elections and I was appointed twice as Minister of Culture. All positions were held as a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

    6. What are the three most important decisions to which you have been party in your professional life?

     A: Having a career that spans over decades, there were several important decisions that made the difference, and I am proud of. I will mention three of them, which are relevant for the three main chapters of my career so far, in the private sector, government and parliament:

    i. One of my important decisions I made during my years as manager in the private sector was the deep restructuring of the division I was in charge of in within Ringier Romania, the result being that the newspaper and magazine titles in my portfolio accounted for 50 % of the group’s turnover and almost 100 % of the group’s profit.

    ii. As Minister of Culture, I was able to restructure and streamline the budget to allocate 270 % more money to domestic cultural projects than in the preceding year.

    iii. As a senator and group leader I supported, negotiated in the committees and got the votes for the investment programmes of the Government, including recovery and resilience fund (RRF) projects, which reached almost 7 % of Romania’s GDP in 2024.

    Independence

    7. The Treaty stipulates that the Members of the Court of Auditors must be ‘completely independent’ in the performance of their duties. How would you act on this obligation in the discharge of your prospective duties?

    A: If confirmed, as a Member of the Court of Auditors, I commit myself to carry out my duties in full independence and with the highest ethical standards, in the general interest of the European Union and of the European citizens, and in full respect of the Treaties’ provisions and the Rules of Procedure of the Court. I will fully comply with the provisions of the Code of conduct for ECA members and observe the ethical principles enshrined therein: integrity, independence, objectivity, competence, professional behaviour, confidentiality, transparency, dignity, commitment, loyalty, discretion and collegiality.

    I will neither seek nor take instructions from any government or other institution, body office, or entity. At the same time, I shall refrain from any action incompatible with my prospective duties, striving to set an example by my personal conduct. Even after the cessation of my duties, I undertake to ensure the confidentiality of information and respect the rules concerning appointments and benefits.

    In this role, I will ensure that the Court’s independence is rigorously protected and that my duties are performed with integrity, impartiality and a strong commitment to the highest standards of public service.

    8. Do you or your close relatives (parents, brothers and sisters, legal partner and children) have any business or financial holdings or any other commitments, which might conflict with your prospective duties?

     A: Neither I nor any member of my family have any business or financial interests that could give rise to a conflict of interest with the duties and responsibilities associated with the role of Member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

    9. Are you prepared to disclose all your financial interests and other commitments to the President of the Court and to make them public?

     A: Yes, I am ready to disclose all requested information and provide a declaration of interest in accordance with the European Court of Auditors’ Code of Conduct and ethical guidelines, ensuring complete transparency and accountability.

    10. Are you involved in any current legal proceedings? If so, please provide us with details.

     A: No, I am not involved in any current legal proceedings.

    11. Do you have any active or executive role in politics, if so at what level? Have you held any political position during the last 18 months? If so, please provide us with details.

     A: Yes, I am currently the leader of the Buzau County organisation of the Social Democratic Party and the national spokesperson of the party for all matters.

    12. Will you step down from any elected office or give up any active function with responsibilities in a political party if you are appointed as a Member of the Court?

     A: Yes, without any hesitation. Becoming a member of ECA means that I will put an end to my political career.

    13. How would you deal with a major irregularity or even fraud and/or corruption case involving persons in your Member State of origin?

     A: If such a case happens, I would handle it in the same manner as any other case of fraud in any other Member State, with the utmost independence and integrity, taking a fully impartial, objective, unbiased and professional approach.

     Upholding impartiality and integrity, respecting the rule of law, strictly following established policies, rules, and procedures, and ensuring fairness and equal treatment are all essential for any institution to function effectively and maintain the trust of EU citizens.

    Performance of duties

    14. What should be the main features of a sound financial management culture in any public service? How could the ECA help to enforce it?

    A: Within the framework set by the Financial Regulation, sound financial management is understood as budget implementation in compliance with the three principles of:

    i) economy

    ii) efficiency

    iii) effectiveness.

    Public funds must be used for the public good, upholding the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability, which are the two key pillars of good governance.

    I strongly believe that transparency, fairness and accountability, with a focus on performance as well, should be seen as the main features of implementing these principles and fostering a sound financial management culture in public service and these have been guiding elements in both my private and public-sector career.

    What is more, the challenging context we are facing requires that we all do our utmost to rebuild and strengthen citizens’ trust in public institutions and decision-making processes at national and European levels. In this regard, I see added value in a multilayered approach aiming to ensure that proper budgetary planning is accompanied by ethical governance and transparent reporting, followed by a thorough controlling and accountability process, all supported by clear and proactive communication efforts at each of these stages. Not least, I see merit in incorporating early risk analysis and mitigation in all stages described above, to ensure the best possible outputs.

     The ECA has the important role of helping to establish a culture of professional financial management and ensuring its sustainability across all EU institutions. The ECA delivers recommendations and monitors their implementation, both key activities for the above-mentioned role. Identifying best practices and issuing audit recommendations are essential ways to strengthen sound financial management. Furthermore, the ECA’s substantial moral authority can help inspire more transparent and accountable accounting practices throughout the EU.

     The ECA also plays a significant role in simplifying the legislative framework and administrative procedures where appropriate, contributing to effective financial management and facilitating necessary reforms. The EU needs simpler procedures with less bureaucracy, and the ECA can play a vital role in Europe’s simplification agenda.

    15. Under the Treaty, the Court is required to assist Parliament in exercising its powers of control over the implementation of the budget. How would you further improve the cooperation between the Court and the European Parliament (in particular, its Committee on Budgetary Control) to enhance both the public oversight of the general spending and its value for money?

    A: As a prospective Member of the Court of Auditors, I assure you of my commitment to building a relationship based on openness, transparency, mutual trust and efficiency between the European Parliament – in particular its Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) – and the Court of Auditors. As we are still early in the current institutional and legislative cycle, I believe we need to work, from both sides, to further strengthen the connection between the two institutions and foster a culture of constant engagement between the CONT Committee and the ECA. As such, if confirmed, I would like to assure you of my full openness to dialogue and suggestions on how to improve and strengthen the Court’s contributions in support of the decision-making process in the CONT Committee, meant to allow Parliament to exercise its democratic oversight effectively, particularly when exercising its powers of control over the implementation of the budget. Also given the current difficult regional and international context, I cannot stress enough the importance of safeguarding the EU budget – both at EU and national levels – and I am aware that this is a prime concern for this Parliament and for the CONT Committee in particular.

     

    By working together, we can ensure that any expenditure of EU money is made in a legal, responsible, and accountable manner, having at heart the best interests of the EU and its citizens.

     Moreover, since Members of the European Parliament directly represent the interests of EU citizens, it is crucial to incorporate their perspectives to ensure the ECA’s work remains relevant to the challenges faced by EU citizens, while upholding the Court’s full independence in its work.

     

    16. What added value do you think performance auditing brings and how should the findings be incorporated in management procedures?

     

    A: Compliance audits, financial audits and performance audits complement each other. While compliance auditing verifies whether activities and programmes comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, performance auditing evaluates whether these activities and programmes have been executed optimally.

     

    In the context of the implementation of the current multi-annual financial framework for 2021-2027, the Court of Auditors has already recommended future-proofing EU funding for climate adaptation as part of the EU’s economic growth strategy, with implications for the EU’s competitiveness both internally and externally. This contributed to building a results-oriented approach and ensuring that financial decisions are properly translated into effective actions and solutions to the benefit of EU citizens.

     

    Building on this model, further actions could be envisaged in order to support the proper follow-up to the efficiency of spending on the EU’s competitiveness objectives, based on performance auditing, also taking into account the need to consider the EU’s overall development objectives.

     In the same logic, a stronger focus on performance could prove useful in support of the new Commission objectives related to simplification and accountability, also with respect to public procurement procedures. Performance-based evaluations could also consider the administrative costs at the level of Member States, as well as at the level of the business community. Performance auditing offers forward-looking insights, evaluating whether processes are functioning effectively to achieve the set targets and goals.

    Given the projected increased complexity of the EU financial instruments, accountability and traceability of EU funds becomes even more important, also as a prerequisite of the performance-based model, to be considered in the future endeavours of the Court of Auditors, as well as in the relationship with the other EU institutions with budgetary responsibilities – namely the European Commission and the European Parliament.

     That being said, we must always strive to make recommendations that are both relevant and practical, and that can be clearly understood and embraced by the audited entity, especially by the appropriate management level with the competence to implement them optimally in terms of time, cost, and resources.

     

    17. How could cooperation between the Court of Auditors, the national audit institutions and the European Parliament (Committee on Budgetary Control) on auditing of the EU budget be improved?

     A: At this stage, I cannot provide a definitive answer, as I have yet to assess the matter from the perspectives of either the Committee on Budgetary Control or ECA. Gaining practical experience at the Court of Auditors will be essential in forming a well-informed view.

     What is clear, however, is that the cooperation between the Court of Auditors and national audit bodies, as outlined in Article 287(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is crucial for effective budgetary control. In the context of shared management, leveraging the expertise of national auditors is particularly important.  

     Maintaining an open dialogue with the budgetary and legislative authorities, national SAIs, and other stakeholders strengthen the institution’s relevance and the impact of its work.

    Both the European Parliament (through the CONT Committee) and national audit institutions that report to national parliaments are key stakeholders for the ECA, with a shared goal of safeguarding the EU budget and ensuring optimal use of EU taxpayers’ money. In this regard, the ECA should continue to share its relevant reports with national audit bodies and other institutions to keep them informed of its activities and to communicate its recommendations on pertinent policy areas.

    Therefore, I believe that a well organised, transparent exchange of information, a strong understanding of each side’s needs, and effective collaborative arrangements are key to success. Any actions taken must uphold the legal framework for cooperation, ensuring both the obligation to work in good faith and the independence of the Court of Auditors and national audit bodies.

    Moreover, I would encourage direct structured dialogue between the Contact Committee and the EP Committee on Budgetary Control, with regular exchanges on good practices and lessons learned, effective budget implementation and control, governance, transparency and accountability matters. Additionally, I believe that joint risk analyses could also be a part of this more structured dialogue, a common understanding on challenges and specific risk across the EU, and exchange on ways to address these.

    At its end, the European Parliament also plays a significant role in raising awareness of the ECA’s work and the EU budget control system among their constituents. Also, the Members of the European Parliament should help the audit authorities in their respective Member States to better understand the challenges they face in carrying out their duties.

    18. How would you further develop the reporting of the ECA to give the European Parliament all the necessary information on the accuracy of the data provided by the Member States to the European Commission?

    A: High-quality reporting is based mainly on the quality of data provided. ECA evaluation and reporting depends on the quality of the data provided, especially since it supports the European Parliament in consolidating its budgetary decisions.

    In this respect, also considering that European statistics are public goods, and building on the current Regulation on European Statistics, it is important to analyse, in dialogue with the European Commission and the other institutions, how the current system could be improved to focus on new data sources, new technologies and insights generated by the digital era, as to ensure that the data provided reflect the new set of challenges and economic realities in order to support the reasoning of EU decisions and policy objectives.

    Always remembering that the Court itself has limited resources and must best use them to report its work.

    Other questions

    19. Will you withdraw your candidacy if Parliament’s opinion on your appointment as Member of the Court is unfavourable?

    A: As a former member of the Romanian parliament and former committee chair, I have full respect for the decisions of the European Parliament. In this respect, if any doubts were raised about my integrity or independence, I would of course consider, after discussions with my Member State, withdrawing my nomination. I would also carefully consider the views and discussions in the Budgetary Control Committee regarding the areas of professional improvement and act accordingly.

    Nevertheless, since I was nominated by the Romanian Government and the procedure under the TFEU states that the Council has the final decision, I consider that following the full procedure is the correct way to act that respects all the institutions involved.

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

     

    INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    Date adopted

    18.3.2025

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    22

    2

    5

    Members present for the final vote

    Georgios Aftias, Gilles Boyer, Caterina Chinnici, Tamás Deutsch, Dick Erixon, Daniel Freund, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Virginie Joron, Kinga Kollár, Giuseppe Lupo, Marit Maij, Claudiu Manda, Csaba Molnár, Fidias Panayiotou, Jacek Protas, Julien Sanchez, Jonas Sjöstedt, Carla Tavares, Tomáš Zdechovský

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Maria Grapini, Erik Marquardt, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Annamária Vicsek

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Andrzej Halicki, Valentina Palmisano, Georgiana Teodorescu

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Senate Committee Ranking Members Demand Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 16 Senate Committee Ranking Members in a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  

    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 

    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”

    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  

    In addition to Peters, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget and Ed Markey (D-MA), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme Implemented in The Country, Including Odisha

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 4:34PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for welfare of minorities is implemented in the country, including Odisha, as an overarching programme. The programme covers various schemes/initiatives of the Government implemented by various Ministries/Departments, with an aim to ensure that underprivileged and weaker sections of six centrally notified minority communities have equal opportunities for availing the various Government welfare Schemes.

    The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs covered under the 15 Point Programme are exclusively meant for six notified minorities. Further, 15% of the outlays and targets, to the extent possible, of schemes/ initiatives implemented by other participating Ministries/ Departments are earmarked for notified minorities. However, the Schemes are being implemented by the respective Ministries/Departments under the saturation approach of Government. Under the saturation approach of the Government many of the components have achieved mainstreaming. Furthermore, consistent efforts are being made to improve the full delivery of benefits in the various relevant schemes for minority communities.

    The schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs and other participating Ministries included in the Programme are as under:

    i. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    ii. Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    iii. Merit-cum- Means based Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    iv. National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Loan Schemes

    v. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (M/o Education)

    vi. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM) (M/o Rural Development)

    vii. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana (M/o Rural Development)

    viii. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (M/o Rural Development)

    ix. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (M/o Housing & Urban Affairs)

    x.  Priority Sector Lending by Banks (Department of Financial Services)

    xi.  Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (Department of Financial Services)

    xii.  POSHAN Abhiyaan (Ministry of Women & Child Development)

    xiii.  National Health Mission (Department of Health & Family Welfare)

    xiv.  Ayushman Bharat (Department of Health & Family Welfare)

    xv. National Rural Drinking Water Programme (Jal Jeevan Mission), (Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation)

    This information was given by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM VIKAS Scheme Focuses on Upliftment of Minority Communities

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 4:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs which converges five erstwhile schemes viz. ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’ and ‘USTTAD’ & ‘Hamari Dharohar’ schemes and focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through the following:

    1. Skilling and Training (Non-traditional and traditional)
    2. Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship
    3. Education (through National Institute of Open Schooling)
    4. Infrastructure Development (through Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram)

    The scheme also provisions to facilitate credit linkages by connecting beneficiaries with loan programs offered by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

    Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is a knowledge partner of the Ministry under the PM VIKAS scheme to extend support to artisans trained under traditional training components of the scheme in terms of (i) providing marketing linkages; (ii) development of related Course Module content for training; (iii) provide brand positioning & visual merchandizing to the artisan products; (iv) organise awareness program during Ministry’s events/exhibition; (v) mobilise artisans for formation of producer group companies; etc.

    Under the PM VIKAS Scheme, the implementing partners are to ensure placement of 75 per cent of total candidates trained under NSQF aligned skill programs.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –