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Category: Farming

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Ripple Whales monitor as Nimanode set to Kick-off $NMA token Presale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The highly anticipated $NMA token presale for Nimanode is officially scheduled to commence on May 22nd, 2025 at 3 PM UTC.

    Excitement grows in the XRPL ecosystem as the first-of-its-kind No-Code AI Agent builder platform announces the date for their presale. As it is anticipated to be the most impactful in XRP history. Get Early Access

    Whales on the XRPL Ecosystem are positioned and interested in becoming the front-runners as XRPL, a blockchain in desperate need for real innovation, witnesses its first tilt towards Blockchain Infrastructure.

    Nimanode introduces a convergence of On-Chain execution and Off-chain intelligence to create AI agents that can execute smart contracts, automate DeFi strategies, integrate APIs, monitor NFTs, manage tasks across chains, and evolve over time — all without writing a single line of code.

    Why Nimanode is Stealing the Spotlight?

    Nimanode is creating the future of work through AI Agents, offering a no-code gateway to advanced agent-driven ecosystems, making it a game-changer for both developers and non-technical users.

    This AI-powered platform is built on the XRP Ledger for high speed, low cost, and unmatched scalability. With its zero-code agent builder and decentralized agent marketplace, Nimanode is unlocking real-world utility for creators, developers, and businesses alike.

    Whether you’re launching a dApp, managing RWA, automating your smart contracts, or building Institutional workflows, Nimanode is the only toolkit you’ll need.

    Join Telegram Community

    An Ecosystem Powered By $NMA

    At the heart of Nimanode ecosystem lies $NMA, the utility and governance token that powers agent deployment, upgrades, voting etc, designed with a deflationary mechanism in mind to promote scarcity and long term value. Offering various utilities such as

    Agent Builder: NMA will serve as fuel for the creation and deployment of AI agents on the platform.
    Agent Marketplace: Holders of NMA will be able to access discounts and purchase agents on Nimanode’s Agent marketplace.
    Governance Participation: Holders are offered a position in the DAO to participate in Governance and vote on proposals.
    Staking & Reward: Staking $NMA will serve as a means of passive income to holders. Revenue generated on the platform will also be shared to holders.

    Visit Presale Page

    Rising Momentum Indicates Massive Potential

    The Nimanode community is rapidly gaining momentum, with early supporters, XRP whales, developers, and AI enthusiasts rallying around its bold vision of an autonomous agent-driven Web3.

    Whales are already positioned and ready to partake in the Presale which could deliver exceptional returns as a 25% return on DEX Listing is already planned for $NMA.

    Do not Miss Out!

    $NMA token launch is more than just a token sale, it’s a leap toward ownership of intelligent, automated blockchain infrastructure.

    With a limited 30-day window beginning on March 22nd, early birds are getting an edge and advantage in what could be the most impactful Presale towards innovation on the XRP ecosystem.

    Website: https://nimanode.com

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/nimanodeai

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b41e8484-b81f-4a4a-b19f-803976fcfcfa

    The MIL Network –

    May 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Soloma Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Moskino cinema park

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The multi-genre festival “Soloma” will be held in the capital for the 10th time on June 7 and 8. This time it will be held on the central square of the Moskino cinema park. The event can be attended with entrance tickets to the cinema park. Musicians will perform from 14:00 to 22:00 every day of the festival.

    On June 7, the program will be opened by students of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky. They will perform songs and compositions from famous Soviet and world films. In addition, guests will see performances by performers Sasha de Buryak, Flora and Minaeva, musician Anton Lavrentyev, the group Ubel and participants of the multi-genre musical project “Tima is looking for light”.

    On the second day of the festival, guests will meet the performer Alena Samartseva, the groups Dreams Shadow, Shoo and “Elli na makovom pole”, as well as the participants of the musical project “Shaly”. At the end, the singer and songwriter Tosya Chaikina will perform.

    In addition, on June 7 and 8, guests of the Moskino cinema park will be treated to lessons from professional makeup artists, an inflatable trampoline for children, as well as ping-pong and mini-golf games. A food court with a variety of takeaway snacks will open on the central square.

    The Soloma festival has been opening new names to the general public for 10 years and giving young musicians the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. In different years, such up-and-coming artists as Untone Chernov, Zavazalsky, Sasha Garahanov, as well as the groups Obe Dve, Neeeet, Ty Chko, Komnata Kultury and many others have performed at the venues.

    The festival is held with the support of the capital Department of Culture within the framework of the program “Summer in Moscow”. The event contributes to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the national project “Family” in Moscow.

    The play “Victory! The Banner over the Reichstag!” was seen by about seven thousand spectatorsSobyanin: Moskino Cinema Park has become one of the most popular filming locations

    The Moskino Cinema Park is part of the Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Moscow – City of Cinema” and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built. Among them are the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and other sites.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154142073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Nutrients Action Programme Proposals Will Devastate Family Farms Without Delivering Real Environmental Gains

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV vice chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle:

    “TUV is deeply concerned by the Department’s direction of travel following its review of the 2019–2022 Nutrients Action Programme and its proposals for the next phase (2026–2029). These include severe new restrictions on slurry spreading, the mandatory use of low emission equipment, significant curbs on fertiliser usage, and sweeping new enforcement powers — all with limited or no regard to the impact not only to small and medium-sized farms but to those who produce most for our food security, in which we heavily rely on.

    “At a time when our farmers are already burdened by rising costs, falling margins, and an avalanche of red tape, this new NAP threatens to push many over the edge. What the Department is proposing isn’t environmental stewardship — it’s regulatory overreach dressed up as green virtue.”

    “Among the most damaging measures are:
    •     A mandatory 3-metre buffer strip on arable land, reducing productive acreage;
    •     A reduction in permitted slurry volumes during key spreading months, putting real pressure on slurry storage;
    •     A blanket requirement for Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment (LESSE) by 2030 — an enormous cost burden;
    •     Further phosphorus restrictions that will hit intensively stocked farms hardest, forcing either mass destocking or large land acquisitions;
    •     Severe new record-keeping and inspection powers, including online movement tracking and fixed monetary penalties.

    “In totality, these changes risk turning farmers into data-entry clerks while offering no guarantee of meaningful environmental improvement.

    “The Department’s own brief admits that no further action is required to address rural needs — a staggering admission given the deep rural impact of these proposals. The programme has also been screened out of a full Equality Impact Assessment — despite clear indications it will disproportionately affect smaller farms with limited capital to adapt.

    “TUV notes with concern that these measures align more with the ideological ambitions of eco-lobbyists than with practical land management. While farmers accept their role in safeguarding the environment, that must be based on trust, partnership, and practicality — not punishment and prescription.

    “TUV believes in responsible farming, but we believe it must be realistic, proportionate, and based on partnership. There are better alternatives:
    •     Targeted support for voluntary adoption of LESSE equipment;
    •     Education and incentives rather than overregulation;
    •     Common-sense exemptions for smaller farms;
    •     Focus on catchment-specific, evidence-led interventions, not sweeping one-size-fits-all restrictions.

    “TUV calls on the Department to go back to the drawing board. As things stand, the current draft of the next Nutrients Action Programme represents not a path to environmental improvement, but a roadmap to agricultural decline.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board appointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board appointed

    Emily Norton will start the role from 1 June

    Emily Norton has been appointed as the new Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

    Emily, who has 25 years of experience in the food and farming sector, will take on the role for three years from 1 June 2025. She will succeed Nicholas Saphir, who is stepping down as Chair after more than five years in the role. AHDB is a statutory levy board funded by around 100,000 farmers and other businesses in the food supply chain. Established in 2008 and classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body, AHDB supports production of Beef, Lamb and Pork in England, Dairy in Great Britain and Cereals & Oilseeds in the UK.

    Appointments to the AHDB board are made by Defra Ministers, with the approval of Ministers in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments.

    Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

    “Emily Norton’s leadership and extensive experience in a diverse range of sectors will bring fresh perspective and strategic insight to the AHDB. I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to champion our world-class farmers and food producers – driving rural economic growth and strengthening food security.

    “I would also like to express my gratitude to Nicholas Saphir for his dedication, drive and expertise throughout his tenure.”

    Outgoing AHDB Chair Nicholas Saphir said:

    “I have served as AHDB chair for the last five years during which time it has been an honour and a pleasure to have worked with some amazingly dedicated and knowledgeable Board members and staff. 

    “Together we have delivered a significant change in the way in which AHDB serves our levy payers. I leave AHDB, the Board and team, well positioned to play their part in providing ‘the key that unlocks the future of British agriculture’. 

    “I’m delighted that Emily Norton will be stepping into the role as Chair of AHDB. Emily brings a wealth of experience through her background in running a family farming business as well as her work as a highly respected strategic and policy advisor.”

    Emily Norton, new Chair of the AHDB, said:

    “I am proud to take on the role of Chair at such a pivotal time for British agriculture.

    “My professional focus has always been on strengthening the resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of the UK’s food and farming sectors. I look forward to working with stakeholders across the industry to deliver on that mission as part of AHDB.”

    Biographical details

    • Emily Norton is a partner in an 80 ha arable farm in Norfolk and is owner and founder of Farm Foresight Ltd, a strategic advisory service for the rural sector.
    • She has previously held several executive roles including Head of Rural Research at Savills UK, and was Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference in 2023.

    • Emily has extensive board-level experience, with positions at the Soil Association Exchange, the Environmental Markets Board and the Duchy of Lancaster.

    • She is a member of the national policy committee of the Country Land and Business Association, a trustee at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and a member of the Farming Leadership Group of the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 21 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Stuntmen’s meetings and a motorcycle show will take place this weekend at the Moskino cinema park

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Guests of the Moskino Cinema Park will have an exciting weekend on May 24 and 25. The program includes meetings with professionals from the Stuntmen’s Guild of Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Belarus, staged stunts from famous films and much more.

    Scenes from the movie

    On May 24, stunt masters will perform an extreme motorcycle show on the central square with ramps, riding on one wheel and acrobatic elements. At 18:00, viewers will see one of the scariest scenes in cinema – burning, which will be safe for participants and spectators. From 12:00 to 18:00, young guests will have lessons on riding children’s motorcycles, as well as themed photo sessions.

    At the “Berlin Streets” venue, from 12:30, viewers will see scenes of military chases and shootouts. In “Cowboy Town”, viewers will be shown a bank takeover with horse chases and falls from a window and roof. In addition, everyone will witness a cowboy duel in the traditions of the Wild West. In the “Pitersky Bar”, a gangster fight in the style of the 90s will unfold under the spotlight and the work of a film crew. Visitors will be shown an excerpt based on the film “Brother 2”, which will include furniture smashing, broken dishes and other bright moments.

    At the Moscow of the 1940s site, you can watch how scenes with car chases, rooftop shooting and falls are created. In addition, guests will be offered to ride in retro cars, trying on hats and gloves from that era.

    Buy a ticket you can on the website.

    Meetings with stuntmen

    On May 24 from 13:00 to 14:00, the Gonzaga Theater will host a conference with the participation of professional stuntmen. The audience will meet the vice-president of the Russian Stuntmen’s Guild Varvara Nikitina, stuntmen Nino Daisadze from Georgia and Arman Berikyan from Armenia, as well as stunt coordinator at the Belarusfilm studio Alexander Sitnik. The artists will talk about the specifics of the profession and answer questions from the audience.

    On May 25 at 13:00, a meeting with stuntmen Evgeny Bogorodsky and Vladimir Karpovich will begin. Evgeny Bogorodsky is a laureate of the professional awards “Alter Ego”, “For Contribution to the Profession” and “Golden Fang” – for his work with animals in cinema. He took part in the filming of the films “Taras Bulba”, “The Legend of Kolovrat” and others.

    Vladimir Karpovich has over 300 films to his credit, including “Brother 2”, “9th Company”, “Brest Fortress” and “Inhabited Island”. Filmmakers will talk about their profession and share stories from their lives.

    On May 24 and 25 from 17:00 to 19:00 there will be meetings with the President of the Russian Stuntmen’s Guild Alexander Inshakov. He will talk about working with famous directors and participating in the films “Brigada”, “A Man from Boulevard des Capucines”, “Assa”.

    On Saturday and Sunday from 15:00 to 16:30, the fencing duo “Breter” will perform at the Gonzaga Theatre. The specialists will show maneuvers on stage and take part in staged battles.

    On May 25 at 19:00 on the same site, the director of the film park Kirill Kosenko and stuntman Alexander Inshakov will sum up the results of the festival and solemnly award the best stunt directors and performers.

    Movie screenings for the whole family

    On May 24 and 25, the Moskino Kinopark cinema will show sci-fi and family films. The adventure cartoon Hansel and Gretel: Mission Sleeping Beauty will tell the story of super agent Gretel and her clever brother, who will have to solve many mysteries and defeat enemies. The family comedy Paddington 3 will once again remind us of the bear cub and the Brown family, who this time go to Peru. You can also watch the film Nightingale vs. Muromets, where the main character ends up in the modern world, as well as the war drama Not Listed Based on the story of the same name by Boris Vasiliev, the sci-fi action film Kraken about the battle of sailors with a terrible inhabitant of the ocean depths, and other films.

    Tickets are available for purchase on the film park website.

    The event contributes to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the national project “Family” in the city of Moscow.

    The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built. Among them are the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and other sites.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

     

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154122073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: San Diego Man Charged with Smuggling Exotic Live Birds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Ricardo Alonzo of San Diego appeared in federal court today to face charges that he smuggled 17 exotic birds into the United States from Mexico under the seat of his car.

    According to a complaint, Alonzo was the driver and registered owner of a vehicle that was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Officers found four bags containing 10 Burrowing Parakeets, five Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrots, and two Red-Lored Amazon Parrots underneath the rear seat. The two Red-Lored Amazon Parrot chicks did not survive; the surviving birds were transferred to a quarantine facility managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    “Trafficking exotic birds isn’t just illegal — it’s cruel and dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “These actions put the lives of helpless animals at risk and expose the public and other animals to serious diseases.”

    “This charge underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable wildlife and holding traffickers accountable for their crimes,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego. “We are grateful to our dedicated law enforcement partners whose collaboration was instrumental in bringing this individual to justice.”

    According to the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service, Amazon parrots are native to Mexico, the West Indies, and northern South America, while Burrowing Parakeets are local to Chile and Argentina.  All 30-some species of Amazon parrots, as well as the Burrowing Parakeets, are listed on either Appendix I or Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (“CITES”).

    The successful smuggling of undeclared Amazon parrots and Burrowing Parakeets into the U.S. means no quarantine period or process. This would be dangerous to the United States as birds can carry and spread Avian influenza (bird flu), psittacosis, and histoplasmosis. Bird flu is highly contagious and can cause flu like symptoms, respiratory illness, pneumonia and death in humans and other birds including birds in United States poultry farms. Quarantining animals entering the United States is intended to safeguard against this potential disease transmission.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker Gardner-Erickson.

    DEFENDANT                                                             Case Number 25mj2712-VET                                 

    Ricardo Alonzo                                               Age: 26                                   San Diego, CA

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Importation Contrary to Law – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 545

    Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    Homeland Security Investigations

    *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: China struggles with persistent heat wave

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    TAIYUAN, May 21 (Xinhua) — A warm front sweeping across northern China has prompted local authorities to sound a high-temperature alert and take measures to secure water supplies and guard against diseases and pests.

    The National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a yellow alert for high temperatures on Wednesday, warning that temperatures could rise above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Hubei provinces. China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red being the highest, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

    This is a critical period for most winter wheat in Shanxi Province, which is at its peak of maturity. During this period, hot, dry winds can disrupt this process and affect the yield of this crop.

    Yuncheng City, one of the province’s major winter wheat producing regions, has taken a series of measures to combat drought and ensure a stable summer grain harvest. Technicians are using UAVs equipped with devices to monitor field conditions, leaf and soil moisture levels, to ensure efficient irrigation.

    Efforts to protect the wheat crop have also been stepped up in Hebei Province. Emergency teams, including students and teachers from China Agricultural University and local agricultural officials, are helping farmers use light-duty spot irrigation techniques to effectively water their crops.

    Shaanxi Province has prepared emergency water supply plans tailored to the current drought and water conditions to ensure safe drinking water for residents. Local authorities are also closely monitoring reservoir levels and optimizing distribution plans.

    The period of high temperatures is expected to be prolonged, intense and widespread, with the current heatwave expected to continue until Thursday, said NMC chief forecaster Chen Tao. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: St. Petersburg International Legal Forum: Vladimir Stroev spoke about training personnel for the modern economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On May 20, 2025, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev took part in the session “Strategic planning and management of science: normative dimension”, which was held as part of the XIII St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

    Also participating in the discussion were First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation Petr Serkov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Maxim Uvaidov, representatives of scientific and higher educational institutions. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Scientific and Educational Policy Elena Nechaeva.

    The first issue of the meeting was an assessment of the prospects for eliminating barriers to the implementation of research and development results. The rector of the State University of Management noted that for research to be effective, it is important to involve industrial partners in the formation of the scientific agenda and R&D plan in the interests of specific customers, as well as the digitalization of research processes and the introduction of digital platforms for automated reporting.

    Speaking about the practice of conducting research in universities, Vladimir Stroyev spoke about the innovations being implemented at the State University of Management in the scientific sphere and the educational process, which are aimed at solving the problem of achieving technological sovereignty of the country and training personnel for specific industrial partners.

    “Over the past few years, there have been significant changes within the country, including in science and education, as well as in the attitude of business towards interaction with educational organizations. If earlier entrepreneurs preferred to order scientific developments abroad or from private companies, and to select employees directly on the labor market, today they have a different approach. Every week we have one or two meetings with representatives of different levels of business regarding personnel training, scientific and applied developments, which are often associated with the need to repair foreign equipment, develop analogs of parts and other reverse engineering tasks, which our specialists are engaged in,” the rector of the State University of Management noted.

    Vladimir Vitalyevich also emphasized the importance of interaction between universities, which could be facilitated by digital platforms for collaboration. As an example, the rector cited the Design Bureau of the State University of Management, which, thanks to network interaction with design bureaus of other universities, fulfills orders for large corporations.

    Vladimir Stroev named project-based learning, which is successfully implemented at the State University of Management, as another opportunity to unite employers and universities to train the necessary specialists.

    “For three years now, 100% of our students have been participating in project activities, starting from their first year. That is, they are divided into groups and spend 1 day a week developing a project provided by a partner company, under the supervision of a representative of this organization. This is both professional practice and practicing soft skills. Moreover, these projects are posted on a special platform, where they are also purchased. As a result, students not only receive practical skills and a portfolio, but also have a completed project and their first income,” the rector shared.

    In conclusion of his speech, Vladimir Stroyev recalled that the State University of Management was an engineering and economics university until the 1990s and for most of its history trained engineering personnel, something it is returning to today.

    Elena Nechaeva noted that she is ready to come to the State University of Management in the near future “for a more detailed discussion of the practice of university science, because the personnel aspects of the development of science and technology are the foundation of foundations.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: Counts in Bradfield and Calwell become clearer, while Jacqui Lambie faces a possible problem in the Tasmanian Senate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    Counting in several extremely close seats continues, but some results have become clearer. In Liberal-held Bradfield, Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has taken the lead, while the Calwell distribution of preferences indicates an independent is on track to pass the Liberals and benefit from their preferences against Labor. Meanwhile, Jacqui Lambie may have a problem in the Tasmanian Senate contest.

    Labor has won 93 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the Coalition 43, all Others 12 and two remain undecided (Bradfield and Calwell). After Tuesday’s split between the Liberals and Nationals, the ABC has the Liberals on 28 seats and the Nationals on 15, with the Liberals to form the official opposition.

    The Australian Electoral Commission has 18 Liberals, nine Nationals and 16 seats won by Queensland’s Liberal National Party. LNP members can caucus with either the Liberals or Nationals, so they are splitting 10–6 to the Liberals.

    I will continue to use Coalition in my coverage of this election, as the Liberal and National parties contested the election as the Coalition. It would be difficult to split the LNP vote into its Liberal and National components.

    In the close seats, Boele leads the Liberals by 43 votes in Bradfield. She had trailed by 43 votes before the final votes were counted on Monday. The Poll Bludger said the last 181 formal postals counted favoured Boele by 125–56, giving her 69% of that batch.

    Of the just over 14,000 total formal postal votes counted in Bradfield, the Liberals have won by 56.4–43.6. But late postals are often much better for the left than early ones.

    What’s happening now in Bradfield is a full distribution of preferences, in which candidates are excluded from the bottom up on primary votes. If the margin after this distribution is complete is under 100 votes, there will be an automatic recount.

    In Goldstein, Teal incumbent Zoe Daniel’s late surge has fallen short, as she trails Liberal Tim Wilson by 135 votes with everything counted, in from a 292-vote deficit last Thursday.

    As with Bradfield, there will now be a full distribution of preferences in Goldstein. If the margin after this distribution is under 100 votes, there will be a recount. Daniel could also request a recount, but even if there is a recount, Wilson is very likely to win.

    In Labor-held Calwell, which has 13 candidates, final primary votes were 30.5% Labor, 15.7% Liberals, 11.9% for independent Carly Moore, 10.7% for independent Joseph Youhana, 8.3% for the Greens and 6.9% for independent Samim Moslih.

    The danger for Labor is that either Moore or Youhana overtake the Liberals on the distribution of preferences, then beat Labor at the final count on Liberal preferences. The AEC has a page that is updated with each exclusion in the preference distribution.

    After six exclusions, the totals are 32.8% Labor, 17.1% Liberals, 14.7% Moore, 12.1% Youhana, 9.9% Greens, 7.9% Moslih and 5.6% One Nation (to be excluded next). Analyst Kevin Bonham says Moore needs 7.5% more than the Liberals to make the final two, and 67% of overall preferences to beat Labor. For Youhana, these figures are 13.4% and 69%.

    Lambie may have a problem in the Tasmanian Senate contest

    I have previously covered the Senate count. There have only been minor changes to the primary votes since that May 9 article. The Poll Bludger has modelled the state Senate contests using 2022 election preference flows.

    According to this model, Labor will win the last seat in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, but only narrowly in WA. In Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie and the Liberals would edge out Labor. As I wrote previously, this result would give Labor 30 of the 76 total senators, the Coalition 27, the Greens 11, One Nation two and others six.

    For a state a quota is one-seventh of the vote or 14.3%. In Tasmania Labor has 2.48 quotas, the Liberals 1.65, the Greens 1.13, Jacqui Lambie 0.51, One Nation 0.35 and Legalise Cannabis 0.24. One Nation will be the last exclusion, and whichever of Labor, the Liberals or Lambie is last after One Nation’s preferences are distributed loses.

    There’s evidence that One Nation’s preferences have become better for the Coalition at this election than in 2022. In Capricornia, which had a One Nation primary vote of 15.5%, the LNP share of overall preferences increased nine points since 2022 to 62%.

    Lambie wants the salmon farming industry to stop farming in Macquarie Harbour and says they should move offshore. This stance could cost her preferences from One Nation and other right-aligned parties.

    I expect One Nation and other right-wing preferences in Tasmania to go strongly enough to the Liberals to give the Liberals one of the last two undecided seats, with the final seat between Labor and Lambie.

    Labor is pro-salmon farming, so perhaps Lambie could benefit from Greens and Animal Justice preferences (the Greens have a small surplus over one quota and Animal Justice has 0.09 quotas).

    Tasmanian poll and upper house elections

    A Tasmanian state EMRS poll, conducted May 13–17 from a sample of 1,000, gave Labor 31% of the vote (up one since February), the Liberals 29% (down five), the Greens 14% (up one), the Jacqui Lambie Network 6% (down two), independents 17% (up five) and others 4% (up one).

    Tasmania uses a proportional system for its lower house elections, so a two-party estimate is not applicable. Incumbent Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s net favourability was down four points to +6, while Labor leader Dean Winter’s was down one to +5. Rockliff led Winter by 44–32 as preferred premier (44–34 previously).

    Every May two or three of Tasmania’s 15 upper house seats are up for election for six-year terms. The Poll Bludger said Tuesday that current upper house standings are four Liberals, three Labor, one Green and seven independents. On Saturday there will be elections in Liberal-held Montgomery, Labor-held Pembroke and independent-held Nelson.

    European elections wrap

    I covered Sunday’s European elections in Romania, Portugal and Poland for The Poll Bludger. In Romania the centrist defeated the far-right candidate by 53.6–46.4, but the left had a dismal result in Portugal. I also covered recounts in the April 28 Canadian election and polls ahead of the June 3 South Korean presidential election.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Counts in Bradfield and Calwell become clearer, while Jacqui Lambie faces a possible problem in the Tasmanian Senate – https://theconversation.com/counts-in-bradfield-and-calwell-become-clearer-while-jacqui-lambie-faces-a-possible-problem-in-the-tasmanian-senate-257122

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Concerts, trainings and performances: how the large-scale project “Summer in Moscow” will take place

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A large-scale urban project will begin on June 1 “Summer in Moscow”, which will last three months. It will once again unite all the bright charity, cultural and sports events of the next season, which will take place in all districts of the capital. Most of them will be held outdoors.

    From tastings to dancing and plein air

    The festival “Gardens and Flowers” runs until September 7. City sites will be transformed into blooming gardens, and rare plants will be seen on the capital’s streets. Muscovites and tourists will be immersed in the atmosphere of summer, will be able to take bright photo sessions and walk along picturesque routes.

    One of the main gastronomic events of the year will be the festival “Moscow is on the wave. Fish week”, which will take place from May 30 to June 8. There will be fish corners on Shkolnaya Street, and open-air shopping chalets will offer various types of fresh, dried and chilled fish and seafood. Chefs will prepare unusual and classic dishes especially for guests at the festival venues.

    As part of the historical festival “Times and Epochs” From June 11 to 15, visitors will see historical periods from Antiquity to the Great Patriotic War. Children and adults will learn to hold swords in their hands or sit at a loom, and professional reenactors will help them with this.

    The Tastes of Russia festival will take place from July 4 to 13. On the streets of the capital, you can try the cuisine of the peoples of Russia and get acquainted with dishes that have become the calling card of different cities – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Tastings and culinary experiments will give you new recipes and help you choose combinations of products for your home table.

    The Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve will host vintage market — an exhibition and sale of items from the Soviet and pre-revolutionary eras. Guests will enjoy a varied program with the participation of collectors and historians. Muscovites and tourists will be able to get acquainted with the photography craft of the film camera era, hear the sound of gramophone records from the 1920s, dance a square dance and polka to the sounds of a gramophone, remember Viktor Tsoi and the rock era of the 1980s, learn the history of the Olympic bear and purchase figurines of the mascot of the 1980 Olympics, as well as admire antique items and add badges, postcards, dishes and other things with history to their collections.

    From June 1 to September 7, there will be a summer clubThis is a sports and creative art space that will house beauty trucks, fashion pop-ups, greenhouses, a lecture hall, a climbing wall and many play areas.

    On the same dates, a festival will be held on Chistoprudny Boulevard “Street. Dancing” — a bright event for experienced dancers and those who want to learn breakdance, hip-hop, funk, shuffle and Latin. Within its framework, professional dancers will conduct master classes, organize flash mobs and battles.

    On the same days, a plein air painting will take place on Strastnoy Boulevard “Street. Art”. Art master classes, exhibitions of art objects, painting lessons in an art studio and performances by artists are organized here. Everyone is invited to participate. In addition, the participants of the competition “Moscow life in the summer” will paint unusual art objects: arches, balls and floor lamps – applications are being accepted until the end of May.

    Sergei Sobyanin: Large-scale project “Summer in Moscow” will begin on June 1

    Festival “Moscow Estates” will allow Muscovites and guests of the capital to immerse themselves in past eras in an original interactive format. The previous summer season was a record-breaking one: the event took place on the territory of 40 estates, which were visited by more than 700 thousand people. The festival was also held in winter.

    The capital will also host the Ice Moscow Tea festival, which will bring together more than 500 gastronomic establishments. Throughout the summer, they will offer visitors ice Moscow tea. The drink is prepared according to original recipes. As part of the project “Moscow Tea Party” Restaurants, cafes and hotels will continue to serve special tea sets in a signature service and with signature treats. Tea “Moscow” can be found in popular retail chains, souvenir shops and other places in the capital.

    For participants Russpass gamesusing augmented reality technologies, will offer 100 new sites where you need to look for cartoons as part of the Summer in Moscow project. For each meeting with them, virtual points are given in the form of experience. Using them, you can buy tickets to museums and other places in the capital with a discount of up to 99 percent as part of the Russpass bonus program. The game is available in the Russpass mobile application.

    An augmented reality game has been launched for guests of the Winter in Moscow venues

    Circus, theater and patriotic quests

    From June 1 to August 31, the capital will host an international open festival “Teatralny Boulevard – 2025”. Moscow will be transformed into a single large theater stage, where Muscovites and guests of the capital will be able to immerse themselves in the world of theater, try themselves in the role of an actor, decorator and director, as well as take part in a production or visit a creative workshop, learn more about the history of the theater and take a photo with their favorite artist. And of course, guests will see the best productions of Russia and foreign participants.

    Over the course of three months, more than 600 productions will be presented at 14 venues in the capital, including the amphitheater on Pokrovsky Boulevard and the amphitheater in the Polytech Museum Park. More than three thousand artists from all over the world will take part in them.

    June 1st Museum-Reserve “Kolomenskoye” a large-scale celebration of International Children’s Day will take place. Previously, it was held for many years on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, but this year the beloved event will take place at a new site that will be able to accommodate even more guests.

    Every year, the main theme of the festival is a dedication to beloved children’s poets, artists, writers, legendary films and cartoon characters. In previous years, festivals were dedicated to the legacy of Sergei Mikhalkov, Nikolai Nosov and Korney Chukovsky. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the film “The Adventures of Buratino”, which millions of children in our country have watched and continue to watch. Therefore, the festival will be held in honor of the cult character of Alexei Tolstoy.

    World Festival of Circus Arts “Idol 2025”will be held in Moscow for the ninth time. Its venue will be the arena of the Great Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue, the largest circus in Europe. Guests will be able to attend performances for a whole month. The main events are scheduled from July 17 to 20, and then, until August 17, viewers will be able to enjoy the gala show of the winners.

    Since 2013, the festival has established itself as one of the most significant events in the world of circus arts. It has brought together more than 1,700 artists from 50 countries, including participants and spectators from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Austria, the USA, Mongolia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba and many other countries. The main awards – “Golden Idol”, “Silver Idol” and “Bronze Idol” are awarded by a professional jury for the most spectacular, unusual, flawlessly performed number. The prizes “Golden Manege”, “Silver Manege” and “Bronze Manege” are presented by representatives of the media. The audience sympathy prizes “Golden Audience Hall”, “Silver Audience Hall” and “Bronze Audience Hall” are awarded based on the results of audience voting.

    The Summer in Moscow project will also feature a tent circus. The structures will be located in several picturesque corners of the city. Guests will be able to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of real magic and fun. Some of the best Russian artists will present their productions and numbers. Spectators will see a show with aerial gymnasts on canvases, acrobats on a swing trapeze, clown duets, equilibrists, and jugglers. There will also be numbers with animals.

    Victory Park will be transformed into an open-air museum. In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory, a large-scale patriotic project has been prepared for visitors. They will be offered walking and bus tours with professional guides, as well as tours in retro cars. In total, four walking routes run through the park, on which 25 monuments of Poklonnaya Gora are located.

    For young visitors, interactive quests along tangled military roads and secret partisan paths will be organized. All comers will be able to receive a stylized Red Army book, in which they can collect star stamps for completing tasks. The most active participants will receive memorable souvenirs and prizes.

    On the territory of Victory Park you can play skittles, chess and laser tag, as well as assemble a soldier’s kit bag, write a letter to the front and much more.

    Moscow Children’s Arts Festival “Sky”will be held for the third time in the capital from May 31 to June 1 in the Muzeon Arts Park. It will unite various types of art (theater, circus, music, dance), as well as science, literature and architecture. Guests will enjoy premieres, children’s operas and tours of leading regional theaters, an architectural workshop, master classes of musicians and choreographers, literary and scientific programs. Theaters and creative groups from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Voronezh, Krasnoyarsk, Tobolsk, Almetyevsk and Kaliningrad will present their performances and numbers. About 90 different productions will be held at 12 venues. Guests will be able to see them from 11:00 to 20:00, admission to all events is free. Last year, the festival was visited by more than 180 thousand people.

    In early July, the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve will celebrate Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. This summer, the festival will be held in a multi-genre festival format for the 11th time. Last year, it was visited by 57 thousand people, for whom more than 250 artists from famous Moscow theaters and groups performed. The venue hosted lectures, over 200 master classes and other events.

    An extensive educational program has been prepared for guests of Zaryadye Park. It will begin on International Children’s Day, June 1. Each participant will be able to try themselves in the role of a physicist, chemist, biologist or engineer. Guests will also be treated to a large quest created jointly with scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

    On June 21 and 22, the Zaryadye Park will host the Theatre Weekend festival. This year, the program is dedicated to the 165th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth and the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Spectators will see performances by leading Moscow theaters: the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, the Russian Academic Youth Theater, the Moscow Sovremennik Theater, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, the Praktika Theater, and others. The festival’s motto this year will be “Make way for the young!” Therefore, groups from the Moscow Art Theater School, the Moscow State Institute of Culture, the Russian Institute of Theater Arts – GITIS, as well as special guests – actors from the Donetsk Republican Academic Youth Theater will perform on stage.

    From classical music to photo exhibitions

    On June 28 and 29, the Zaryadye Park will host the New Classics festival. This year, the program is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the avant-garde pianist and composer Alexander Mosolov. Spectators will hear his composition “Factory. Music of Machines” for the first time. Part of the work was lost, and composer Nikolai Popov and director Yuri Kvyatkovsky will supplement it, creating a large festival form. “Moscow. Music of Machines” will connect two musical eras – the avant-garde Moscow of the early 20th century and today’s Moscow. The main theme of the festival will be a dialogue between man and technology, and Zaryadye Park will once again become a space where modern classics meet the future, and traditions intertwine with innovations.

    From June 1 to September 7, film screenings will be held in the atmospheric space of the park under a glass crust as part of the “Cinema Summer in Zaryadye” festival. Viewers will see masterpieces of Russian cinema created by Vladimir Menshov, Tatyana Lioznova, Karen Shakhnazarov, Grigory Alexandrov, Mikhail Kalatozov, Alla Surikova and others. The films of these directors have already become classics. They are still watched with interest by viewers of different ages.

    Guests will be treated to 30 films, ranging from romantic comedies set against the backdrop of summer landscapes to poignant war dramas, exciting space adventures and profound social studies.

    As part of the Summer in Moscow project, two photo exhibitions will be held on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. They are dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Solomin and the 110th anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Zeldin.

    The exhibition in memory of Yuri Solomin will be prepared by the Moscow Directorate of Mass Events under the supervision of the State Academic Maly Theatre and his granddaughter Alexandra Solomina.

    The exhibition dedicated to Vladimir Zeldin will be organized by the Moscow Directorate of Mass Events together with the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army. Muscovites and guests of the city will be able to get acquainted with the creative legacy of the legendary actors and see photographs from their family archives.

    Events in honor of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War

    On June 21 and 22, Moscow will host two significant events dedicated to preserving the memory of the Great Patriotic War: “Memory Line” on the Krymskaya Embankment of the Muzeon Arts Park and “Memory Watch. Eternal Flame” in the Alexander Garden. Every year, Muscovites and guests of the capital come to support them with their entire families.

    For 11 years, on June 21, the day before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Crimean embankment of the Muzeon Art Park is illuminated by the light of 1,418 candles. Each candle is a symbol of one of the days of the war. The burning “memory line” runs from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945.

    The first candle in the campaign is symbolically lit from a piece of the Eternal Flame on Poklonnaya Hill. Anyone can join the event and light a candle, thereby reminding themselves and their loved ones of the importance of preserving the memory of the terrible years of the war. Every year, the line lights up in a matter of hours and continues to burn throughout June 22.

    During the event “Memory Watch. Eternal Flame” all those wishing to can remember the events of June 1941 and honor the memory of those who died for their Motherland by laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every year young men and women from youth associations, public organizations and patriotic clubs, as well as Muscovites and guests of the capital, join in. At 04:00 a documentary recording of Yuri Levitan’s message about the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be played. After that, there will be a minute of silence and the laying of flowers.

    On April 26, the Victory Park project began on the territory of the Victory Park. The Main Patriotic Park, implemented by the Victory Museum with the support of the Moscow Government. Until October, on weekends, visitors will be able to take the quest “Forward to Victory!” for free, which is held at more than 80 interactive sites, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the 1940s.

    From carnival processions to jazz concerts

    From August 28 to 31, the Gorky Festival will be held in Gorky Park. The theme of this year’s event is “Gorky Chekhov”. The theatrical program will be held at the Moscow Youth Theater, the main events, as always, will be presented in Gorky Park and Neskuchny Garden.

    Guests can expect theatrical performances, exhibitions and installations, a theatrical laboratory, a music program and a circus show. Last year, the festival covered 18 venues, which were visited by more than 330 thousand spectators.

    In June, the capital will host the IV Moscow Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz festivals in the world and the largest jazz festival in Russia. On June 9 and 15, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the P.I. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. From June 10 to 14, festival events will be held in the Hermitage Garden, Zaryadye Park, Muzeon Arts Park, VDNKh, and the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. Guests will enjoy over 400 hours of live music performed by over 1,000 musicians.

    The III Moscow Summer Music Festival “Zaryadye” will be held from June 2 to July 6. World-class stars and invited artists will present concerts, special and children’s projects on the stage of the Zaryadye Hall. The closing of the festival will take place in the open air in the park’s amphitheater.

    Sports and entertainment in parks

    With the arrival of the long-awaited summer, more than 55 million guests are expected in over 50 capital parks, for whom a multi-format festival program has been prepared.

    Muscovites and tourists can expect large-scale events, including the park festival “Gardens and Vegetable Gardens”, City Day and many others.

    The parks will host over 10,000 local events. Sports enthusiasts will be able to attend daily morning exercises, outdoor training, and much more. Participation in the classes will help improve health, improve physical fitness, and develop teamwork skills.

    The cultural program includes parties in summer cinemas, immersive performances and dances. Professional artists and creative groups will present their numbers and theatrical performances. Every weekend, park visitors will be treated to music, dance flash mobs and open-air karaoke, and the Park Symphony festival will combine musical rhythms of different genres.

    Residents and guests of the capital will be able to attend gastronomic events: open master classes by famous chefs and lectures on culinary trends. Special places will be equipped for picnics.

    Summer Program for Youth: Development and Creative Growth

    Young Muscovites will enjoy an extensive entertainment and educational program. From June 9 to July 19, the Moskino Cinema Park will host the first creative camp, “Youth of Moscow.” Participants will be able to demonstrate their skills in choreography, vocals, humor, and other creative areas. The shifts will be dedicated to different areas of art: KVN, vocals and music, cinema, producing, original genre, and event organization. The “KVN School” shift is aimed at developing skills in humor and teamwork, while the “Original Genre School” will help aspiring circus performers, cheerleaders, gymnasts, and acrobats improve their skills in the performing arts, and learn how to work with props in interactive productions. As part of the “Dance School,” children will develop their abilities and try themselves in various choreography styles, learn to express emotions in dance, and create their own unique productions. In the “School of Vocals and Music” young Muscovites will be able to improve their vocals, work on their voices with professionals and unite into youth musical groups. The shift “School of Cinema, Producers and Event Organizers” will be aimed at developing organizational skills, producing and acting skills.

    The final race will be held in the format of the Art Quarter festival, where an open large-scale gala concert will take place, uniting all directions. It will be prepared by young people from different shifts of the camp.

    From June 28 to August 4, the patriotic camp “Youth of Moscow. Capital. Summer” will operate for the fourth time. The site will be the territory of the recreation center “Red Carnation”. Participants will have six thematic shifts.

    The “Achieve” shift will bring together athletes, “Manage” — representatives of student government, “Improve” — young professionals, and the “Help” shift will bring together Moscow volunteers. Young Muscovites will be able not only to develop their skills in various fields, but also to find friends, realize their creative potential, and gain new emotional experience. Songs with a guitar and meetings around a large fire will become a tradition of the camp. Meetings and master classes with participants of a special military operation are planned. All shifts will also teach how to provide first aid, resist fire, and ensure safety for yourself and your loved ones in emergency situations.

    City residents aged 18 to 35 can apply for participation. Registration is open on the portal “Youth of Moscow”.

    In honor of Youth Day, the capital will host a large number of events — from master classes and intellectual games to creative concerts and events. The flagship event will be held in Khodynka Pole Park on June 28 and 29. This year, the festival concept provides for the synergy of key areas for the comprehensive development of the city’s youth. Eight key zones dedicated to various topics will be prepared for guests: patriotism, career guidance, creativity, personal development, friendship, sports, volunteering and trends. Visitors will enjoy educational lectures, trainings and master classes, a job fair, competitions in various sports and much more.

    Traditionally, on Youth Day, the KVN League Summer Cup “Youth of Moscow” and the “Space Basketball” tournament will be held, in which youth teams will take part. Young performers who want to make a name for themselves throughout the city will be able to perform on an open stage.

    From May 25 to September 7, the Youth Point festival will be held on Bolotnaya Square. The site will host hubs — interactive modern spaces dedicated to art, sports, development, and future competencies. The festival program will include large open discos, master classes in sketching, water painting, sports activities, and much more.

    Charity initiatives

    On July 5 and 6, the Bauman Garden will host the charity festival “City of the Caring”, dedicated to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. The entertainment program will include activities for the whole family. Guests will enjoy creative master classes, a charity quest, a no-lose lottery and photo zones for summer photos. A play area will be set up for children. At the “Fluffy Friend” site, guests will be able to meet animals from shelters and choose pets for themselves. A charity fair will also open, where goods from Moscow non-profit organizations (NPOs) will be presented. All proceeds from sales will be directed to helping their wards.

    Visitors will be able to get to know the city’s social projects better and take part in them.

    Checkers, table tennis and fitrock

    From May 29 to September 7, Moscow will host a festival of urban sports. Throughout the summer, sports training and entertainment events aimed at popularizing an active lifestyle among residents of the capital will be held in the capital’s parks. The most active participants will receive prizes.

    The project “Summer. Beach. Moscow Sport” will be held from May 31 to August 31. It is organized for those who spend the summer in Moscow. Zumba, stretching, functional training, beach volleyball, yoga and fiery fitrock training will be held in beach recreation areas on weekends. In addition, there will be an opportunity to play tetherball, frisbee and beach tennis.

    From May 31 to September 7, training sessions for the new season of the Sports Weekend project will take place, thanks to which city residents can do sports for free under the guidance of professional trainers on Saturdays and Sundays at more than 50 unique venues in the city, as well as online.

    From June 1 to September 7, the “Chess Square” space will be available near the Metropol Hotel. On weekdays, anyone can take chess sets and play easy games. On weekends, there will be family, open and children’s tournaments, as well as master classes by famous grandmasters.

    From June 1 to September 30, a new season of free training will be held as part of the My Sports District project. Participation in them will be interesting for city residents who love sports and want to do them regularly. Classes are held all year round and change depending on the season.

    On July 5, large-scale sports events “Moscow Sports Day” and “Moscow Sports Night” will take place. Guests will enjoy more than 20 themed sports grounds, master classes, tournaments and a concert with popular artists at “Moscow Sports Day”, as well as more than 15 zones with sports activities and autograph sessions with famous athletes at “Moscow Sports Night”.

    “Green Market” and art pavilions

    From May 25 to September 7, art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project will operate in tourist areas of the capital. Here you can buy more than 70 thousand products from local manufacturers – from clothes and cosmetics to children’s toys and food products.

    The flagship venue will be the Green Market on Bolotnaya Square, where a rollerdrome with a summer cinema will be available for the first time. Guests will be treated to a rollerdrome show, discos and events organized with the participation of the capital’s Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy, which became a partner of the flagship venue for the first time this summer season.

    Reservation of venues

    The mos.ru portal is resuming its work on the city space booking service “Everyone on the street!”. From May 20, you can submit applications for holding events.

    Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, individual entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals and individuals can book a site free of charge.

    More than 100 venues will be available for booking, including chalets for master classes, stages, gazebos, sports and dance floors, located in every district of the city.

    Results of the booking service last year

    Last year, the city hosted the festival “Summer in Moscow. Everyone out on the street!” for the first time – a new format of interaction between the city, business and Muscovites within the framework of the event program. Its key feature was that the agenda of summer recreation in the capital was created by Muscovites themselves. About 25 thousand events (every fourth) were organized by residents, businesses or NGOs. About 1.1 thousand entrepreneurs organized about 8.5 thousand events and presented their projects to a wide audience.

    Special project “Time of Opportunities”

    For the capital’s entrepreneurs, a special project called “Time of Opportunities” is starting, previously called “Come on in!” This is an excellent opportunity to vividly tell about your business, making it memorable for a wide audience. Shops, restaurants and cafes, service enterprises, fitness centers and sports studios, educational centers and creative studios can take part in the project.

    Participants will receive a summer business box, which includes a set of free services from market leaders for business promotion, the opportunity to post information about their events on the mos.ru poster, in the Yandex Maps and 2GIS applications, as well as media support in the media: on television, in online publications, print media and Telegram channels.

    The Russpass website will organize a collection of feedback from visitors. Entrepreneurs who have collected the largest number of positive reviews will receive a package for promoting their business, “The Most Active”.

    To become part of the project, you need to prepare a unique special offer. These can be thematic master classes, seminars, shows, performances and much more. You also need to fill out a participant’s questionnaire.

    Results of the special project for the last season

    As part of the special project “Come on in!”, more than 700 organizations from various fields made over 900 offers to city residents and tourists. These were discounts and bonuses, free master classes, gastronomic tastings, tickets to performances and sports classes. More than six thousand people took advantage of them.

    Art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project

    On April 15, a selection began among the capital’s entrepreneurs who will present their products in the art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project market, which is part of the city’s summer program Summer in Moscow.

    The selection will be held for participants of the Made in Moscow project – these are self-employed people, individual entrepreneurs, representatives of small, medium and large businesses that produce children’s goods, clothing and footwear, accessories, household and animal goods and much more in the capital.

    To do this, you need to register in the project on the website business.madeinmoscow.rf, having previously familiarized yourself with the conditions (availability of a capital tax identification number, as well as a full or partial production cycle on the territory of Moscow).

    A large-scale market of local goods will cover the main tourist sites, including Bolotnaya Square. More than 700 Moscow brands will be able to get space on the shelves for selling goods. Entrepreneurs will not only present their products, but will also hold thematic lectures and master classes, organize prize draws and tastings.

    Participation in the summer market “Made in Moscow” is a free measure of support provided to businesses by the capital Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.

    This allows local brands to increase their recognition among city residents, as well as sales of goods that they produce in the city. Thus, last year from August 1 to September 9, as part of the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” on Bolotnaya Square, the market of the future “Made in Moscow” was open. It was visited by more than 150 thousand people, and the revenue of the market participants reached 50 million rubles.

    It is also worth noting the successful experience of the Made in Moscow magic market as part of the city’s winter program “Winter in Moscow”. It was held from December 20 to February 28 at seven popular sites – from Arbat to Kuznetsky Most. It was visited by more than 570 thousand people. Moscow entrepreneurs sold over 50 thousand goods.

    The market became one of the key measures of city support, which was used by more than 500 Moscow brands. A rich entertainment program was organized for guests, including more than 3.5 thousand thematic events, including master classes and fashion shows.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • PLI scheme for food processing sector creates 2.5 lakh jobs, benefits nine lakh farmers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre’s production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector has succeeded in attracting investments to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore and creating over 2.5 lakh jobs so far, according to a senior official of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

    “Till date, the ministry has funded almost 1,600 projects leading to the creation of 41 lakh tonnes of food processing capacity and benefiting almost nine lakh farmers,” said Ranjit Singh, joint secretary, MoFPI, in his address at FICCI’s ‘Foodworld India’ event here.

    He pointed out that food processing plays a pivotal role in agricultural diversification, value addition, reduction in post-harvest losses, and creation of surpluses for exports.

    Singh said, “The immense untapped potential of the Indian farm sector highlights the important role that domestic manufacturing can play when adequately supported by enabling government policies. With targeted interventions, this sector can contribute to India becoming self-reliant and a global food basket.”

    He highlighted the food processing sector’s role in enhancing the value of agricultural produce as well as driving favourable demand for Indian products in global markets. “Therefore, to realise its potential, we must continue to upgrade processing, packaging, storage and distribution, so that we’re able to meet both domestic and international standards,” he added.

    Singh further stated that the MoFPI is implementing initiatives, such as Kisan Sampada Yojana, an umbrella scheme to build cold chains, agro-processing clusters, food testing bodies, and support R&D in the sector. The ministry is also running the PM’s formalisation of micro food processing enterprises (PMFME) scheme to promote infrastructure development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector across the country.

    He said that these schemes have also helped transform many small companies into medium ones. The PMFME scheme has supported close to two lakh micro enterprises through credit-linked subsidies and infrastructure creation in the last five years. (IANS)

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: 7.2 million people took part in the Active Citizen project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Active Citizen project has turned 11 years old. Sergei Sobyanin announced this in his blog.

    In 2014, Moscow became a pioneer of digital democracy by creating a project “Active Citizen”. A unique platform gave Muscovites the opportunity to directly influence the development of the best city on Earth.

    “Today, 11 years later, Active Citizen has 7.2 million participants, that is, practically every second resident of Moscow. This is a large-scale community of active citizens who rightfully become full-fledged co-authors of many city projects and transformations. Every month we implement 30-40 decisions supported by Muscovites,” wrote Sergei Sobyanin.

    The project participants make decisions in a variety of areas. Thanks to the voting conducted since 2014, more than two thousand courtyards, streets, parks and embankments have acquired a modern look. New standards for the activities of clinics, libraries and My Documents government service centers have been developed and implemented. More than a million trees and shrubs have been planted on Moscow streets and avenues.

    The capital’s festivals have become more interesting and eventful. Moscow has branded tea and ice cream. More than 130 city objects, including streets, squares and metro stations, have received names. And the baby panda and other pets of the Moscow Zoo, Moskvarium and the City Farm at VDNKh now bear names given to them by city residents.

    Having appeared as a platform for voting, the Active Citizen project has gradually turned into a multifunctional platform where residents can offer their own ideas for improving Moscow, participate in city projects, complete online quests, and learn about various events and news from the life of the capital.

    For active participation in the project, points of the city loyalty program “Million Prizes” are awarded, which residents use to purchase tickets to museums, excursions and exhibitions, souvenirs with project logos or to top up the “Troika” card. If desired, the earned points can be sent to charitable foundations and public organizations (one point is equal to one ruble). Last year alone, donations from participants in city electronic projects amounted to more than 71 million points/rubles.

    In 2025, the online platform “Active Citizen for Children” was launched, created specifically for young Muscovites aged at least six and under 14 years. Now, not only adults can decide what the capital will be like, but also children. The platform invites children to an exciting world of quizzes, games, comics and video stories that introduce children to Moscow and tell about the capital’s initiatives and achievements.

    “Active Citizen” is an excellent example of how, with the right approach, digital technologies can become an effective tool for interaction between the government and society, where the opinion of each person matters, and active participation in the life of the city brings real benefits to everyone,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12762050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Help Cattlemen Defend Livestock from Vultures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) to reintroduce the Black Vulture Relief Act to allow farmers and producers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without burdensome government interference. The legislation would remove the current requirement that farmers and cattlemen first obtain a sub-permit before shooting vultures.  Vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA)—meaning permission from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is needed to remove them, despite growing population numbers. Currently, Alabama cattlemen who receive sub-permits can only shoot up to three black vultures until the state’s total 500 bird limit is reached—even though attacks routinely come from more than 20 vultures at a time. It’s estimated that cattlemen lose an average of $2,000 per calf lost.
    “Alabama’s cattlemen work hard to feed our communities and shouldn’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to protect their herds,” said Senator Tuberville. “Adjusting these sub-permit requirements that are based on outdated data is just one more commonsense way we can support our cattlemen and help them keep more of their hard-earned dollars. I’ll continue using the feedback from Alabama’s agriculture community to guide my work here in D.C.”
    BACKGROUND:
    Over the past several decades, black vultures’ expanding population has led to an additional burdensome and costly strain on livestock producers due to increased livestock depredation by these birds. Black vultures are most prevalent in the Southeast and Midwest but have been spotted as far north as New York and Michigan and as far west as Arizona. Black vultures, often in flocks of more than 20 , brutally attack and eat newborn calves, lambs, goat kids, and piglets. These attacks are gruesome, lasting an average of 3.5 hours as the vultures eat the animal alive. They will also attack/injure female adults during or after birth when they are more vulnerable. In 2015, vultures caused 24,600 calf deaths, accounting for 10% of all calf deaths due to predators.
    Vultures were the third leading cause of calf deaths due to predators, only behind coyotes and unknown predators. This number has undoubtedly increased in recent years as black vulture populations have increased. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey, the black vulture population has increased by approximately 468% since 1990. In 2016, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative rated black vultures as a species of lowest conservation concern, indicating “a widespread, relatively secure species.” Despite the bird’s robust population, the black vulture is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) making it illegal to take one without obtaining a depredation permit. For black vultures, FWS issues master permits to states who then issue sub-permits to ranchers.
    Sub-permittees are limited to 3-10 black vulture takes annually, depending on the state. This take limit is the main roadblock that farmers and ranchers face to protect their livestock. From 2015-2019, requests to FWS for depredation permits for take of black vultures increased by 26%. Black vulture cattle depredation has been confirmed in 18 states and is expected to grow due to the bird’s expanding population range from the southeastern and midwestern regions toward the north.
    MORE:
    Tuberville, Cotton Take Action to Allow Farmers to Protect Catfish from Predatory Birds
    Tuberville, Cruz Introduce Legislation to Protect American Fishermen from Cartels
    Tuberville, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Level Playing Field for Alabama Sporting Equipment Businesses
    Tuberville, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Help Farmers Impacted by Feral Swine
    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Support Domestic Beekeepers and Honey Producers
    Tuberville Introduces Bill To Put American Farmers and Producers First
    Tuberville, Daines Fight for Outdoorsmen Across the Country
    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 –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: What flowering plants can be found in the capital at the end of spring

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The end of spring is a unique time when nature pleases with bright colors and unique aromas. Specialists of the capital Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talked about the plants that bloom during this period.

    There is usually a strategically thought-out mechanism behind the external beauty. According to experts, the color, shape, smell and size of the plant’s flower are designed to attract the attention of pollinating insects.

    Flowers have nectaries – glandular organs that secrete nectar. However, the plant is ready to “treat” not every insect with it, but only the one that, thanks to its morphological structure, can reach the secret glands, taking pollen with it for another flower. Thus, flies and small bees pollinate early coltsfoot. Bumblebees are mass pollinators of the first forest flowers, such as creeping bugleweed and ground ivy.

    Beetles pollinate large rosehip and elderberry flowers well. But honey bees are very selective about the amount of sugar in the nectar, so in spring their main food source is flowering willows, various types of maples and caragana arborescens.

    The next productive honey harvest awaits bees on raspberry flowers. Its fruit is a complex drupe, and in order for the berry itself to be juicy, tasty and beautiful, pollination of all the ovaries, which serve to capture pollen, is necessary. For this reason, a large number of bees are required. Raspberries secrete quite a lot of nectar, bees fly to them even after sunset, so as a result, the hive becomes several kilograms heavier. The beginning of raspberry blossoming with a barely perceptible honey aroma is an indicator of the end of spring and the onset of summer.

    The capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection reminds that all plants are important for the Moscow ecosystem, so experts urge city residents to admire the greenery and not harm it.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154090073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: How a farmer – participant of the fair in Mitino helps SVO fighters

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Participants of Moscow fairs continue to help fighters of the special military operation (SVO). Among those who are not indifferent is farmer Anatoly, who brings honey and other bee products from his nomadic family apiary to the fair in Mitino.

    Even as a child, from the age of 10, he always helped his elders in the family business. Anatoly is a representative of the fourth generation of beekeepers in the family from the Semenovka farm in the Rostov region. When a special military operation began and his fellow villagers went to the front line, he had only one question: how to support them. The man believes that you just need to help others, and there is no need to talk about it.

    “We regularly donate our honey and, together with other villagers, chip in money when needed. They use it to buy construction materials for trenches and household items that the soldiers need. My father’s friends take care of organizational issues, and our family simply tries to always respond when help is needed,” the farmer shared.

    The capital’s fairs feature products from more than 40 regions of Russia. Each supplier guarantees the quality and freshness of the goods, and specialists Veterinary Committee of the City of Moscow check the products before sending them to the shelves.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154096073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace slams Federated Farmers over ‘selfish’ behaviour on climate

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace says that Federated Farmers’ intent to ‘go to battle’ over methane targets is yet another example of the agri-business lobby group’s selfish approach to life on our collective home.
    Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb and Dairy NZ have been pushing for methane targets aligned with ‘no additional warming’ – an approach that has been harshly criticised by climate scientists, the Climate Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
    Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says “The New Zealand dairy industry is the country’s worst climate polluter. The oversized dairy herd is cooking the climate with superheating methane emissions, yet agri-industry lobby groups refuse to play their part in tackling the climate crisis, instead leaving it to the rest of us to clean up their mess.
    “Yet again, Federated Farmers are attempting to convince us that they are the exception to the rule. But this new concept they’re promoting – no additional warming – is not based on science. They’ve simply come up with a way to count emissions differently so that they can justify doing less.”
    Methane emissions are responsible for a third of global heating to date, and the agricultural industry is the single biggest source. Those emissions are rising faster than at any other time in history.
    “The consequence of the livestock industry selfishly absconding their climate responsibility is that everyone else has to pick up the slack. Or, alternatively, that we all suffer the consequences of more floods, storms, fires and droughts. All of which affect frontline farming communities first,” says Larsson.
    Greenpeace says the key flaw in no additional warming is that it ignores the historic pollution caused by intensive livestock farming.
    “It’s a bit like expecting your mortgage to magically be written off. The catch is that your debt still exists, it’s just that someone else will have to pay for it. Ignoring the historic methane emissions from agriculture won’t make that pollution – or its warming impact – go away.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.20.2025 Sen. Cruz’s ‘No Tax on Tips’ Legislation Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued a statement following the passing of his No Tax on Tips Act in the U.S. Senate with a vote of 100-0. This bipartisan legislation will exempt tips from being subject to taxation under the federal income tax.
    Sen. Cruz said, “President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would eliminate taxes on tips. In Congress, I formed a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to get that done, and in the Senate introduced the No Tax on Tips Act. Today, I went with Senator Rosen to the floor to secure Senate passage of the bill. This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue-collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this important bill and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”
    BACKGROUND
    The bill exempts “cash tips”—cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks—from federal income tax by allowing taxpayers to claim a 100% deduction at filing for tipped wages. The updated text includes guardrails to ensure only traditionally tipped employees will benefit from No Tax on Tips.
    Read the bill text here.
    Sen. Cruz has consistently prioritized tax cuts and job access:
    Sen. Cruz helped enact historic tax reform in 2017, which gave a tax cut to virtually every taxpayer in America. It reduced taxes on small businesses, farmers, ranchers, and job producers, which has helped bring jobs to Texas.
    He has fought to make permanent the 2017 historic tax cuts for individuals.
    Sen. Cruz also helped pass the USMCA trade agreement, which was signed by President Trump, a decisive victory for Texas farmers, ranchers, businesses, and manufacturers.
    For his efforts to support Texas businesses large and small, Sen. Cruz received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious “Spirit of Enterprise” award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology

    bodnar.photo/Shutterstock

    If you’re browsing the supermarket fridge for reduced-fat milk, it’s easy to be confused by the many different types.

    You can find options labelled skim, skimmed, skinny, no fat, extra light, lite, light, low fat, reduced fat, semi skim and HiLo (high calcium, low fat).

    So what’s the difference between two of these common milks – skim milk and light milk? How are they made? And which one’s healthier?

    What do they contain?

    Skim milk

    In Australia and New Zealand, skim milk is defined as milk that contains no more than 1.5% milk fat and has at least 3% protein. On the nutrition information panel this looks like less than 1.5 grams of fat and at least 3g protein per 100 millilitres of milk.

    But the fat content of skim milk can be as low as 0.1% or 0.1g per 100mL.

    Light milk

    Light milk is sometimes spelled “lite” but they’re essentially the same thing.

    While light milk is not specifically defined in Australia and New Zealand, the term “light” is defined for food generally. If we apply the rules to milk, we can say light milk must contain no more than 2.4% fat (2.4g fat per 100mL).

    In other words, light milk contains more fat than skim milk.

    You can find the fat content by reading the “total fat per 100mL” on the label’s nutrition information panel.

    How about other nutrients?

    The main nutritional difference between skim milk and light milk, apart from the fat content, is the energy content.

    Skim milk provides about 150 kilojoules of energy per 100mL whereas light milk provides about 220kJ per 100mL.

    Any milk sold as cow’s milk must contain at least 3% protein (3g protein per 100mL of milk). That includes skim or light milk. So there’s typically not much difference there.

    Likewise, the calcium content doesn’t differ much between skim milk and light milk. It is typically about 114 milligrams to 120mg per 100mL.

    You can check these and other details on the label’s nutrition information panel.

    How are they made?

    Skim milk and light milk are not made by watering down full-cream milk.

    Instead, full-cream milk is spun at high speeds in a device called a centrifuge. This causes the fat to separate and be removed, leaving behind milk containing less fat.

    Here’s how fat is removed to produce skim and light milk.

    Who should be drinking what?

    Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend we drink mostly reduced-fat milk – that is, milk containing no more than 2.4g fat per 100mL. Skim milk and light milk are both included in that category.

    The exception is for children under two years old, who are recommended full-cream milk to meet their growing needs.

    The reason our current guidelines recommend reduced-fat milk is that, since the 1970s, reduced-fat milk has been thought to help with reducing body weight and reducing the risk of heart disease. That’s because of its lower content of saturated fat and energy (kilojoules/calories) than full cream milk.

    However, more recent evidence has shown drinking full-cream milk is not associated with weight gain or health risks. In fact, eating or drinking dairy products of any type may help reduce the risk of obesity and other metabolic disorders (such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes), especially in children and adolescents.

    The science in this area continues to evolve. So the debate around whether there are health benefits to choosing reduced-fat milk over full cream milk is ongoing.

    Whether or not there any individual health benefits from choosing skim milk or light milk over full cream will vary depending on your current health status and broader dietary habits.

    For personalised health and dietary advice, speak to a health professional.

    Margaret Murray 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. What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-skim-milk-and-light-milk-255608

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall and Warner Reintroduce Bill to Improve Seniors’ Access to Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) today reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act – bipartisan, zero-cost legislation to improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The bill focuses on streamlining the often cumbersome and time-consuming prior authorization process, ultimately allowing healthcare providers to spend more time on patient care rather than administrative burdens.
    This legislation would help physicians better serve and improve care for the 32.8 million Americans – including the over 196,000 Kansans – enrolled in an MA plan.
    “Prior authorization is the number one administrative burden facing physicians today across all specialties,” Senator Marshall said. “As a physician, I understand the frustration this arbitrary process is causing health care practices across the country and the headaches it creates for our nurses. With the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, we will streamline prior authorization and help improve patient outcomes and access to quality care.”
    “Our seniors deserve high-quality care delivered in a timely fashion. I am proud to introduce this legislation that takes commonsense steps to modernize the prior authorization process, cutting through red tape, streamlining approvals, and making sure our health care providers are focused on what really matters — supporting their patients,” Senator Warner said.
    Joining Senators Marshall and Warner are U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana),  Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Alex Padilla (D-California), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Andy Kim (D-New Jersey), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware).
    “Too often, seniors face unnecessarily complicated and burdensome prior authorization processes that can become a barrier to receiving care,” Senator Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense way to support seniors on Medicare Advantage in accessing care, and to help health care providers focus on their patients instead of paperwork.”
    “Prior authorization places more importance on process than patients. As a doctor, I want that to change. Let’s make sure seniors are receiving timely care,” Senator Cassidy said. 
    “Too often, seniors have to wait to receive vital care because of administrative burdens like prior authorization. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which will streamline prior authorization and reduce unnecessary health care delays,” Senator Capito said.
    “Seniors across the Cowboy State rely on Medicare, but too often, bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of timely care,” Senator Lummis said. “I am proud to join my colleagues across the aisle to streamline the prior authorization process and put patients over paperwork.”
    “Excessive administrative burdens within the Medicare Advantage program means too many seniors receive delayed benefits, while our health care providers are overwhelmed by paperwork. The current system isn’t working well for anyone, and it’s time we take meaningful action to fix it. This commonsense legislation is a necessary step in the right direction,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.
    “Health care providers handling mountains of paperwork takes up valuable time and can unnecessarily delay older folks’ access to the crucial care they need,” Senator Kaine said. “I’m proud to champion this bipartisan legislation to modernize and streamline health care processes to ensure that Americans covered by Medicare Advantage can more swiftly access care and empower health care providers to direct more of their time to their patients.”
    “Quality, expedited medical care should always be within reach for seniors, and our providers deserve a system that helps them focus on delivering it,” Senator Boozman said. “I’m pleased to join this bipartisan effort to end the inefficient process that delays Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ evaluations and treatments while removing an unnecessary, bureaucratic burden on clinicians.”
    “Doctors and health care providers are too often bogged down by unnecessary burdens, which can lead to delayed care and negative outcomes for patients,”Senator Cornyn said. “By streamlining the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage, this legislation would cut red tape, improve enrollee experiences, and ensure seniors receive the timely care they deserve.”
    “Improving the prior authorization process will help seniors have quicker access to the health care they need and remove administrative hurdles for physicians,” Senator Moran said. “This legislation would make commonsense changes to better support thousands of seniors in Kansas and remove the red tape that is costing doctors and patients valuable time.”
    “Senior citizens have spent their entire lives contributing to our communities, and they deserve every resource to support their health and well-being,” Senator Gillibrand said. “The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act will help cut through unnecessary red tape and ensure timely medical care is accessible to older Americans. Seniors should have reliable access to specialist care, mental health support, preventative services, and the treatments they need to live with dignity. I am proud to support this important legislation, and I pledge to continue fighting to expand access to quality, affordable, and timely health care for our seniors.” 
    “Seniors with Medicare Advantage plans should not have to endure unnecessary delays when seeking medical treatment, and sometimes even life-saving care,” Senator Hirono said. “This legislation will help to reduce these arbitrary waiting periods, streamlining prior authorization processes to ensure that health care providers can treat and care for their patients in an efficient manner.”
    “North Carolina seniors shouldn’t face unnecessary delays when trying to access the care they need through Medicare Advantage,” Senator Tillis said. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that streamlines the prior authorization process, cuts red tape for providers, and ensures patients get timely access to treatment.”
    U.S. Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-Pennsylvania-13), Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania-16), Suzan DelBene (D-Washington-01), and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-California-06) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    This legislation is supported by the Better Medicare Alliance, Humana, and 138 other health care organizations.
    “Prior authorization helps keep health care costs low and ensures seniors are getting the most appropriate care. But the process should be easier. The changes put forth in this legislation are long overdue and will help ensure seniors can get the care they need without delay,” Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance, said. “We are proud to support this bill and thank Senators Marshall and Warner, and Representatives Kelly, DelBene, Bera, and Joyce for their leadership. We look forward to continued work on this issue with Congress and the Administration.”
    “Humana’s job is to ensure our members have access to high quality, affordable healthcare.  We support efforts in the House and Senate to move the Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act forward quickly,” Jim Rechtin, Humana CEO, said. “It is a common-sense approach to making healthcare easier by modernizing the prior authorization process.”
    Background:

    Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in multiple faxes or phone calls by clinicians, which takes precious time away from delivering care.
    Prior authorization continues to be the number-one administrative burden identified by health care providers, and nearly three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to the practice.
    The bill would codify and enhance elements of the Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (e-PA) rule that was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 17, 2024.
    Last Congress, the bill was supported by a super majority of members in the Senate (60) and a majority in the House (232), and was unanimously passed by the House in 2022.
    In 2018, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied.
    In 2022, the HHS Office of Inspector General released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.

    The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would:

    Establish an electronic prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans, including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
    Increase transparency around Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements and their use.
    Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests, including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
    Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
    Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-prior authorization process.
    Result in a zero cost to American taxpayers.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Encourages Atlanta Business, Civic Leaders to Continue Putting Service Over Self in Remarks to Rotary Club of Atlanta

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Encourages Atlanta Business, Civic Leaders to Continue Putting Service Over Self in Remarks to Rotary Club of Atlanta

    Senator Reverend Warnock encouraged over 100 Georgia business and civic leaders to continue living out their motto of “service above self” in this moment of political and economic uncertainty
    The Georgia Rotarians held a luncheon at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Georgia, including leaders and representatives from various non-profit and small business leaders across the Atlanta region
    Established in 1913, the Rotary Club of Atlanta has grown to be one of the most influential business and civic clubs in the world
    ICYMI from Saporta Report: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock: ‘Uncertainty is never a friend of business’
    Watch Senator Reverend Warnock’s remarks to the Rotary Club of Atlanta HERE
    Atlanta, GA – In remarks to the Rotary Club of Atlanta yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA)encouraged over 100 Georgia business and civic leaders to continue living out their motto of “service above self” in this moment of political and economic uncertainty. 
    “As an alum of Head Start, as an alum of Upward Bound, another federal program called Trio that put a kid in housing projects on a college campus every summer so that I could know that I belonged there, as someone who’s been a beneficiary of Pell grants and low-interest student loans. I’m fighting for that kid on Cape Street, and every variation of that kid in rural communities all across our state. And so in this moral moment, I hope that we will recommit ourselves to standing in the best of the Rotarian spirit of service over self. It’s the reason why I’m deeply concerned about much of what is happening right now. I am worried about our country,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 
    The Georgia Rotarians held a luncheon at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Georgia, including leaders and representatives from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Metro Chamber, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Ideas United, and various non-profit and small business leaders representing industries across the Atlanta region. 
    Above: Senator Reverend Warnock greeting constituents and local business and civic leaders
    After greeting constituents, the Senator was recognized by the Club’s Board Chair John Yates with a personalized poem he authored highlighting Senator Warnock’s commitment to service for all Georgians. The Senator was introduced by Program Chair and CEO of Ideas United David Roemer ahead of his keynote remarks, where the Senator discussed the detrimental effects of policy unpredictability on businesses and his concerns about tariffs impacts on Georgia small businesses and consumers. Senator Warnock encouraged business leaders to advocate for common-sense leadership and to be unafraid in using their voices to call out the danger and damage Washington politicians pose to Georgia workers and families. 
    “Like many of you, I’m very concerned about these tariffs. I haven’t met anybody yet who’s excited about it. I talked to business leaders. They are worried. I was down in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia a couple of weeks ago meeting with leaders at the port. […] And while there I was talking to leaders and farmers and small businesses, and they feel the uncertainty. One gentleman involved with beekeeping and honey paid more than $25,000 in tariffs on his last import. He’s a small business owner. He doesn’t get to just move something around and be okay for the next quarter. He could lose his business. He does not know what he is going to do. He does not want to pass that cost on to the consumer, but understandably, he does not want to eat those costs himself. We’re hearing stories like that across Metro Atlanta, where business owners and leaders are left scratching their heads because the math ain’t mathing,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 
    “They cannot plan in this uncertain, unpredictable environment. […] And so this is such an important moment for business leaders to stand up, to raise your voices, to use your influence in the ways that you can. Now, I’m not naive. I know that when you’re running a business, you want to stay as far from politics as you can. I don’t blame you. But there comes a moment when that which is so fundamental to opportunity and possibility is at stake that we have to raise our voices. We have to use our influence in the same way to stand up and fight for tax cuts, stand up and fight for immigration policy that makes good business sense,” Senator Reverend Warnock continued. 
    Above: Senator Reverend Warnock gives remarks to the Rotary Club of Atlanta
    Additionally, Senator Warnock reflected on his new report that uplifts the success of the clean energy tax credits he helped put into law and propelled Georgia to the forefront of our nation’s clean energy economy, but which are now under threat as Washington Republicans seek to scale back these clean energy jobs and investments. 
    “According to my report, in Georgia, nearly all the new [clean energy] investments and the new jobs are in counties outside of Metro Atlanta. Nationwide analyzes show that the vast majority of projects announced following the passage of these clean energy tax credits. Over three and four projects have gone to House districts currently held by Republicans. But this is especially true in Georgia. […] This is good news for Georgia, and to undermine it does not make good sense, it’s hard to defend that. The data is clear, and so my colleagues have a decision to make about who they will fight for and what they believe in. Who will they support? But this I do know: uncertainty is never a friend of business, right? It’s hard to know where they invest. You’re not certain about what’s going to happen along the supply chain, it’s hard to know that you should continue to lean in and invest in a clean energy future in Georgia if the Congress can simply undo two years later what it decided to do two years ago, right at the moment that we’re beginning to make progress,”said Senator Reverend Warnock. 
    Above: Senator Reverend Warnock participates in a fireside chat with Program Chair and Ideas United CEO David Roemer
    Following his remarks, the Senator participated in a fireside chat conversation with David Roemer and fielded questions from members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta. Senator Warnock closed by reiterating his service to all Georgians is rooted in his mission to see America win by making sure every child has a chance, and the next kid growing up in public housing or relying on low-interest loans for an education knows that anything is possible in America. 
    “It’s our job to tell our children that in America anything is possible,” Senator Reverend Warnock said in closing. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Marshall Introduce Bill to Improve Seniors’ Access to Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act – bipartisan, zero-cost legislation to improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The bill focuses on streamlining the often cumbersome and time-consuming prior authorization process, ultimately allowing healthcare providers to spend more time on patient care rather than administrative burdens.
    This legislation would help physicians better serve and improve care for the 32.8 million Americans.
    “Our seniors deserve high-quality care delivered in a timely fashion. I am proud to introduce this legislation that takes commonsense steps to modernize the prior authorization process, cutting through red tape, streamlining approvals, and making sure our health care providers are focused on what really matters — supporting their patients,” Sen. Warner said.
    “Prior authorization is the number one administrative burden facing physicians today across all specialties,” Sen. Marshall said. “As a physician, I understand the frustration this arbitrary process is causing health care practices across the country and the headaches it creates for our nurses. With the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, we will streamline prior authorization and help improve patient outcomes and access to quality care.”
    Joining Sens. Warner and Marshall are U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), James Lankford (R-OK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ted Budd (R-NC), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE).
    “Too often, seniors face unnecessarily complicated and burdensome prior authorization processes that can become a barrier to receiving care,” Sen. Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense way to support seniors on Medicare Advantage in accessing care, and to help health care providers focus on their patients instead of paperwork.”
    “Prior authorization places more importance on process than patients. As a doctor, I want that to change. Let’s make sure seniors are receiving timely care,” Sen. Cassidy said. 
    “Too often, seniors have to wait to receive vital care because of administrative burdens like prior authorization. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which will streamline prior authorization and reduce unnecessary health care delays,” Sen. Capito said.
    “Seniors across the Cowboy State rely on Medicare, but too often, bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of timely care,” Sen. Lummis said. “I am proud to join my colleagues across the aisle to streamline the prior authorization process and put patients over paperwork.”
    “Excessive administrative burdens within the Medicare Advantage program means too many seniors receive delayed benefits, while our health care providers are overwhelmed by paperwork. The current system isn’t working well for anyone, and it’s time we take meaningful action to fix it. This commonsense legislation is a necessary step in the right direction,” Sen. Hyde-Smith said.
    “Health care providers handling mountains of paperwork takes up valuable time and can unnecessarily delay older folks’ access to the crucial care they need,” Sen. Kaine said. “I’m proud to champion this bipartisan legislation to modernize and streamline health care processes to ensure that Americans covered by Medicare Advantage can more swiftly access care and empower health care providers to direct more of their time to their patients.”
    “Quality, expedited medical care should always be within reach for seniors, and our providers deserve a system that helps them focus on delivering it,” Sen. Boozman said. “I’m pleased to join this bipartisan effort to end the inefficient process that delays Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ evaluations and treatments while removing an unnecessary, bureaucratic burden on clinicians.”
    “Doctors and health care providers are too often bogged down by unnecessary burdens, which can lead to delayed care and negative outcomes for patients,” Sen. Cornyn said. “By streamlining the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage, this legislation would cut red tape, improve enrollee experiences, and ensure seniors receive the timely care they deserve.
    “Improving the prior authorization process will help seniors have quicker access to the health care they need and remove administrative hurdles for physicians,” Sen. Moran said. “This legislation would make commonsense changes to better support thousands of seniors in Kansas and remove the red tape that is costing doctors and patients valuable time.”
    “Senior citizens have spent their entire lives contributing to our communities, and they deserve every resource to support their health and well-being,” Sen. Gillibrand said. “The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act will help cut through unnecessary red tape and ensure timely medical care is accessible to older Americans. Seniors should have reliable access to specialist care, mental health support, preventative services, and the treatments they need to live with dignity. I am proud to support this important legislation, and I pledge to continue fighting to expand access to quality, affordable, and timely health care for our seniors.” 
    “Seniors with Medicare Advantage plans should not have to endure unnecessary delays when seeking medical treatment, and sometimes even life-saving care,” Sen. Hirono said. “This legislation will help to reduce these arbitrary waiting periods, streamlining prior authorization processes to ensure that health care providers can treat and care for their patients in an efficient manner.”
    “North Carolina seniors shouldn’t face unnecessary delays when trying to access the care they need through Medicare Advantage,” Sen. Tillis said. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that streamlines the prior authorization process, cuts red tape for providers, and ensures patients get timely access to treatment.”
    U.S. Reps John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA-13), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    This legislation is supported by the Better Medicare Alliance, Humana, and 138 other health care organizations.
    “Prior authorization helps keep health care costs low and ensures seniors are getting the most appropriate care. But the process should be easier. The changes put forth in this legislation are long overdue and will help ensure seniors can get the care they need without delay,” Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance, said. “We are proud to support this bill and thank Senators Marshall and Warner, and Representatives Kelly, DelBene, Bera, and Joyce for their leadership. We look forward to continued work on this issue with Congress and the Administration.”
    “Humana’s job is to ensure our members have access to high quality, affordable healthcare.  We support efforts in the House and Senate to move the Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act forward quickly,” Jim Rechtin, Humana CEO, said. “It is a common-sense approach to making healthcare easier by modernizing the prior authorization process.”
    Background:
    Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in multiple faxes or phone calls by clinicians, which takes precious time away from delivering care.
    Prior authorization continues to be the number-one administrative burden identified by health care providers, and nearly three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to the practice.
    The bill would codify and enhance elements of the Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (e-PA) rule that was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 17, 2024.
    Last Congress, the bill was supported by a super majority of members in the Senate (60) and a majority in the House (232), and was unanimously passed by the House in 2022.
    In 2018, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied.
    In 2022, the HHS Office of Inspector General released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.
    The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would:
    Establish an electronic prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans, including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
    Increase transparency around Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements and their use.
    Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests, including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
    Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
    Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-prior authorization process.
    Result in a zero cost to American taxpayers.
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Bills into Law Expanding Freedoms for Colorado Food Trucks and Protecting Colorado’s Environment and Air Quality, Takes Action on Bills

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed bills into law expanding mobility and operations across Colorado for food truck owners and operators, investing in environmental opportunities for youth, and protecting Colorado’s clean air by increasing building decarbonization standards. 

    Governor Polis signed HB25-1295 – Food Truck Operations, sponsored by Representatives Manny Rutinel and Mandy Lindsay, and Senators Dylan Roberts and John Carson. 

    “I’m excited that we are making it easier for food trucks to serve up delicious food in different cities and towns across the state. By getting rid of unnecessary regulations, Colorado’s talented chefs can bring more delicious food to your community,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed the following bills into law increasing environmental literacy for Colorado’s youth, and improving Colorado’s air quality: 

    • SB25-055 – Youth Involvement In Environmental Justice, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Junie Joseph and Jennifer Bacon
    • HB25-1269 – Building Decarbonization Measures, sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford and Alex Valdez, and Senators Matt Ball and Cathy Kipp 

    “We all have a role to play in protecting this state we love for future generations and these bills help more young people get involved in improving our environment and reduce emissions from buildings in our state to improve Colorado’s air quality. I appreciate the sponsors for their work on these bills to support Colorado’s future,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    The Governor also signed the following bills administratively: 

    • SB25-155 – Legislation Inside Advisory Council, sponsored by Senators Gonzales and Ball, and Representative Clifford
    • SB25-176 – Sunset Commodity Handler & Farm Products Act, sponsored by Senators R. Pelton and Snyder, and Representatives Martinez and Winter
    • SB25-226 – Extending Spinal & Related Medicine Program, sponsored by Senators Amabile and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
    • SB25-229 – Reimbursement for Community Health Workers, sponsored by Senators Kirkmeyer and Bridges, and Representatives Bird and Taggart
    • HB25-1113 – Limit Turf in New Residential Development, sponsored by Representatives Smith and McCormick, and Senator Roberts
    • HB25-1175 – Smart Meter Opt-In Program, sponsored by Representatives Lieder and Joseph, and Senator Rodriguez 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Legislation to Curb Big Ag Lobbying

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced bipartisan legislation today to close a loophole that allows taxpayer dollars to be used to subsidize lobbying by large agricultural interests at the expense of smaller producers and consumers.

    The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act refines the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s checkoff programs by closing a loophole that allows taxpayer dollars to be used for lobbying. The programs were established by the federal government and are funded through compulsory fees on producers of milk, eggs, beef, and other agricultural products so that members of the agricultural industry could pool their financial resources for promotional and research purposes. But lax oversight at the federal level has allowed harmful collusion between the boards governing these programs and the agriculture lobby.

    “This system has been abused by big agricultural interests,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Their lobbyists have pushed Congress to enact laws that benefit only them. With too many Nevadans bearing the brunt of higher food prices, big ag corporations should be working to keep costs low, not lining their own pockets by promoting anticompetitive practices. I’m pushing this bipartisan legislation to increase federal oversight, prevent conflicts of interest, and stop ag lobbyists from squeezing small producers out of business.”

    The OFF Act targets the influence of agriculture lobbyists and prohibits anticompetitive behavior by preventing USDA checkoff programs from paying organizations that lobby on agricultural issues, banning activities that involve a conflict of interest, and requiring audits to ensure compliance.

    “We applaud the Members of Congress for their long-term leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “If we’re going to be forced to pay into USDA’s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.”

    “Scandal after scandal has proven the long-term corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,” said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. “American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.” 

    “America’s farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,” said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. “We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It’s the USDA’s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act’s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Grills Trump’s Pick to Lead IRS 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch on Trump using the IRS for political goals: “The president is not restrained by what’s legal or not.” 
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a Senate Finance Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) grilled President Trump’s nominee to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Senator Welch asked former Congressman Billy Long about how cuts to IRS staff will affect the ability of the IRS to hold billionaire tax cheats accountable, and how gutting IRS funding and staff will hurt services and help for U.S. taxpayers. Senator Welch also questioned Mr. Long on President Trump’s actions to undercut institutes of higher education. 
    Welch: The Administration, President Trump, has specifically gone after higher education. There have been significant cuts in research funding to Columbia, to Harvard, and to other universities. The president, who will be your boss, has explicitly stated that he wants to eliminate the tax-exempt status for Harvard. What’s your opinion about the recommendation by the president that Harvard loses its tax-exempt status?  
    Long: I’m not over there. I haven’t seen why they would think that. But it’s something I want to get into and figure out once I’m over there. I’ve never been around it, so I don’t know. 
    Welch: One of the concerns here is that if a president is using the IRS as a tool to achieve his goals— 
    Long: That should not be done by anybody. 
    Welch: Alright, so you will tell Trump to pound sand if he comes to you as Commissioner— 
    Long: That’s my understanding. Like I said, if it is fair, not fair, legal, or not legal. If what you are saying is not legal, it should not be done and nobody should by able to do that.  
    Welch: You know, the President is not restrained by what’s legal or not…The president is explicitly stating he wants to go after Harvard—or [another] higher education institution is next—you will be in the line of fire on that. And what I’m looking for from you is not something you are able to give me right now, and that’s assurances that you will tell the president ‘no’ when he is using the IRS for a political objective. 
    Long: I said earlier the IRS will not and should not be politicized on my, or any, watch. 
    Watch the full exchange here: 
    ■■■ 
      
    Senator Welch’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress include:  
    Senate Committee on Finance   
    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit   
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution   
    Senate Committee on Rules & Administration 
    Learn more about his work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Greenpeace braced for ‘scorched earth’ budget from Govt

    Source: Greenpeace

    With the Government set to release its Budget tomorrow, Greenpeace is calling for bold investment in climate and nature, but is bracing for the worst.
    “Given that this Government just legalised killing kiwi, we’re bracing for a Scorched Earth Budget,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Gen Toop.
    Greenpeace has been critical of the Luxon-led Government’s anti-environment policies, but says that the PM’s war on nature does not have to continue in the 2025 Budget.
    Budget 2024 decreased funding for DOC to such an extent that last year the agency was asking for public donations to fund its work and is this year reportedly facing a 30% shortfall for maintaining its hut and track network.
    “This Budget is a chance for the Government to change course from its war on nature,” says Toop. “It’s a chance to invest in climate action, protect biodiversity, and support everyday people with the cost of living – that’s what a responsible, future-focused Budget would do.”
    “People have a right to clean water, a livable climate, and groceries and power bills they can afford. Any budget that prioritises corporate profits and tax cuts for landlords instead of those basic rights is not the kind of budget we need,” says Toop.
    Greenpeace says a Budget that truly tackles the climate, biodiversity, and cost of living crises would:
    • Make a significant investment in distributed solar to bring down power bills, reduce emissions and help communities generate their own energy.
    • Create an ecological farming fund to support farmers to transition away from intensive dairy and take advantage of the rise in demand for plant-based food.
    • Bring back Jobs for Nature, funding real employment in the restoration of forests, rivers and wetlands to combat the biodiversity crisis.
    • Fund it all by taxing corporations and the ultra-wealthy, starting with bringing the country’s biggest climate polluter, Fonterra and intensive dairying into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
    Since taking the reins, the Government has abolished the clean car discount; forced the Ministry for the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Conservation to cut jobs; canceled the Auckland Light Rail Project; cut public transport subsidies for young people; and steadfastly refused to put agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – Balancing the books should be at Budget’s core – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is urging the Government to focus its Budget announcements on how it can cut waste and balance the books.
    “The budget will once again need to be more about reducing spending than announcing spending, and farmers will welcome that,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
    “Farmers work hard to balance their books on farm, and we expect to see the Government doing the same.
    “Farming businesses are beginning to experience the benefits of lower inflation and interest rates this year. A balanced budget will mean this stability is more likely to continue.”
    Langford says while big spending isn’t on the cards, one area where there’s a need for a targeted increase in investment is pest management.
    “Ballooning numbers of feral deer, pigs and goats – not to mention the spread of wilding pines – continues to have a big economic cost.”
    Langford says the Department of Conservation spends only about $13 million a year controlling deer, pigs and goats on the public conservation estate, but these pests are costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars in lost food production, export losses and damage on farms.
    “Doubling the pest control spend will have a small overall impact on Crown expense but will see exports increase as farmers lose less pasture to pests.
    “In the context of total Crown expenditure of $180 billion, a decent boost to pest control budgets wouldn’t be significant but would help short-circuit a compounding problem.”
    Langford says it would be great to see work on rural mental health also get over the line and receive extra funding.
    “Again, this would be a small expenditure increase in the grand scheme of things but with significant positive benefits.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kingdom of the Netherlands–The Netherlands: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 20, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    An IMF team, led by Mr. Fabian Bornhorst, visited the Netherlands during May 7–20 to conduct the 2025 Article IV consultation. The following statement was issued at the end of the visit:

    The Dutch economy is among the most developed countries globally and has drawn strength from integration in global value chains. In recent years, it has weathered shocks well, yet its resilience is being tested, again—this time by trade tensions and geoeconomic fragmentation. Fiscal buffers are ample, and the financial system is well-positioned to absorb shocks. At the same time, the economy is operating at capacity and inflation is elevated. And increasingly binding constraints—in the labor market, housing, emissions space, and the electricity grid—are limiting the ability to grow and adapt. Futureproofing the economy will therefore require policies that both tackle bottlenecks and expand supply capacity, and align with a long-term vision for sustainable growth. Reforms, complementary to EU initiatives, should aim to increase labor input and firm productivity, expand the availability of SME financing, and effectively manage the green and demographic transitions.

    Outlook

    1. After a weak start, domestic demand is projected to drive growth in 2025 even as trade tensions affect momentum. Real GDP growth is projected to reach 1.1 percent this year. Fundamentals remain strong: unemployment is low, wage growth is robust, and real household purchasing power is solid—supporting private consumption. However, tariffs, trade tensions, and lower trading partner growth are expected to dampen external demand. Combined with uncertainty over future trade policies and less favorable financial conditions, these factors hold back investment and weaken consumer confidence. With a cooling economy, the small positive output gap is expected to close next year; medium-term growth will converge to its estimated potential of 1.2 percent.
    2. Elevated inflation is projected to decline gradually and reach the 2 percent target in late 2026. Inflation is projected at 3 percent in 2025. Wage growth has been robust, although real wages have not reached pre-pandemic levels. Going forward, wage growth is projected to moderate as indicated by recent collective wage agreements and early signs of easing labor market tightness. Fiscal measures, on net, will contribute positively to inflation in 2025 and 2026, as the roll-back of some reduced VAT rates and the increase in excise rates are partly offset by energy subsidies and the freeze on social housing rents. As the trade shock reverberates through the global economy, deflationary forces are expected to arise from lower global growth and energy prices, and appreciation of the euro.

    Risks

    1. Downside risks to growth dominate and arise mainly from trade tensions. Possible direct effects from new/higher U.S. tariffs on currently exempt items (e.g., pharmaceuticals) would lower exports. More generally, rising geoeconomic fragmentation and stronger-than-expected indirect effects from global trade disruptions pose downside risks to growth. The disruption to supply chains could be more severe than expected, leading to upward price pressures even in the context of subdued growth. Policy makers should stay vigilant and nimble. Barring more extreme scenarios, automatic stabilizers in the fiscal framework are sufficient to weather shocks. Domestically, uncertainties in economic policy and the extent to which growth bottlenecks are binding represent risks to the outlook. These can be addressed by implementing consistent, forward-looking, and confidence-building measures.

    Fiscal Policy

    1. Fiscal policy is geared to supporting households in the near term, while aiming to keep the deficit below 3 percent of GDP by 2030. In view of many, and competing, demands, it is welcome that revised plans in the Spring Memorandum adhere to the trend-based fiscal policy (the Dutch Medium-Term Fiscal Framework) and are in line with national fiscal rules. Key measures in 2025 to support household purchasing power include income tax relief, extending reduced fuel excise duties, energy subsidies, and rent support. To meet the deficit target by 2030, spending cuts in public administration, international cooperation, education, and asylum are proposed. The plans, however, are more backloaded than before, and, in many cases, specific measures have yet to be formulated.
    2. Pivoting fiscal policy from stimulating demand to expanding supply would help the economy grow and adapt. Fiscal policy is set to provide an impulse of around 1 percent of GDP in 2025-26. As household real incomes now exceed pre-pandemic levels and the economy is operating at capacity with elevated inflation, broad fiscal support is no longer needed. Scaling back demand support is timely and advisable. While underspending and revenue overperformance could deliver a neutral fiscal stance—as in 2024—proactively identifying and implementing measures would allow for steering the adjustment. To boost the supply capacity of the economy, the government should invest in infrastructure, education, and R&D, foster investment to increase the housing supply and productivity, implement growth-enhancing tax reforms, and tackle bottlenecks from nitrogen and electricity grid congestion. Fostering private and increasing public investment will also contribute to reducing the high external current account surplus.
    3. Better aligning policies with long-term goals would improve the effectiveness of fiscal policy. For example, while freezing social rents provides immediate support to some households, it weakens the financial health of housing associations and limits investment to expand and upgrade the housing stock—key to addressing shortages. Extending the reduction of fuel excises disincentivizes the clean energy transition, countering efforts to reduce implicit fuel subsidies and foster EV adoption through subsidies. Limited inflation adjustment of income tax brackets—including to finance reduced VAT rates—offsets previous income tax relief, disproportionately affects poorer households, and disincentivizes labor supply. Education and R&D spending cuts are at odds with fostering high levels of human capital and innovation. In this context, the announced tax and benefits system reform is welcome, offering an opportunity to simplify and align policies.
    4. Tackling medium-term spending pressures through structural fiscal reforms will increase fiscal room to maneuver. With a low debt-to-GDP ratio of 43.4 percent, the fiscal position is strong. Moreover, deficits and debt are projected to remain structurally below 3 and 60 percent of GDP through 2030. However, projections also indicate that, by 2050, spending on health, ageing, and climate change will increase by about 4 percent of GDP. Ambitions to scale up defense spending beyond 2 percent of GDP adds to these pressures. Addressing cost drivers early would free fiscal room to maneuver, including: (i) reversing the reduction of health deductibles, increasing health care co-payments, and adjusting the basic policy package while supporting solidarity; (ii) linking the retirement age one-to-one to greater life expectancy for tax-funded old-age pensions; and (iii) moving away from fuel subsidies to revenue-generating carbon pricing and taxation.
    5. Implementing the planned tax reforms would support growth. The Building Blocks Tax report rightly recommends streamlining inefficient and ineffective tax expenditures, including abolishing reduced VAT rates. This would lower compliance costs, broaden the tax base, and may open the door to a lower tax rate. Speedy implementation of the proposed capital income taxation reform (‘Box 3’) would align investment incentives by taxing capital income more consistently. and encouraging better resource allocation. Together, the reforms will foster higher investment, productivity, and growth.

    Financial Sector Policies

    1. Risks to financial stability are elevated and have risen, warranting continued close monitoring. Trade policy tensions and uncertainty have increased financial market volatility and weighed on investor confidence in recent months. More volatility in asset prices could trigger periodic margin calls, particularly on pension funds’ derivatives. Elevated inflation still poses non-negligible risks for insurers. While household and corporate indebtedness is declining, it remains well above the euro area average. In real estate, developments in the commercial sector signal reduced risks. However, the residential market shows renewed signs of overheating. Nominal and real house prices, as well as sales, have picked up again, and housing valuations remain among the highest in Europe.
    2. Even so, the financial sector remains resilient to shocks as buffers are ample and commensurate to risks, and the macroprudential policy stance is broadly appropriate. Banking, insurance, and pension fund (PF) fundamentals remain sound. Banks are well capitalized and liquid. Bank profits remain robust and loan delinquencies low, despite a pick-up in corporate bankruptcies, which reflects normalization following phasing out of pandemic support. The countercyclical capital buffer has been maintained at the 2 percent positive neutral rate since May 2024. Other buffers for the largest banks remain in a 0.25‑2 percent CET1-to-risk-weighted-assets ratio range. The insurance sector is profitable and solvent. Funding ratios of occupational PFs have declined as interest rates fell but are rebounding ahead of the system’s transition to defined-contribution schemes and stood comfortably at 120 percent, on average, at end-2025Q1. PFs are resilient to liquidity risks in adverse stress scenarios and can raise cash at short notice if needed from repo or other money markets to meet margin calls on interest derivatives.
    3. Addressing access to homeownership through policies that increase housing supply would allow recalibrating borrower-based macroprudential measures towards minimizing financial risks. Housing market risks continue to be mitigated by structural factors including rising real disposable incomes, the large share of fixed-rate mortgages, and full legal recourse in case of default. The maximum LTV limit was lowered to 100 percent in 2018. Eligibility for, and duration of the mortgage interest deductibility were tightened, and the maximum rate reduced. Mortgage risks are further mitigated by the recent extension of risk-weight floors until November 2026. Efforts to ensure a clear legal basis for supervisory authorities’ regular access to granular transaction and loan-level data for risk monitoring and analysis—to identify pockets of vulnerability as they emerge—should continue. Still, as recommended in the 2024 IMF Financial Stability Assessment Program (FSAP) report, to cool the housing market, maximum LTV limits should be progressively lowered even more, to 90 percent, mortgage interest deductibility gradually removed, and borrowers further incentivized to lower exposures to interest-only mortgages. A significant increase in housing supply is needed to boost housing affordability, facilitate broad access to the property ladder, and to reduce banking and insurance risks from residential mortgage exposures. This will require reconsideration of the roles of housing associations and private investors, revisiting rent controls, revising land-use policies and streamlining building regulations.
    4. The pension reform will strengthen PFs financial sustainability, and offers an opportunity to improve intergenerational fairness, and rebalance portfolios. Most defined-benefit schemes (DBs) have faced financial pressure since 2008. Many have struggled to index benefits in the low-interest-rate environment, and some were forced to cut benefits. Also, DBs asset allocations do not reflect age-related risk preferences. This has raised concerns about intergenerational fairness. Together, these factors weakened confidence in the system. The transition to defined-contribution schemes will alleviate pressures from ageing on PFs sustainability. It will also allow for portfolio allocations that better align with risk preferences of age cohorts, including more investments in equity, while maintaining a high degree of solidarity and collective risk-sharing. Notably, about 80 percent of plans are expected to combine individual investment accounts with collective investments that bundle assets and distribute returns across individual accounts.

    Addressing Growth Bottlenecks

    1. A legally-robust and future-oriented nitrogen strategy is urgently needed. Developers now face permit uncertainty, investors lack confidence, and farmers remain in limbo, as environmental targets slip further out of reach. Recognizing the urgency, the government is developing a strategy that includes shifting from deposition to direct emission measurement and extending the timeline to halve emissions by 5 years. More details on possible measures are paramount. Economic considerations suggest that fees on emitters are the most cost-effective and efficient way to reduce emissions. To avoid tax increases for the average farmer, a system of feebates—where emissions-intensive farming pays fees that fund rebates for lower emission practices—offers a balanced approach. Socially-acceptable solutions and emission reductions have been achieved through a combination of taxation, regulation, subsidies, and science-based guidance.
    2. Plans to relieve electricity grid bottlenecks and ready the grid for the green transition should be accelerated and paired with dynamic pricing. The government’s strategy focuses on expediting high-voltage grid extensions and streamlining permitting. There are plans to guarantee debt issuance by the grid operator of about 4.4 percent of GDP to facilitate grid expansion. However, in the meantime, connection wait-times remain too long. Efforts to manage grid pressures should also include increasing storage capacity and incentivizing energy efficiency of households and industry, while helping the energy-poor adapt. To better manage demand, energy savings could be further incentivized by promoting greater use of dynamic metering and pricing. These are effective in shifting consumption to off-peak periods, help consumers save money, and reduce the need for extra capacity to meet peak demand.

    Strengthening Labor and Firm Productivity

    1. Labor market reforms should continue to focus on enhancing human capital. Given the aging population and labor shortages, it is critical to fully utilize the potential of workers across all generations and smaller firms. Reforms should improve educational outcomes and vocational training to address skill shortages and enhance lifelong learning. Recent progress to address labor market duality, such as reducing false self-employment, are welcome. Introducing mandatory disability insurance and strengthening pension arrangements for the self-employed are important measures to be implemented.. Additionally, better integration of workers with a migratory background would be facilitated by stepped-up language training, job search support, and recognition of qualifications acquired abroad.
    2. Policies to support firm productivity should address several key areas. First, business dynamism should be promoted by reducing entry/exit barriers to enhance firm-level allocative efficiency. Second, productivity-enhancing investment should be increased by improving the investment climate and addressing growth bottlenecks, advancing digitalization, and encouraging R&D. Third, productivity spillovers should be fostered by investments with large spillover effects (e.g., research parks and networks) to build connections among firms, research institutions, and regions. Fourth, efforts are needed to support firms to grow from start-ups to scale-ups and beyond. Plans to equalize tax treatment of stock options for small firms are welcome and should be expanded to include eliminating the reduced profit tax rate for SMEs as well as providing a menu of financing options along a firm’s development stages.  

    Domestic Capital Market Reforms

    1. Capital market reforms would help expand SME financing by improving valuations, stimulating investor demand for both equity and debt instruments, and simplifying debt issuances.  
    • Improving valuations—thereby increasing the amount of capital firms can raise when they issue stocks or bonds—will require increasing the size and liquidity of secondary markets. This should be combined with measures to narrow information gaps, such as easing investor benchmarking, to help reduce investor risk, and with reforming the Bankruptcy Act and securities laws to help investors shorten the settlement cycle for transferable securities and reallocate capital from failed startups more quickly. The authorities should also continue to push forward EU-level reforms, as integration into a larger, EU-wide capital market would also improve liquidity, and hence valuations.
    • Increasing PFs’ and insurers’ investments in domestic venture capital and other equity funds would also increase equity market size and raise valuations. The pension reform offers such an opportunity. Higher pension investment, including from abroad, in domestic equity may also be supported at the EU level by revised legal and supervisory requirements for pan-European private pension products that allow for more venture capital investment.
    • Standardizing and simplifying procedures for smaller-denomination corporate debt securities issuance, lowering the minimum denomination, making pricing more transparent, and leveraging online platforms and other dealer markets would help increase retail investor participation and make more debt capital available to firms.

    Managing the Green Transition

    1. To meet national and European climate goals, stronger policies will be needed, including to reduce uncertainty and build public support.  The current policy settings are projected to fall short of the 2030 goals. Clear and consistent policies are required to provide investment certainty for the private sector. The EU climate agenda—including introduction of CBAM and phasing out of free ETS allowances and expansion of ETS coverage—will facilitate progress. These measures may impact purchasing power. Lower-income households may struggle to adapt even though the burdens of ETS reforms across different income groups are estimated to be uniform relative to consumption. To manage these challenges, implementing compensatory funds and other targeted fiscal tools can help balance policy trade-offs and enhance public support.
    2. Recalibrating transport policies can prevent a decline in fiscal revenues and address congestion, while meeting climate targets and managing electricity demand. By 2035, revenue from transport is projected to decline by 0.5 percent of GDP, while electricity demand could rise by 20 percent with electrification of the vehicle fleet. These challenges would be best addressed with congestion pricing in urban areas and distance-based charges.

    Supporting EU Reforms

    1. The authorities should continue to push for rapid implementation of EU-wide reforms, including as the Netherlands stands to gain from these initiatives. With its mature markets, enhancing EU-wide competition by cutting intra-EU trade barriers would complement national efforts to boost business dynamism and productivity. EU-level actions to foster intra-EU labor mobility—recognition of professional qualifications, pension portability—are complementary to addressing labor and skill shortages at home. A European Savings and Investment Union (SIU) would broaden investment opportunities for Dutch savers and allow Dutch firms to more easily tap a wider pool of European savings. Finally, completing the EU energy market would ensure better connectivity and energy security, lower prices, and also lower investment needs to match increasing demand.

    *   *   *   *   *

    The IMF team thanks the authorities and other counterparts for the constructive policy dialogue and productive collaboration.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Eva-Maria Graf

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

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/19/mcs-05192025-kingdom-of-the-netherlands-staff-concluding-statement-of-2025-art-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Schmitt Introduce Resolution Honoring Former Senator and Governor Kit Bond

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Tuesday, May 20, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced a resolution honoring former United States Senator and Missouri Governor Christopher ‘‘Kit’’ Bond. Bond passed away on May 13, 2025 at the age of 86.
    Bond served as the 47th and 49th Governor of Missouri, serving from 1973 to 1977 and again from 1981 to 1985. He later served four terms in the United States Senate from 1987 to 2011 where he advanced conservative values, championed infrastructure, advocated for Missouri farmers, and strengthened national defense.
    “I remember Kit as a man who was a champion for Missouri. He knew from an early age that he wanted to serve his state, and he did it with real distinction for many years, both as Governor and Senator,” said Senator Hawley. “Kit was also a personal friend and one of the first people to encourage me to get into politics. Erin and I are grateful for his example of kindness and public service.”
    “Legendary Missouri Senator Christopher ‘Kit’ Bond honorably served our state as governor and then in the U.S. Senate for 24 years. With his trademark sense of humor and dedication to making Missouri the best state in our union, he helped to improve the lives of generations of Missourians across the Show Me State. As one of his successors in the Senate I am proud to join Senator Hawley in this resolution honoring Kit’s service to our state and a grateful nation,” said Senator Eric Schmitt.
    Read the full resolution here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal Rights – Roaring call for Government to halt funding of cruel octopus farming

    Source: Animals Aotearoa

    (New Zealand – May 21, 2025) – As calls to ban the practice of octopus farming continue to gain momentum worldwide, the government of New Zealand is set to make a decision about providing more funding to octopus farming on May 21. 168 organisations are united in strongly advising against wasting any additional funding to establish industrialised octopus farming, a practice that would have dangerous implications for the environment, public health, and animal welfare.

    To date, the New Zealand government has awarded one million dollars to the University of Auckland for research to develop octopus farming.  An open letter, led and written by Animals Aotearoa with support from Aquatic Life Institute, is calling on the New Zealand Government to decline any new funding of projects that aim to develop commercial octopus factory farming. The letter, which has been signed by 168 organisations, including members of the Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA), a global coalition working to improve the welfare of aquatic animals in the food system, explains that while this new form of aquaculture is still in the research phase, it would cause extensive harm should it become reality. Evidence shows that it is both unethical and unsustainable, and current research has not demonstrated any pathway to achieving high-welfare farming or ecosystem-neutral farming for octopuses.

    As outlined in the open letter, octopus farming is highly problematic from an animal welfare perspective and also presents risks to biodiversity and biosafety, environmental degradation, and public health. The letter has three main asks:

    • New Zealand Government cease funding research aimed at establishing octopus farming;
    • Public funds are instead invested in sustainable food solutions, such as plant-based aquatic food systems and alternative proteins; and
    • New Zealand Government prohibits any octopus farming in New Zealand.

    “Choosing to waste precious taxpayer funds in pursuit of factory farming octopuses is misguided at best, and shameful at worst. This atrocious idea is being actively opposed all around the world. It’s immensely cruel to the octopuses, environmentally unsustainable and poses a significant public health risk. Sinking more money into factory farming octopuses is a bad investment in every sense,” says Jennifer Dutton of Animals Aotearoa. “New Zealand should be leaders in ethical and sustainable food systems, instead of exporting cruelty to the world.”

    The environmental, welfare, and public health implications of octopus farming are manifold. These carnivorous animals require diets rich in marine ingredients, exacerbating the pressure on already declining wild fish populations and undermining global sustainable development goals. The overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture has been linked to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, with potential spillover effects into human populations. As widely documented, octopuses are highly intelligent and complex animals that suffer greatly in captivity due to their solitary and inquisitive nature. Several scientists have raised significant concerns about the practice of octopus farming, as conditions of intensive farming and extreme confinement are inherently unsuitable for their well-being, leading to stress, aggression, and unnatural behaviours such as cannibalism. Furthermore, there are no approved humane slaughter methods for these animals.

    As noted, this call for divestment from New Zealand’s government is preceded by legislation worldwide that bans octopus farming and the sale of products from industrial octopus farms, including a federal bill in the United States that is underway, as well as the Washington state law, California law, Bill HB 2262 in Hawaii, and many more. Under New Zealand law, the Animal Welfare Act of 1999 explicitly includes octopuses being recognised as sentient, a legal acknowledgement of their capabilities to experience pain and stress. In addition, RSPCA, Friend of the Sea, and other seafood certifiers have produced statements prohibiting the certification of any form of octopus/cephalopod farming. These certifiers have recognised the necessity of banning octopus farming before it starts, acknowledging that it is impossible to guarantee high welfare conditions for this species due to its behavioural needs, sentience, and strictly carnivorous diet.

    “The Aquatic Animal Alliance, representing over 175 organisations worldwide, strongly urges the New Zealand Government to reject the development of industrial octopus farming. Octopuses are sentient, intelligent animals with complex welfare needs that cannot be met in captivity. Farming them would not only cause immense animal suffering, but also contribute to serious environmental degradation, from the overfishing of wild marine life for feed, to pollution and disease risks in surrounding ecosystems. As a veterinarian, I join the global scientific and advocacy communities in calling for a ban on this unnecessary and harmful industry before it takes root,” said Catalina Lopez, Director of the AAA.

    About Animals Aotearoa

    New Zealand’s Animals Aotearoa is a registered charity whose mission is to improve the wellbeing of farmed animals and end their suffering. In addition to being a member of the Aquatic Animals Alliance, Animals Aotearoa is one of over 90 organisations that make up the Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of animal advocacy organisations, with the shared purpose of working to substantially improve the welfare of chickens.
    www.animalsaotearoa.org

    About Aquatic Life Institute

    Aquatic Life Institute is an international non-profit organization that works on advancing aquatic animal welfare in both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries globally. The organization works with certifiers, nonprofits, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, governments, and the public to improve welfare of aquatic animals.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Joins Colleagues in Celebrating National Charter School Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) in a resolution to celebrate National Charter Schools Week.

    Sen. Tuberville has helped introduce this resolution every Congress he has served in. 

    “Our kids are the most precious resource we have,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We don’t need a top-down approach to education. School choice empowers parents, not the government, to make choices about their children’s educational futures. I’m proud of Alabama’s 18 public charter schools, which are providing a high-quality education and producing great results.”

    Sens. Tuberville and Scott were joined by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Katie Britt (R-AL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Maggie Hassen (D-NH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jon Husted (R-OH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN) in introducing the resolution.

    Read full text of the resolution here. 

    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 –

    May 21, 2025
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