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Category: Farming

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Drought Group meets after driest spring in 132 years

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    National Drought Group meets after driest spring in 132 years

    Expert group told England has now experienced driest March, April and May since 1893.

    The Environment Agency convened a National Drought Group meeting today (5 June 2025) to discuss the latest outlook and hear from water companies about steps they are taking to prepare for the summer.  

    England has only seen 57% of the long-term average May rainfall and spring is the driest since the reign of Queen Victoria. However, the recent rain at the end of May and the start of June is helping to stabilise the position.

    The expert group will now meet monthly following a drought declaration in the north-west. Four other areas – the north-east, Yorkshire, east and west midlands – are also experiencing prolonged dry weather.  

    The EA told the group it has stepped up its operational response. This includes more compliance checks on businesses who abstract water, such as manufacturers, and increased monitoring of river and groundwater levels.

    The regulator is also working with all members of the National Drought Group, including the National Farmers Union, to help farmers plan their water needs over the summer.

    Meanwhile, water companies updated the group on how they are implementing their drought plans, including increased communication with customers, and speeding up the fixing of leaks.

    United Utilities in the north-west has increased the rate of finding and fixing leaks by 70% in recent weeks after a strong response from the community in spotting leaks during the dry weather.

    Youlgrave Waterworks, a private firm which supplies 500 homes in Derbyshire, became the first company to introduce a hosepipe ban at the start of June. The major water companies report they have no current plans for hosepipe bans but are keeping this under review.

    Helen Wakeham, EA Director of Water and National Drought Group chair, said: 

    It’s been the driest spring since 1893, and we need to be prepared for more summer droughts as our climate changes.

    The recent rainfall is having a positive effect, but it hasn’t been enough to stop a drought in the north-west and we must ensure we have enough water to last the entire summer.

    We are working with water companies, farmers and other abstractors to help them plan their water usage over the summer and urge people to be mindful about their daily use.

    The National Drought Group heard that without further substantial rain, some water companies may need to implement further drought measures this summer to conserve supplies.

    Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

    We face a water shortage in the next decade. That’s why the government is taking urgent steps to secure supplies into the future, as part of our Plan for Change.

    As an immediate step, we have convened the National Drought Group to make sure water companies are acting to conserve this precious resource and act in line with their drought plans.

    The Government has secured over £104 billion of private sector investment to fund essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, and to cut leakage by 17% over the next five years.

    Dr Will Lang, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: 

    After the driest Spring for more than a century across England, the start of June has brought some much-needed rainfall with a mix of Atlantic weather systems interspersed with drier and sunnier periods expected to continue over the coming days.

    Most areas will experience showers at times with some seeing longer spells of rain.  From mid-June onwards, the forecast becomes less clear with signs of drier conditions becoming more dominant across southern England.

    Looking further ahead, the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal with an associated increased risk of heatwaves and related impacts. After the more unsettled and wetter start to June, the likelihoods of a wetter or drier than average summer remain evenly balanced.

    Periods of dry weather and low rivers can have several consequences for the environment and wildlife. Low oxygen levels in water can lead to fish kills, as well as more algal blooms and lower river flows prevent wildlife from moving up or downstream.  

    The National Drought Group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, and conservation experts – heard:  

    • Reservoir levels are now at 77%.

    • Fish rescues have been carried out on the Rivers Redlake and Tern in Shropshire.  

    • Navigation issues have been noted with the Canals and Rivers Trust having to implement restrictions on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and Lancaster Canal because of low water levels.   

    • The quality of spring crops is becoming a concern because of the dry soil and poor grass growth for feed.  

    • Applications for Local Resource Options (LRO) screening studies are now open for groups of farmers to explore ways to improve water availability and reliability.

    The Environment Agency is encouraging the public to report environmental incidents to their 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Meanwhile angling groups are also asking members to report signs of environmental impacts.

    Notes to editors: 

    A decision to declare drought is taken based on reservoir levels, river flows and moisture in the soil along with consideration of the long-term weather forecasts.  

    More information on how drought is defined can be found here: Drought explained – Creating a better place

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects two cases of illegally importing animals in fourth phase of “Pet Guardian” operation (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects two cases of illegally importing animals in fourth phase of “Pet Guardian” operation  
    Yesterday, Hong Kong Customs at Sha Tau Kok spotted two separate situations of women who were seen pushing bikes and entering Hong Kong through the Chung Ying Street Checkpoint from the Mainland side of Chung Ying Street. Suspecting that there were animals inside the handbags on the bikes, in each case Customs officers immediately conducted a search on the women. A total of three suspected illegally imported animals, namely one kitten and two puppies, were uncovered inside the handbags. The two women, aged 55 and 32, were subsequently arrested.
     
    The two cases have been handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for a follow-up investigation.
     
    Being a government department specifically responsible for tackling smuggling, Customs will continue to enhance co-operation and intelligence exchanges with other law enforcement agencies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.
     
    Under the Rabies Regulation, any person found guilty of illegally importing animals, carcasses or animal products is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.
    Issued at HKT 19:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fighting Poultry Disease with mRNA: UConn Researchers Pioneer Nanoparticle Approach

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Researchers from UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) have demonstrated that a novel protein-based nanoparticle can make mRNA vaccines more effective to tackle a troublesome pathogen in chickens.

    Mazhar Khan, professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, Challa V. Kumar, emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry and graduate students Anka Rao Kalluri and Aseno Sakhrie collaborated over several years and published their findings in Vaccines.

    Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), a rapidly spreading coronavirus, is a major concern for poultry farmers in the U.S. and worldwide. Poultry farmers lose millions each year due to this disease.

    Currently, farmers use live attenuated vaccines or killed vaccines to combat the virus. However, these kinds of vaccine come with a series of challenges. The virus could reactivate, mutate, or recombine to create a vaccine-resistant or more severe strain. These vaccines also have a shorter shelf life and require additional compounds, known as adjuvants, to be effective.

    The researchers have developed an effective mRNA IBV vaccine alternative.

    mRNA vaccines, like the human COVID-19 vaccines, do not contain any live virus. Instead, the mRNA encodes a piece of the virus’ genetic code, specifically the spike protein that is responsible for triggering the immune response and trains the immune system to respond to the protein.

    Yet, mRNA vaccines still have some limitations, namely their lack of stability. mRNA vaccines break down quickly and need to be kept in temperature-controlled settings, something that poses a challenge on poultry farms.

    In a key advancement, Khan and Sakhrie are using a novel nanoparticle that protects the mRNA from breaking down quickly.

    This particle was invented by the Kumar group for applications in biology. It was Kumar who convinced the team to work on mRNA vaccines, long before COVID vaccines arrived. Early hurdles were to efficiently complex the nanoparticles with target mRNA. Kalluri solved this problem by covalently attaching positively charged amine groups to the particle. The positively charged particles capture the negatively charged mRNA and stabilize it. Sakharie and her colleagues carried out detailed cellular and animal studies using these nanoparticle-mRNA complexes.

    “This project highlights how collaborations across campus are making rapid progress in solving complex scientific problems,” says Kumar.

    Amino groups attached to the particle surface not only stabilize the mRNA but also protect it from hydrolysis by nucleases, enzymes that break down the nucleic acids that make up DNA and RNA, in the body.

    “The nanoparticle will keep it more stable, and it will deliver the vaccine to the cells where it will express the desired mRNA,” Sakhrie says.

    The nanoparticles are made by modifying bovine serum albumin, a readily available protein, affordable, and non-toxic protein, a waste product of commercial beef production.

    The team’s studies have shown that chickens vaccinated with the nanoparticle mRNA vaccine showed a 1000-times increase in antibodies against IBV compared to the unvaccinated control group. Their work has also demonstrated that immune cell activity increased in the vaccinated chickens, which indicates the vaccine boosts the entire immune system to fight off infection.

    With these promising results, the researchers are now investigating a more effective vaccination method.

    Traditionally, farmers need to individually inject baby chicks with the vaccine, a time-consuming project for the farmers and a stressful one for the chicks.

    The team is evaluating if, instead, the vaccine can be administered via a spray on the chicks. This would allow farmers to vaccinate large flocks quickly and without stress to the animals.

    While IBV is not currently a concern for human health, using the nanoparticles to enhance the stability of mRNA vaccines has the potential to improve human vaccines. Essentially, researchers could plug the genetic code of an emergent disease into the nanoparticle vaccine platform to quickly develop an effective mRNA vaccine. This platform technology can be tuned to various other disease vectors in the future.

    “We can use the nanoparticle for human vaccines,” Khan says. “The timing for vaccine development is very short, we just need the specific sequence of the gene.”

    UConn Technology Commercialization Services has filed a provisional patent for this nanoparticle technology. Michael A. Invernale , senior licensing manager, has been marketing the technology to industry to further bring this innovation from the lab to applied use.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 7 Hills set to strike a chord again in Armagh City

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    This summer, the 7 Hills Blues Fest returns to Armagh City, promising an immersive and vibrant experience for blues enthusiasts, families, and culture seekers alike. Running from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August, the festival features over 40 free gigs across 15 venues, showcasing the best in local, national, and international blues and roots music.

    A key highlight of the festival is its growing reputation as a platform for discovering and celebrating fresh talent. This year’s line-up includes exciting artists such as 2024 Buskfest winners Banshee, who will make their 7 Hills debut, and the returning 17-year-old guitar sensation Zac Mac.

    Banshee, who won Buskfest in 2024, said, “Being part of 7 Hills is a great chance for us to share our music with more people. The festival is special because it supports new artists like us while also bringing in well-known musicians. Winning last year’s Buskfest meant a lot and this is another exciting step for our band and a way to meet others who love this kind of music. We’re really happy to be part of a festival that brings everyone together to enjoy live music and help artists grow.”

    Since its inception, 7 Hills has celebrated the rich musical heritage deeply rooted in Armagh and beyond. This year’s line-up boasts some of the biggest names in the blues scene, including vocalist Clara Rose, the legendary Rob Strong, fan favourites Crow Black Chicken, the Pat McManus Band, and acclaimed acts such as Ben Reel and the Ronnie Greer Trio.

    Led Hedley makes a welcome return to the Festival, along with Chris Taplin Band, Rubber Plants and Cork’s Two Time Polka. Other local artists performing include Villiers and the Villains, Courtnay Giffin, 4 Shuck Men and Freedom 35s.

    Often hailed as Ireland’s Godfather of Soul, Rob Strong, said, “Playing here is always a highlight of the summer for me – it’s a place where the spirit of blues music truly comes alive. The city’s intimate venues create a unique connection between artists and audiences, making every performance feel personal. 7 Hills not only honours the rich traditions of blues but also pushes the music forward, keeping it fresh and exciting.”

    The weekend is one the major annual events organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, and attracts hundreds of visitors, local and from further afield. The festival will kick off with lunchtime performances on the bandstand, followed throughout the weekend by MD Rafferty Music School Live Lounge, free street acts, face painting and balloon modelling.  As another new addition to the lively weekend, on Saturday, there will be an artisan market located at the Shambles in the city centre. There will be a wide range of artisan stalls in place, with a wide range of tasty treats, eats and much more which will create a full programme of activities for all ages.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited Signs MOU to Acquire Resulticks for US$2bn, transforming AI and Data Management Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) for a cash and share acquisition of Resulticks, a globally recognized leader in real-time, AI-driven customer engagement and data management solutions. This strategic move will significantly enhance Diginex’s capabilities in advanced data management and artificial intelligence, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in data-driven client solutions.

    The MOU values Resulticks at $2 billion which will be paid for in three tranches:

    (1) $1.4 billion in Diginex ordinary shares valued at $72 per share and subject to a 12-18 month lock-up, which shares will be issued at closing of the transaction;

    (2) $100 million in cash that is payable within 90 business days of the closing of the transaction; and

    (3) an earnout of up to $500 million payable in Diginex ordinary shares valued at $72 per share and paid in 3 independent tranches subject to Resulticks attaining at least 75% of the below audited EBITDA threshold figures:

          Earnout Amount   Accounting Period     EBITDA Threshold
      a.   $166,666,666   FY2026     $100,000,000
      b.   $166,666,667   FY2027     $200,000,000
      c.   $166,666,667   FY2028     $325,000,000
                     
      * Resulticks shall receive a pro rated portion of the Earnout Amount provided Resulticks achieves between 75% and 100% of the EBITDA Threshold.
     

    Resulticks, headquartered in Singapore with operations across the United States, India, Singapore, and the Middle East, is renowned for its omnichannel client engagement automation platform. The platform leverages AI and big data analytics to deliver personalized customer experiences, enabling businesses to orchestrate seamless engagement across digital and physical touchpoints. We believe that by integrating Resulticks’ cutting-edge technology, Diginex will enhance its ability to provide comprehensive data-driven sustainability solutions, thereby empowering organizations to meet evolving regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations with greater precision and efficiency.

    We expect the Resulticks platform will enable Diginex to deliver hyper-personalized insights to stakeholders in real time, while also expanding into new verticals where advanced data orchestration and enrichment can unlock value across compliance, supply chain intelligence, and risk analytics solutions. As the application layer of tech becomes increasingly commoditized, data and AI are emerging as the true engines of differentiation, those who own, enrich, and activate data at speed will define the next generation of market leaders. This is where Diginex wishes to position itself with Resulticks and future acquisitions.

    “We are thrilled to announce this business combination with Resulticks, a company that shares our values and commitment to harnessing advanced technology for transformative impact,” said Miles Pelham, Chairman & Founder of Diginex. “This acquisition will strengthen our balance sheet and profitability, as well as significantly deepening our expertise in AI and data management, enabling us to deliver unparalleled insights and solutions to our clients. By combining Resulticks’ real-time data capabilities with our blockchain and machine learning-driven sustainability platforms, we are poised to redefine how organizations navigate sustainability and compliance challenges.”

    “This partnership represents a fusion of two purpose-driven platforms,” said Redickaa Subrammanian, Co-Founder and CEO of Resulticks. “Through Genie, our agentic framework, we’re helping Diginex unlock real-time ESG intelligence and optimize engagement at every stage of the customer lifecycle. At the same time, we’re bringing their sustainability solutions to our global customer base. Together, we’re unlocking activation, attribution, and ROI visibility — helping brands operate smarter and sustain long-term growth in a data-driven world.”

    “AI doesn’t just optimize ESG. It transforms it into a customer engagement engine,” said Daxsan RB, Co-Founder and CIO of Resulticks. “ESG is no longer just about compliance; it’s a competitive lever to deepen customer relationships. By turning ESG data into actionable insights, brands can deliver hyper-personalized engagement — like carbon footprint transparency for eco-conscious buyers — while real-time analytics build trust through verifiable sustainability claims. Leaders who integrate these tools first will define the next era of brand loyalty. This isn’t just reporting, it’s revenue.”

    This acquisition builds on Diginex’s recent momentum into AI and data management, including its memorandum of understanding to acquire Matter DK ApS, previously announced on May 27, 2025, which we expect will expanded Diginex’s sustainability data and analytics offerings for the investment industry. We believe that together, these strategic moves position Diginex as a global leader in delivering innovative, data-driven solutions for client and sustainability engagement.

    About Diginex
    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software.

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website: 

    https://www.diginex.com/.

    About Resulticks
    Resulticks is a leading provider of AI-powered, omnichannel customer engagement and data management solutions. Its platform enables businesses to deliver personalized experiences through real-time data analytics and automation, serving clients across industries in North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Resulticks is headquartered in Singapore, with additional offices in Seattle, New York City India, and Dubai.

    For more information, please visit the Resulticks website:

    https://www.resulticks.com/resulticks-story.html

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Disclaimer
    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor does it constitute a binding commitment to complete the contemplated transaction. The completion of the transaction is subject to the execution of definitive agreements, satisfactory due diligence, and other customary closing conditions.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nimanode Presale Momentum Accelerates as they Position To Become The OpenSea of AI Agents On XRP Blockchain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Excitement is building across the XRP community as Nimanode ($NMA), the first AI agent platform on the XRP Ledger, positions itself as the premier destination for intelligent automation within the Ripple ecosystem.

    Amid growing bullish sentiment around XRP — driven by XRP Futures trading going live seasoned investors from major ecosystems like Cardano ($ADA) and Solana ($SOL), are turning their attention to the Nimanode Presale, eager to secure early exposure to what many see as a foundational layer for on-chain AI infrastructure.

    Pioneering AI Agents on XRP

    Nimanode is strategically emerging as the leading marketplace and launch platform for autonomous AI agents on the XRP Ledger. Just as OpenSea redefined digital ownership through NFTs, Nimanode is redefining utility through AI agents that work, evolve, and earn on-chain.

    Designed specifically to offer a no-code gateway to intelligent, on-chain automation at scale. Nimanode offers services from solo builders to enterprises — to deploy intelligent agents that automate smart contracts, optimize DeFi strategies, assess protocol risk, and manage tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).

    This transformative model brings a new dimension to DeFi and AI adoption in the XRP ecosystem, by combining modular AI technology with XRPL’s unmatched speed and low transaction costs, opening up a new era of AI x Blockchain, with real monetization potential built into every deployment.

    Join Nimanode Presale

    Why Investors are Flocking to The Nimanode Presale

    The presale surge has captured the attention of prominent crypto investors including notable whales from the BNB, ADA and SOL communities. All looking to position themselves early in what many believe could be the next DeFi breakout project.

    From the desk of the development team at Nimanode, they are set to deliver an Agentic workforce handling various tasks autonomously. Features of these ecosystem include but not limited to

    Zero-Code Agent Builder – Easily create and configure AI agents through a drag-and-drop interface

    Autonomous Execution – Agents perform on-chain tasks, react to data feeds, and interact across dApps

    Agent Marketplace – Build, deploy and monetize AI agents within a Nimanode ecosystem

    XRPL Integration – High-speed, low-cost, and eco-friendly infrastructure to power scalable agent activity

    $NMA Token – Powering the Nimanode Ecosystem

    The native $NMA token is the backbone of the Nimanode platform, unlocking utility and benefits across their ecosystem through:

    • Agent Deployment: Lower fees for launching and customizing AI agents.
    • Staking Rewards: Earn passive income by staking $NMA tokens.
    • Marketplace Access: Use $NMA to buy, license, or upgrade agents.
    • Governance: Participate in DAO proposals and help shape platform evolution.

    At the end of the presale, $NMA will list on DEXs at a 25% higher price, offering early participants immediate upside on their investments.

    How to Join The Nimanode Presale

    Joining in the NimaNode Presale is quite straightforward for anyone seasoned investors and newbies alike.

    Setup an XRP-Compatible Wallet: Ensure you have a non-custodial wallet capable of receiving XRP native tokens like Xaman Wallet.

    Purchase XRP: Acquire XRP from reputable exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit.

    Participate in the Presale: Visit the NimaNode presale page (https://nimanode.com/presale), send your XRP to the provided presale address, and secure your $NMA tokens.

    The last cycle gave us DeFi protocols and NFTs. This cycle is shaping up to be about autonomous infrastructure and Nimanode is at the heart of it.

    Don’t Miss Out – Secure your $NMA Tokens

    Learn more about Nimanode

    Website: https://nimanode.com

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

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Whitepaper: 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/414c6539-b140-4dbc-9b56-8441ece8940c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tasmania could go to an election just 16 months after its last one. What’s going on?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania

    Tasmania’s Liberal government and its premier, Jeremy Rockliff, have come under huge pressure since the state budget was handed down last week.

    It’s culminated in the Tasmanian House of Assembly voting to pass a motion of no confidence in the premier – but only after the speaker, Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne, cast a tie-breaking vote in favour.

    Rockliff has since confirmed he’ll recall parliament to sit early next week and debate some emergency bills, then ask the governor for permission to call an early election.

    It’s been a wild few days in Tasmanian politics, with huge amounts of conjecture and confusion. Here’s how it all unfolded.

    What is a no confidence motion?

    First, we need a short lesson in our system of government, called the Westminster system. The Tasmanian situation right now all started with a motion of no confidence in the premier, Rockliff.

    This type of parliamentary motion is used to declare the parliament no longer has confidence in the target of the motion.

    No confidence motions can be directed at a specific minister or a government as a whole.

    If a no confidence motion in a minister is passed, they usually resign from their ministry and sometimes from parliament as well.

    If a no confidence motion in a government is passed, the leader of the government usually recommends one of two options to the governor. They can ask the governor to dissolve parliament and call an election, or they can advise the governor to ask someone else (usually the leader of the opposition) to have a go at forming government.

    What is happening in Tasmania?

    Strap in, it’s complex.

    On May 29, the Liberal government presented the state budget. The outlook is grim, with the state forecast to be over $10 billion in debt by 2029.

    To address this, the government proposed big cuts to the public service in the coming years.

    On June 2, the leader of the opposition, Labor’s Dean Winter, tabled a motion of no confidence in the premier at the end of his budget reply speech.

    “Tabling” a motion means putting it on the agenda for discussion at some point in future. To be debated, it has to be “moved”.

    Winter stated he wouldn’t move the motion until he had enough support to guarantee it would pass. The motion focused on three things:

    • alleged poor financial management

    • the ongoing Spirit of Tasmania ferry fiasco

    • and the government’s plan to potentially privatise some state-owned businesses.

    Support was fast in coming. By Monday evening, three of the six cross-benchers had said they would vote for the motion, meaning Labor only needed the five Greens MPs to jump onboard.

    At a party meeting early on Wednesday morning, the Greens decided they would do just that.

    So, instead of debating the budget, Wednesday and Thursday were spent debating the no confidence motion.

    There was a lot of confusion in Tasmanian political circles at this point. There is very little formal procedure that describes how no confidence motions work in Tasmania’s parliament.

    Instead, what happens is defined by convention, which means there are lots of grey areas. There have only been a few successful no confidence motions in Tasmania’s history (the most recent ones were in 1989 and 1982).

    So how did it play out?

    This time around, there were a few complications.

    The motion referred to the premier, not the government. There was speculation, therefore, that if the motion passed, the Liberal Party could replace Rockliff as leader, and Labor would then pass the budget.

    However, during parliamentary debate, several Liberal MPs argued they saw the motion as indicating lack of confidence in the whole government – not just the premier. Under this view, Rockliff would have to go to the governor, Barbara Baker, and ask her to call an election, or advise her to ask Winter to try to rally the numbers to govern.

    Although the convention is that the governor follows the premier’s advice, there is precedent for them making their own decision.

    Just to spice things up further, Baker is currently on leave. The decision would need to be made by the lieutenant-governor, Chief Justice Chris Shanahan, who is new to his role – and the state.

    An election quickly shaped up as the most likely outcome. On Thursday morning, Rockliff announced that if the motion passed, he would ask the governor to dissolve parliament and call an election.

    Shortly after that, Winter ruled out governing in coalition – or doing a deal – with the Greens. This made it very unlikely any alternative government would have the numbers to pass legislation through the lower house, leaving the lieutenant-governor with few options.

    Late on Thursday, parliament voted on the motion. With the numbers tied at 17-17, the speaker cast her vote with the “ayes” alongside the other nine Labor MPs, all five Greens MPs, independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston, and the Jacqui Lambie Network’s last remaining MP, Andrew Jenner.

    Following an emotionally charged speech, Rockliff met with the lieutenant-governor. Speaking to the media afterwards, he said he’ll recall parliament on Tuesday with the aim of passing an emergency supply bill to ensure public servants continue to be paid despite the delay in the budget process.

    Rockliff said he would then ask Baker – who returns from leave next week – for permission to call an election. It will be interesting to see if she takes his advice or not.

    What happens now?

    All this means Tasmania could head back to the polls in mid-July, just 16 months after the last state election.

    The Liberals will seek to pin the blame for the snap election on Labor and the crossbench, and hope that a grumpy electorate punishes them for this.

    They will also try to convince Tasmanians they are the only party that can get the controversial stadium in Hobart is built, thereby delivering the state its long-desired AFL team.

    Labor will campaign on the three things it cited in the no confidence motion, while arguing it will also guarantee that Tasmania gets an AFL team.

    They’ll also be hoping to ride the wave of the recent strong result for federal Labor at the national election. However, on past evidence, they can’t bank on this.

    Labor’s challenge will be differentiating themselves from the current government, because their positions are pretty closely aligned on key issues, including the stadium, salmon farming, and the proposed development assistance panels.

    The Greens will set out their stall as the only party firmly against the current stadium proposal and in favour of removing salmon farming in Tasmanian waters.

    For the independents, an early election is bad news. Campaigns are expensive, and without extensive party resources to draw on, some independents may be forced to decide whether they can afford to run again so soon.

    All of this does not point to a more stable parliament. The vote share of the two major parties has been steadily decreasing in Tasmania. A new election is not likely to reverse this trend.

    In the meantime, Tasmanians are left to wonder when their political leaders will get serious about tackling the state’s complex health, housing, education, sustainability, and productivity challenges.

    Robert Hortle 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. Tasmania could go to an election just 16 months after its last one. What’s going on? – https://theconversation.com/tasmania-could-go-to-an-election-just-16-months-after-its-last-one-whats-going-on-258180

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Isle of Wight Council wins gold as Green Impact scheme is relaunched 5 June 2025 The Isle of Wight Council has been recognised for its outstanding efforts to reduce its environmental impact in council buildings

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight Council has been recognised for its outstanding efforts to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability, achieving a gold award for their efforts at their County Hall and Sea Street office, while also securing a silver award for Building 41. 

    The Green Impact program encourages environmentally and socially sustainable practices within organisations and is part of a commitment by the council to make positive changes in their workplaces.

    The Green Impact scheme provides a toolkit with over 190 actions that businesses can choose from to improve their environmental performance and reduce operational costs. The actions are worth different points, ranging from 2 to 30, and there are four award levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

    The Isle of Wight council was one of 12 businesses that received Green Impact awards in 2024, with other businesses including:

    Platinum          Camp Wight

    Platinum          Nettlecombe Farm

    Platinum          NOSY Creative Agency

    Platinum          The Garlic Farm

    Gold                 Isle of Wight Council – County Hall & 46SS

    Gold                 Sandrock Services Ltd

    Gold                 Visit Isle of Wight

    Silver               Building 41

    Gold                 Gurit (UK) Ltd

    Silver               ESG Solutions (IoW) Ltd

    Silver               New Carnival

    Silver               Seaview Hotel

    Silver               WRS Systems

    Jo Boswell, Impact Lead for The Garlic Farm, who achieved a Platinum Award and Best Newcomer Award with 617 points, said: “The Garlic Farm is delighted to be recognised as the top scorer in Green Impact. Our participation in Green Impact underscores our dedication to monitoring and minimising our social and environmental footprint.”

    “We are excited to continue our efforts and inspire other island businesses to join us. There is a wonderful opportunity for local businesses to collaborate in reducing our collective impact, and we hope that many more will get involved in the future.”

    Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Isle of Wight Council committee chair for Economy, Regeneration and Transport said: “when I introduced Green Impact to the island in 2018, working with National Union of Students, IW College, local businesses and IW Council, I had no idea it would lead to such great achievements. 

    “All the small actions businesses take all add up and we should be very proud of the outcomes for our environment. This free to use tool is easy to access and is for any size of business or team.”

    “Well done to the class of 2024, you deserve the recognition of these awards.”

    If your organisation is interested in participating in the 2025 Green Impact Programme, you can register for free by visiting the Green Impact website. As part of your registration, you’ll also gain access to additional support to assist you on your own green journey.

    Image credit: NOSY

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Harris Releases Statement Following the Appropriations Committee Release of the FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

    Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris said, “The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill reflects a clear, conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a top priority. This legislation also prioritizes agricultural research, rural broadband expansion, and protects our food and drug supply, all while reducing the wasteful spending of the Biden Administration era. Just as importantly, by supporting fresh, affordable, American-grown food, this bill helps Make America Healthy Again. America’s farmers feed the world, and this bill ensures they have the investment, support, and resources they deserve — while reducing the burgeoning federal deficit.”

    Chairman Tom Cole said, “The prosperity of our future golden age depends on the strength and perseverance of our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. This FY26 bill delivers targeted investments to protect U.S. agriculture and family farms, bolster agricultural research, and safeguard access to nutrition and health programs. From livestock and crops to pharmaceuticals and broadband, the legislation strengthens the agriculture economy and infrastructure across the nation. Just as our producers responsibly tend to the land, Chairman Harris has stewarded this legislation to protect core duties while upholding fiscal responsibility.”

    The Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill

    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $25.523 billion, which is $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.

    The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The bill is fiscally responsible and refocuses programs on their core mission while putting the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers first.
     
    Key Takeaways

    Champions U.S. farmers, agriculture, and rural communities by: 

    • Continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs.
    • Providing funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices.
    • Ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.
    • Reining in harmful regulations proposed during the Biden Administration that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals.
    • Increasing resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to fund frontline meat and poultry inspectors and bolster support for state inspection programs.
    • Providing a rider to block any revised energy standards for newly constructed homes financed by USDA that would increase costs for rural, lower-income households that was proposed during the Biden Administration.

    Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

    • Allocating the President’s requested total funding of $6.8 billion for the FDA to keep food, drugs, and devices safe and for initiatives to Make America Healthy Again.
    • Delivering $1.15 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is a priority in the President’s budget to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.
    • Codifying President Trump’s executive orders by prohibiting funding for DEI activities and ending federal censorship of free speech.
    • Retaining the gene editing provision, which prohibits the “editing” of heritable genes or altering of genes that can be passed on to offspring.
    • Maintaining “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.
    • Closing the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-8 and hemp flower, being sold online and in gas stations across the country.

    Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

    • Addressing foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving the tracking system of foreign-owned land and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review agricultural transactions, including purchases made by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Directing USDA to provide transparency into research funding spent collaborating with foreign governments including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Continuing a program to increase inspection of foreign drug manufacturing facilities in China and India.
    • Providing adequate funding for land-grant universities to conduct agricultural research to ensure American producers can compete with China.

    Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

    • Capturing DOGE savings by reducing salaries and expenses where appropriate to account for staffing reductions and reducing grant programs that housed canceled grants.
    • Eliminating funding for the Biden-era Rural Partners Network initiative.
    • Including no funds for climate hubs or climate corps.
    • Eliminating funds for the Office of Urban Agriculture.

    A summary of the bill is available here.
    Bill text is available here.

    For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Applauds DOT Report Confirming California High-Speed Rail Has No Path Forward

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s newly released compliance report confirming that California’s High-Speed Rail project is in default of its federal grant agreements and has no viable path to completion.

    The 315-page report, released by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, cites years of mismanagement, missed deadlines, inflated ridership projections, and a staggering $7 billion funding gap just to complete a small segment between Merced and Bakersfield. The full cost of the project has now ballooned to $128 billion. Notably, the Federal Railroad Administration stated it has no confidence CHSRA will ever deliver an operating high-speed rail system and found that the state cannot support the representations it made when applying for Federal funds. In other words, California misled the federal government to secure billions in taxpayer dollars—and still has nothing to show for it.

    “This report confirms what Californians have known for years: this project is a train to nowhere. It was supposed to be done by 2020. Now they’re saying 2030 just to finish a small stretch that costs more than the entire original plan. The price tag has quadrupled to $128 billion, they’re now an incredible $110 billion short, and have only raised about $17 billion after 17 years. They’ve barely built anything. It’s a waste of time, money, and trust—a shining example of government waste. The state has not held up its end of the deal. It’s well past time to shut this down and send the money to real infrastructure projects that can actually be delivered, like water storage that California desperately needs, or road repairs and traffic relief. I appreciate Secretary Duffy’s leadership in holding the line for taxpayers. It’s long past time for accountability,” said Rep. LaMalfa.

    Congressman LaMalfa joined Secretary Duffy earlier this year at a press conference calling attention to the project’s mounting failures and urging a full federal review. The report issued today by the Federal Railroad Administration makes clear that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has failed to meet its basic obligations under the $4 billion in federal grant funding it received.

    The DOT has given the state until mid-July to respond before the administration moves to terminate the grants. You can find a full copy of the letter and report, here.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cold front expected to bring adverse weather 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, June 5, 2025

    A well-developed cold front is expected to make landfall this weekend, bringing adverse weather to most of the western parts of the country, says the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

    The weather service has advised the public and small stock farmers to prepare for cold to very cold, wet, and windy conditions, including snowfall, very rough seas, and strong winds. 

    The cold front will make landfall early on Saturday morning while progressing eastward over the course of the weekend.

    “The highest 24-hour rainfall amounts are expected on Saturday, with 10 to 20 mm likely over the western parts of the Western Cape and 30 to 40 mm over the mountainous regions. 

    “Elsewhere, light rain and showers are possible. Light snowfall is also likely over the Western Cape mountains and the southern high-lying areas of the Northern Cape,” the SAWS said on Wednesday.

    The weather conditions will result in difficult driving conditions and flooded roads, short disruption to essential services as well as difficulty in navigation at sea due to very rough and choppy seas. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Soloma festival will be held at the Moskino cinema park this weekend

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Soloma festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the Moskino cinema park from June 7 to 8. For lovers of live music and youth creativity, a musical festival will be held with performances by modern popular artists, bands and classical performers. In addition, master classes, film screenings and performances will be held on the weekend.

    Non-stop music

    The concert program is planned for both weekends from 14:00 to 22:00, and the cinema park will open at 11:00.

    On Saturday, June 7, students of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky will perform on the central square. They will perform compositions from the films “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “The Elusive Avengers”, “The Diamond Arm”, “Scent of a Woman” and others.

    On the same day, you will be able to appreciate the work of composer and actor Anton Lavrentiev, young performers Sasha de Buryak, Flora and Minaeva, the group Ubel and participants of the multi-genre musical project “Tima is looking for the light”.

    On Sunday, June 8, guests will hear songs by Alena Samartseva, the groups Dreams Shadow, Shoo and “Elli na makovom pole”. The musical program will be completed by the singer-songwriter Tosya Chaikina.

    Creative meeting and performance

    On June 7, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the Gonzaga Theatre will host a creative evening with the artist and teacher Vsevolod Kuznetsov. He will talk about the intricacies of the acting profession and about working on the projects Men in Black, The Devil’s Advocate and The Matrix, and will also read famous dialogues from the films.

    On Sunday at 16:00 and 18:00, the Gonzaga Theatre will show the author’s play “Congratulations, you’re having a boy.” The audience will see a family comedy about the fulfillment of a cherished dream and the struggle of each person with life’s circumstances. It features actors Dmitry Khodyrev and Anna Azarova.

    Games and film screenings

    On June 7 and 8, guests will be able to play giant Jenga, sea battle, ping-pong, and also learn petanque, a French sport, in the central square. During master classes, visitors will be offered to create a movie poster with cartoon characters, a movie award, or make a drawing in the form of a photo frame.

    Over the course of two days, moviegoers will be watching new films: the first full-length spin-off of John Wick, the action film Ballerina starring Ana de Armas, the comedy The Yeti about the friendship between a little boy and a fairy-tale creature, the fantasy Nightingale vs. Muromets, and the drama The Pretenders about a couple in love trying to understand the circumstances of the death of a famous director.

    In addition, visitors will be treated to lessons from professional makeup artists and an inflatable trampoline for children. And a food court with a variety of takeaway snacks will open in the central square.

    Details can be found here on the website cinema park “Moskino”. Entry to the event – with an entrance ticket to the cinema park.

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

    Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    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, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others. On weekends and holidays, they host staged filming, concerts, music and film festivals, performances, meetings with filmmakers and professional master classes.

    The Cinema Park is actively developing as a cultural and leisure venue. Exhibitions, master classes, lectures, meetings with famous actors and other events for Muscovites and guests of the capital are held here.

    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 Network, 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/154858073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Brace for the cold: a wintry weekend in store – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 5 – Monday 9 June
    After a night of wild weather, MetService is forecasting on-and-off showers on Thursday, before a cold cup of winter is served across the country from Friday into the weekend.

    What’s happened and updates:
    • Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning several areas experienced brief but intense periods of rain
    • Taupō was just 0.2 mm shy of their wettest June day at 61.2 mm of rain from 9am Wednesday to 9am Thursday
    • The band of heavy rain and downpours that lashed the country overnight has now shifted east away from New Zealand
    • Scattered showers are expected today – and even sunny spells for some
    • However, the West Coast of the South Island remains unsettled, with rain and a chance of thunderstorms forecast for later today

    Parts of inland Canterbury woke up to a snowy scene on Thursday morning, but there’s more to come. Snow is set to return on Friday and Saturday to Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Marlborough. Heavy Snow Watches and Warnings have been issued, with the largest accumulations expected above 400 metres. However, flurries are possible down to around 200 to 300 metres including in Queenstown. Several Road Snowfall Warnings are also in place.

    “The snow may affect travel and could have an impact on rural communities and farmers,” says MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane. “It’s a good idea to prepare ahead of time and allow extra time if you have to head out on the roads.”

    Elsewhere, the weekend brings a mix of showers and drier spells, and windy conditions in Westland where there is a Watch for Strong Winds in place. But it’s the cold that most people will be feeling.

    “Firewood, warm drinks, and plenty of extra layers will go a long way, I would imagine!” Makgabutlane says.

    Temperatures across the South Island are forecast to peak in the low to mid-single digits during the day, with overnight lows well below freezing. Wānaka stands out, with a daytime high of just 2°C and a chilly low of -6°C. The North Island will be feeling the cold too, with a sharp drop in temperatures over the next couple of days. Napier sees a warm 22°C today but will struggle to 13°C on Friday. Waiouru is only expected to reach 4°C this weekend, with highs of 10°C in Palmerston North and 13°C in Auckland.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers – Fish & Game advocacy function under review

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers says proposed changes to Fish & Game are a step in the right direction, but concerns remain about the organisation’s ability to engage in highly political advocacy.
    “Farmers have been very clear with Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager about our concerns and frustrations with Fish & Game,” says Federated Farmers hunting spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
    “There is certainly some merit in what the Minister is proposing with these reforms in terms of modernising, professionalising and centralising many of Fish & Game’s functions.
    “Some of these changes are long overdue and will go a long way in improving the performance and efficiency of the organisation – and that needs to be acknowledged.
    “We’re also welcoming a review of Fish & Game’s advocacy function, something Federated Farmers have been vocal in calling for, but we have serious concerns changes won’t go far enough.”
    The proposed reforms will mean the New Zealand Fish & Game Council will be able to set a direction that is binding on regional Fish & Game Councils regarding advocacy.
    Regional Fish and Game Councils will only be able to take court action in relation to advocacy if explicitly approved by the New Zealand Fish & Game Council or the Minister.
    “The devil is going to be in the detail when these changes are made, but Federated Farmers will be watching the Minister’s moves very closely to make sure he delivers,” McIntyre says.
    “In practice, what farmers really want to know is whether Fish & Game will still be able to block practical, common-sense actions like removing gravel from rivers when it’s needed.
    “We also want to have confidence they will no longer be able to run highly political anti-farming campaigns or waste everyone’s time with expensive and unnecessary court cases.”
    While proposed changes are definitely a step in the right direction, Federated Farmers are questioning whether it’s appropriate for Fish & Game to play any role in political advocacy.
    “Our argument is that Fish & Game are a statutory body who collect compulsory licence fees from hunters and fishers,” says Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick.
    “If you want to hunt or fish you have to pay Fish & Game their fee. You don’t get a choice, but then they take that money and use it to attack farmers or push their personal policy agendas.
    “They shouldn’t be able to charge those compulsory fees and then use them to behave like an environmental activist group, particularly when their advocacy doesn’t align with the views of most hunters and fishers.
    “I think most people would agree that far too much money has been wasted on highly political advocacy and litigious court cases that have little benefit for sports fish or game birds.
    “The Minister needs to make sure he gets these reforms right. He needs to get Fish & Game out of political advocacy and refocus them on their core business.”
    Federated Farmers will continue to engage constructively with the Government throughout the select committee process to ensure farmers concerns are adequately addressed. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Choose Clean Water: Changes to Fish & Game continue Coalition’s handover of power to polluters

    Source: Choose Clean Water – Tom Kay

    Changes announced to Fish & Game this morning are another move in the Coalition Government’s handover of power to intensive farming and other polluting commercial interests, and will result in the further degradation of our rivers and freshwater, say freshwater campaigners.

    Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay says the changes announced today are clearly designed to remove Fish & Game’s ability to advocate for the health of rivers.

    “Fish & Game has used its statutory purpose as a strong advocate for the health of rivers across New Zealand, and as such has helped protect numerous rivers from pollution and degradation.”

    “There are some things about the system that do need fixing, but this is not only about that—this is the Coalition Govt taking advantage of an opportunity to reduce Fish & Game’s influence over polluters.”

    “When environmental groups, local community groups, or iwi can’t afford to legally challenge a damaging activity or poorly made decision, Fish & Game is often there to ensure waterways are protected—working on behalf of their members to protect habitat for fish. But this Government is trying to stop that.”

    The Coalition has stated that Fish & Game’s advocacy functions will be “revised” so regional Fish & Game Councils will only be able to take court action in relation to advocacy if explicitly approved by the New Zealand Fish & Game Council or the Minister and within a new restricted advocacy policy.

    This morning’s press release from Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager on the changes states they will restrict the organisation’s ability to undertake court proceedings and require “Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making”.

    “It’s telling that the Government has said specifically that it wants Fish & Game to better consider farming interests. Why not public health interests? Why not the interests of future generations? Why not the myriad of other commercial interests that operate in our communities? This demonstrates that this decision is another example of the Government enabling more pollution in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources, and the handing of more power over our water to polluting commercial interests like intensive farming.”

    “We know how detrimental the influence of Ministers can be over the statutory purposes of agencies like the Department of Conservation to protect our environment, for example. This is another case of Ministers being given the power to step in and stop actions that would protect our environment.”

    Fish & Game led the processes to secure many Water Conservation Orders—similar to National Parks—for our rivers, protecting them for anglers and the public alike to enjoy. In 2002 they launched a large campaign against “Dirty Dairying” and the conversion of land into intensive agriculture, particularly in the South Island.

    More recently, Fish & Game took up a legal challenge against ongoing extreme pollution of Southland’s waterways where dairy interests were wrongly claiming “there is no evidence of diffuse discharges from farming activities, either individually or cumulatively, causing adverse effects, including significant adverse effects on aquatic life”.

    “Proponents of damaging, intensive agriculture and other major polluters are all over this Government’s decisions. This decision stinks of undue influence.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow robots master more and more specialties — Sergei Sobyanin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow companies are increasing the production of robots. They are mastering more and more specialties, including loader, farmer and storekeeper, replacing people in hazardous production areas, and also relieving them of routine tasks. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about some interesting developments in his blog.

    “Moscow’s robotics industry continues to develop dynamically: the production of automated systems is demonstrating rapid and confident growth. In the first quarter of 2025, the volume of production of machinery and equipment, including robots, increased by 14.3 percent compared to the same period last year,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Industrial robots

    TechnoRed develops and manufactures ready-made box robotic systems, including automated welding complexes and robotic machine operators. In addition, the company produces palletizers (packaging machines) capable of sorting, moving and compactly stacking products. They are in demand at more than 550 Russian enterprises. Robots allow increasing labor productivity by an average of two to three times.

    In the first quarter of this year, the company increased its output by 50 percent. Today, it has more than 20 patented developments. The company is a technology partner of Innopolis University, Moscow State Technological University Stankin and Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. The company implements its own training programs in the field of robotics, introduces robotic cells into educational institutions.

    In May of this year, the company opened a production site at the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone (SEZ) for the production of domestic industrial robots.

    From sports to robotics: the number of clubs in renovated Moscow schools has increased by almost 40 percentNew machines and robotics kits delivered to engineering and IT classes in Moscow schools

    Robots in warehouses and production

    Ronavi Robotics, a company of the Rusnano Group, produces logistics robots for automating warehouses and production facilities. Some are designed for assembling and moving cargo, others for sorting parcels. There is a model that can replace the main conveyor.

    This year, the company robotized the warehouse of a capital manufacturer of workwear with an area of about 7.5 thousand square meters. To implement the project, the company supplied 48 robots, 10 charging stations and four assembly stations. The manufacturer continues to develop the system, improves the parameters every month and develops new solutions for other areas of the warehouse.

    UVL Robotics specializes in developing intelligent solutions for warehouse and transport logistics. The drone-based inventory system allows for inventory counting 10 times faster and five times more efficiently than traditional methods.

    Recognizing objects with the help of a built-in scanning module, robots read markings on containers. Their productivity is up to 1.5 thousand pallets per hour, manually such a volume can be processed in about six hours. At the same time, drones cope well with work in refrigerated warehouses with temperatures down to minus 25 degrees, reducing the workload on personnel.

    This year, an improved model was released. It is lighter, can maintain altitude, is easier to control, stores data and transmits it quickly over the network.

    Rescue robots

    The company “Special Design and Technology Bureau of Applied Robotics” manufactures multifunctional robotic systems at the site of the SEZ “Technopolis Moscow”. Among them are robotic sappers, which are used not only for mine clearance, but also in a number of explosive works, for example, in dismantling buildings.

    In addition, the company produces mobile robotic fire extinguishing units to combat fires of any level at radiation and explosive hazardous facilities. The robot is equipped with television cameras, a thermal imager, as well as chemical and radiation reconnaissance devices. It can transmit information to the control post online.

    Another original development is an amphibious robot. The model can be used underwater at a depth of up to four meters, as well as on land, and can be used for reconnaissance, emergency rescue, and explosive engineering work. The installation was created for nuclear power plants.

    Robots for agriculture

    The company “ERlab” creates robots for agriculture. The machines replace up to 15 people on a farm and process up to eight hectares in one hour. In particular, the robotic sprayer reduces the use of chemicals by 95 percent, fertilizers by 40 percent, and the robotic weeder increases crop yields by seven percent. Agrorobots independently identify weeds and signs of plant diseases.

    “Moscow developers of robotic systems are mastering more and more areas and directions. With the support of the city, they are expanding their model range and increasing production output. New developments are successfully integrated into production processes, increasing their efficiency and safety,” Sergei Sobyanin emphasized.

    Moscow supported more than three thousand innovative solutions with patent grantsMikhail Mishustin and Sergei Sobyanin inspected the work of the Lomonosov cluster

    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/mayor/tkhemes/12817050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Intern Recruitment for Global Environmental Education Partnership — Asia-Pacific Regional Center (GEEPAPRC)

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The Ministry of Environment, R.O.C. (Taiwan) will provide young people in the Asia-Pacific region with opportunities to serve as interns in the environmental education field, participate in environmental education promotion, and observe business management practices.
    This program aims at cultivating the capabilities of young people in the Asia-Pacific region to connect with international trends, getting to know the diverse cultures of various countries, understanding the responses to environmental issues of various countries, and establishing partnerships in the environmental education fields of various Asia-Pacific countries.
    Internship sites:
    1. Tzu Chi’s Environmental Education Site (Hualien County, Taipei City)
    2. Oceanic Hakka Leisure Agriculture Development Association (Taoyuan City)
    For more details : https://geepaprc.org/en

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • PM Modi reiterates commitment to welfare of the poor as NDA completes 11 years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the poor, calling the past 11 years of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule a period of transformative and inclusive governance. 
     
    In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the government’s sustained efforts had helped lift more than 25 crore people out of poverty. “Over the past decade, the NDA Government has taken pathbreaking steps to uplift several people from the clutches of poverty, focussing on empowerment, infrastructure and inclusion,” he said. Citing key welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana and Ayushman Bharat, the Prime Minister said these initiatives had expanded access to housing, clean cooking fuel, banking and healthcare, particularly for marginalised communities.
     
    The Prime Minister also underlined the role of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital inclusion, and investments in rural infrastructure in ensuring the transparent and efficient delivery of benefits. According to him, these initiatives, driven by a governance model rooted in compassion, have ensured that help reaches the last mile, offering citizens the dignity of self-reliance.
     
    The NDA government, he said, remains committed to building an inclusive and self-reliant India—“where every citizen has the opportunity to live with dignity.”
     
    A key element of this welfare architecture has been the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a food security programme launched in 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. Initially introduced to provide free food grains to migrants and economically vulnerable sections during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme has undergone several extensions over the past few years.
     
    In its latest phase, the PMGKAY has been extended for five years starting January 1, 2024, at an estimated cost of ₹11.80 lakh crore. More than 81 crore beneficiaries—including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) identified under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)—will receive free food grains as per their monthly entitlements.
     
    Under the scheme, wheat is being distributed in six states and Union Territories—Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat—while rice is allocated to the rest of the country. Beneficiaries include families falling under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) categories, as identified by respective state governments and UT administrations.
     
    AAY households are those headed by widows, the terminally ill, disabled or elderly persons without assured means of subsistence. Other eligible groups include primitive tribal families, landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans, slum dwellers, daily-wage earners in the informal sector, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families of HIV-positive individuals.
     
    Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister also chaired a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, though no official details from the meeting were immediately released.

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Top End’s tropical savannas are a natural wonder – but weak environment laws mean their future is uncertain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

    François Brassard

    The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory contains an extensive, awe-inspiring expanse of tropical savanna landscapes. It includes well-known and much-loved regions such as Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land and Nitmiluk Gorge.

    These tropical savannas feature open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts and a diverse grassy understorey. They experience an intense monsoon-driven wet season and long dry season during which fire is common.

    The area is home to a spectacular range of plants and animals, including crocodiles, barramundi, speartooth sharks, the spectacularly coloured Leichhardt’s grasshopper and flocks of magpie geese. Some groups are extraordinarily diverse. Several thousand ant species are thought to live there – compared to just 1,000 species in South America’s Amazon basin.

    Australia’s tropical savannas are diverse and dynamic, shaped by fire and the cycle of wet and dry seasons.
    Brett Murphy

    Yet, despite their immense ecological and cultural significance, the NT’s tropical savannas face an uncertain future. The landscape is under increasing pressure from invasive species, more frequent and severe fires, climate change, mining, agriculture and development – including water extraction.

    Our new report outlines what should be done to ensure conservation and sustainable management of this unique and special region.

    A region in trouble

    As ecologists, we share a deep passion for tropical Northern Australia but fear for its future. To aid environmental policy and decision-making, we set out to describe the current condition and likely future of the NT’s tropical savannas. This involved identifying existing, emerging and possible future threats.

    We found biodiversity in decline. Many species, particularly mammals that were once common and widespread, have disappeared from much of the region. These include the northern quoll, brush-tailed rabbit-rat and black-footed tree-rat.

    Species such as the brush-tailed rabbit-rat have declined substantially and are now locally extinct in some areas.
    Cara Penton

    Habitats are degraded and ecosystems are showing signs of collapse. Feral animals are widespread. Cats prey on native wildlife. Feral pigs feast on turtle nests and trash plants in and around waterways, reducing water quality. Cattle, water buffalo, horses and donkeys eat their way through native plants, reducing habitat structure and complexity, aiding the establishment and spread of weeds.

    In many parts of the Top End, fires are becoming more frequent and severe. This is in part due to the increasing dominance of invasive grasses, particularly Gamba and buffel grass. Both grasses are highly flammable, increasing the risk and harm of fires.

    Longer and hotter dry seasons also increase fire risk and severity, as well as making water less available to wildlife due to higher rates of evaporation. Plants and animals also face greater heat stress and risk of dying during extended periods of extreme temperatures.

    The Top End is spectacular and rich in biodiversity.
    François Brassard

    The changing nature of land-clearing

    Land-clearing is increasing in the Top End, too. We estimate about 45,000 hectares of savanna habitat was destroyed between 2000 and 2020. That’s equivalent to an area roughly the size of 22,500 Melbourne Cricket Grounds.

    Another 146,000 hectares have approval to be cleared, and an additional 100,000 hectares could be cleared for an expanded cotton industry.

    It is not just the amount of clearing that matters, but where it occurs. The habitat mainly destroyed to date has been in higher rainfall areas between Darwin and Katherine. This is where most threatened species live. On average, the cleared areas overlapped with more than 12 nationally listed threatened species.

    What should be done?

    Our report shows current laws are insufficient to protect the Northern Territory’s tropical savannas. Evidence-based law reform is urgently needed.

    Decision-making must be collaborative, not controlled by individuals, based on sound science. It must also actively support and involve First Nations peoples and their goals.

    The Top End is awe inspiring but without greater enviromental protection its many values may be diminished.
    François Brassard

    The situation in the NT reflects broader calls to strengthen national environmental laws as a matter of urgency and greatly boost investment in conservation to achieve positive results for nature.

    Nature is the lynchpin of northern Australia. It characterises and nurtures the place, underpins and embraces Indigenous culture, is a major tourist attraction and helps make our country healthy. We need to recognise its value, and guard against its ongoing loss.

    Our report was independently reviewed by experts in the ecology and conservation of Northern Australia, Professors Richard Williams and Christopher Johnson.

    Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Victorian government’s Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and President of the Australian Mammal Society.

    The research underpinning this report was partly supported by the Environment Centre NT, the Wilderness Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Australia).

    Brett Murphy receives, or has recently received, funding from the Australian Research Council, Environment Centre NT, and the Northern Territory Government.

    John Woinarski is affiliated with Charles Darwin University, and has previously received research funding from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment.

    – ref. The Top End’s tropical savannas are a natural wonder – but weak environment laws mean their future is uncertain – https://theconversation.com/the-top-ends-tropical-savannas-are-a-natural-wonder-but-weak-environment-laws-mean-their-future-is-uncertain-241893

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Emphasizes Support for Manufacturing Over-the-Counter Drugs in U.S.A., Calls for More Research into Cancer-Causing Ingredients in Sunscreen

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, Acting Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the United States Food and Drug Administration, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville emphasized the importance of producing over-the-counter drugs right here in America and of making sure cancer-causing ingredients aren’t found in sunscreen products.

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

    ON LABELING OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS:

    TUBERVILLE: “We’ve already talked a little bit about dyes, some things that—[there are] sweeteners that go into a lot of our over-the-counter drugs. You go into these places and the drugstores look like a candy store, and they are enticed to be marketed in certain ways because of the color. […] What kind of priorities do we have on labeling of number one, what goes into the, you know, some of the over-the-counter drugs, where they’re made. I’ve looked at a lot of bottles and things inside of our stores and you can’t find out whetherthey’re made in Korea, whether they’re made in China, whether they’re made in the United States. Shouldn’t that be a priority?”

    CORRIGAN-CURAY: “Thank you for that question. One thing when we think about where a drug is made, we are committed to making sure that wherever the drug is made and if it’s being marketed is safe. So, we apply the same standards, whether it’s made domestically or it’s made internationally. We certainly are very supportive. I know the administration is looking to onshore pharmaceutical manufacturing and that would be for prescriptions or for OTC and we’re very supportive of that and we’ll work with them in terms of our regulatory frameworks to help make that happen. But right now, we don’t have a labeling on the drug for where it’s made. We’re happy to work with you if that’s a priority.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Well, I think in the future, with the problems we’re having worldwide, I think it’d probably a good suggestion that people, when they go in, they find out where it’s made. We found out during COVID, we don’t make much anymore. Most of it comes from China. And we really don’t know what’s in it, you know, which [we are] finding out now a lot of metals and things are in a lot of the drugs and even the foods that we have.”

    ON POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SUNSCREENS:

    TUBERVILLE: “Another question I had is about sunscreen. Most of us use sunscreen. I don’t know how it’s evaluated. But over the years, [the] last fifty years, melanoma and skin cancers have almost quadrupled. And I don’t know whether people don’t use it or it’s not working. Or we get some kind of skin cancer from ingredients that are in sunscreens because all of us use it at some point. Doesn’t really feel safe every time I put it on, but I put it on because sometimes you know, you look at the worst case scenario. So, what’s your thoughts on that?”

    CORRIGAN-CURAY: “Yeah, thank you for that. First of all, we’re very aware that, you know, skin cancer risk is a very serious problem. And the sunscreens we have, the testing does say they are effective if used properly, and some of our tests when we’re testing for systemic absorption is how you use them. We do have two sunscreens that are mineral sunscreens that are grasped, they’re not absorbed. For those that [are] absorbed, we’ve asked for additional tests just to assure their safety that that systemic absorption has nountoward effects.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Are we looking into the ingredients that are so-called cancer causers? I would hope we would be—”

    CORRIGAN-CURAY: “Yes.”

    TUBERVILLE: “We here read [about] it all the time.”

    CORRIGAN-CURAY: “Sorry to interrupt. Yes. And part of the testing that we want to do whenever a drug is absorbed and it reaches systemic levels is a test for tumor formation.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Students from Moscow colleges will shoot films on Moskino sites

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Thanks to the agreement between the capital Department of Culture and the Moscow Center for the Development of Professional Education Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow Students from the capital’s colleges will be able to make films at the Moskino cinema park.

    “Almost 1,200 students from Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School” and Entrepreneurship College No. 11 will be able to work on the world’s largest location for filming on location. They will use the modern infrastructure not only on specially designated days, but also upon individual requests. The guys will be able to work on any of the 24 locations. This will help them consolidate their knowledge and implement their projects in professional conditions,” the press service of the Department of Education and Science said.

    Thus, regular career guidance excursions to the sites are held for college students. Such practice develops creative thinking and provides an opportunity to gain knowledge that will be useful in a future career. And the guys from Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School” We have already filmed a scene in the film park’s airplane for the educational film “Boeing”.

    “I really enjoyed working on the set. We filmed in the cockpit of a real airplane. Special fences were installed around the place where we worked and an observer was appointed so that no one would interfere with us. The curator would come periodically and check if everything was okay. The filming went great thanks to the Moskino film park team. It was a wonderful experience,” shared Andrey Romashov, third-year student and editor of the educational film “Boeing.”

    The Moskino Cinema Park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s Moscow — City of Cinema project and an object of the Moscow film cluster, which is being developed by the capital’s Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets of the Center of Moscow, Moscow of the 1940s, Vitebsk Station, Cathedral Square of Moscow, 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 Network, the Film Commission and the Moskino Film Platform.

    The admissions campaign in Moscow colleges will begin on June 26. Applicants will be able to submit applications online on the portal Mos.ru simultaneously for five specialties in one educational institution or distribute the choice between several colleges.

    To learn more about popular areas of study at the capital’s colleges, visit open days. You can see the schedule and sign up on the website Moscow Center for the Development of Professional Education, having registered in advance.

    Detailed information about the professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges is available at website, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” and the same name community on the social network VKontakte.

    Get the latest news quickly official 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/154856073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Exposes Cruelty of Republican Plan to Cut $300 Billion in Essential SNAP Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla Exposes Cruelty of Republican Plan to Cut $300 Billion in Essential SNAP Benefits

    WATCH: Padilla highlights critical importance of federal nutrition services for helping American economy and vulnerable communities

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design ­— The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that would slash $300 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. As Trump’s tariffs raise food costs for American families, the cuts to SNAP would threaten a vital lifeline for over 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans.

    Senator Padilla warned against the devastating SNAP cuts to pay for Republicans’ billionaire-first agenda.

    • “We’re here today because in order to make life easier for billionaires — apparently that’s an agenda item — Congressional Republicans are pushing a budget bill that would literally harm young children, would harm single mothers, would harm Americans with disabilities, would harm countless seniors, some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. And Republicans would have you believe that SNAP benefits are some sort of luxury the way they talk about it. Nobody aspires to live on food stamps. What food stamps are is a lifeline for millions of Americans.”
    • “It’s outright cruelty, literally taking from the poor to give to the rich. No one in our country should go hungry because billionaires need another tax break. That’s the Republican agenda. So today we’re here to expose these devastating cuts — literally the largest in history — for what they really are: tax breaks for billionaires paid for by the most vulnerable in our society.”

    Padilla highlighted that the Republican budget reconciliation bill targets immigrants legally residing in the United States. He also underscored that Californians who are undocumented pay $8.5 billion dollars a year in taxes, yet are generally excluded from public programs like SNAP, the child tax credit, and Medicaid that their tax dollars pay for. He heard from Barbara C. Guinn, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, about the devastating impacts of withholding food assistance for lawfully present immigrants who depend on SNAP.

    • PADILLA: “One of the most concerning elements of the bill is how it targets immigrant communities. There’s immigrants in every state in the nation. It targets them through deliberate exclusions of tax-paying noncitizens or their families from receiving child tax credit, Medicaid, and SNAP. … Commissioner Guinn, can you share how the bill would take food assistance away from lawfully present immigrants who have long been eligible for SNAP, and what the consequences would be for immigrant communities at large?”
    • GUINN: “… The SNAP program, first, already has some pretty stringent limitations on the extent to which noncitizens can receive benefits. So the fact that this bill goes even farther in reducing access for individuals who are legally, lawfully present in our country is of great concern. In New York State, we estimate that as a result of the provisions in the House bill to further prevent legal noncitizens from accessing food benefits would impact about 70,000 individuals. … SNAP is typically temporary. It is often received by individuals who are trying really hard to work, putting a couple of jobs together. That’s no different for these immigrants who are legally present in our country, and we believe that they should continue to receive SNAP benefits, and actually would prefer to move in a different direction, to expand access for additional legally [present] noncitizens.”

    Padilla also questioned Northwestern University Professor Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach on the economic importance of preserving SNAP benefits. Dr. Schanzenbach emphasized that SNAP is especially important during economic downturns and after natural disasters, citing the critical safety net provided by expanding nutrition assistance during the Great Recession. SNAP supports roughly 390,000 jobs and $20 billion in wages every year.

    • PADILLA: “Dr. Schanzenbach, you’ve talked about how SNAP doesn’t just fight against hunger, it actually is a driver of local economies throughout the country, impacting farmers, food producers, grocery retailers, truck drivers, et cetera. Can you just expand on what those economic impacts would be?”
    • SCHANZENBACH: “… SNAP, and because of the full federal funding of SNAP, can very quickly expand in economic downturns. That means that people can still go to the grocery store, and it means that the grocery store doesn’t have to lay off certain people, and it has often been the most effective stimulus money that we’ve spent. Like during the Great Recession, they topped up benefits by like 15 percent. The studies came back and found… something like $1.75 return for every dollar that you spent on those increased benefits. SNAP is a very effective tool. It’s also particularly effective when, when there are natural disasters, like the fires in California. You know, we saw a little bit about the spillover effects on other people, right? Because we live in a society where our economic well-being is interconnected, and if we pull the rug out from one sector that’s going to have ripple effects.”
    • PADILLA: “Appreciate you mentioning that it’s not just economic downturns, but with the increasing frequency and scale of natural disasters, the role and impact of SNAP there as well.”

    Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks and questioning is available here.

    Last month, Senator Padilla issued a statement slamming House Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that will gut critical programs, including SNAP, and devastate families in California and across the country. Padilla previously spoke on the Senate floor against the Republican budget resolution, and voted against advancing it in the Senate in both February and April.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Notification Regarding Filing Delinquency

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT), a manufacturer and seller of sustainable edible oils to customers globally, announced that it has received written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on May 27, 2025 stating that the Company was delinquent in filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025. The Company previously filed a Form 12b-25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2025, disclosing that it was unable to file the Form 10-Q within the prescribed time period without unreasonable effort or expense. The Nasdaq Letter provided that under Nasdaq rules, the Company has 60 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance with respect to the Delinquent Filing.

    The Company has filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025 on May 30, 2025, thereby regaining compliance with its filing obligation, which eliminates the need for the Company to submit a formal plan to regain compliance.

    About Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited. Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) through its subsidiaries, including Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd., an Australian proprietary company, tis focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for June 30, 2024 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Amarjeet Singh, CFO
    Email: amarjeet.s@energreennutrition.com.au

    Investor Relations Contact
    Reed Anderson
    (646) 277-1260
    reed.anderson@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advice seen by Minister(s)

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Date
    Reference Number
    Title

    19 December 2019
    AM/19/01484
    Aide-Memoir: Discussion paper: establishing a CoVE specialising in Secondary Tertiary Programmes, Multiple Pathways and Transitions (PDF 1.4 MB) 

    5 December 2019
    B/19/01460
    Funding Agreement between the Crown and Lincoln University (PDF 1.3 MB) 

    3 December 2019
    1210568
    Education Report: High-level decisions on the unified funding system for discussion at the strategy session on 12 December (PDF 7.8 MB)

    22 November 2019
    B/19/01385
    Tertiary Education Commission 2019/20 Quarter One Performance Report

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01340
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 658 KB) 

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01339
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 590 KB) 

    15 November 2019
    AM/19/01341
    Expenditure accrual adjustment to Vote Tertiary Education

    13 November 2019
    AM/19/01357
    Overview of standard operating procedures and/or code of practices for TEI accommodation services

    11 November 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Confirmation of Crown capital investment to support the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities (PDF 1.2 MB)

    7 November 2019
    AM/19/01351
    Tertiary Education Institution Accommodation Overview

    1 November 2019
    AM/19/01338
    No recoveries for exceeding prior achievement limit in 2019 for YG and SAC 1-2

    29 October 2019
    B/19/01328
    Tertiary Education Commission Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019

    25 October 2019
    AM/19/01337
    Reform of Vocational Education Programme Governance – Update

    24 October 2019
    E/19/01252
    Ako Aotearoa 2019 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards Evening – 30 October 2019

    23 October 2019
    B/19/01284
    Crown support for Whitireia Community Polytechnic

    15 October 2019
    E/19/01277
    Launch of Drawing the Future event on 18 October at Porirua East School

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01260
    Report to Ministers from the University of Canterbury Futures Governance Oversight Group

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01275
    ITP constitutions for two councils

    9 October 2019
    AM/19/01258
    AgResearch business case for a new building at Lincoln University

    4 October 2019
    E/19/01256
    Opening the 15th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum on Tuesday 15 October 2019

    25 September 2019
    B/19/01192
    Update on Careers System Strategy Engagement Process (PDF 500 KB) 

    20 September 2019
    B/19/01175
    Tertiary Education Commission draft Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019 (PDF 276 KB) 

    19 September 2019
    B/19/01211
    Tertiary Education Report: Draft Cabinet paper on supporting the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities and reallocation of funding to Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 159 KB) 

    17 September 2019
    B/19/01023
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 250 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01210
    Establishing a Stakeholder Advisory Group for Reform of Vocational Education

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01209
    Workforce Development Council and ITO Workstream: Progress update (PDF 861 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    1204429
    Briefing Note: Unified Funding Work Programme: Progress update (PDF 3.6 MB)

    10 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 (PDF 871 KB) 

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01169
    Meeting with Greg Wallace, Chief Executive of Master Plumbers on Thursday 12 September 2019

    6 September 2019
    B/19/01141
    ITP constitutions for seven councils (PDF 297 KB) 

    2 September 2019
    E/19/01158
    Ministerial visit to Unitec Institute of Technology on Tuesday, 3 September 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01065
    Tertiary Education Report: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 487 KB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01086
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 640 KB) 

    21 August 2019
    B/19/01085
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 826 KB)

    19 August 2019
    E/19/01093
    Minister of Education Opening the Primary ITO Symposium on Tuesday 20 August 2019

    8 August 2019
    AM/19/00929
    Fees-free monitoring and addressing non-complying TEOs

    26 July 2019
    E/19/00868
    Ōritetanga Learner Success Conference (PDF 240 KB) 

    26 July 2019
    AM/19/00971
    Talking Points for Cabinet on 29 July 2019 – NZIST Establishment Board Appointment

    25 July 2019
    B/19/00928
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal (PDF 1.5 MB) 

    24 July 2019
    B/19/00882
    Crown support for Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 670 KB)

    20 July 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report (PDF 459 KB) 

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00959
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for Telfrod – Talking point for Cabinet

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00954
    Annotated Agenda – NZ Institute of Skills and Technology Establishment

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00773
    Update on Careers System Strategy and Career Action Plan (PDF 275 KB) 

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00867
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2020 and 2021 (PDF 486 KB) 

    15 July 2019
    AM/19/00800
    Assurance findings for the Reform of Vocational Education Programme

    15 July 2019
    B/19/00763
    2020 Investment Round Update: Indicative Allocations

    11 July 2019
    E/19/00879
    Minister to visit Otago University on 12 July 2019 (PDF 465 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    B/19/00819
    Manukau Institute of Technology– council constitution (PDF 402 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    AM/19/00880
    Compliance monitoring of fees-free tertiary education and prosecution for false statutory declarations

    4 July 2019
    B/19/00785
    TEC 2018/19 Quarter Three Performance Report (PDF 355 KB) 

    3 July 2019
    B/19/00861
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Unitec (PDF 289 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00820
    Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi 2018 Annual Report (PDF 506 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00708
    Publication of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Statement of Intent 2019/20–2022/23 and Statement of Performance Expectations 2019/20 (PDF 274 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00827
    Aide-Memoire: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 303 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators

    28 June 2019
    E/19/00835
    Meeting with Service Skills Institute Incorporated on Monday 1 July 2019

    25 June 2019
    AM/19/00821
    Talking Points for APH on 26 June 2019 – Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (PDF 219 KB)

    20 June 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report

    19 June 2019
    AM/19/00797
    Growing the Food and Fibres Sector – Recommendations for the TEC

    17 June 2019
    E/19/00776
    University of Canterbury – Opening of the Rehua Building on 25 June 2019 (PDF 326 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    E/19/00690
    Meeting with the Commissioner of WelTec and Whitireia (PDF 346 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    AM/19/00749
    Update on Whitireia Community Polytechnic and the Wellington Institute of Technology

    10 June 2019
    AM/19/00739
    Update on the current situation of funding training and education of carers

    7 June 2019
    B/19/00702
    Recognition of Skills Active Aotearoa Limited as an industry training organisation (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00709
    Waikato Institute of Technology Council Constitution (PDF 441 KB) 

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00704
    Unitec Institute of Technology 2018 Annual Report (PDF 408 KB)

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 final full-year enrolments at tertiary education organisations

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00707
    Update on the financial position of ITPs

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00703
    Recognition of the Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand as an industry training organisation (PDF 479 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00701
    Recognition of Primary Industry Training Organisation as an industry training organisation (PDF 897 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    E/19/00705
    Meeting with UCOL on 5 June 2019  (PDF 2.6 MB)

    27 May 2019
    AM/19/00648
    Advice on options to support the University of Canterbury following the Christchurch mosque attacks

    24 May 2019
    B/19/00650
    Ministerial appointment to Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 Final Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00640
    Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection – Final Milestone (PDF 386 KB) Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection Appendix A (PDF 1.6 MB) 

    16 May 2019
    AM/19/00651
    Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki 2018 Annual Report (PDF 516 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00555
    Meeting with Professor Jan Thomas from Massey University on 22 May 2019 (PDF 682 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00644
    Meeting with Southland Federated Farmers

    9 May 2019
    B/19/00613
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two tertiary education councils (PDF 286 KB) 

    8 May 2019
    E/19/00509
    Minister to speak at the Open Polytechnic Graduation on Thursday, 23 May 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB).

    3 May 2019 
    AM/19/00611
    Lincoln University 2018 financial results (PDF 247 KB) 

    3 May 2019
    AM/19/00615
    Ministerial Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

    23 April 2019
    B/19/00527
    Release of the 2018 PBRF Quality Evaluation Results 

    10 April 2019
    E/19/00512
    Meeting with Primary Industry Training Organisation on Thursday 11 April 2019 

    9 April 2019
    E/19/00473
    Meeting with WITT to discuss RoVE on 11 April 2019 

    8 April 2019
    E/19/00482
    Meeting with Andrew Robb from Tai Poutini Polytechnic on 11 April 2019 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00451
    Salvation Army foundation education delivery consultation outcomes 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00469
    Inspiring Futures – Response 

    2 April 2019
    E/19/00465
    Ministerial visit to open new Tech Park Campus development at Manukau Institute of Technology on 5 April 2019 

    28 March 2019
    E/19/00446
    BusinessNZ Major Companies Group – Chief Executive Forum on Friday 5 April 2019 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00448
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to eight tertiary education institution councils 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00442
    Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – council constitution 

    25 March 2019
    B/19/00360
    2018 Interim Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations 

    18 March 2019
    AM/19/00414
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to eight ITP councils 

    14 March 2019
    B/19/00161
    TEC 2018/2019 Quarter Two Performance Report 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00396
    Meeting with The Skills Organisation 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00398
    Meeting with Careerforce Thursday 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    B/19/00381
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two university councils 

    7 March 2019
    B/19/00158
    Careers System Strategy Workstream Implementation Update 

    5 March 2019
    AM/19/00330
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to two TEI Councils 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00166
    Meeting with Competenz Chair and Chief Executive Thursday 7 March 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00234
    Local Government New Zealand Rural and Provincial Meeting 

    27 February 2019
    E/19/00165
    Visit to Telford (PDF 326 KB) 

    26 February 2019
    E/19/00150
    Meeting with primary industry leaders to discuss your vision on Reform of Vocational Education (PDF 269 KB) 

    25 February 2019
    E/19/00246
    Meeting with the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (PDF 2 MB) 

    15 February 2019
    B/19/00082
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal: next steps (PDF 2.3 MB) 

    11 February 2019
    AM/19/0060
    World Economic Forum OECD Release of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs: Trends, Data and Drawings report (PDF 159 KB) 

    7 February 2019
    AM/19/00083
    2018 full-year enrolment reporting timeline (PDF 397 KB) 

    1 February 2019
    B/19/00081
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2019 (PDF 393 KB) 

    February 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Council Appointments for Ara Institute of Canterbury, Eastern Institute of Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology, NorthTec, Otago Polytechnic, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, UCOL and the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (PDF 320 KB) 

    30 January 2019
    B/19/00055
    Appointment of an advisory committee to support the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 202 KB) 

    29 January 2019
    AM/19/00064
    Computer in Homes Tender (PDF 824 KB) 

    28 January 2019
    AM/19/00063
    Meeting with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    21 January 2019
    E/19/00010
    Ara Institute of Canterbury – Manawa and Outpatients facility opening on Thursday 31 January 2019 (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    11 January 2019
    B/19/00028
    Update World Economic Forum: Launch of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs (PDF 554 KB) 

    8 January 2019
    B/19/00007
    University of Auckland – amendment to council constitution (PDF 303 KB) 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, MAHA, and the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Market Day Report on RFD-TV today to highlight the Senate Agriculture Committee advancing his legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which will put whole milk back in schools. He detailed the next steps to get the bill across the finish line and to President Trump’s desk.
    The Senator also discussed the recent Make America Healthy Again Commission report and President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’

    [embedded content]

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    On the importance of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act:
    Senator Marshall: “This is so important to me, to my family. My dad grew up on a dairy [farm] where every day for 25 years, they milk cows twice a day. And some of your listeners know exactly what that’s like, but milk is the most nutritious drink known to mankind, and for whatever reason, the federal government took whole milk out of our schools over a decade ago.
    “Because of that, we have a generation of young adults now whose bones will never reach their peak mass. We’re going to have an epidemic of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Look, whole milk just tastes better. So we need to focus on the quality of the nutrition as opposed to just the calorie count. And again, milk [is] the most nutritious drink known to mankind.”
    On the next steps for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act:
    Senator Marshall: “I think very easily we could go to the Senate floor and ask unanimous consent, and as long as not one senator stands up objects to it, we’ll get it across the Senate floor. Hopefully, they can do a similar effort over on the House side and get it to the President’s desk. So we’ll do our very best to give the President a win here.”
    On the MAHA Commission report:
    Senator Marshall: “As you look at that MAHA commission report, I didn’t write it, but certainly I agree with the same goals that they have, that we want healthy, nutritious food out there for everybody, a special emphasis on children…
    “My emphasis is soil health. Soil health is where agriculture meets healthy food. Healthy soil means healthy food. And so many of our farmers are out there doing regenerative agriculture. They’ve been doing it for decades. We’ve got to share what we’ve been doing. You know, you showed a little aerial report of a person using drones to grow more with less to grow more. Instead of blanketing that field with the fungicide, they were able to spot-spray it.
    “… Regenerative agriculture, healthy soil, what that means to me is, number one is using no-till farming, coming back and using the least amount of fertilizers, pesticides. That means precision agriculture. It means putting a cover crop on and then grazing cattle over it, maybe bringing in some manure from the local dairy or the local feedlot as well, and then measuring the quality of that soil as well, and showing our customers out there… they’re who is driving this, I’m not driving this, the MAHA moms out there that are driving this, and I know that American agriculture is doing incredible jobs in this area, and they but they need to be reimbursed for it, because it’s expensive to undertake all these efforts.”
    On the hurdles President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ may face:
    Senator Marshall: “Well, there’s always hurdles. We have 53 Republican senators and 53 opinions. But it’s important for your listeners to know why this is so important to them. This will take care of the reference price issues on the title one, funding, and open the doors for us to be able to get the Farm Bill across the finish line. 
    “From the business tax perspective on this, we’re going to take care of permanently, the 199a, which your listeners will be excited about, as well as the R and D deduction, capital appreciation, bonus depreciation as well, and writing off their interest expenses. So all those are important to every one of your listeners and making those permanent will be so, so important to the financial viability of the future farmers of America.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Helps Secure Helene Recovery Funding for North Carolina

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis applauded the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) announcement of its Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity, which allocates approximately $1.45 billion in federal funding for disaster-impacted communities, including those in Western North Carolina affected by Helene. 

    “This critical EDA funding will help ensure that communities in Western North Carolina still reeling from the impacts of Helene have the resources they need to recover and rebuild stronger than before,” said Senator Tillis. “I remain fully committed to making sure North Carolina receives its fair share of this funding and that Western North Carolina is made whole again.” 

    The announcement follows a bipartisan letter led by Senator Tillis and members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation to the Trump Administration urging the U.S. Economic Development Administration to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity as quickly as possible. 

    Background:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Klobuchar Lead Senate Spotlight Forum on Devastating Impact of GOP SNAP Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Spotlight Forum Follows CBO Analysis Warning That Millions of Food-Insecure Americans Will Face Higher Food Costs;

    Lawmakers, Experts Warn of National Hunger Crisis and State Budget Shortfalls Under GOP Proposal

    More photos available HERE.

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, led a Senate Spotlight Forum titled “Hunger by Design: The GOP’s Assault on SNAP,” bringing together national experts and advocates to highlight the dangerous consequences of Congressional Republicans’ proposal to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $300 billion.

    SNAP is a lifeline for over 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. The forum followed House Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal of American families – cutting SNAP by 30% – the largest cut in the program’s history. These cuts will raise grocery costs for more than 4 million Americans in need by taking away or reducing their food assistance.

    “The House Republican bill proposes the deepest cuts to SNAP in American history – gutting $300 billion in nutrition assistance and forcing states to take on more than $150 billion in costs. This would dismantle one of our most effective anti-poverty programs and hurt millions of Americans – including children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities,” said Senator Luján. “In New Mexico, I’ve heard directly from food banks, farmers, and families already stretched thin. These cuts would only make it harder for them to get by.

    “I was honored to lead this forum alongside Senator Klobuchar and to stand with my Democratic colleagues in fighting these extreme GOP cuts. I was especially proud to elevate the voice of Katy Anderson from Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, who brought critical insight into how these cuts would impact communities on the ground. The testimony of our witnesses reminded us what’s really at stake – and why we have to keep fighting,” continued Senator Luján. 

    “House Republicans’ bill will rip the rug out from under families who count on SNAP to put food on the table. It will mean more seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities will go to bed hungry,” said Senator Klobuchar.

    “The House Republican bill will upend state budgets – forcing states to make impossible choices between food assistance and other priorities, like education, health, and public safety. It will devastate our farmers, who stand to lose $35 billion in revenue over the next decade. It will mean more food pantries with empty shelves. These cuts will cost jobs and wages for everyone who is a part of the food system – from truck drivers to local grocers. SNAP supports nearly 390,000 jobs and $20 billion in wages every year for workers. We are fighting this in the Senate every step of the way,” continued Senator Klobuchar.

    Witnesses warned that the House bill would reduce or terminate food assistance for millions and shift over $150 billion in costs to states, forcing them to cut benefits or restrict eligibility. These changes could strain state budgets, particularly when combined with similar proposed Medicaid cuts.

    The forum featured testimony from:

    • Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Margaret Walker Alexander Professor, Northwestern University
    • Barbara C. Guinn, Commissioner, NY State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
    • Katy Anderson, Vice President of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy, Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
    • Jade Johnson, Mother and Student

    “SNAP provides very important help to a very wide range of Americans who struggle to put food on the table. The provisions in the recently passed House bill would cause substantial harm to children, older Americans, and low-wage workers. This new requirement for states to pay for up to 25% of SNAP benefits would substantially reduce the effectiveness of the program in times of economic downturn,” said Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach in her opening statement.

    “The cuts put forward by the recently passed House reconciliation bill would harm individuals and states nationwide by forcing billions of dollars in annual cost shifts alongside unprecedented administrative hurdles that will harm households that rely on SNAP,” said Barbara C. Guinn in her opening statement.

    “SNAP continues to be our country’s most important and effective anti-hunger program. It plays an important role in New Mexico, with 21 percent of the state’s residents relying on the program in order to ensure access to food. More than 61 percent of participants are in families with children, 31 percent are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and 43% are in working families. The vast majority of SNAP recipients in New Mexico and across the country are children and seniors,” said Katy Anderson in her opening statement. 

    “SNAP benefits are the only way we can regularly afford to put food on the table. I would never have time to work a third job to make up for the loss of my SNAP benefits and care for my child effectively. With costs going up on things like rent and other basic necessities, my income gets completely eaten up before I am able to even think about buying food,” said Jade Johnson in her opening statement. 

    The lawmakers and experts warned that an estimated 500,000 children would lose school meals tied to SNAP eligibility; emergency food providers, already stretched thin, would be unable to meet the increased demand; and farmers, rural grocery stores, and small businesses would see declines in revenue.

    Since its creation, SNAP has operated with a consistent national benefit structure that ensures Americans, no matter where they live, can access basic nutrition. The proposed changes would undermine that structure and deepen hunger across the country.

    Footage of the full forum can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Time’s up for anti-farmer activism – ACT welcomes Fish & Game reforms

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT’s Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron has welcomed long overdue reforms to Fish & Game New Zealand, saying the days of licence fees being weaponised against farmers are finally coming to an end.

    “For too long, Fish & Game has acted like a rogue lobby group by using hunters’ and anglers’ fees to wage war on the very people who care for our waterways because they’re the ones out there buying the licences,” says Mr Cameron.

    “In Southland, farmers have been treated like villains. Local Fish & Game councils have backed court cases that would force thousands of farmers to get resource consents just to keep farming – massively increasing costs and red tape.

    “That kind of activist overreach has destroyed decades of goodwill from farmers who’ve voluntarily allowed public access to their land.

    “These reforms focus Fish & Game on its actual job: supporting hunting and fishing, not harassing the rural communities who make those activities possible.

    “Fish & Game was never meant to be a political battering ram for anti-farming ideology. It exists to serve licence holders – and many of those are farmers.

    “ACT is proud to back these changes and proud to stand with rural New Zealand.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tgd Cuts, LLC Initiated Voluntary Recall of Cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., Which Had the Potential to Be Contaminated with Salmonella

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    June 04, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    June 04, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

    Company Name:
    TGD Cuts, LLC.
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Multiple brands

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Fresh cucumbers and salsa and salads containing fresh cucumbers

    Company Announcement
    TGD Cuts, LLC of Jessup, MD has initiated a voluntary recall of the specific tub and tray items listed below because they contained cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., which had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
    Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometime fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare instances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
    This recall includes the tub and tray items listed below with use by dates ranging from 5/20/2025 – 5/28/2025. Products were distributed to retail and foodservice locations in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina. No other products were affected.
    There have been no reported illnesses to date associated with the affected items. These products are beyond their usable shelf life and are no longer expected to be in commerce.
    TGD Cuts, LLC takes the safety and integrity of the products it sells seriously. If customers have product affected by this voluntary recall, they should discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.
    Consumers with questions may contact the company at (410)-799-5700 M-F between the hours of 6:30am-3:00pm EST.
    TGD Cuts, LLC Contact Information mediarelations@classproduce.com(410)-799-5700Monday thru Friday 6:30am–3:00pm EST
    Attention Customer Care
    Jennifer Henderson-AdamsM-F 6:30am-2:00pmExt. #4305
    Stephanie LyonsM-F 7:30am-3:00pmExt. #4308

    Item
    UPC
    Use By/Julian Date Start
    Use By/Juliant Date End

    Salsa, Hot 6/12 oz.
    840219170534
    5/25/2025
    5/25/2025

    Salsa, Mild 6/12oz.
    840219170541
    5/24/2025
    5/25/2025

    Salsa, Mild 5lb.
    840219140445
    25134
    25136

    Salsa, Mild 5lb.
    840219140445
    5/27/2025
    5/28/2025

    Cucumber Sliced/Grape Tomato 50/2oz.
    840219184784
    5/22/2025
    5/23/2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over half a million more children to get free school meals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Over half a million more children to get free school meals

    New entitlement to free school meals for all children in household on Universal Credit.

    Over half a million more children will benefit from a free nutritious meal every school day, as the government puts £500 back into parents’ pockets every year by expanding eligibility for free school meals.

    From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals. This will make life easier and more affordable for parents who struggle the most, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to break down barriers to opportunity and give children the best start in life.  

    The unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

    Since 2018, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty have been unable to access free school meals.

    The government’s historic new expansion to those on Universal Credit will change this and comes ahead of the Child Poverty Taskforce publishing its ten-year strategy to drive sustainable change later this year. It comes on top of targeted support for families being hit the hardest with the cost-of-living crisis, with urgent action including raising the national minimum wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 families through the Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

     Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.

    My government is taking action to ease those pressures. Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.

    This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    It is the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty, and today this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.

    From free school meals to free breakfast clubs, breaking the cycle of child poverty is at the heart of our Plan for Change to cut the unfair link between background and success.

    We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us to deliver excellence everywhere, for every child and give more young people the chance to get on in life.

    The Government is also offering more than £13 million in funding to 12 food charities across England to redistribute thousands of tonnes of fresh produce directly from farms to fight food poverty in communities.

    The Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme is helping farms and organisations to work collaboratively to ensure edible food that might have been left in fields instead ends up on the plates of those who need it, including schoolchildren.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    Poverty robs children of opportunities and damages their future prospects. This is a moral scar on our society we are committed to tackling.

    By expanding Free School Meals to all families on Universal Credit, we’re ending the impossible choice thousands of our hardest grafting families must make between paying bills and feeding their children.

    This is just the latest step of our Plan for Change to put extra pounds in people’s pockets – a downpayment on our Child Poverty Strategy, building on our expansion of free breakfast clubs, our national minimum wage boost and our cap on Universal Credit deductions through the Fair Repayment Rate.

    To ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, the government is also acting quickly with experts across the sector to revise the School Food Standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance.

    This new entitlement will apply to children in all settings where free school meals are currently delivered, including schools, school-based nurseries and Further Education settings. We expect the majority of schools will allow parents to apply before the start of the school year 2026, by providing their National Insurance Number to check their eligibility.

    Schools and local authorities will continue to receive pupil premium and home to school transport extended rights funding based on the existing free school meals threshold. 

    This is just the latest step in the government’s Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity, including rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding government-funded childcare to 30 hours a week for working parents and commitment to cap the number of branded school uniform items.

    Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said: 

    This is a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom. Children can’t learn effectively when hungry, so this announcement not only helps to tackle the effects of child poverty, but will also likely help improve education outcomes for disadvantaged young people.

    Giving free school meals to all families who are eligible for Universal Credit is also easier for parents to understand, so has the potential to increase take up rates. This is an important milestone in delivering on the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

    Kate Anstey, head of education policy at Child Poverty Action Group said: 

    This is fantastic news and a game-changer for children and families.  

    At last more kids will get the food they need to learn and thrive and millions of parents struggling to make ends meet will get a bit of breathing space.

    We hope this is a sign of what’s to come in autumn’s child poverty strategy, with government taking more action to meet its manifesto commitment to reduce child poverty in the UK. 

    From April 2026 until the end of parliament, millions of households are set to receive a permanent yearly above inflation boost to Universal Credit. The increase, a key element of the Government’s welfare reforms to be laid before Parliament, will tackle the destitution caused by years of inaction that has left the value of the standard allowance at a 40 year low by the early 2020s.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 4 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –