NewzIntel.com

Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Ocean protection policy “hangover” must be addressed by both parties: Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Wednesday 26 February 2025 – In response to the major political parties indicating election promises to protect Australia’s oceans, Greenpeace Australia Pacific says a crucial protection framework of a ratified Global Ocean Treaty is still missing.

    Georgia Whitaker, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Campaigner, said:

    “We applaud the intention of both major parties to protect the ocean and tackle the disastrous impacts of industrial fishing, but if either is serious, they must ratify the Global Ocean Treaty; it’s a no-brainer.

    “Australia’s oceans are in crisis, facing serious threats of industrial fishing, climate change and plastic pollution. Our beloved and protected coral reefs are cooking in historic bleaching events, and now the Pacific Ocean is facing the threat of an emerging deep sea mining industry – the ocean needs every lifeline and ally it can get.”

    Australia adopted the historic Global Ocean Treaty–also known as the High Seas Treaty–in 2023, but has yet to ink it into law. To date, 110 countries have signed the treaty, and 17 countries have ratified it, including the Pacific nations of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Once ratified by 60 countries, governments will have the power to propose and create marine sanctuaries in the high seas.

    “Australia is perfectly positioned to be an ocean protection leader on the global stage by ratifying the treaty this June at the UN Ocean Conference. We signed the treaty in 2023, but without action, the new government will lead with the hangover of a policy unfulfilled,” Whitaker said.

    “Aussies love the ocean, and many depend on a healthy, thriving ocean for their livelihoods. We want to see serious commitment to protecting not just our domestic waters, but the international waters that flow into them.”

    —ENDS—

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall, Daines, and Bennet Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Outdoor Recreation and Expand Access to Public Lands

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) today introduced the “Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act,” which would support public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor wildlife-dependent activities.
    “As an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, some of my greatest memories are hunting and fishing with my kids,” said Senator Marshall. “I fully support and am proud to introduce the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act, which encourages Kansans to open their land for the public to enjoy the great outdoors. Increased access to these outdoor recreational activities is good for our children and our shared American values.”
    “Hunting, fishing, and hiking are huge parts of our Montana way of life, and as a lifelong sportsman myself, I’m glad to lead an effort to expand access to our public lands,” said Senator Daines. “Reauthorizing the Voluntary Public Access Habitat Initiative Program will give more Montanans the chance to enjoy outdoor recreation activities and support critical habitats for wildlife.”
    “For years, this program has rewarded Colorado’s family farmers and ranchers for their efforts to improve wildlife habitat, provide new opportunities for sportsmen and women, and expand recreation options for Coloradans. I fought to expand funding for this program in the last Farm Bill, and I’ll continue to work to prioritize successful, voluntary programs like this,” said Senator Bennet.
    Read the bill text HERE.
    Background:
    The “Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025” would reauthorize the Voluntary Public Access Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) for an additional five years and increase the authorization to $150 million. The VPA-HIP provides competitive grants to states and tribal governments to be used to incentivize private landowners to voluntarily open their lands for public use while upholding private property rights. Senators Marshall, Daines, and Bennet also introduced the bill in the 118th Congress.
    Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan-6) and Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota-At-Large) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Statements of Support:
    “State-led access programs are hurting this year without support from VPA-HIP, and including the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act in a 2025 farm bill would be a major positive development for hunters and anglers. We are thrilled to see such an influential, bipartisan group of leaders recognize the importance of increased hunting and fishing access by introducing this legislation. Thank you, Representatives Dingell and Johnson and Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall, for your leadership and support,” said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
    “Hunting access is one of the most significant barriers for both new and experienced hunters. The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act is a win-win for sportsmen and landowners, and we thank Sens. Daines, Bennet, and Marshall for leading this bipartisan effort in the Senate, as well as Reps. Dingell and Johnson for their leadership in the House,” said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Federal Affairs. 
    “On behalf of the nation’s recreational fishing industry, the American Sportfishing Association thanks Senators Daines, Marshall, and Bennet for their leadership of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act. This legislation will support and enable landowners to provide fishing access on private lands, opening valuable waters to anglers. The reauthorization and expansion of VPA-HIP will strengthen a program that has allowed access to private lands since 2008, creating memorable days on the water for America’s anglers,” said Glenn Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association.
    “Recovering wildlife, restoring habitat, and expanding recreational access on private lands is a win-win for both wildlife and the hunters, anglers, and outdoorspeople, who power the outdoor recreation economy. This common-sense, bipartisan bill will ensure farmers, ranchers, and private land owners have the tools and resources they need through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program to ensure our shared wildlife heritage endures for future generations. Thank you to Representatives Debbie Dingell and Dusty Johnson and Senators Steve Daines, Michel Bennet, and Roger Marshall for working to pass this important bipartisan legislation,” said Aviva Glaser, Senior Director of Agriculture Policy for the National Wildlife Federation.
    “There are dozens of state programs throughout the country that help open public hunting access on private lands, but one common thread is that VPA-HIP is the unsung hero that makes much of that access possible. The economic returns for rural communities in VPA-HIP have been shown many times over, and increasing funding for the program is one of our top priorities in the next farm bill. Access is at the core of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s mission, and we thank Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall and Representatives Dingell and Johnson for their leadership and support for this very successful program,” said Ariel Wiegard, Vice President of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
    “By reauthorizing and expanding the only federal program specifically designed to increase opportunities for hunters and anglers on private land, the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act addresses the number one barrier to participation in our sporting traditions, lack of public access. We applaud the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Debbie Dingell and Dusty Johnson and Sens. Roger Marshall and Michael Bennet on legislation that would expand public recreation opportunities as well as enhance fish and wildlife habitat,” said Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy and Government Relations for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
    “We greatly appreciate Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall introducing the VPA Improvement Act. As we entered discussions of the next Farm Bill, extending and expanding the impact of VPA-HIP was one of Delta’s highest priorities. As duck hunters across the country look for additional access, increased investments in VPA HIP can lead to new partnerships with private landowners to enhance habitat and also provide access. We hope that this effort will lead to a broader bi-partisan effort to include an expanded VPA-HIP in the final Farm Bill,” said John Devney, Chief Policy Officer at Delta Waterfowl.
    “We are proud to support Representative Dingell’s reintroduction of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act, alongside Representative Johnson, Senator Daines, Senator Marshall, and Senator Bennet. Reauthorizing and strengthening the Act will ensure that landowners and sportsmen alike can continue to benefit from sustainable wildlife management and habitat preservation for generations to come,” said Nick Pinizzotto, President and CEO of the National Deer Association.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Capito Lead Bipartisan Effort to Accelerate Pediatric Rare Disease Research & Treatment Advances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to accelerate research and treatment advances for rare diseases that affect children, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) teamed up to introduce the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act.  This bipartisan bill would ensure drugs for rare diseases are studied in children and that drug companies are accountable for completing pediatric study requirements.  It would close research gaps created by the growth in so-called “orphan drug” approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Children are not just small adults who can take smaller doses of adult medication: They metabolize drugs differently and in order for drugs to be safe and effective for kids, they must be studied specifically for children’s use. Yet too often, drug development still leaves children behind.  The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help speed therapies to children who need them, making needed changes to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA), two laws that encourage and require the study of drugs in children.

    “This bill would help children battling rare diseases and their families by addressing crucial gaps in pediatric research and treatment and empower the FDA to go after companies that break the rules.  Congress must work together to help address the unmet needs of those affected by rare diseases, particularly pediatric patients.  The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would include children in the drug development process to expand access to safe and effective treatments and therapies for children with rare ailments and appropriately meet their needs.  Our bipartisan bill would provide new paths for pediatric rare disease research and development and ensure patients with rare diseases aren’t left behind,” said Senator Reed.

    “It is essential medicines be studied specifically for children’s use, especially for rare diseases,” Senator Capito said. “The same medicines that may work well for some adults could have drastically different results for a child. Our legislation will help ensure pediatric studies are actually being done on both new and innovative drugs, as well as those older drugs now off-patent.”

    According to the National Institutes of Health, a “rare disease” is any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States (60 cases per 100,000 individuals).

    There are more than 7,000 known rare diseases that affect about 30 million people in the U.S., according to the Orphan Drug Act.  These rare diseases can vary widely, from genetic conditions to certain types of cancers to cases that are the result of an infection or allergy or unknown causes.

    More than 90 percent of rare diseases lack a treatment approved by the FDA.  And according to rarediseases.org: Approximately two-thirds of Americans with rare diseases are children.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help ensure children can benefit from advancements in new treatments and therapies by:

    Ensuring Drugs for Rare Diseases are Studied in Children

    There are close to 7,000 rare diseases without appropriate treatments, and the vast majority of these diseases affect children. Unfortunately, in most cases, drugs for rare diseases, also known as orphan drugs, are not required to be studied in children. Yet the majority of new drugs approved are orphan drugs, meaning that the majority of newly approved drugs are exempt from pediatric study requirements, leaving doctors, parents, and sick kids in the dark about possible treatments.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would ensure that children with rare diseases can benefit from new and innovative treatments, lifting the orphan drug exemption in PREA.

    Providing Equal Accountability for Pediatric Study Requirements

    Due dates for studies required by PREA are typically deferred by FDA until after the approval of the drug for adults. Unfortunately, FDA has no effective enforcement tools to ensure that these studies are completed on time—or at all.  Congress tried to solve this problem in 2012. It allowed FDA to send “non-compliance letters” to companies that failed to complete their pediatric studies. Disappointingly, this did not fix the problem. According to an analysis conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, as of early 2021, 123 PREA non-compliance letters had been issued, yet only one third had been resolved.  On average, studies were 4.4 years late, with some more than 15 years late.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would give FDA the authority it needs to ensure that legally required pediatric studies are completed in a timely manner.

    Investing in Pediatric Studies of Older Off-Patent Drugs

    The FDA incentives and requirements under BPCA and PREA work for many newer drugs, but unfortunately cannot help encourage studies of older drugs.  For this reason, in 2002, Congress authorized a program which funds the National Institutes of Health to conduct studies of off-patent drugs used in children that would never be completed otherwise.  Drug studies are expensive and costs have only increased since then, but the program has been flat-funded at $25 million since it was created more than 20 years ago.

    The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would increase funding for the BPCA NIH program to ensure we have better data about older drugs to treat diseases in children.

    Reed and Capito previously teamed up to pass and fund the landmark Childhood Cancer STAR Act.

    What They Are Saying About the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act:

    “Children are not little adults; they have unique health needs. It is essential that children’s needs are considered and prioritized during the drug development process so they do not miss out on new therapies and treatments. The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 would make needed changes to pediatric drug laws so that children can benefit from new advancements in medicine – including children with rare diseases. Pediatricians applaud Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for their leadership on this issue and call on Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation into law,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan Kressly, MD, FAAP.

    “The biology of cancer children is different from cancer in adults. Drugs to treat children must be developed that are tailored for children. The Innovation In Pediatric Drugs Act of 2025 builds upon the promise of the Research To Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) Act For Children to increase pediatric studies of novel therapeutics for pediatric cancers. The new bill is an important step to ensure that required studies are completed for children as they are currently done for adults,” said Steve Wosahla, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Cancer Cause.

    “Kids with cancer need us to put promising new therapies to the test to find the next generation of pediatric treatments. The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act would help by holding trial sponsors accountable and opening the door to exciting treatments that could make all the difference for kids,” said Matt Marks of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville on X: Trump and DOGE are Making the Federal Government Efficient Again

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned an op-ed on X praising the progress President Trump and DOGE have made during Trump’s first month in office to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government and save taxpayers’ money.

    Read excerpts from the piece below or here.

    Trump and DOGE are Making the Federal Government Efficient Again

    “Tax season is upon us, and Americans are once again reminded of how much of their hard-earned paychecks is taken by the federal government. Most Americans use this time to reevaluate their spending habits and consider ways to be more fiscally responsible. Unfortunately, the U.S. government doesn’t do the same. The United States is $36 trillion in debt and we are spending nearly $2 trillion more each year than we bring in. If the United States were a business, we’d be dead broke.

    Thankfully, President Trump is back in the White House and is working around the clock to audit the federal government. On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to create the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), advised by Elon Musk, to take a businesslike approach to auditing waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government. A majority of Americans support the President’s efforts to cut wasteful spending, and they support the work the DOGE is doing. President Trump is making the Federal Government Efficient Again. 

    Thanks to President Trump, the D.C. gravy train is being cut off. So far, Elon Musk and his team have saved American taxpayers a staggering $55 billion. Some of the taxpayer-funded programs that DOGE has uncovered are truly astounding. For example, DOGE found that $59 million was sent by FEMA to house illegal immigrants in fancy New York hotels. It was also discovered that taxpayers were on the hook for a $ 168,000 Anthony Fauci exhibit at the National Institutes of Health Museum, which has thankfully been canceled. DOGE also found $9 million in payments to fund woke programs at the Department of Agriculture, including contracts for “Central American gender assessment consultant services” and “Brazilian forest and gender consultants” – whatever that is.

    In addition to cutting waste, DOGE is also restoring accountability and transparency. Under the Biden administration, the Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit. That’s ridiculous. If a business tried this in the real world, they’d go bankrupt. American taxpayers spend nearly a trillion dollars annually on the U.S. military. The least we can do is provide an accurate accounting of how their money is being spent. To clean this up, President Trump directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to start cutting the Pentagon budget by 8% in each of the next five years. By restoring fiscal sanity to our armed forces, we will ensure we have the long-term resources to continue defending our interests and national security. […]

    Just this weekend, DOGE sent an email to all federal government employees asking for them to submit five things they have accomplished this week. Predictably, the media is throwing a fit about this. When I was a football coach, we had performance reviews where we would discuss an employee’s performance and if they weren’t performing at a certain standard, they would be fired. But apparently, that isn’t allowed in the government.

    DOGE has also shone a light on the corrupt relationship between the bureaucrats and the Mainstream Media. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that more than $8 million taxpayer dollars were used for Politico subscriptions. This doesn’t include other outlets taxpayers have been funding like the New York Times, Associated Press, and Reuters. It is completely inappropriate for taxpayers to be forced to fund the Corporate Media. If American taxpayers want to support these publications, they can subscribe themselves. But most do not, which is perhaps why many of these publications are failing.

    Thanks to President Trump, Americans are finally witnessing a government that is by the people and for the people. The fake news media and the D.C. Swamp are in DEFCON level 1 over DOGE, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a good thing. We should be thanking President Trump and the entire DOGE team for the incredible service they are doing for our country. In fact, as a proud member of the Senate DOGE Caucus, I’m 100% committed to making sure Congress does our part to follow the President’s lead to rightsize the government and cut waste, fraud, and abuse. President Trump promised to fight every day for the American worker – and the hardworking men and women in this country deserve to know that their tax dollars are not being used to fund gender transition surgeries in Africa. Together, we will restore accountability and transparency in Washington and unleash the Golden Age of America.”

    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 United Kingdom: expert reaction to study suggesting high dietary fish intake linked to slowed disability progression in Multiple sclerosis (MS)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looks at fish intake and slowed disability progress in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

    Dr Shelly Coe, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition Science, Oxford Brookes University, said:

    “It is great to see more research into MS and diet approaches for managing symptoms and disability progression, with the current research showing that higher lean and oily fish consumption is associated with a reduced risk of MS disability progression. Benefits of this study include the high sample size and that people with MS have a confirmed diagnosis and are recruited from clinics throughout Sweden.

    “Fish consumption is assessed with a 4-point scale for oily or lean fish intake, and therefore this could result in some limitations; however considering the study design this is overall a suitable method for assessing diet in this population.

    “Those with higher lean and oily fish intake overall showed an association with lower disability progression. More benefits were found in those who consistently had a higher fish consumption over time, however those who increased their fish consumption over time also had an associated reduced disability progression, although less pronounced. This therefore highlights that even if someone with MS changes their diet later in their condition to a diet richer in oily and lean fish, there is still a beneficial association with disability progression to some extent. Overall, analysis seems thorough considering all aspects of the data.”

     

    Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, University of Southampton, said:

    “This is a well-conducted study with robust findings. Sweden has an excellent registry where most people with multiple sclerosis include their data. Using this data, the researchers found that people eating more fish were relatively protected against worsening of their disability.

    “There could be lots of reasons for this. All fish contain important nutrients and amino acids which are beneficial for health. Oily fish contain essential omega-3 fatty acids which cannot be otherwise produced by the human body. UK guidelines recommend we eat at least two portions of fish per week, with at least one of oily fish. However, most people in the UK eat less than this, and only a minority regularly eat oily fish. People with multiple sclerosis already know the importance of a healthy balanced diet, and this study is another bit of evidence to say that eating more fish is good for you.

    “The study also showed that for people who didn’t each much fish and were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, if they started eating more they still benefited. This goes to show that making a lifestyle change after diagnosis can have a positive impact.

    “However, previous studies done in the 1970s looking at fish oil supplementation did not show a strong benefit for people with multiple sclerosis. Dietary studies can be at risk of confounding by hidden factors. One thing this study didn’t look at is whether people who ate less fish were also less well-off. Fish can be expensive, so this could be a factor. We know that people with lower incomes have worse health outcomes (for multiple sclerosis and many other conditions).”

    Dr Ruth Dobson, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:

    “The Swedish EIMS study has done a lot to enhance our understanding of MS epidemiology. The question about fish consumption playing a role in MS susceptibility and/or severity is one that has been hypothesised for some time from a biological basis. Diet is of significant interest to people living with MS, and high quality studies to investigate the effect of diet are hard to do; this study provides a really useful avenue for investigation.

    “There appears to be a consistent dose-response relationship between fish consumption and MS severity, the first time this has been reliably described. Notably, the same is true for physical activity and smoking behaviour, which has been shown before.

    “I don’t think this fully answers the question about whether it is fish consumption directly that influences MS (although this is completely plausible), whether it is synergistic with other lifestyle traits (I think this is most likely), or whether it is purely acting as a surrogate for other lifestyle traits (less likely). They do adjust for some of these but residual confounding remains a concern in all studies like this. But the paper as presented is fair and does discuss this.”

    ‘Impact of fish consumption on disability progression in multiple sclerosis’ Eva Johansson et al. was published in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at 23:30 hours UK time Tuesday 25 February 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-335200

    Declared interests

    Dr Aravinthan Varatharaj: I am involved in trials of disease-modifying treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis. I am also an investigator on the UK MS Register. I have received funding from Roche who make pharmaceuticals for MS.

    Dr Ruth Dobson: No COIs relating to this research.

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: 

         Section 1.  Purpose.  During my first term, my Administration took historic steps to correct a fundamental wrong within the American healthcare system.  For far too long, prices were hidden from patients and employers, with inadequate recourse available to individuals looking to shop for care or obtain pricing information from a healthcare provider in advance of a visit or procedure.  These opaque pricing arrangements allowed powerful entities, such as hospitals and insurance companies, to operate with insufficient accountability regarding their pricing practices, resulting in patients, employers, and taxpayers shouldering the burden of inflated healthcare costs.  

         Pursuant to Executive Order 13877 of June 24, 2019 (Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First), my Administration issued paradigm-shifting regulations to put patients first by requiring hospitals and health plans to deliver meaningful price information to the American people.  These regulations require hospitals to maintain a consumer-friendly display of pricing information for up to 300 shoppable services and a machine-readable file with negotiated rates for every single service the hospital provides; health plans to post their negotiated rates with providers as well as their out-of-network payments to providers and the actual prices they or their pharmacy benefit manager pay for prescription drugs; and health plans to maintain a consumer-facing internet tool through which individuals can access price information. 

         One economic analysis from 2023 estimated the impact of these regulations, if fully implemented, could result in as much as $80 billion in healthcare savings for consumers, employers, and insurers by 2025.  Another report from 2024 suggested healthcare price transparency could help employers reduce healthcare costs by 27 percent across 500 common healthcare services.  Recent data has found the top 25 percent of most expensive healthcare service prices have dropped by 6.3 percent per year following the initial implementation of price transparency during my first term.  

         Unfortunately, progress on price transparency at the Federal level has stalled since the end of my first term.  Hospitals and health plans were not adequately held to account when their price transparency data was incomplete or not even posted at all.  The Biden Administration failed to take sufficient steps to fully enforce my Administration’s requirement that would end the opaque nature of drug prices by ensuring health plans publicly post the true prices they pay for prescription drugs. 

         The American people deserve better.  Making America healthy again will require empowering individuals with the best information possible to inform their life and healthcare choices.  By building on the historic efforts of my first term, my Administration will make more meaningful price information available to patients to support a more competitive, innovative, affordable, and higher quality healthcare system. 
        
         Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to put patients first and ensure they have the information they need to make well-informed healthcare decisions.  The Federal Government will continue to promote universal access to clear and accurate healthcare prices and will take all necessary steps to improve existing price transparency requirements; increase enforcement of price transparency requirements; and identify opportunities to further empower patients with meaningful price information, potentially including through the expansion of existing price transparency requirements. 

         Sec. 3.  Fulfilling the Promise of Radical Transparency.  The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take all necessary and appropriate action to rapidly implement and enforce the healthcare price transparency regulations issued pursuant to Executive Order 13877, including, within 90 days of the date of this order, action to:
         (a)  require the disclosure of the actual prices of items and services, not estimates; 
         (b)  issue updated guidance or proposed regulatory action ensuring pricing information is standardized and easily comparable across hospitals and health plans; and
         (c)  issue guidance or proposed regulatory action updating enforcement policies designed to ensure compliance with the transparent reporting of complete, accurate, and meaningful data.

         Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 
              (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or 
              (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. 
         (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. 
         (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – $6.2M Northland exotic Caulerpa funding welcomed

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    News the Northland Regional Council will receive more than $6M in government funding for groundbreaking work to tackle invasive exotic Caulerpa seaweed is being welcomed even as news comes it has spread to nearby Urupukapuka, Motukiekie and Moturua Islands.
    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced yesterday (subs: Tues 25 Feb) the council had been awarded $6.2 million to progress its large-scale mechanical suction dredging technique centred on Omakiwi Cove, Te Rāwhiti in the Bay of Islands, about 3km from Urupukapuka.
    The funding news comes as authorities reveal exotic Caulerpa has been found recently at Paradise Bay, on the western side of Urupukapuka, at Army/Waiwhapuku Bay (off Moturua Island) as well as at the southern end of Motukiekie Island (west of Urupukapuka.)
    Council chair Geoff Crawford says the exotic Caulerpa was discovered after a member of the public reported what they thought was the seaweed on an anchor at Paradise Bay earlier this month.
    Since then, the council had been diving around the island and working hard with Biosecurity New Zealand to try to determine the extent of the seaweed’s spread and ensure the most effective response. (Previous dives of the area – as recently as April last year – had not revealed any exotic Caulerpa.)
    Chair Crawford says it is still not clear how the exotic Caulerpa had spread there, but likely possibilities included hitching a ride with an unsuspecting yachtie or boatie, or natural dispersal from another site.
    “While this latest development is very concerning, our focus is on ensuring we continue to develop the tools that can fight exotic Caulerpa – without these we haven’t any effective response.”
    He says ongoing government investment in new technologies is critical and with that in mind the council is grateful to Government for the funding announced yesterday.
    “It gives us a chance to remove exotic Caulerpa at scale and prevent the further spread – and the devastating effects – of it.”
    The Minister’s announcement details projects that are financed by a $10 million funding injection last year aimed at driving improvements to technology and getting new tools in the water.
    Chair Crawford says the funding will enable the council to continue an existing relationship with Ōpua-based marine contractor Johnson Bros, which has been working with the council and local mana whenua partners Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū to remove exotic Caulerpa in Omakiwi Cove.
    The relationship saw Andrew Johnson last year develop a world-first large-scale suction dredge technology system, essentially vacuuming the seaweed from the sea floor, using a digger on a barge sporting a custom-built dredge head. (That technology was used to treat approximately two hectares of exotic Caulerpa – discovered there in May 2023 – over six months last year.)
    The latest funding will allow development of a new tool called a ‘submersible dredge planer’ (SDP) which will operate remotely on the seafloor and aims to remove exotic Caulerpa in a single pass.
    The new system will include a remotely operated SDP, dredge head, pumping arrangement, GPS position system, dredge spoil processing plant, and disposal system.
    Chair Crawford says the advantage of an SDP over the current barge system is it has the ability to move more quickly, accurately and easily across the sea floor under its own power. Additionally, it is less likely to be affected by poor weather conditions.
    “While work on the concept is still in the development phase, it’s expected that the tool will be operationally tested at Omakiwi from September.”
    Chair Crawford says the council appreciated the ongoing and tireless efforts of Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū who had worked closely with authorities since exotic Caulerpa’s original discovery in Northland.
    “Our mana whenua partners have been informed of the latest discovery, and we look forward to continuing these relationships as we collectively work to deal with the latest find.”
    He says it is too soon to say what management approach will be taken as a result of the find at Urupukapuka Island, which is about 7km from Paihia and a popular destination for yachties and other holidaymakers.
    “The council is liaising with Biosecurity New Zealand on the appropriate measures to take.”
    In the meantime, boaties and fishers are urged to be cautious when using the affected areas as they have a key role in avoiding the spread of this pest.
    Chair Crawford says exotic Caulerpa can get snagged on anchors, chains and dive and fishing gear and be accidentally moved to new locations.
    He says there are a few simple actions people can take to avoid this.
    “When out at sea – before leaving a location, check your vessel’s anchor and anchor chain, and any equipment you’ve used in the water for any tangled seaweed.” “If you have an automatic retrieval system, still look out for any attached pieces of seaweed.”
    He says if any type of seaweed is found, it should be removed, bagged or contained securely so it can’t get back into the water and taken ashore for disposal in a rubbish bin.
    “If you can’t securely contain it so it can’t get back into the water – put it back into the water it came from.”
    If someone finds they’ve picked up seaweed when they arrived back at shore, they should remove it and put it in the rubbish.
    Chair Crawford says suspected sightings of exotic Caulerpa – including any washed up on beaches – should be reported to Biosecurity New Zealand.
    “Take a photo, if possible, and note the location then either call them on freephone (0800) 809 966 or complete the online form at: report.mpi.govt.nz “
    He says full information about exotic Caulerpa and the legal controls is at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gang members charged after firearms discovery

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have recovered a cache of firearms at a Papatoetoe property overnight.

    Earlier in the evening, just before 8.30pm, the Police Eagle helicopter located a vehicle of interest from a previous firearms incident.

    Inspector Dave Christoffersen, Area Commander for Counties Manukau West, says in that incident a firearm had allegedly been presented at a person on Monday night.

    “After Eagle located the vehicle on Ferndown Avenue, ground staff made an approach to the address it was parked outside,” he says.

    “Armed staff voice appealed for the occupants to come outside, to which they complied.”

    Police carried out a search of the address.

    Inside, numerous firearms along with ammunition were located, Inspector Christoffersen says.

    These included: two shotguns, two SKS assault rifles, a MSSA rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

    Police have since arrested and charged two patched members of the TwoEight Brotherhood gang.

    The pair, aged 27 and 34, face 10 charges each relating to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

    They will appear in the Manukau District Court today.

    “This is an outstanding result from our frontline staff working to keep the community safe last night,” Inspector Christoffersen says.

    “There is no tolerance for intimidation or violence, and we will continue to go after those who are involving themselves in this offending.

    “Police will continue to investigate the initial firearms incident from Monday night, which fortunately did not result in any injuries.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beating the Odds: Patient Survives Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism with Help from UConn Health

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On November 6, 2023, Susan D’Addario of Farmington suffered a sudden and life-threatening pulmonary embolism at home. Her husband Peter immediately sprang into action, performing CPR until first responders arrived. Thanks to his quick thinking and the expert care at UConn John Dempsey Hospital, Susan survived against all odds.

    Once at the hospital, Emergency Department physician, Dr. Matthew Ledford administered a dose of tPA, a medication, commonly used to treat pulmonary embolism as a “clot-busting” drug that breaks down blood clots in the lungs, restoring blood flow.

    Susan was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where her condition remained under close observation. Her care was assumed by ICU physicians Dr. Debapriya Datta, Dr. Raymond Foley, and the ICU team. When her progress remained limited, the team consulted Dr. Juyong Lee, an interventional cardiologist.

    Lee successfully removed the clots blocking her arteries, giving Susan a second chance at life. With only 5% of pulmonary embolism cases surviving such a crisis, Susan knows just how fortunate she is.  She is grateful to Drs. Lee, Datta, Foley, Ledford and the ICU team that included residents, Drs. Erind Muco, Kiroloss Eskander, Bianca Thakker, Daphne Gonzalez Aponte, Dr. Angela Quental, Fellow, Kellie McPherson, RN, Stacy Philips, APP and Randy Lebron, Nurse’s Aide.

    Susan’s story is a testament to the importance of heart health, rapid emergency response, and the dedicated medical professionals who make survival possible. It also highlights the vital role that UConn Health’s cardiovascular experts play in saving lives every day.

    Recently, Susan met Dr. Lee for the first time, and together they spoke with WFSB’s Great Day CT about her experience, pulmonary embolisms, and the critical importance of knowing CPR.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: MidCap Financial Investment Corporation Reports Financial Results for the Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Results for the Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024 and Other Recent Highlights:

    • Net investment income per share for the quarter was $0.40
    • Net asset value per share as of the end of the quarter was $14.98, compared to $15.10 as of September 30, 2024, a decrease of 0.8%
    • New investment commitments made during the quarter totaled $255 million(1)
    • Gross fundings, excluding revolver fundings(2), totaled $248 million for the quarter
    • Net repayments, including revolvers(2), totaled $6 million for the quarter
    • Net leverage(3) was 1.16x as of December 31, 2024
    • On February 21, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a dividend of $0.38 per share payable on March 27, 2025 to stockholders of record as of March 11, 2025(4)
    • On February 24, 2025, the Company closed its second Collateralized Loan Obligation (“CLO”) transaction, MFIC Bethesda CLO 2 LLC (the “Bethesda CLO 2 Issuer”), a $529.6 million CLO secured by middle market loans, adding $399.0 million of secured debt capital with a weighted average price of SOFR + 161 basis points(5)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MidCap Financial Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: MFIC) or the “Company,” today announced financial results for its quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s net investment income was $0.40 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $0.44 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company’s net asset value (“NAV”) was $14.98 per share as of December 31, 2024, compared to $15.10 as of September 30, 2024.

    On February 21, 2025, the Board declared a dividend of $0.38 per share payable on March 27, 2025 to stockholders of record as of March 11, 2025.

    Mr. Tanner Powell, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “In the December quarter, we generated solid net investment income despite a modest amount of fee income and the impact of lower base rates. The vast majority of our portfolio is performing well and we are observing stability in certain credit metrics.” Mr. Powell continued, “MFIC is fortunate to have access to the significant volume of loans originated by MidCap Financial, a leading middle market lender managed by an affiliate of Apollo, which we believe provides MFIC with a significant deal sourcing advantage. While our market remains competitive, we observed a modest increase in spreads on new commitments compared to the previous quarter, at what we believe to be attractive leverage entry points. We took advantage of strength in the liquid credit markets to continue selling certain assets acquired from our recently completed mergers with Apollo Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. and Apollo Tactical Income Fund, Inc. and prudently deployed proceeds from these sales, along with the investment capacity generated from the mergers, into first lien floating rate middle market loans originated by MidCap Financial. We have a clear and straightforward plan to gradually increase leverage over the coming quarters and we believe MFIC’s future results are well-positioned to benefit as we re-lever back to our target level.”

    Mr. Gregory W. Hunt, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, said, “We are pleased to announce MFIC closed its second on balance sheet CLO transaction earlier this week. This CLO transaction adds attractive term-based financing at what we believe to be among the tightest levels achieved for a middle market CLO, reflecting the high quality of the underlying loans. MFIC significantly benefited from MidCap Financial and Apollo Global’s expertise in CLO management and structuring.”

    ___________________ 

    (1) Commitments made for the direct origination portfolio.
    (2) During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, direct origination revolver fundings totaled $55 million, direct origination revolver repayments totaled $56 million.
    (3) The Company’s net leverage ratio is defined as debt outstanding plus payable for investments purchased, less receivable for investments sold, less cash and cash equivalents, less foreign currencies, divided by net assets.
    (4) There can be no assurances that the Board will continue to declare a base dividend of $0.38 per share.
    (5) The Company retained all Class D Notes and all Subordinated Notes in the CLO transaction.
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     
    ($ in billions, except per share data) December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		     December 31,
    2023
    Total assets $ 3.19     $ 3.22     $ 2.55     $ 2.45     $ 2.50
    Investment portfolio (fair value) $ 3.01     $ 3.03     $ 2.44     $ 2.35     $ 2.33
    Debt outstanding $ 1.75     $ 1.77     $ 1.51     $ 1.41     $ 1.46
    Net assets $ 1.40     $ 1.42     $ 1.00     $ 1.01     $ 1.01
    Net asset value per share $ 14.98     $ 15.10     $ 15.38     $ 15.42     $ 15.41
                                         
    Debt-to-equity ratio   1.25 x       1.25 x       1.51 x       1.40 x       1.45 x
    Net leverage ratio (1)   1.16 x       1.16 x       1.45 x       1.35 x       1.34 x

    ____________________
    (1) The Company’s net leverage ratio is defined as debt outstanding plus payable for investments purchased, less receivable for investments sold, less cash and cash equivalents, less foreign currencies, divided by net assets.

     
    PORTFOLIO AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
     
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     Year Ended December 31,  
    (in millions)*   2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Investments made in portfolio companies   $ 303.5     $ 134.1     $ 1,613.6     $ 417.1  
    Investments sold     (82.9 )     —       (271.5 )     —  
    Net activity before repaid investments     220.6       134.1       1,342.1       417.1  
    Investments repaid     (226.9 )     (180.7 )     (657.5 )     (504.3 )
    Net investment activity   $ (6.4 )   $ (46.5 )   $ 684.6     $ (87.2 )
                                     
    Portfolio companies, at beginning of period     250       149       152       135  
    Number of investments in new portfolio companies     11       10       167       32  
    Number of exited companies     (28 )     (7 )     (86 )     (15 )
    Portfolio companies at end of period     233       152       233       152  
                                     
    Number of investments in existing portfolio companies     83       48       130       84  

    ____________________
    * Totals may not foot due to rounding.

     
    OPERATING RESULTS
     
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		     Year Ended
    December 31,    		  
    (in millions)*   2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Net investment income   $ 37.1     $ 29.8     $ 133.3     $ 116.0  
    Net realized and change in unrealized gains (losses)     (13.0 )     3.5       (34.5 )     2.8  
    Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   $ 24.1     $ 33.3     $ 98.8     $ 118.8  
                                     
    (per share)* (1)                                
    Net investment income on per average share basis   $ 0.40     $ 0.46     $ 1.71     $ 1.78  
    Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) per share     (0.14 )     0.05       (0.44 )     0.04  
    Earnings per share — basic   $ 0.26     $ 0.51     $ 1.27     $ 1.82  

    ____________________
    * Totals may not foot due to rounding.

    (1)  Based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period presented.

    SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM*

    During the three months ended December 31, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any shares.

    Since the inception of the share repurchase program and through February 24, 2025, the Company repurchased 15,593,120 shares at a weighted average price per share of $15.91, inclusive of commissions, for a total cost of $248.1 million, leaving a maximum of $26.9 million available for future purchases under the current Board authorization of $275 million.

    * Share figures have been adjusted for the 1-for-3 reverse stock split which was completed after market close on November 30, 2018.

    LIQUIDITY

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s outstanding debt obligations, excluding deferred financing cost and debt discount of $5.5 million, totaled $1.757 billion which was comprised of $350 million of Senior Unsecured Notes (the “2025 Notes”) which will mature on March 3, 2025, $125 million of Unsecured Notes (the “2026 Notes”) which will mature on July 16, 2026, $80 million of Unsecured Notes (the “2028 Notes”) which will mature on December 15, 2028, $232 million outstanding Class A-1 Notes in MFIC Bethesda CLO 1 LLC and $970.1 million outstanding under the multi-currency revolving credit facility (the “Facility”). As of December 31, 2024, $7.8 million in standby letters of credit were issued through the Facility. The available remaining commitment under the Facility was $682.0 million as of December 31, 2024, which is subject to compliance with a borrowing base that applies different advance rates to different types of assets in the Company’s portfolio.

    On February 24, 2025, the Company completed a $529.6 million CLO transaction, a form of secured financing incurred by Bethesda CLO 2 Issuer, an indirect wholly owned, consolidated subsidiary of the Company. The notes offered by Bethesda CLO 2 Issuer in connection with the CLO transaction consist of $304.5 million of AAA(sf) Class A-1 Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2037, which bear interest at the three-month SOFR plus 1.48%, $21.0 million of AAA(sf) Class A-2 Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2037, which bear interest at three-month SOFR plus 1.70%, $31.5 million of AA(sf) Class B Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2037, which bear interest at three-month SOFR plus 1.85%, $42 million of A(sf) Class C Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2037, which bear interest at three-month SOFR plus 2.30%, $31.5 million of BBB-(sf) Class D Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2037, which bear interest at three-month SOFR plus 3.75% and $99.1 million of Subordinated notes due 2125, which do not bear interest. The notes offered in the CLO transaction are structured as follows: 

    Class   Par Amount
    ($ in millions)    		     % of Capital
    Structure    		   Coupon   Expected Rating
    (S&P/Fitch)    		   Price
    Class A-1 Notes   $ 304.50     57.5 %   3M SOFR + 1.48%   AAA/AAA   100.00 %
    Class A-2 Notes     21.00     4.0 %   3M SOFR + 1.70%   AAA/NR   100.00 %
    Class B Notes     31.50     5.9 %   3M SOFR + 1.85%   AA/NR   100.00 %
    Class C Notes     42.00     7.9 %   3M SOFR + 2.30%   A/NR   100.00 %
    Class D Notes     31.50     5.9 %   3M SOFR + 3.75%   BBB-/NR   100.00 %
    Subordinated Notes     99.10     18.7 %   N/A   NR   100.00 %
    Total   $ 529.60                  
                             

    The CLO transaction is backed by a diversified portfolio of middle-market commercial loans, which Bethesda CLO 2 Issuer purchased from the Company pursuant to a loan sale agreement entered into on February 24, 2025, using the proceeds of the CLO transaction. The Company retained all Class D Notes and all Subordinated Notes and the proceeds from the CLO transaction were used to repay borrowings under the Company’s Facility. The Company serves as collateral manager to Bethesda CLO 2 Issuer, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as initial purchaser and Apollo Global Securities, LLC acted as placement agent.2C

    CONFERENCE CALL / WEBCAST AT 8:30 AM EST ON FEBRUARY 26, 2025

    The Company will also host a conference call on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. All interested parties are welcome to participate in the conference call by dialing (800) 225-9448 approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call; international callers should dial (203) 518-9708. Participants should reference either MidCap Financial Investment Corporation Earnings or Conference ID: MFIC0226 when prompted. A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis and can be accessed through the Events tab in the Shareholders section of our website at www.midcapfinancialic.com. Following the call, you may access a replay of the event either telephonically or via audio webcast. The telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after the live call and through March 19, 2025, by dialing (800) 839-5123; international callers should dial (402) 220-2689. A replay of the audio webcast will also be available later that same day. To access the audio webcast please visit the Events Calendar in the Shareholders section of our website at www.midcapfinancialic.com.

    SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

    The Company provides a supplemental information package to offer more transparency into its financial results and make its reporting more informative and easier to follow. The supplemental package is available in the Shareholders section of the Company’s website under Presentations at www.midcapfinancialic.com.

    Our portfolio composition and weighted average yields as of December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, June 30, 2024, March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023 were as follows:

      December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		 June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Portfolio composition, at fair value:                            
    First lien secured debt   92%     91%     90%     90%     89%
    Second lien secured debt   1%     1%     1%     1%     1%
    Total secured debt   93%     92%     91%     91%     90%
    Unsecured debt   0%     0%     —%     —%     —%
    Structured products and other   1%     2%     1%     1%     2%
    Preferred equity   1%     1%     1%     1%     1%
    Common equity/interests and warrants   5%     5%     7%     7%     7%
    Weighted average yields, at amortized cost (1):                            
    First lien secured debt (2)   10.8%     11.1%     11.9%     12.0%     12.1%
    Second lien secured debt (2)   14.4%     14.0%     14.1%     14.1%     13.7%
    Total secured debt (2)   10.8%     11.1%     11.9%     12.0%     12.1%
    Unsecured debt portfolio (2)   9.5%     9.5%     —%     —%     —%
    Total debt portfolio (2)   10.8%     11.1%     11.9%     12.0%     12.1%
    Total portfolio (3)   9.5%     9.6%     9.9%     10.0%     10.1%
    Interest rate type, at fair value (4):                            
    Fixed rate amount $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion
    Floating rate amount $ 2.7 billion   $ 2.7 billion   $ 2.1 billion   $ 2.0 billion   $ 2.0 billion
    Fixed rate, as percentage of total   1%     1%     0%     0%     0%
    Floating rate, as percentage of total   99%     99%     100%     100%     100%
    Interest rate type, at amortized cost (4):                            
    Fixed rate amount $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion   $ 0.0 billion
    Floating rate amount $ 2.7 billion   $ 2.7 billion   $ 2.1 billion   $ 2.0 billion   $ 2.0 billion
    Fixed rate, as percentage of total   1%     1%     0%     0%     0%
    Floating rate, as percentage of total   99%     99%     100%     100%     100%
    (1) An investor’s yield may be lower than the portfolio yield due to sales loads and other expenses.
    (2) Exclusive of investments on non-accrual status.
    (3) Inclusive of all income generating investments, non-income generating investments and investments on non-accrual status.
    (4) The interest rate type information is calculated using the Company’s corporate debt portfolio and excludes aviation and investments on non-accrual status.
       
     
    MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)
     
        December 31,
    2024    		     December 31,
    2023    		  
                   
    Assets                
    Investments at fair value:                
    Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments (cost — $2,700,957 and $2,012,273, respectively)   $ 2,605,329      $ 1,936,327  
    Non-controlled/affiliated investments (cost — $142,686 and $130,648, respectively)     84,334       77,528  
    Controlled investments (cost — $333,754 and $395,221, respectively)     324,753       320,344  
    Cash and cash equivalents     74,357       93,575  
    Foreign currencies (cost — $1,487 and $28,563, respectively)     1,429       28,553  
    Receivable for investments sold     57,195       2,796  
    Interest receivable     19,289       21,441  
    Dividends receivable     709       1,327  
    Deferred financing costs     23,555       19,435  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     —       5  
    Total Assets   $ 3,190,950     $ 2,501,331  
                     
    Liabilities                
    Debt   $ 1,751,621     $ 1,462,267  
    Payable for investments purchased     4,190       —  
    Management fees payable     6,247       4,397  
    Performance-based incentive fees payable     5,336       6,332  
    Interest payable     12,813       14,494  
    Accrued administrative services expense     60       1,657  
    Other liabilities and accrued expenses     6,037       6,874  
    Total Liabilities   $ 1,786,304     $ 1,496,021  
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)                
    Net Assets   $ 1,404,646     $ 1,005,310  
                     
    Net Assets                
    Common stock, $0.001 par value (130,000,000 shares authorized; 93,780,278 and 65,253,275 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)   $ 94     $ 65  
    Capital in excess of par value     2,658,090       2,103,718  
    Accumulated under-distributed (over-distributed) earnings     (1,253,538 )     (1,098,473 )
    Net Assets   $ 1,404,646     $ 1,005,310  
                     
    Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 14.98     $ 15.41  
     
    MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (In thousands, except per share data)
     
        Year Ended December 31,     Nine Months Ended
    December 31,    		  
        2024     2023     2022  
    Investment Income                        
    Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments:                        
    Interest income (excluding Payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest income)   $ 265,157     $ 249,102     $ 143,564  
    Dividend income     40       409       61  
    PIK interest income     12,011       2,012       1,156  
    Other income     4,147       3,727       2,234  
    Non-controlled/affiliated investments:                        
    Interest income (excluding PIK interest income)     2,685       1,126       363  
    Dividend income     726       1,010       718  
    PIK interest income     140       125       58  
    Controlled investments:                        
    Interest income (excluding PIK interest income)     16,781       17,892       25,530  
    PIK interest income     —       869       1,448  
    Other income     95       250       477  
    Total Investment Income   $ 301,782     $ 276,522     $ 175,609  
    Expenses                        
    Management fees   $ 19,450     $ 17,369     $ 26,621  
    Performance-based incentive fees     21,548       24,565       5,691  
    Interest and other debt expenses     115,961       104,198       59,363  
    Administrative services expense     4,120       5,840       4,188  
    Other general and administrative expenses     8,176       10,131       6,551  
    Total expenses     169,255       162,103       102,414  
    Performance-based incentive fee offset     —       (274 )     (178 )
    Expense reimbursements     (769 )     (1,306 )     (770 )
    Net Expenses   $ 168,486     $ 160,523     $ 101,466  
    Net Investment Income   $ 133,296     $ 115,999     $ 74,143  
    Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses)                        
    Net realized gains (losses):                        
    Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments   $ (4,273 )   $ 131     $ 1,977  
    Non-controlled/affiliated investments     (11,668 )     —       (2,224 )
    Controlled investments     (60,487 )     —       (69,265 )
    Foreign currency transactions     (592 )     69       273  
    Net realized gains (losses)     (77,020 )     200       (69,239 )
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses):                        
    Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments     (19,626 )     (1,326 )     (35,113 )
    Non-controlled/affiliated investments     (5,232 )     3,799       (5,008 )
    Controlled investments     65,876       2,636       53,726  
    Foreign currency translations     1,525       (2,548 )     4,431  
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses)     42,543       2,561       18,036  
    Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses)   $ (34,477 )   $ 2,761     $ (51,203 )
    Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   $ 98,819     $ 118,760     $ 22,940  
    Earnings (Loss) Per Share — Basic     1.27       1.82       0.36  
                             

    Important Information

    Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Company before investing. The prospectus dated April 12, 2023, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), contains this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. An effective shelf registration statement relating to certain securities of the Company is on file with the SEC. Any offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Before you invest, you should read the base prospectus in that registration statement, the prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference therein, which the issuer has filed with the SEC, for more complete information about the Company and an offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

    The information in the prospectus and in this announcement is not complete and may be changed. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

    Past performance is not indicative of, or a guarantee of, future performance. The performance and certain other portfolio information quoted herein represents information as of dates noted herein. Nothing herein shall be relied upon as a representation as to the future performance or portfolio holdings of the Company. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Company’s performance is subject to change since the end of the period noted in this report and may be lower or higher than the performance data shown herein.

    About MidCap Financial Investment Corporation

    MidCap Financial Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: MFIC) is a closed-end, externally managed, diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the 1940 Act. For tax purposes, the Company has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company is externally managed by the Investment Adviser, an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Apollo”), a high-growth global alternative asset manager. The Company’s investment objective is to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. The Company primarily invests in directly originated and privately negotiated first lien senior secured loans to privately held U.S. middle-market companies, which the Company generally defines as companies with less than $75 million in EBITDA, as may be adjusted for market disruptions, mergers and acquisitions-related charges and synergies, and other items. To a lesser extent, the Company may invest in other types of securities including, first lien unitranche, second lien senior secured, unsecured, subordinated, and mezzanine loans, and equities in both private and public middle market companies. For more information, please visit www.midcapfinancialic.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events, future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements may include statements as to: future operating results of MFIC and distribution projections; business prospects of MFIC, and the prospects of its portfolio companies, if applicable; and the impact of the investments that MFIC expects to make. In addition, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “plan,” “should,” “estimate,” “project” and “intend” indicate forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected, including the uncertainties associated with: future changes in laws or regulations (including the interpretation of these laws and regulations by regulatory authorities); changes in general economic conditions, including the impact of supply chain disruptions, or changes in financial markets, and the risk of recession; changes in the interest rate environment and levels of general interest rates and the impact of inflation; the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; new strategic initiatives; the ability to reposition the investment portfolio; the market outlook; future investment activity; and risks associated with changes in business conditions and the general economy. MFIC has based the forward-looking statements included in this press release on information available to it on the date hereof, and assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although MFIC undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that they may make directly to you or through reports that MFIC in the future may file with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

    Contact

    Elizabeth Besen
    Investor Relations Manager
    MidCap Financial Investment Corporation
    212.822.0625
    ebesen@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Johnson, Grassley to the National Archives: The American People Deserve a Full Accounting of Joe Biden’s Activities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) highlighting multiple requests — some dating back to June 2021 — for records relating to Joe Biden and his family business dealings. For years, NARA failed to provide the requested records, but now that both Sens. Johnson and Grassley hold gavels, they are reiterating their previous requests. 

    “Since 2021, we have conducted oversight of Joe Biden’s use of multiple pseudonyms and personal email addresses for official government business when he served as Vice President. Despite our multiple requests for information, the Biden White House failed to respond. Our offices have also sent five letters to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), requesting documents in NARA’s possession that are vital to our oversight. Unfortunately, as we will explain, NARA has also failed to provide all the information that we have sought involving Joe Biden,”the senators wrote. 

    “Although former President Biden is no longer in office and he pardoned his son Hunter and other family members, we believe it is of importance to review these records so the American people have a full accounting of Joe Biden and his family’s activities while Joe Biden was in government,”the senators continued.

    Read more about Chairman Johnson’s letter on Fox News.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Amendment of the regulation governing fishing opportunities and the multiannual plan for the Mediterranean – E-000190/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Western Mediterranean management plan[1] (MAP) aims to secure a sustainable and profitable future for the sector relying on healthy fish stocks. The Commission recognises the significant efforts made by the fishers and has worked with all stakeholders to implement the MAP since its adoption by the co-legislators.

    While the annual fishing opportunities have gradually reduced trawling effort since 2020, numerous flexibilities alleviated the reduction, such as additional days granted by the compensation mechanism. Under the MAP, all demersal fisheries have remained open, profitable and can benefit from European financial assistance, such as the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, when opting for sustainable practices.

    As regards the future of this MAP, the Commission would not outrightly exclude a possible amendment. Any possible amendment would have to be considered in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy evaluation, to ensure coherence in terms of principles and objectives, as well as respect the level playing field with other EU sea basins.

    In the meantime, the implementation of the current legal framework will have to continue to facilitate stock recovery and the sustainability of the sector, taking advantage of the expanded compensation mechanism unanimously agreed by the Fisheries Ministers last December, which creates a win-win situation: recovered fishing days and more sustainable fishing.

    The difficulties faced by Mediterranean fishers will not disappear if the stocks they rely on do not recover. It is therefore crucial to implement the MAP to secure stock recovery and the sector’s profitability.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 establishing a multiannual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea and amending Regulation (EU) No 508/2014. OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 1-17.
    Last updated: 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Announces Measures to Protect Communities Against Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 25, 2025

    Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced further measures to protect communities from illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking and street use in the province.

    The measures enacted will provide additional tools to remove fentanyl and methamphetamine from our communities, significantly deter anyone from trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, and prevent street-level use to help protect the health and safety of all citizens and ensure our medical system is not undermined by these harmful substances.  

    “These drugs have caused immense harm in our communities, leading to addiction, crime and loss of life,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “We are taking a firm stance to disrupt the flow of fentanyl and methamphetamine while also providing options for offenders to access the resources necessary for recovery.”

    These measures will include: 

    • Creating provincial penalties, including fines up to $1 million in some cases, to stop the unauthorized, production, transportation, distribution and use of these substances outside approved medical use. 
    • Examining updates to the Fine Option program that will allow offenders to receive credit against court-imposed fines if the offender attends eligible addictions programming.
    • Focusing efforts under The Seizure of Criminal Property Act, 2009 that allow the government to seize property that was either gained through illegal activities or used to commit crimes. 
    • Prioritizing drug-related offenders, ensuring they are appropriately apprehended and held accountable, as part of the Warrant Intelligence Team’s efforts to enhance public safety and disrupt illegal drug activity. The Warrant Intelligence Team will also work with government ministries to suspend government benefits to these offenders.
    • Updating the Trespass to Property Regulations to classify drug use and other disruptive activities as trespassing, to defend against these activities in semi-public spaces.
    • Including dangerous, drug-related items as street weapons in The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, allowing police to seize these items and in some cases lay charges under the Act.
    • Implementing policies to cancel provincial licenses for people convicted of drug-related crimes including driver’s licences, provincial firearms licences, hunting and fishing licences, and in some cases business and other municipal licenses and provincial benefits.

    “We all know that these illicit drugs are hurting our people,” Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum said. “It is more important than ever to work together with all governments – federal, provincial, Métis and Frist Nations in coordination to deter illegal activity but also work with those wanting to start the recovery path. We want to support these people with programming and transitioning into recovery-based living. The Government of Saskatchewan has committed to meaningful engagement with Métis Nation-Saskatchewan on the details of and before the implementation of these changes.”

    Fentanyl and methamphetamine are increasingly the cause of overdose deaths, violent crime and community instability. By addressing both the supply and demand sides of the issue, these measures work toward reducing drug-related harm, improving public safety and fostering healthier, more stable neighborhoods and communities.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Podcast with Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Podcast with Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios

    SPEAKER 1: Games in this podcast range from E to M.

    TINA AMINI: Hello, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I’m here with a very special guest today, I get the great pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Game Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, not to be confused with your Xbox Game Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So I’m in charge of this as well? This is new, like this is — that’s, I didn’t realize that.

    TINA AMINI: We don’t make games here–

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.

    TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we don’t make games here, we do make games marketing here, as well as this lovely podcast. So yes, thank you so much for joining the podcast. I do want to start with kind of giving the community a little bit of context about your very storied history and career in games. You’ve been in games for two decades, so you’ve seen a lot, you’ve seen the ups and down of the industry, the literal ups and downs.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: You’ve also been lauded where you were Studio Head at Rare for many years. You’ve been lauded for your work there. The studio culture, obviously you shipped Rare Replay, you’ve been in charge of Sea of Thieves for its millions, aka seven years it’s been ongoing now. And you actually have been working with Ninja Theory and Compulsion before this new role. So you’ve been around the block, as they say.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s been a fun couple of decades, and I love what I do, like that’s why I do what I do. And very lucky to see a bunch of the transition on the games industry, joined back in 2002, I worked for a European publisher called Codemasters that was kind of my learn how to make games, made a bunch of different kind of games; action games, sports games, then a little bit of (inaudible) midway games, a little bit of (inaudible) digital, and then joined Rare to lead them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and change over, I guess 14 years I’ve been with Xbox now. And really, the part of the job I love more than anything is working with studios. I think everyone’s role is important, and I think my job as a leader is to help create the right environment for our teams to be successful, create a culture where they can support each other, help each other. Making games is really hard, it’s not any easier now than it was 20 years ago. In fact, it’s harder than ever, competition is higher, player expectations are higher. So, I think my job is about creating the culture and supporting our leaders, supporting our teams to do the very best work they can, because I think if I do that, then hopefully that shows in the games we make and what goes to our players.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. Honestly a favorite part of my job too, just getting to know all of our talent at our studios. Like incredible talent, so an incredible job that you have in front of you. But well-suited to the role, obviously, since you’ve had a lot of that pedigree, which is —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: — exciting and I’m happy for the studios and how we’re moving forward. So, I’d love to talk about that as well, like we’ve got a big and exciting year ahead of us. We kicked off the year with Developer Direct. I want to talk about the games that were in Developer Direct, because we’ve got a chance to talk about the release dates so we know what’s coming, when it’s coming. But we also just released Avowed, Obsidian’s latest game. So I’ve been spending the weekend playing that myself. How about you?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I mean, again, the lucky part of this job, spend time with all the teams, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian team. And then really, like I feel like I’ve been playing Avowed for like three or four months, because we’ve — yeah, we obviously look at what we’re building. But just seeing the reaction of players, seeing the reviews, seeing just people share the same love for the (inaudible), they’ve got so much passion, Carrie, Feargus, all of the team, so much passion into the game. And yeah, it’s a wonderful game, it’s got wonderful story. If you haven’t checked it out, go check it out. But just seeing all the reviews and it’s a real personal moment for a team when you put a game out there.

    TINA AMINI: Absolutely.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: And just seeing the reactions and just some of the hype around the game, and people really enjoying it, I think’s been great to see.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I’m unfortunately only five hours in, so immediately when we wrap up I’m going home and I’m playing some more.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: This has been officially sanctioned. But even five hours in there’s so much depth and richness.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And we’ve had the pleasure of having Carrie Patel, Game Director, out on the podcast before. She’s been on Extended with me, so I’ve gotten to talk to her quite a bit. I love Carrie, shout out to Carrie.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, absolutely. And just Obsidians play the game your way, and just like Avowed, sure it’s a game you can play through the story and through the side quests, but there’s actually quite a lot of the way you load out with your character, that you can really play the game in very, very different ways and I love that. >> Yeah. It’s both the game play, but then it’s also the exploration which is really cool. I was just at DICE and a lot of my journalist friends were telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it’s like yes, we’ve been basically talking about the verticality in the podcast with Carrie and there is so much to do and there is that sense of, I see that thing in the distance and I want to go engage with that thing. And there’s something in that environment for you to do. Yeah, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And it’s like my kind of game, and been seeing a lot of good reviews out there.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and just like the story and the setting and like I’m super happy for Obsidian and —

    TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I’m loving Kai so far. He’s like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it’s personality-wise, we’re a good fit.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I love that.

    TINA AMINI: Well, we also had a bunch of other games showcased in Developer Direct this year. First off, I just have to say, I absolutely love working on that show. It’s both because we get to like really embed with the studios, like at their studio, so all of the audience gets to see what is the studio environment and like what is the culture, how are people working together. And it’s just such a beautiful storytelling format, I think, if I’m —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I love the format and I think just, and I think you said it well earlier, just putting our talent, like we have so many — so much talent across our studios and just the more you put them — I always feel a little bit of a shill when I come and do this thing. It’s like, you don’t really want to hear from me talking about our games, you want to hear from our team members, and Developer Direct is just a really great setting for them to talk about the games and the passion and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which obviously a team I’ve worked super closely with. And hearing them tell the story and the inspiration, it’s a great format.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I love the Compulsion team, this is actually their third ever game, which is pretty incredible.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.

    TINA AMINI: They have a very unique style, if you’ve, if the community our there has played their previous two games as well. People were really celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there’s so much heart in that game and I love to see people enjoying that when I’ve seen the reviews.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s a, and again, very, very lucky I’ve been playing it a lot. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there’s no game I can think of that’s been in a setting that they’ve realized and it’s beautiful, the art’s beautiful. The, like I said, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —

    TINA AMINI: The music too, yes. Especially the music, you always, in every game the music is definitely matching the tone, like the ambience. Are you in a boss fight, or are you just in an environmental kind of more peaceful setting. But the way that the music’s like literally speaking to the bosses.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s the storytelling.

    TINA AMINI: It’s their theme song. Exactly.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s incredible.

    TINA AMINI: I thought it was so clever. Yeah. So I was really happy to have that in our show, that one’s coming out April 8, we announced in Developer Direct. Fun fact actually, before we talk about the other games, is Art Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she actually designed their whole studios too. The studio space itself. And it is gorgeous.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s a wonderful place, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: — I wanted to steal her over and help design our of offices and he said, absolutely not. So that’s not happening.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a different thing, I’m like hey, I can just be based in here. Because —

    TINA AMINI: Yes.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: — it just feels so creative and it’s back to back, you want to be surrounded by the things that inspire you.

    TINA AMINI: Yes and you feel the creativity when you’re there.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, absolutely.

    TINA AMINI: I very much love their space and that’s the beauty of Developer Direct, you get to see some of that in the environmental storytelling that we do in the show. But we also had a very exciting reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. So that’s been in the works for some time. What is our backstory with that franchise?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I love the story behind that. So, not only Team Ninja, but along with Platinum Games and I know there was a lot of, what are Platinum Games working on, really prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I mean it’s a franchise started on arcade and then home computers. And I guess, I think the original Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden version, if my memory serves me correctly. But it’s also a franchise that’s been synonymous with Xbox over the years in multiple generations. So, just to bring a super up-to-date, highly polished, just seeing just the pace of combat, the excitement, the boss — like it’s got so much. And I think fans are going to be blown away by the game. They’re going to enjoy it. I actually love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as well.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, a little bonus surprise, yes.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: And just the fact that we get to have those kind of surprises in the shows and people can go play it immediately on Game Pass is really great, and look forward to Ninja Gaiden 4 later this year.

    TINA AMINI: Exactly, it’s such a good way to just kind of set it back up and scratch that nostalgia itch, and then remind the community about like the great prowess and —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s been a while since the last one —

    TINA AMINI: Yes, exactly. Yeah.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, just putting it back on people’s radars and what was great about the franchise, but the publishing team really excited about it. Everything we’re seeing, like we think the game’s shaping up really well. So.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, we have so much love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my team that took on that particular segment and flew to Japan and worked with the studio, used to back in the day work for IGN, 10 years ago was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very special for a lot of us internally at Xbox, to be kind of bringing this out into the world with those teams and get the community as excited as we are —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s a great franchise.

    TINA AMINI: — really special. Yes, absolutely. Well, we also had third-party friends show up —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: You did?

    TINA AMINI: — with a new studio, Sandfall Interactive, this is their first game that they’re ever shipping together as a team, and it’s Expedition 33. It looks gorgeous.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I’m excited to play this one. Like, and again, this is the bit where it’s not part of my job, but it was the, it was the game in the show that I’m like hey, I really like it. JRPG, plus unique setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I’m really excited to play. I think I’ve seen as much as anyone else has seen, but —

    TINA AMINI: The only one you can say that with.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Absolutely, but what I love about Developer Direct again, is it showcasing a new studio, a new IP, and I love that we can do that on the biggest stage and show that to the world. So.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that team is really wonderful. I got to spend time with them working on their segment together. Their love for JRPGs is just so apparent. They were so embedded in their segment it was like such a pleasure to work with them and help them tell their story.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Incredible.

    TINA AMINI: Yes, absolutely, they really have their own like unique positioning on it, and like really making it their own. It’s very fun to learn from the behind the scenes, like just how much they’re putting into this game, and we announced it’s coming out April 24, so —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes, very soon.

    TINA AMINI: — another, yeah, another one to make for a busy year. And there was one other game in Developer Direct, of course, our big closer, our summer blockbuster if you will, for DOOM: The Dark Ages, announced for May 15. So very exciting to have that one close out the show.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and again, super excited for the game, the team, and just it’s an amazing franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And again, I don’t want to speak for them, but like I think it’s going to be an amazing version of DOOM, very different, but yeah. Just —

    TINA AMINI: It feels that way to me too.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Super cool.

    TINA AMINI: Speaking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a good job, both Hugo and Marty just kind of drawing back on like the previous DOOMs, the role that you played, and then what that is compared to Dark Ages.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: And that kind of like big mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you’re going to be finding yourself in. So, definitely that big summer blockbuster vibe for May 15 release date. We did also prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to other platforms. And since then we’ve had a bunch of other news about other games of ours coming to other platforms. Speaking of Bethesda, also Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, of course.

    TINA AMINI: And brief sidebar for Indiana Jones, that won, took home three awards from DICE actually.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, huge, congratulations.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in person, like the team was really excited. It was so great to see MachineGames on stage, taking home three awards. So they won Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Character, which of course went to Trip Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All super well-deserved.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Well-deserved.

    TINA AMINI: I loved playing that game. I think I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, but I think it was well-spent hours I would say.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and again kind of got to play it pre-launch, but what they built was incredible and well-deserving of all the awards.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. Very happy for that team.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.

    TINA AMINI: But on that note, some of the games that are going to be coming to other platforms, they’re some of our like long-standing kind of flagship series if you will. So I’m just curious what you think the Xbox community should take away from the fact that we’ve made that decision to bring more games to more platforms.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I think it’s good for gamers, I think it’s good for our studios. Our studios make amazing games, and we want to give those games the chance to reach the broadest audience possible. So, even if I think back to when I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these reach their multiple platforms, being able to remove barriers so those players could play together. And then we announced Forza Horizon 5, which one of the biggest games on Xbox. I’m very biased, of course, because I know the team super well, but arguably I think probably one of the best racing games ever, ever, ever, ever made.

    TINA AMINI: I think a lot of people agree with you.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I just think it’s good for gamers, it’s good to have our games reach more places.

    TINA AMINI: It’s some of that quality of life element for gamers, but also happy for our developers that get a chance to share their art with more people.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Everyone that makes a game wants it to reach as many players as possible. So.

    TINA AMINI: Exactly.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: I love that we can give that opportunity.

    TINA AMINI: Absolutely. Well, there’s one other highly anticipated game —

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes!

    TINA AMINI: — that people would be very excited about, that we haven’t talked about yet, and that’s Fable.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yes.

    TINA AMINI: So where are we at with Fable?

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I just want to start with really excited, really excited about progress, really excited where Playground are. We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025, we are actually going to give Fable more time and it’s going to ship in 2026 now. While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait. And I just, I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon, the last two games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —

    TINA AMINI: Award-winning.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, beautiful, played great. And just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground Games, plus amazing game play, British humor, Playground’s version of Albion, so inspired by what’s gone before with the franchise, but their take. And quite frankly, the most beautifully realized version of Albion you’ve ever seen. So really excited about the plans and really excited about the future and I want the community to understand that we do these things for the best of the games, and the teams, and ultimately that results in the best games, or the best game for the community.

    TINA AMINI: And I think from your visit you actually managed to bring over some footage for us to see some of those beautiful visuals as well.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I think we’re going to show some of the, some of the footage, this isn’t a trailer or anything. We thought as we were going to talk about the game, it was important to show some of the things.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see some of these scenes, like kind of both just walking through environments where, and there will be some combat, some city walking scenes, just really seeing how the beautiful variety in environments that are in the game.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve played some aspects of it that are in the city based, and again, I’m trying to be very careful that I don’t spoil anything. Ralph and the team won’t forgive me if I spoil something. But I played some of the city elements, I played some of the quests, I played some of the combat, I played a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Like it felt amazing, and I had a great time, and again, I remember the originals and the scene, I’ve played that in game play. I’m not going to spoil the backstory of what’s going on, but as you can see, genuinely beautiful. Plays great.

    TINA AMINI: Just seeing like the cinematics and then cutting to the actual like fight over here, it’s gorgeous. It can barely tell the difference, which is such a seamless transition.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It’s very real, everything you’re seeing here is very playable. I’ve seen a bunch more than that, I’m very excited. So take my word for it. But hopefully what the team can see here is enough to build excitement.

    TINA AMINI: I love the little details, it’s great to see how much emphasis is being put into all of that.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there’s no bigger fans of Fable as a franchise as the Playground team that are making it. So I think it’s a really fun balance between what are the game tenets that are true to Fable, and what’s some modern day reimagining of what is Playground Games’ version of Fable.

    TINA AMINI: Yeah, absolutely. The modern retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I’ve been a massive Fable player since day one. So, I’m excited for 2026.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.

    TINA AMINI: Alright, well that’s all the news that we have for this particular episode and for what’s coming up for the rest of the year. But before we send you back off to go hang out with other studios and see all of their games and tell me about all the things that you’re seeing there, I would just love to know like what are you playing, what are you looking forward to the rest of the year, maybe something non-Xbox Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it’s kind of tricky, because this job is full on, like as you would imagine. And so I spend a lot of time, so obviously I’m over in Redmond this week. I’ve got a Steam Deck that’s full of XGS games, so I spend a lot of our time playing our own games. We’ve got a bunch of stuff we haven’t announced, so obviously I spend a bunch of time with that. I think as we’ve talked about earlier, I think Expedition 33 I think is something I’m looking forward to playing. Was cool to see the Switch 2 announcement, so like always curious and excited about what Nintendo do, so I think that will be cool. But yeah, just like we have lots going on.

    TINA AMINI: We do.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: So I try and spend as much time as I can playing our own games. Yeah, so.

    TINA AMINI: We’ll call it research.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.

    TINA AMINI: It’s fun research.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It is fun research.

    TINA AMINI: That’s me playing Avowed later.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s the best part of the job.

    TINA AMINI: Continue my journey, yes, exactly. Well, thank you so much for coming by, I hope we have you again here at Xbox Studio, not to be confused with Xbox Game Studios.

    CRAIG DUNCAN: That is confusing.

    TINA AMINI: — many locations, we are but one location, here in Redmond as well. And yeah, we’re looking forward to seeing more the rest of the year, and I hope everyone else at home watching is similarly excited. And we’ll see you at the next show.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barr, Managing Financial Crises

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.1 I note that the objectives of the Program on Financial Stability include “supporting the world’s financial authorities in refining proven crises management tools and strategies.”2 Speaking as a representative of one of those authorities, I thought I would further the program’s goals by focusing these remarks on the principles and practice of crisis management. I am favored in that task with what one might call the luck of having been regularly confronted with crises in each of my three stints as a public servant, over a career divided between government and academia. In noting how often my arrival in government was accompanied by crisis, it might be reasonable to wonder if this is correlation or causation.
    Kidding aside, crisis management is central to all management because it demands the very best from managers when it is most needed. Anyone who spends time in government can expect that some of the most memorable and challenging experiences will be managing through tough situations, when the answers to problems are unclear but the mission of the organization comes into acute focus. The financial system is in a perpetual state balancing risk and reward. Sometimes the system falls out of balance, and vulnerabilities turn into stress or even crisis. This moment is when it is crucial to mitigate spillovers from the financial system that can hurt businesses and households and wreak havoc on the economy at large.
    Some of the most important features of modern economies were developed to prevent and mitigate financial crises. The first central banks, and eventually the Federal Reserve, were created to provide stable currencies and banking systems in support of the long-term stability of the provision of credit necessary to foster growth and rising living standards. Regulation of financial markets, regulation and supervision of banks, federal deposit insurance, and laws to protect investors, consumers, and businesses were developed over time to promote both financial stability and durable economic growth. I have spoken previously about how monetary policy and financial stability are inextricably linked and how the tools we use to conduct monetary policy and support financial stability work together.3
    In the spring of 2023, the United States faced the prospect of a spiraling stress event, when poor management and excessive risk-taking by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) led to a run that quickly spread to other banks and threatened the wider banking system. Shortcomings in supervision and gaps in the regulatory framework also contributed to SVB’s failure, and I’ve spoken about the steps the Federal Reserve has taken to improve supervision and other steps to close regulatory gaps.4 Today, I’d like to talk about how effective management of the banking stress in the spring of 2023 helped prevent that event from spiraling into a financial crisis.
    Given our student audience, I will begin with a little background on how I got into the crisis management business. After Yale Law School and two court clerkships, I worked at the State Department and then went to work for Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin in 1995. When I arrived, the Treasury Department had helped Mexico deal with a financial crisis that threatened to spread to the United States, and additional crises were to come in 1997 in Asia and in 1998 in Russia. Together, these events credibly threatened a worldwide financial crisis, which was averted by a response across the U.S. government and coordinated with governments and lending institutions around the world. I left government for academia in 2001 and then returned to Treasury in 2009 under Secretary Tim Geithner, in the midst of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). I worked to develop what became known as the Dodd-Frank Act. This law was a pivotal component of our response to the GFC by addressing gaps in financial market oversight, including through strengthened regulation and supervision of banks that increased the safeguards against the excessive risk-taking that caused the crisis. I went back to academia again in 2011 and then returned to public service as the Federal Reserve Board’s Vice Chair for Supervision in July 2022. In this position, I oversaw the response to the bank failures in March 2023 and have helped develop ways to reduce these and other risks going forward.
    The March 2023 Banking StressLet me review some facts about what happened, so you can understand the context for how we put crisis management principles and practices to work.
    SVB failed because of a textbook case of mismanagement of interest rate and liquidity risk.5 This mismanagement made uninsured depositors lose confidence in the bank’s solvency, so they ran. While this was a textbook case, the speed and severity of the run were unprecedented. The largest previous bank failure before SVB was of Washington Mutual in 2008.6 The accumulation of stresses that resulted in Washington Mutual’s failure occurred over several weeks. By contrast, SVB’s deposit outflows were much greater in both relative and absolute terms, and they occurred in less than 24 hours. On top of that, the bank had major gaps in its liquidity risk management, including its preparedness to tap contingency liquidity.7
    Because this discussion is for future first responders, I will share with you some detail about what it’s like to be on the front lines working to address a bank run. On the morning of Thursday, March 9, 2023, SVB had only a little over $5 billion in collateral pledged to the discount window, as compared to over $150 billion in uninsured deposits.8 Around midday, the firm contacted the Federal Reserve, indicating that it wanted to take out a discount window loan against this collateral, and the loan was granted. But in the next several hours, its account was drained as its deposit outflows spiraled. In the late afternoon, the firm indicated that it would need additional liquidity to meet expected outflows. The Federal Reserve worked with the firm to help it identify additional assets it could pledge to the discount window, but SVB was unsuccessful in identifying and moving sufficient collateral. Fed staff worked with the firm through the night to establish ad hoc collateral arrangements, so that the firm could tap the discount window further to meet its liquidity needs in the morning.
    While this process was happening overnight, however, the volume of online deposit withdrawal requests was growing, such that SVB management expected outflows of over $100 billion the next day, an unprecedented sum.9 Even if the bank were able to pledge all collateral available that morning to the discount window, the firm would not have been able to meet its obligations. It was not viable. The state of California closed the bank and turned it over to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for resolution.
    SVB’s failure contributed to the strains at FDIC-supervised Signature Bank, and that bank failed in short order. As the situation intensified, the effects on businesses and households became increasingly apparent. Critically, these failures caused a reassessment of the viability of uninsured deposits as a funding source across the banking system. But strains at other banks materialized despite material differences between these firms. The rapidity of equity market price declines for several banks triggered repeated trading halts for their shares. Online deposits began to migrate out of smaller banks to larger banks, putting pressure on these smaller institutions.10 Commercial customers that had remaining deposits at SVB after it failed realized that they would not have access to their deposits and thus wouldn’t be able to make payroll or even stay in business.11
    The severity and rapidity of the spread of stress warranted a decisive response. We developed a two-part strategy that weekend.
    On March 12, the Treasury Secretary, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve announced that the FDIC would protect uninsured deposits at SVB and Signature Bank under the systemic risk exception to least-cost resolution.12 This action essentially implied that all depositors, insured and uninsured, would have access to their deposits Monday morning. And the step helped calm uninsured depositors around the country.
    Also on March 12, the Federal Reserve established the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) under its emergency lending authority with the approval of and a backstop from the Treasury.13 The BTFP’s terms and conditions addressed the fundamental source of banking-sector jitters: questions about the ability of a range of banks to hold onto their high-quality securities that had lost value because of interest rate increases. Unrealized losses on securities portfolios were a problem for many banks, particularly when the stability of their deposit bases came into question. The BTFP provided stable funding for these high-quality assets, addressing these concerns. Specifically, the BTFP provided one-year loans to banks in sound financial condition against Treasury securities and agency securities, valued at par.
    By doing so, the BTFP addressed banks’ immediate concerns about the stability of their funding and mitigated the risk that banks would be forced to liquidate assets in a fire sale, locking in losses. BTFP advances provided confidence that banks would have sufficient funding to retain the securities on balance sheet. The program supported confidence among depositors that their banks would have ready access to sufficient cash to meet their needs, thus helping reduce concern that a self-fulfilling panic could cause additional bank runs.
    Usage of the BTFP was widespread across the banking sector, both in terms of actual usage and from a contingency standpoint. For example, at its peak, BTFP borrowing exceeded $160 billion, and collateral posted to the BTFP reached nearly $540 billion, suggesting that banks saw value in being prepared and having capacity to tap the facility if necessary. Over 1,800 institutions borrowed from the program, and the bulk of the borrowing was among institutions with less than $10 billion in assets. These smaller institutions took out 50 percent of loans by value and nearly 95 percent of loans by volume. Fed staff analysis showed the usage was more likely among institutions that had experienced deposit outflows, but usage was also widespread at firms that did not experience outflows. The broad-based actual and contingency use was consistent with Federal Reserve communications that the program was part of prudent liquidity management and that we encouraged all depository institutions to use the program. Now, about two weeks before all remaining outstanding BTFP loans are set to mature, the program is down to less than $200 million, and the program has experienced no losses.14
    Our response to the stress worked. After the announcement of the systemic risk exception and the BTFP in early March, signs of broad-based contagion subsided, and the system stabilized. While in the first two weeks of March midsize and regional banks experienced significant outflows of deposits, the acute phase of outflows had eased by the end of the month. Stability among banks that had earlier come under pressure didn’t mean that every bank found its footing, but the process of dealing with balance sheet gaps was much smoother and spillovers remained contained. By the fall of that year, deposit flows had fully stabilized and midsize and regional banks saw deposit inflows on net.
    Managing Additional Stress beyond Silicon Valley and Signature BanksWhile the announcement of the systemic risk exception and the BTFP on March 13, 2023, helped stabilize banks in the United States, we were also continuing to manage stress in the global financial system in cooperation with relevant authorities.
    Credit Suisse, a Swiss global systemically important banking organization, had been experiencing stress over several years before March 2023, with doubts about its future viability after the Archegos Capital Management and Greensill Capital scandals had tarnished its reputation and raised doubts about its business model. Stress and outflows at Credit Suisse picked up in the fall of 2022, and we spent many months working with Swiss, European, and U.K. regulators on how to manage the growing issues, including war-gaming potential resolution scenarios. Concerns about the firm’s viability accelerated on March 9, 2023, when it was forced to announce that its internal controls over financial reporting were ineffective and had been for several years. Though Credit Suisse continued to operate, it became apparent that the firm was in trouble in the week following the failures of SVB and Signature Bank.
    Just one week after SVB failed, Swiss authorities arranged for Credit Suisse to be acquired by UBS in a weekend deal that involved triggering Credit Suisse’s contingent convertible capital instruments, a severe dilution of shareholders, and the removal of senior bank management, as well as emergency liquidity support and extraordinary loss sharing from the Swiss government.15 In a sense, Credit Suisse had failed very slowly over many months—even years—and then all at once.
    The combination of these events involved coordination across U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, with careful monitoring and cooperation to identify risks to financial stability and to monitor spillovers to the U.S. and European banking systems.
    Back in the United States, we worked with our domestic counterparts as a handful of additional banks remained under pressure in the months that followed. Notably FDIC-supervised First Republic Bank was closed on May 1, 2023. First Republic had also experienced tremendous stress in March, as it suffered deposit outflows of nearly 20 percent in a single day.16 First Republic withstood these outflows in part because of significant discount window lending, as well as the extraordinary coordination among several other banks that placed significant deposits at the bank—worth $30 billion. But over time, it became clear that First Republic’s rapid and large deposit outflows and unrealized losses on loans and securities would lead to its failure as well.17
    While these were the events that got the headlines, the Federal Reserve continuously monitored other banks with potential balance sheet vulnerabilities, including those with gaps in interest rate and liquidity risk management, as well as significant exposures to office commercial real estate. We worked with these firms to ensure they addressed their vulnerabilities, while they bolstered their liquidity positions to manage potential stress. For example, overall, from March 2023 to March 2024, banks of all sizes and condition, including many not under direct stress, pledged more than $1 trillion in additional collateral to the discount window. Banks and supervisors took a wide variety of steps to shore up resilience throughout the system.
    Principles and Practices for Managing Financial-Sector StressWhen a crisis hits, the stakes are high. In the GFC, millions of Americans lost their homes, their jobs, and their dreams for their futures, when savings for education and retirement disappeared with the collapse of asset prices.18 The contraction in credit hurt small businesses and families all across the country. When banks can’t carry out their role in supplying credit to those who need it, the effects are severe and widespread.
    With those stakes in mind, here are five key principles that I learned in my experiences managing financial crises.
    First, crisis response needs to be forceful. The factor that transforms a series of unfortunate events into a self-sustaining crisis is the belief that there is no end in sight and no prospect of a sufficient response. While we could debate whether every aspect of the GFC response was necessary, one clear lesson from this experience, and from other crises I have been involved in, is how important it is that the response be forceful enough to convince market participants and the broader public that there is a capability and the will to overcome the crisis.
    A second principle is that the response should be proportionate. While a forceful response is important to bolster confidence in the prospects for gaining control over the crisis, the response also must avoid shaking confidence by suggesting that conditions are worse than they seem. In a crisis, information is spread unevenly. A response that is out of proportion—for example, by touching aspects of the financial system not considered endangered—can be misinterpreted as providing vital information about the extent of vulnerabilities.
    Another key component of crisis management is the need to engage in decisionmaking amid significant uncertainty. I explained how the response needs to be both forceful and proportionate. Finding this balance requires making tough judgments amid rapidly evolving conditions. Crisis managers need to make consequential decisions quickly with the recognition that their understanding of the facts is incomplete. Even the best of efforts to understand what is happening and what is needed will be unsatisfactory in the moment. Decisionmaking under these conditions takes some courage. It also takes humility: the ability to listen to others around you, gather different perspectives, and weigh the imperfect information in real time.
    A fourth principle is the need for clear communication—internally to the teams working on the response and externally to the public. And these communications need to be consistent with each other and with the values of the institution, even if tailored to the particular audience. Clear internal communication provides direction to the crisis response teams and facilitates coordination across relevant public-sector actors. Clear external communication, when grounded in a realistic assessment of the situation, can calm markets and reassure the public about the strategy. And clear communication is a two-way street: It involves listening to internal and external perspectives, as well as speaking in a way that can be heard.
    And that brings me to the fifth principle I would cite, which is accountability. Financial crises come about because of a lack of confidence in counterparties and among other participants in the financial system. It is crucial for crisis responders to be credible and accountable not only for assessing the root causes of the crisis, but also for addressing these causes and the aftermath. That requires staying focused on the long-term goals for reform even as crisis management remains critically important and urgent.19
    Practices for Effective Management under Periods of StressThese are important principles, and I will talk a little bit about some of the practices we used as we were guided by these principles. One crucial component of successful management of a stress event is to gather the most relevant information as quickly as possible. In a large and complex organization, it is necessary to overcome barriers to information flow across functions. In the case of the March 2023 banking stress, we drew from across the functions of the central bank to gather real-time information necessary to assess the severity of the conditions facing troubled institutions and also to identify potential levers of response.
    Supervisors generally have real-time information from a bank as it undergoes stress, but this information needs to be put into context with foundational knowledge about the firm, such as the current structure of its balance sheet and typical payment flows. While we managed an influx of reports about deposit flows at banks, it was important to be able to immediately put the size of the outflows in context and corroborate anecdotal reports against multiple sources, including from our own systems. Our next step is to assess a firm’s capacity to weather additional stress. First responders can assess if the firm has maximized the liquidity potential of its assets, including through its relationships with liquidity providers. And one needs to assess these firms’ connections to the rest of the financial sector and identify interlinkages and spillovers. Leaning on experts who engage in broader monitoring of financial markets and engage in outreach with well-established contacts can be important. A team of staff who have the capacity to think broadly across the institution and draw on the partnerships they have built with a range of business lines is necessary to support the kind of information gathering and strategizing that are crucial for consequential decisions. This is why an institutional culture that supports curiosity and openness to ideas and inquiry from the most junior to the most senior staff is foundational.
    Earlier I mentioned the principle of needing to be accountable to the public about the sources of the crisis and to address the underlying vulnerabilities that led to it. On March 13, 2023, in consultation with Chair Powell, I requested a review of the failure of SVB. Self-evaluation is the first step in any sound risk-management framework. Experienced career staff from across the Federal Reserve System who were not involved in SVB’s supervision reviewed the reasons for the bank’s failure.20 The review helped identify where the supervisory and regulatory functions of the Federal Reserve could be improved. Additional reviews by external independent parties, which we welcomed, reached similar conclusions.21 More broadly, carefully considering the underlying vulnerabilities that contributed to the stress helped the Fed develop proposals for how the supervisory and regulatory framework could be improved.22
    ConclusionNo leader looks forward to managing through a crisis, but those who hope to be good leaders need to be good crisis managers. These are skills that are most effectively developed through hard experience, but we can also learn from those who have gone through the experiences. In my case, the lessons of dealing with financial crises as a government official have revealed to me some basic principles that I believe can be useful to crisis managers. I have also learned that the best crisis management occurs beforehand, by strengthening rules and norms and other structures meant to reduce the risk of a crisis in the first place and by fostering organizational values and culture that will help manage a crisis when it comes.
    Thank you.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Yale School of Management, Program on Financial Stability (2025), “About the Yale Program on Financial Stability,” webpage, paragraph 1. Return to text
    3. See, for example, Michael S. Barr (2023), “Monetary Policy and Financial Stability,” speech delivered at the Forecasters Club of New York, New York, October 2; and Michael S. Barr (2024), “The Intersection of Monetary Policy, Market Functioning, and Liquidity Risk Management,” speech delivered at the 40th Annual National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Economic Policy Conference, Washington, February 14. Return to text
    4. See Michael S. Barr (2023), “Supervision and Regulation” testimony before the Financial Services Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, May 16. Also please see Michael S. Barr (2024), “Supervision with Speed, Force, and Agility,” speech delivered at the Annual Columbia Law School Banking Conference, New York, February 16. For more on bank supervision, see “Understanding Federal Reserve Supervision,” available on the Federal Reserve Board’s website at https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/understanding-federal-reserve-supervision.htm. Return to text
    5. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General (2023), Material Loss Review of Silicon Valley Bank (PDF) (Washington: September 25). Immediately following SVB’s failure, Chair Powell and I agreed that I should oversee a review of the circumstances leading up to SVB’s failure. We published the results of this review on April 28, 2023; see Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Review of the Federal Reserve’s Supervision and Regulation of Silicon Valley Bank (PDF) (Washington: Board of Governors, April). Return to text
    6. See National Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis in the United States (2011), The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report (PDF) (Washington: Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, January); and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (2017), Crisis and Response: An FDIC History, 2008–2013 (Washington: FDIC). Return to text
    7. For instance, the bank failed its own internal liquidity stress tests and did not have workable plans to access liquidity in times of stress. The bank changed its own risk-management assumptions to reduce how these risks were measured rather than fully addressing the underlying risks. See Review of the Federal Reserve’s Supervision and Regulation of Silicon Valley Bank (note 5). Return to text
    8. See Review of the Federal Reserve’s Supervision and Regulation of Silicon Valley Bank (note 5). Return to text
    9. See Review of the Federal Reserve’s Supervision and Regulation of Silicon Valley Bank, p. 7 (note 5). Return to text
    10. See Stephan Luck, Matthew Plosser, and Josh Younger (2023), “Bank Funding during the Current Monetary Policy Tightening Cycle,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics (blog), May 11. Return to text
    11. See Berber Jin, Katherine Bindley, and Rolfe Winkler (2023), “After Silicon Valley Bank Fails, Tech Startups Race to Meet Payroll,” Wall Street Journal, March 11, https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-silicon-valley-bank-fails-tech-startups-race-to-meet-payroll-4ebd9c5c?mod=article_inline. Return to text
    12. See Department of the Treasury, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (2023), “Joint Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC,” joint press release, March 12. Return to text
    13. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2023), “Federal Reserve Board Announces It Will Make Available Additional Funding to Eligible Depository Institutions to Help Assure Banks Have the Ability to Meet the Needs of All Their Depositors,” press release, March 12; and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2025), “Bank Term Funding Program,” webpage. Return to text
    14. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2025), Statistical Release H.4.1, “Factors Affecting Reserve Balances of Depository Institutions and Condition Statement of Federal Reserve Banks” (February 20). Return to text
    15. See Michael S. Barr (2023), “The Importance of Effective Liquidity Risk Management,” speech delivered at the ECB Forum on Banking Supervision, Frankfurt, Germany, December 1. Return to text
    16. See Michael S. Barr (2024), “On Building a Resilient Regulatory Framework,” speech delivered at Central Banking in the Post-Pandemic Financial System 28th Annual Financial Markets Conference, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Fernandina Beach, Florida, May 20. Return to text
    17. See Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (2023), FDIC’s Supervision of First Republic Bank (PDF), (Washington: FDIC, September 8). Return to text
    18. See National Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis, The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report (note 6). Return to text
    19. I have discussed some thoughts on leadership attributes in previous speeches, including here: Michael S. Barr (2024), “Commencement Remarks,” delivered at the American University School of Public Affairs Graduation Ceremony, Washington, May 10. Return to text
    20. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2023), Vice Chair Barr for Supervision’s “Review of the Federal Reserve’s Supervision and Regulation of Silicon Valley Bank – April 2023: Key Takeaways,” webpage. Return to text
    21. See Government Accountability Office (2023), “Bank Regulation: Preliminary Review of Agency Actions Related to March 2023 Bank Failures” (Washington: GAO, May 11); and Board of Governors, Office of Inspector General, Material Loss Review (note 5). Return to text
    22. See Barr, “On Building a Resilient Regulatory Framework” (note 16). Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Invasive Species Science at WARC

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Cuban treefrogs are native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, but are an invasive species in the U.S. They outcompete native frogs for food and habitat and can be a nuisance to homeowners as they clog plumbing and cause power outages when they seek shelter in utility boxes. WARC researchers use frog calls – or vocalizations made primarily by males interested in attracting a mate – to identify and track invasive frog species in the southeastern U.S. WARC researchers also perform visual encounter surveys and passively capture Cuban treefrogs to remove as many of the invasive anurans as possible.

    What is an invasive species?

    A species is considered invasive if it is introduced outside of its native range and causes harm to ecosystems, the economy, and/or human health.  

    Nonnative, or nonindigenous, species are those organisms that have been introduced outside of their native range but are not yet known to cause harm. This means that while an invasive species is also non-native, not all non-native species are considered invasive.

    Why are they an issue?

    More than 6,500 of these harmful, non-native species cause more than 100 billion dollars in damage each year to the U.S. economy. Invasive species can severely impact native species and ecosystems. They often outcompete and prey upon native species, which can ultimately reduce biodiversity and alter an ecosystem’s food web. Aquatic invasive plant species, like hydrilla, can rapidly overtake a water body, blocking sunlight from reaching the plants and animals below and preventing navigation due to clogged waterways. Other aquatic invasive species, like the zebra mussel, damage infrastructure associated with power plants and other water systems, which results in increased maintenance costs.

    What is WARC doing to address invasive species in the U.S.?

    The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area’s Biological Threats and Invasive Species Program provides the research, management tools, and decision support needed to meet the science needs of resource managers to reduce or eliminate the threat of invasive species and wildlife disease. At WARC, we work closely with our local, state, Tribal, and federal partners to provide the science they need to address the critical invasive species issues facing the southeastern U.S. Our center leads research and monitoring programs and implements innovative technologies to help control or eradicate invasive species.

    Monitoring the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

    The USGS WARC houses the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database, which tracks the distribution of introduced aquatic organisms across the United States. The publicly accessible information repository monitors, records, and analyzes reported sightings for more than 1,300 plant and animal species such as lionfish, zebra mussels, and hydrilla. The database contains observations from as early as 1800, derived from many sources, including scientific literature; federal, state, and local natural resource monitoring programs; museum collections; news agencies; and direct submission through online reporting forms from citizen scientists. Subscribers to NAS alerts emails can be informed when a new non-native species has been reported in their area as part of a national early detection and rapid response (EDRR) system. The NAS program also uses the data to help forecast where these species may go next. One such tool developed by members of the NAS team, along with WARC’s Advanced Application Team, is the NAS Flood and Storm Tracker (FaST) maps, which help natural resource managers track and manage the potential spread of non-native aquatic species into new water bodies due to storm-related flooding. The FaST maps are easily accessible, informative, and provide the most up-to-date information to resource managers about potential new invasions, acting as an additional tool for EDRR systems.

    Hurricane Isaias (2020) Flood and Storm Tracker (FaST) Map for Zebra MusselsFlooding related to hurricanes and tropical storms can help spread non-native aquatic plants and animals, like zebra mussels, into new waterbodies. Once established, they have the potential to cause infrastructural damage (e.g., block pipes) and upset aquatic food webs by preying on native species. The USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) program, which houses records for non-native aquatic species across the nation, creates Flood and Storm Tracker (FaST) maps which help managers track and manage the potential spread of non-native aquatic species into new water bodies via storm-related flooding.For more information, please visit: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/viewer/Flooding/

    CSI: Python-Style

    How do you detect a cryptic species? A droplet digital PCR platform can detect even a single piece of genetic material, if present in an environmental sample. This information can be used to accurately estimate the likelihood that the species of interest is present in the environment.

    True crime shows/movies/podcasts often tell the story of a criminal who thought they got away with it, only to be brought down by a forensic investigator who discovered a small piece of genetic material at the crime scene belonging to said criminal. Just like a crime scene, ecosystems often require researchers to zoom in to the microscopic, hard-to-spot clues to better understand the full picture. Like humans, wildlife shed genetic material, in the form of excrement, hair, saliva, mucus, skin cells, etc., as they move. The organism’s genetic material is shed into the surrounding environment (i.e., soil, water, snow, air) and referred to as environmental DNA (eDNA). At WARC, researchers are using eDNA techniques to help detect hard-to-find invasive species, like the Burmese python. The cryptic constrictor camouflages into the surrounding Everglades ecosystem, which has made it difficult to find and eradicate. By testing environmental samples, WARC scientists can identify python eDNA in an area whether or not a snake has actually been observed. With improved detection capabilities comes the increased capacity to effectively delineate range limits and better assess the status, distribution, and habitat requirements for pythons and other secretive or rare invasive species.

    This close-up is of the radio-transmitter on a 16 1/2-foot python. The snake, being removed from the wild by USGS and NPS personnel, was re-captured in a thicket in Everglades National Park in April 2012. After its first capture, the snake was equipped with a radio-transmitter and an accelerometer as part of one of the Burmese python projects led by USGS to learn more about the biology of the species to help in efforts to develop better control methods.

    EDRR – Early Detection and Rapid Response

    The first confirmed lionfish sighting was reported in 1985 off the coast of Dania Beach, Florida. Though native to the Indo-Pacific region, a single lionfish didn’t raise many alarms. But then another lionfish was reported in 1990. And then another one in 1992. And then a few more in 1995. By the early 2000s, lionfish had taken over coastal waters in the southeastern U.S. Lionfish have invaded Atlantic coastal waters from New York to the Florida Keys, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf with unprecedented speed and now serve as a case study demonstrating why early detection and rapid response efforts (also known as EDRR) are critical. A single non-native fish might not immediately pose a problem, but if it isn’t removed, it could reproduce and quickly take over the new habitat. Once a population has established and begins reproducing, it is difficult to manage or eradicate. 

    Since 2013, WARC has led a non-native freshwater fish scavenger hunt in Florida. The two-day Fish Slam event helps USGS and partners monitor new non-native fishes and track the possible spread of known non-natives. Many of these species, such as the Asian swamp eel and the sailfin catfish, are outcompeting native species and disrupting the aquatic food webs. By monitoring the introduction and expansion of non-native fishes, USGS WARC is able to provide communities and land managers with critical information to help inform and guide management strategies. This includes removing the fish whenever possible, to help prevent potential future invasions.

    Using hook and line, electroshock boats and backpacks, seines, traps, and other fishing techniques, USGS and partners capture non-native fishes. from Florida canals, ponds, and even ditches. The data collected during the event is entered into the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, a publicly accessible resource that monitors the introduction and expansion of non-native aquatic plant and animal species. The database also uses this information to project potential future spread of species into new areas during hurricanes and flooding events. USGS’s Fish Slam has provided a unique opportunity for federal, state, local, Tribal, and academic partners to coordinate sampling, data collection, and information sharing while providing up-to-date geographic distribution information via publicly accessible resources. Florida spends millions of dollars each year to combat invasive species and the data collected by Fish Slam informs managers and communities what species are present in their area and helps them develop control/removal plans and allocate resources appropriately.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unemployment rate for people with a disability changes little, at 7.5%, in 2024

    Source: US Department of Labor

    For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, February 25, 2025                              USDL-25-0247

Technical information:  (202) 691-6378  *  cpsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/cps 
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                 PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS -- 2024
                 
                 
In 2024, the employment-population ratio--the proportion of the population that is employed--
was 22.7 percent among those with a disability, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 
today. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for those without a disability was 65.5 
percent. The employment-population ratio for people with a disability changed little from
2023 to 2024, following a 1.2 percentage-point increase from 2022 to 2023. The employment-
population ratio for those without a disability decreased by 0.3 percentage point in 2024. 
The unemployment rate for people with a disability (7.5 percent) changed little in 2024, 
while the rate for those without a disability increased by 0.3 percentage point over the 
year to 3.8 percent.

The data on people with a disability are collected as part of the Current Population Survey 
(CPS), a monthly sample survey of about 60,000 households that provides statistics on 
employment and unemployment in the United States. The collection of data on people with a 
disability is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment 
Policy. For more information, see the Technical Note in this news release.

Highlights from the 2024 data:

 --Half of all people with a disability were age 65 and over, nearly three times larger than 
   the share for those with no disability. (See table 1.)

 --For all ages, the employment-population ratio was much lower for people with a disability 
   than for those with no disability. (See table 1.)

 --Unemployment rates were much higher for people with a disability than for those with no 
   disability across all educational attainment groups. (See table 1.)

 --Workers with a disability were nearly twice as likely to work part time as workers with 
   no disability. (See table 2.)

 --Workers with a disability were more likely to be self-employed than were workers with no 
   disability. (See table 4.)

Demographic characteristics

People with a disability accounted for about 13 percent of the population in 2024. Those
with a disability tend to be older than people with no disability, reflecting the increased 
incidence of disability with age. In 2024, half of those with a disability were age 65 and 
over, compared with about 18 percent of those with no disability. Overall, women were more 
likely to have a disability than were men, partly reflecting the greater life expectancy of 
women. Among the major race and ethnicity groups, people who are White (13.0 percent) and
Black or African American (13.1 percent) had a higher prevalence of disability than those 
who are Asian (6.8 percent) and Hispanic or Latino (8.7 percent). (See table 1.)

Employment

In 2024, the employment-population ratio for people with a disability changed little at 
22.7 percent. The ratio for those with no disability decreased by 0.3 percentage point to 
65.5 percent. The lower ratio among people with a disability reflects, in part, the older 
age profile of people with a disability; people age 65 and over are less likely to be 
employed regardless of disability status. However, across all age groups, people with a 
disability were much less likely to be employed than those with no disability. 
(See tables A and 1.)

Among people with a disability ages 16 to 64, the employment-population ratio, at 37.4 
percent in 2024, changed little over the year. Similarly, the ratio for people with a 
disability age 65 and over was little changed at 8.1 percent. (See table A.)

People with a disability were less likely to have completed a bachelor's degree or higher 
than were those with no disability. In 2024, about 23 percent of all people with a 
disability had completed a bachelor's degree or higher compared with about 42 percent of 
those with no disability. Among both groups, those who had attained higher levels of 
education were more likely to be employed than were those with less education. For all 
levels of education, people with a disability were much less likely to be employed than 
their counterparts with no disability. (Educational attainment data are presented for 
those age 25 and over.) (See table 1.)

Workers with a disability were more likely to be employed part time than were those with
no disability. About 31 percent of those with a disability usually worked part time compared 
with about 17 percent of workers without a disability. About 4 percent of workers with a 
disability worked part time for economic reasons. These individuals would have preferred 
full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or 
they were unable to find full-time jobs. (See table 2.)

In 2024, people with a disability were more likely to work in sales and office occupations 
than were those with no disability (20.8 percent compared with 18.4 percent, respectively). 
Workers with a disability were also more likely than those with no disability to work in 
service occupations (19.0 percent compared with 16.3 percent) and in production, 
transportation, and material moving occupations (14.2 percent compared with 12.2 percent).
People with a disability were much less likely to work in management, professional, and 
related occupations than were their counterparts with no disability (37.9 percent compared 
with 44.1 percent). Workers with a disability were also somewhat less likely to work in 
natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (8.1 percent compared with
9.0 percent). (See table 3.)

A larger share of people with a disability were self-employed than were those with no
disability in 2024 (9.2 percent versus 6.0 percent). Those with a disability were slightly
more likely to be employed by the federal government than were their counterparts with no 
disability (3.3 percent and 2.6 percent), while the proportions of people employed by state
and local governments were about the same regardless of disability status. In contrast, 
people with a disability were less likely to be employed as private wage and salary workers
(76.6 percent) than were those with no disability (80.5 percent). (See table 4.)

Unemployment

The unemployment rate for people with a disability was about twice that of those with no 
disability in 2024. (Unemployed people are those who did not have a job, were available for 
work, and were actively looking for a job in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.) The 
unemployment rate for people with a disability changed little in 2024 at 7.5 percent, while 
the rate for people without a disability increased by 0.3 percentage point to 3.8 percent.
(See tables A and 1.)

Among people with a disability, the unemployment rates were the same for men and women in 
2024 (7.5 percent). These rates were little different from a year earlier. Among the major
race and ethnicity groups, the jobless rates for people who are White, Black or African 
American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino showed little change over the year. As is the case
among people without a disability, the jobless rates for those with a disability were higher
among people who are Black or African American (10.7 percent) and Hispanic or Latino 
(9.4 percent) than among people who are White (6.9 percent) and Asian (6.3 percent). 
(See table 1.)  

Not in the labor force

People who are neither employed nor unemployed are considered not in the labor force. A 
large proportion of people with a disability--about 75 percent--were not in the labor force
in 2024, compared with about 32 percent of those with no disability. In part, this too 
reflects the older age profile of people with a disability; people age 65 and over were 
much less likely to participate in the labor force than were those in younger age groups. 
Across all age groups, however, people with a disability were less likely to participate 
in the labor force than were those with no disability. (See table 1.)

For both people with and without a disability, the vast majority of those who were not in
the labor force did not want a job. In 2024, about 3 percent of those with a disability
wanted a job, lower than about 6 percent of those without a disability. Among people who 
wanted a job, a subset is classified as marginally attached to the labor force. These 
individuals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in 
the prior 12 months but had not looked for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. 
(People marginally attached to the labor force include discouraged workers.) About 1 
percent of people with a disability were marginally attached to the labor force in 2024. 
(See table 5.)
    Table A. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by disability status and age, 2023 and 2024 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
    Characteristic 2023 2024
    Total, 16 years
    and over    		 16 to 64
    years    		 65 years
    and over    		 Total, 16 years
    and over    		 16 to 64
    years    		 65 years
    and over

    PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

    Civilian noninstitutional population

    		 33,501 16,685 16,816 33,945 16,915 17,030

    Civilian labor force

    		 8,112 6,715 1,397 8,328 6,886 1,441

    Participation rate

    		 24.2 40.2 8.3 24.5 40.7 8.5

    Employed

    		 7,528 6,196 1,331 7,701 6,326 1,375

    Employment-population ratio

    		 22.5 37.1 7.9 22.7 37.4 8.1

    Unemployed

    		 585 519 66 627 561 66

    Unemployment rate

    		 7.2 7.7 4.7 7.5 8.1 4.6

    Not in labor force

    		 25,389 9,970 15,419 25,618 10,029 15,589

    PEOPLE WITH NO DISABILITY

    Civilian noninstitutional population

    		 233,441 191,998 41,443 234,626 191,920 42,706

    Civilian labor force

    		 159,004 149,206 9,798 159,779 149,580 10,198

    Participation rate

    		 68.1 77.7 23.6 68.1 77.9 23.9

    Employed

    		 153,509 143,961 9,548 153,645 143,744 9,900

    Employment-population ratio

    		 65.8 75.0 23.0 65.5 74.9 23.2

    Unemployed

    		 5,495 5,245 250 6,134 5,836 298

    Unemployment rate

    		 3.5 3.5 2.6 3.8 3.9 2.9

    Not in labor force

    		 74,437 42,792 31,645 74,847 42,340 32,507

    NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

    		 
    Technical Note

   The estimates in this release are based on annual average data obtained from  
the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, which is conducted by the U.S. 
Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a monthly survey of 
about 60,000 eligible households that provides information on the labor force 
status, demographics, and other characteristics of the nation's civilian
noninstitutional population age 16 and over.
   
   Questions were added to the CPS in June 2008 to identify people with a 
disability in the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. The 
addition of these questions allowed the BLS to begin releasing monthly labor 
force data from the CPS for people with a disability. The collection of these 
data is sponsored by the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment 
Policy.
   
   If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial
7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Reliability of the estimates

   Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling 
error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is 
a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the true population values 
they represent. The component of this difference that occurs because samples 
differ by chance is known as sampling error, and its variability is measured 
by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or
level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more 
than 1.6 standard errors from the true population value because of sampling 
error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of 
confidence.

   The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can 
occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the 
population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, 
inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and
errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

   Additional information about the reliability of data from the CPS and 
estimating standard errors is available at 
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

   CPS estimates are controlled to population totals that are available by 
age, sex, race, and Hispanic ethnicity. These controls are developed by the 
Census Bureau and are based on complete population counts obtained in the 
decennial census. In the years between decennial censuses, they incorporate 
the latest information about population change (births, deaths, and net
international migration). As part of its annual update of population
estimates, the Census Bureau introduces adjustments to the total population
controls. The updated controls typically have a negligible impact on 
unemployment rates and other ratios. The estimates of the population of 
people with a disability are not controlled to independent population totals 
of people with a disability because such data are not available. Without 
independent population totals, sample-based estimates are more apt to vary 
from one time period to the next. Information about population controls is 
available at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.

Disability questions and concepts

   The CPS uses a set of six questions to identify people with disabilities. 
In the CPS, people are classified as having a disability if there is a response 
of "yes" to any of these questions. The disability questions appear in the CPS 
in the following format:

   This month we want to learn about people who have physical, mental, or emotional
conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities. Please answer
for household members who are 15 years old or over.

   --Is anyone deaf or does anyone have serious difficulty 
     hearing?

   --Is anyone blind or does anyone have serious difficulty
     seeing even when wearing glasses?

   --Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does
     anyone have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or
     making decisions?

   --Does anyone have serious difficulty walking or climbing
     stairs?

   --Does anyone have difficulty dressing or bathing?

   --Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does
     anyone have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a
     doctor's office or shopping?

   The CPS questions for identifying individuals with disabilities are only 
asked of household members who are age 15 and over. Each of the questions ask 
the respondent whether anyone in the household has the condition described, and 
if the respondent replies "yes," they are then asked to identify everyone in 
the household who has the condition. Labor force measures from the CPS are 
tabulated for people age 16 and over. More information on the disability 
questions and the limitations of the CPS disability data is available on the 
BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability_faq.htm.

Other definitions

   Other definitions used in this release are described briefly below. 
Additional information on the concepts and methodology of the CPS is available 
at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm.

   Employed.  Employed people are all those who, during the survey reference 
week, (a) did any work at all as paid employees; (b) worked in their own 
business, profession, or on their own farm; or (c) worked 15 hours or more as 
unpaid workers in a family member's business.  People who were temporarily 
absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor 
dispute, or another reason also are counted as employed.

   Unemployed.  Unemployed people are those who had no employment during the 
reference week, were available for work at that time, and had made specific 
efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the 
reference week. People who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they 
had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as 
unemployed.

   Civilian labor force.  The civilian labor force comprises all people
classified as employed or unemployed.

   Unemployment rate.  The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a 
percent of the labor force.

   Not in the labor force.  People not in the labor force include all those who 
are not classified as employed or unemployed. Information is collected on their 
desire for and availability to take a job at the time of the CPS interview, job 
search activity in the prior year, and reason for not looking in the 4-week 
period ending with the reference week. This group includes individuals marginally 
attached to the labor force, defined as people not in the labor force who want 
and are available for a job and who have looked for work sometime in the past 12 
months (or since the end of their last job if they held one within the past 12 
months). They are not counted as unemployed because they had not actively searched 
for work in the prior 4 weeks. Within the marginally attached group are discouraged 
workers--people who are not currently looking for work because they believe there 
are no jobs available or there are none for which they would qualify. The other 
people marginally attached to the labor force group includes people who want a
job but had not looked for work in the past 4 weeks for reasons such as family 
responsibilities or transportation problems.

   Part time for economic reasons.  People classified as at work part time for 
economic reasons, a measure sometimes referred to as involuntary part time, are 
those who gave an economic reason for working 1 to 34 hours during the reference 
week. Economic reasons include slack work or unfavorable business conditions, 
inability to find full-time work, and seasonal declines in demand. Those who 
usually work part time must also indicate that they want and are available for 
full-time work to be classified as part time for economic reasons.

   Occupation, industry, and class of worker.  The occupation, industry, and 
class of worker classifications for the employed relate to the job held in the 
survey reference week. People with two or more jobs are classified in the job 
at which they worked the greatest number of hours. People are classified using 
the 2018 Census occupational and 2017 Census industry classification systems. 
The class-of-worker breakdown assigns workers to the following categories: 
private and government wage and salary workers, self-employed workers, and 
unpaid family workers. Wage and salary workers receive wages, salary, 
commissions, tips, or pay in kind from a private employer or from a government 
unit. Self-employed people are those who work for profit or fees in their own 
business, profession, trade, or farm. Only the unincorporated self-employed are 
included in the self-employed category. Self-employed people who respond that 
their businesses are incorporated are included among wage and salary workers. 
Unpaid family workers are people working without pay for 15 hours a week or 
more on a farm or in a business operated by a family member in their household.
    Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by disability status and selected characteristics, 2024 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
    Characteristic Civilian
    noninsti-
    tutional
    population    		 Civilian labor force Not in
    labor
    force
    Total Participation
    rate    		 Employed Unemployed
    Total Percent of
    population    		 Total Rate

    TOTAL

    Total, 16 years and over

    		 268,571 168,106 62.6 161,346 60.1 6,761 4.0 100,465

    Men

    		 130,939 88,974 68.0 85,313 65.2 3,661 4.1 41,965

    Women

    		 137,633 79,132 57.5 76,033 55.2 3,100 3.9 58,500

    PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

    Total, 16 years and over

    		 33,945 8,328 24.5 7,701 22.7 627 7.5 25,618

    Men

    		 15,923 4,308 27.1 3,984 25.0 324 7.5 11,615

    Women

    		 18,023 4,020 22.3 3,717 20.6 303 7.5 14,003

    Age

    16 to 64 years

    		 16,915 6,886 40.7 6,326 37.4 561 8.1 10,029

    16 to 19 years

    		 876 242 27.6 184 21.0 58 23.9 634

    20 to 24 years

    		 1,271 596 46.9 517 40.6 79 13.3 675

    25 to 34 years

    		 2,625 1,522 58.0 1,393 53.1 129 8.5 1,103

    35 to 44 years

    		 2,689 1,402 52.1 1,310 48.7 92 6.6 1,287

    45 to 54 years

    		 3,417 1,405 41.1 1,301 38.1 104 7.4 2,012

    55 to 64 years

    		 6,036 1,719 28.5 1,621 26.8 98 5.7 4,317

    65 years and over

    		 17,030 1,441 8.5 1,375 8.1 66 4.6 15,589

    Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

    White

    		 26,629 6,584 24.7 6,129 23.0 455 6.9 20,045

    Black or African American

    		 4,593 1,045 22.8 934 20.3 112 10.7 3,548

    Asian

    		 1,219 252 20.7 236 19.4 16 6.3 967

    Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

    		 4,277 1,188 27.8 1,076 25.2 111 9.4 3,089

    Educational attainment

    Total, 25 years and over

    		 31,798 7,490 23.6 7,000 22.0 490 6.5 24,309

    Less than a high school diploma

    		 4,427 556 12.6 499 11.3 57 10.2 3,871

    High school graduates, no college

    		 11,075 2,081 18.8 1,912 17.3 169 8.1 8,993

    Some college or associate degree

    		 8,838 2,379 26.9 2,224 25.2 155 6.5 6,459

    Bachelor’s degree and higher

    		 7,459 2,474 33.2 2,365 31.7 109 4.4 4,985

    PEOPLE WITH NO DISABILITY

    Total, 16 years and over

    		 234,626 159,779 68.1 153,645 65.5 6,134 3.8 74,847

    Men

    		 115,016 84,666 73.6 81,329 70.7 3,337 3.9 30,350

    Women

    		 119,610 75,113 62.8 72,316 60.5 2,797 3.7 44,497

    Age

    16 to 64 years

    		 191,920 149,580 77.9 143,744 74.9 5,836 3.9 42,340

    16 to 19 years

    		 16,709 6,242 37.4 5,477 32.8 765 12.3 10,467

    20 to 24 years

    		 20,116 14,697 73.1 13,655 67.9 1,042 7.1 5,419

    25 to 34 years

    		 41,802 35,660 85.3 34,202 81.8 1,457 4.1 6,142

    35 to 44 years

    		 41,491 36,001 86.8 34,887 84.1 1,114 3.1 5,490

    45 to 54 years

    		 36,617 31,532 86.1 30,738 83.9 794 2.5 5,085

    55 to 64 years

    		 35,185 25,448 72.3 24,785 70.4 663 2.6 9,737

    65 years and over

    		 42,706 10,198 23.9 9,900 23.2 298 2.9 32,507

    Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

    White

    		 178,457 121,048 67.8 116,904 65.5 4,144 3.4 57,409

    Black or African American

    		 30,410 21,001 69.1 19,794 65.1 1,207 5.7 9,409

    Asian

    		 16,756 11,429 68.2 11,034 65.9 394 3.5 5,327

    Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

    		 44,645 31,702 71.0 30,151 67.5 1,551 4.9 12,942

    Educational attainment

    Total, 25 years and over

    		 197,801 138,839 70.2 134,512 68.0 4,326 3.1 58,962

    Less than a high school diploma

    		 14,868 8,597 57.8 8,090 54.4 507 5.9 6,271

    High school graduates, no college

    		 52,631 34,175 64.9 32,813 62.3 1,362 4.0 18,455

    Some college or associate degree

    		 48,149 33,460 69.5 32,403 67.3 1,057 3.2 14,689

    Bachelor’s degree and higher

    		 82,153 62,607 76.2 61,206 74.5 1,400 2.2 19,547

    NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
    Table 2. Employed full- and part-time workers by disability status and age, 2024 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
    Disability status and age Employed At work
    part time for
    economic
    reasons
    Total Usually
    work
    full time    		 Usually
    work
    part time

    TOTAL

    16 years and over

    		 161,346 133,361 27,985 4,467

    16 to 64 years

    		 150,070 126,401 23,669 4,267

    65 years and over

    		 11,276 6,960 4,316 200

    People with a disability

    16 years and over

    		 7,701 5,322 2,379 303

    16 to 64 years

    		 6,326 4,641 1,684 275

    65 years and over

    		 1,375 680 695 27

    People with no disability

    16 years and over

    		 153,645 128,039 25,605 4,164

    16 to 64 years

    		 143,744 121,760 21,985 3,991

    65 years and over

    		 9,900 6,280 3,621 172

    NOTE: Full time refers to people who usually work 35 hours or more per week; part time refers to people who usually work less than 35 hours per week.
    Table 3. Employed people by disability status, occupation, and sex, 2024 annual averages [Percent distribution]
    Occupation People with a disability People with no disability
    Total Men Women Total Men Women

    Total employed (in thousands)

    		 7,701 3,984 3,717 153,645 81,329 72,316

    Occupation as a percent of total employed

    Total employed

    		 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

    Management, professional, and related occupations

    		 37.9 34.7 41.3 44.1 39.8 49.1

    Management, business, and financial operations occupations

    		 16.6 17.3 16.0 19.1 19.6 18.5

    Management occupations

    		 11.5 12.8 10.2 12.9 14.1 11.4

    Business and financial operations occupations

    		 5.1 4.4 5.8 6.2 5.4 7.1

    Professional and related occupations

    		 21.3 17.5 25.4 25.1 20.2 30.6

    Computer and mathematical occupations

    		 3.1 4.2 1.9 4.0 5.6 2.2

    Architecture and engineering occupations

    		 1.8 2.7 0.8 2.2 3.5 0.8

    Life, physical, and social science occupations

    		 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3

    Community and social service occupations

    		 2.0 1.5 2.6 1.8 1.0 2.7

    Legal occupations

    		 1.0 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.3

    Education, training, and library occupations

    		 5.6 3.1 8.4 6.0 3.0 9.3

    Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

    		 2.6 2.4 2.8 2.1 2.0 2.3

    Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

    		 4.3 1.9 6.8 6.6 3.0 10.6

    Service occupations

    		 19.0 16.0 22.2 16.3 13.0 19.9

    Healthcare support occupations

    		 4.3 1.3 7.5 3.3 1.0 6.0

    Protective service occupations

    		 1.6 2.4 0.8 1.9 2.7 1.0

    Food preparation and serving related occupations

    		 5.4 4.7 6.2 5.0 4.3 5.7

    Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

    		 5.0 6.4 3.5 3.5 3.9 3.1

    Personal care and service occupations

    		 2.6 1.2 4.2 2.5 1.1 4.0

    Sales and office occupations

    		 20.8 14.7 27.4 18.4 13.8 23.6

    Sales and related occupations

    		 9.6 8.6 10.8 8.7 8.6 8.8

    Office and administrative support occupations

    		 11.2 6.1 16.6 9.7 5.2 14.8

    Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

    		 8.1 14.9 0.9 9.0 15.9 1.1

    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

    		 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.8 0.4

    Construction and extraction occupations

    		 4.4 8.1 0.4 5.3 9.6 0.5

    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

    		 3.3 6.1 0.3 3.0 5.5 0.3

    Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

    		 14.2 19.8 8.2 12.2 17.5 6.3

    Production occupations

    		 5.5 7.3 3.5 4.9 6.6 3.0

    Transportation and material moving occupations

    		 8.7 12.5 4.7 7.3 10.9 3.3
    Table 4. Employed people by disability status, industry, class of worker, and sex, 2024 annual averages [Percent distribution]
    Industry and class of worker People with a disability People with no disability
    Total Men Women Total Men Women

    Total employed (in thousands)

    		 7,701 3,984 3,717 153,645 81,329 72,316

    Industry as a percent of total employed

    Total employed

    		 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

    Agriculture and related industries

    		 2.1 3.0 1.2 1.4 1.8 0.8

    Nonagricultural industries

    		 97.9 97.0 98.8 98.6 98.2 99.2

    Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

    		 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.1

    Construction

    		 6.3 10.9 1.5 7.5 12.6 1.8

    Manufacturing

    		 8.5 11.5 5.3 9.4 12.5 5.8

    Wholesale trade

    		 1.6 2.0 1.1 2.0 2.6 1.3

    Retail trade

    		 13.1 12.8 13.5 10.0 9.9 10.0

    Transportation and utilities

    		 5.9 7.8 3.8 6.1 8.7 3.1

    Information

    		 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.5

    Financial activities

    		 5.8 5.1 6.6 6.8 6.4 7.3

    Professional and business services

    		 12.0 13.5 10.5 13.3 14.5 11.9

    Education and health services

    		 21.8 11.3 33.0 23.1 11.1 36.5

    Leisure and hospitality

    		 9.5 8.9 10.0 8.7 8.0 9.5

    Other services

    		 6.0 5.7 6.3 4.7 4.1 5.4

    Public administration

    		 5.4 5.3 5.5 5.0 5.1 4.9

    Class of worker as a percent of total employed

    Total employed

    		 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

    Wage and salary workers

    		 90.7 89.5 92.0 94.0 93.2 94.8

    Private industries

    		 76.6 77.4 75.9 80.5 82.2 78.5

    Government

    		 14.1 12.2 16.1 13.5 11.0 16.3

    Federal

    		 3.3 3.6 2.9 2.6 2.7 2.4

    State

    		 5.0 3.4 6.7 4.7 3.5 6.0

    Local

    		 5.8 5.2 6.4 6.3 4.8 7.9

    Self-employed workers, unincorporated

    		 9.2 10.4 7.9 6.0 6.8 5.1
    Table 5. People not in the labor force by disability status, age, and sex, 2024 annual averages [Numbers in thousands]
    Category Total,
    16 years and
    over    		 16 to 64 years Total,
    65 years and
    over
    Total Men Women

    PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

    Total not in the labor force

    		 25,618 10,029 4,876 5,152 15,589

    People who currently want a job

    		 798 542 253 289 256

    Marginally attached to the labor force

    		 203 159 77 83 43

    Discouraged workers

    		 45 31 18 13 14

    Other people marginally attached to the labor force

    		 157 128 59 69 29

    PEOPLE WITH NO DISABILITY

    Total not in the labor force

    		 74,847 42,340 16,227 26,113 32,507

    People who currently want a job

    		 4,792 4,170 2,009 2,161 622

    Marginally attached to the labor force

    		 1,355 1,239 676 563 116

    Discouraged workers

    		 363 332 202 130 31

    Other people marginally attached to the labor force

    		 992 907 475 433 85

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers − and prostitutes: The women working behind the scenes in papal Avignon

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joelle Rollo-Koster, Professor of Medieval History, University of Rhode Island

    The papal palace in Avignon, where the pope’s court was based for much of the 14th century. Jean-Marc Rosier from http://www.rosier.pro/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent. On the other extreme were a few dramatic examples of women who made history for the church while flying in the face of gender norms: heroes such as Joan of Arc.

    The full truth, though, is more complicated. Medieval women were there all along, even in priests’ own houses. In her book “The Manly Priest,” historian Jennifer Thibodeaux reminds us that while celibacy was always the church’s ideal, it was not truly enforced until later in the Middle Ages. At least until the 11th century, some priests had wives and children who were not considered illegitimate. Even after the 14th-century Black Death, clerical households with wives and children thrived in Italy.

    As the church’s notions of illicit sex and illegitimacy hardened, however, its attitudes toward women did, too. Medieval scholars – all men – defined women’s temperament in negative terms: Women were libidinous, frivolous, unfaithful, capricious, unpredictable and easily tempted. They required constant surveillance and were kept away from clerics, at least in theory. They certainly could not hold overt positions in the pope’s court unless they were his mother or sister.

    Still, another reality emerges. The church may not have seen women as equals, but nevertheless, their work was key to the workings and finances of the papal court and its surroundings. The fact is made obvious in the archives by simply following the money. It was hardly glamorous work but necessary for the functioning of the papal court.

    A page from a 15th-century edition of ‘The Decameron’ shows a laundress working on the beach.
    Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal via Wikimedia Commons

    Vatican payroll

    The Vatican Archives’ account registers make it possible to trace who was paid and for what at the medieval papal court in Avignon, where the papacy was based for most of the 14th century. Amid the tedious task of deciphering various medieval shorthand systems, which organize expenses into categories such as “extraordinary wages,” “liturgical ornaments,” “war expenses” or “wax account,” I encountered surprises: Women appear in the lists of salaried employees at the medieval papal court.

    Furthermore, they were involved in tasks that “touched” the leader of the church. Even a pope’s clothes need making, mending and washing. Women crafted an ornate style highly appreciated by the pontiffs – glorifying them with pure white linen and gold embroidery. The Vatican Apostolic Archives’ Introitus and Exitus, medieval financial records, provide substantial evidence that women made sacerdotal ornaments and garments.

    Between 1364-1374, the registers recorded the pope’s launderesses – women otherwise lost to history. Among them were Katherine, the wife of one Guillaume Bertrand; Bertrande of St. Spirit, who washed all the papal linens upon his election; and Alasacie de la Meynia, the wife of Peter Mathei, who did the pope’s laundry for the Christmas festivities of 1373 and is mentioned again in 1375.

    These women were all wives of officers at the papal court. Records identified them by their full name, which was not the case for everyone on the pope’s payroll. This is important: The records gave them real presence, unlike most female laborers.

    A woman doing laundry appears in the Codices Palatini germanici, a German medieval manuscript.
    Heidelberg University Library

    Later records were less clear. Between the 1380s and 1410s, liturgical garments were made and washed by various women, including the unnamed wife of Peter Bertrand, a doctor of law; Agnes, wife of Master Francis Ribalta, a physician of the pope; another Alasacie, wife of carpenter John Beulayga; and the unnamed wife of the pope’s head cook, Guido de Vallenbrugenti – alias Brucho.

    Only one woman, Marie Quigi Fernandi Sanci de Turre, appears without a male relative. As time progressed, women’s names were not systematically recorded.

    Most of these later women, too, were married to curial officers who maintained rank at court by working in trade, medicine or the military. Women were never paid directly; their husbands collected their salaries. Still, this was not “unseen” labor but a salaried occupation, explicitly recorded.

    A 15th-century painting of the papal palace in Avignon, from the artist workshop of Maître de Boucicaut.
    Bibliothèque Nationale via Wikimedia Commons

    Working day – and night

    Many other women immigrated to work in Avignon. According to a partial survey of the city’s heads of households in 1371, about 15% were women. Most had traveled far and wide – from elsewhere in present-day France, as well as Germany and Italy – to reach the papal court and a chance at employment.

    Of the total female heads of household, 20% declared an occupation. The range of these women’s trades is staggering. There were fruit-sellers, tailoresses, tavern-keepers, butchers, candlemakers, carpenters and stonecutters. Women in Avignon worked as fish-sellers, goldsmiths, glove-makers, pastry-bakers, spice merchants and chicken-sellers. They were sword-makers, furriers, booksellers, bread-resellers and bath-keepers.

    An illustration from ‘Theatrum sanitatis,’ a 13th-century Latin manuscript by Giovannino de Grassi.
    De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images

    Bathhouses, the “stews,” were often brothels. Prostitution was considered a legal occupation in Avignon and controlled by the church. Marguerite de Porcelude, known as “the Huntress,” paid an annual tax to the diocese for her lodging. Several prostitutes rented tenements from the convent of St. Catherine, and Marguerite Busaffi, daughter of a prominent banker, owned a brothel in the city.

    In 1337, the marshal of the Roman court – the highest secular judicial officer – taxed prostitutes and procurers two sols per week. Pope Innocent VI, scandalized by the practice, annulled it in 1358.

    Still, because of the general taint associated with the sex trade, the church attempted to reform prostitutes and convert them into nuns. The Avignon popes locked them up in a special convent, the Repenties, set up far from the center of town.

    A brothel scene illustrated by Maïtre François in a 15th-century edition of St. Augustine’s book ‘City of God.’
    National Library of the Netherlands via Wikimedia Commons

    Eventually, the establishment became a form of prison for “unruly” women – those who were pregnant out of wedlock. But for some hundred years, groups of ladies of the night took vows and lived as nuns there, controlling the affairs of their own convent with an iron fist.

    In the 1370s, Pope Gregory XI offered the nuns and their donors a plenary indulgence, a forgiveness of sins. They followed a rule emphasizing that regardless of their pasts, abstinence and continence could make them spiritually “chaste.”

    The ladies of the convent left detailed records of the properties they acquired. In 1384, its leaders petitioned the papal treasury, demanding arrears they were owed from a priest’s donation – and received what was due. Few medieval women had the chutzpah to petition a court for past dues, much less the pope’s. The Repenties did.

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

    – ref. Butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers − and prostitutes: The women working behind the scenes in papal Avignon – https://theconversation.com/butchers-bakers-candlestick-makers-and-prostitutes-the-women-working-behind-the-scenes-in-papal-avignon-249345

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Selenium is an essential nutrient named after the Greek goddess of the Moon − crucial to health, it may help prevent and treat cancer

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aliasger K. Salem, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa

    Selenium is found in trace amounts in living organisms, soil and plants. Nazarii Neshcherenskyi/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Selenium is a nutrient that plays a crucial role in human health, contributing to the thyroid and immune function, DNA repair, and cardiovascular and cognitive health.

    It acts as an antioxidant – substances that protect cells from unstable molecules that can damage DNA, proteins and cell membranes. It can even protect against cancer.

    Selenium is a vital trace element found in living organisms, soil and plants, and your body needs only a small amount of it to function. The recommended dietary allowance for selenium in adults is 55 micrograms per day, with an upper limit of 400 micrograms. In comparison, adults need between 900 to 10,000 micrograms daily of copper, another trace element, and between 8,000 to 40,000 micrograms of the trace element zinc.

    An excess or deficiency of selenium can have significant health consequences. In my work as a pharmaceutical science researcher, my colleagues and I study the potential use of selenium to boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

    A dose of selenium

    Selenium was first discovered in 1817 by chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius while analyzing an impurity in a batch of sulfuric acid produced in a factory in Sweden. Berzelius initially thought the material was the element tellurium, but he eventually realized that it was actually an unknown substance at the time. He named the mineral after Selene, the Greek goddess of the Moon, because of its similarity to tellurium, which had been named after the Roman goddess of the Earth.

    Selenium exists in both organic and inorganic forms. Organic compounds contain carbon atoms and are typically derived from living organisms, while inorganic compounds do not have carbon atoms and generally originate from nonliving sources. Your cells chemically convert between these forms to carry out various physiological functions.

    Selenium deficiency is a significant health issue, particularly in regions with selenium-poor soils, such as parts of China, Africa and Europe. Low selenium levels are associated with Keshan disease, a fatal heart condition, and Kashin-Beck disease, which affects joints and bones. Deficiency also weakens immune function, increasing susceptibility to infections.

    Brazil nuts contain particularly high levels of selenium.
    R.Tsubin/Moment via Getty Images

    Consuming too much selenium is also an issue. Oversupplementation or excess environmental exposure can lead to selenosis, a condition with symptoms such as brittle hair and nails, digestive issues, skin rashes and neurological symptoms such as irritability and fatigue. In severe cases, selenium toxicity can result in organ failure and death.

    Selenium has a narrow therapeutic window, which is the dosage range that provides safe and effective treatment with minimal harmful side effects. For example, selenium can either increase or decrease your body’s immune function, depending on the dose. Adequate levels of selenium strengthen your immune cells’ ability to fight infections and tumors, while excessive selenium intake can suppress immune responses by damaging immune tissues.

    Selenium and cancer prevention

    Selenium may have the potential to treat and prevent cancer.

    Scientists have long studied selenium’s role in cancer prevention. Initially suspected to be a carcinogen, later studies found it had protective effects against liver damage. In the 1960s. researchers proposed that selenium could be used to prevent cancer, a concept that gained further traction in the 1990s.

    However, large-scale clinical trials have produced mixed results. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial was a study of over 35,500 men that ran from 2001 to 2004. They found that taking selenium daily did not reduce prostate cancer risk and may even increase the risk of prostate cancer in men with already high selenium levels.

    Findings from a study conducted from 1983 to 1996, the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial, suggested selenium may protect against prostate and other cancers. But researchers also observed a heightened incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer among participants.

    These conflicting results may be due to the different forms of selenium each study tested, as well as differences in baseline selenium levels among participants. Other studies have found that selenium-contaminated water in a municipality of Italy has been linked to an increased risk of melanoma.

    The antioxidant effects of selenium vary depending on its dose.
    Razaghi et al./EJC, CC BY-SA

    Selenium and cancer treatment

    Selenium may also have the potential to stop cancer from spreading.

    My research focuses on the potential of using selenium to supplement chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Selenium compounds such as methylseleninic acid, or MSA, and seleno-L-methionine, or SLM, show promise in targeting proteins that drive tumor progression and treatment resistance. Studies from my team and I have found that MSA can modulate key biochemical pathways related to kidney cancer by reducing levels of proteins that influence tumor growth and immune evasion. We also observed that SLM may slow kidney tumor growth in mice without toxic side effects.

    More significantly, in a Phase 1 clinical trial, we found that combining SLM with the chemotherapy drug axitinib was effective in treating metastatic kidney cancer in patients, with minimal side effects. Of the 27 patients we treated, over half saw their tumors shrink in size, with a median overall survival of nearly 20 months. These findings suggest that selenium may have a synergistic effect on chemotherapy by making it more effective.

    Further investigation into how selenium may help overcome treatment resistance and what doses are optimal will clarify its potential as a viable addition to cancer treatment.

    Striking the right balance

    Whether as an immune booster or potential treatment for disease, the significance of selenium in human health is undeniable.

    Eating selenium-rich foods – such as Brazil nuts, seafood, whole grains and eggs – can help sustain optimal nutrient levels. In regions with selenium-deficient soils, supplementation with medical supervision may be necessary.

    The fine line between benefit and harm underscores the importance of balanced intake and personalized approaches to selenium supplementation. As research continues, I believe selenium’s multifaceted role in health will become more clear.

    Aliasger K. Salem receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. He serves on the Executive Board of the American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists.

    – ref. Selenium is an essential nutrient named after the Greek goddess of the Moon − crucial to health, it may help prevent and treat cancer – https://theconversation.com/selenium-is-an-essential-nutrient-named-after-the-greek-goddess-of-the-moon-crucial-to-health-it-may-help-prevent-and-treat-cancer-248548

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Landscape Architecture Connecting Bridgeport’s Waterfront

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Bridgeport sits at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound, providing it with the longest waterfront in the state.

    However, due to historical and ongoing under-resourcing, 70% of the waterfront is currently inaccessible. This has perpetuated racial and socioeconomic disparities that affect access to the ecosystem and public services in Connecticut.

    Researchers, students, and alumni from the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) are working to create and implement plans that would make waterfront areas accessible for Bridgeport residents. The faculty leads on this effort are Jill Desimini, director and associate professor of landscape architecture, and Sohyun Park, associate professor of landscape architecture.

    This work aims to make two key portions of Bridgeport’s waterfront accessible. The first is the area known as the “sliver by the river,” in downtown Bridgeport by the train station, and the second is along Yellow Mill Channel, on the east side of the city.

    “The impact on the community will be huge,” Park says. “In the past, they did not have access to the waterfront, and now we are opening the access points and revitalizing some vacant land and public spaces to be more resilient and socially functioning.”

    As part of their landscape architecture studio, undergraduate students were divided into groups to generate proposals for the areas which have served as the basis for actual work on these sites.

    “It was a really exciting project to get to be a part of,” Kayla Villareal ’25 (CAHNR) says. “Being able to see the evolution and implementation of past suggestions was extremely motivating and served as inspiration to the work produced by my cohort. The best part about the work we completed was seeing the impacts it could have in various communities in Connecticut, as well as other states in the future.”

    The goal is to not only create a continuous path of access to the waterfront, but to provide community services along the pathway as well. Some amenities included in the plan are kayak launches, benches, parks, and areas for fishing.

    The marshlands on the north side of the “sliver by the river” also have the potential to offer important ecosystem services such as improving water quality, erosion control, habitat, and flood abatement once restored.

    On the Yellow Mill side, the group has introduced native plants, pollinator gardens, parking, and increased accessibility to the existing waterfront park there. They have also proposed various site activation and place-making strategies, like art walk, painted asphalt, underpass gallery, pop-up skate park, educational signage, guerilla gardening, and more.

    “Their ultimate goal is to provide continuous access along the waterfront to the residents of Bridgeport, both to improve the ecological health of the waterfront and the human health of the residents,” Desimini says.

    Park says she hopes this work helps inspire community members to continue pushing to improve their neighborhoods.

    “You actually spur community engagement further if they see some color on the pavement,” Park says. “I hope the small things we do can have some snowball effect and engage more people in their neighborhood.”

    The nationally accredited landscape architecture program at UConn has a longstanding relationship with groups including Groundwork Bridgeport, Trust for Public Land, National Park Service, and the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, all of which have been partners for this effort.

    Within these organizations and beyond, many CAHNR alumni have been involved in the effort.

    “It’s an honor to be involved in such a transformative and beautiful project right in the city I grew up in,” says Ely-Anna Becerril ’21, landscape designer at William Kenny Associates, LLC. [My colleague] Tom Tavella and the students of the Landscape Architecture program provided the fantastic initial ideas and saw the potential for this space to be something special. I’m excited to help push this project forward to becoming a reality for the Bridgeport community to enjoy.”

    This project is funded by the City of Bridgeport and various grants from the National Park Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Long Island Sound Futures Fund, and the National Coastal Resiliency Fund.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

     

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: RN-Yuganskneftegaz produced 570 million tons of oil at the fields of the Maysky region

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    RN-Yuganskneftegaz, the largest oil producing asset of Rosneft, has produced the 570 millionth ton of oil at the Maysky region fields in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra.

    The Maysky region is a group of 20 fields, including Malobalykskoye, Yuzhno-Balykskoye, Petelinskoye, Ugutskoye and others. A powerful production complex has been created in the region. The area of the oil field reaches 3.5 thousand square kilometers. Production is provided by about 3.4 thousand wells. In 2024, more than 360 new wells were commissioned in the region and more than 2.2 thousand hydraulic fracturing operations were carried out.

    To increase the oil recovery factor, including at fields with complex geological structure, RN-Yuganskneftegaz specialists use advanced technologies and engineering solutions, such as infill drilling, construction of directional and horizontal wells with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing operations, and increasing the length of horizontal sections of wellbores. Drilling multi-hole wells using fishbone* technology has become new for the region. In 2024, four wells of this type were commissioned with an average starting oil flow rate of 327 tons/day.

    Increasing the efficiency of production and introducing innovative technologies ensures high oil production rates at mature fields in the May region.

    *”Fishbone” (English fishbone – “fish bone”) is a multi-hole well with a special trajectory, in which numerous branches depart from one horizontal shaft. The well’s shape resembles a fish skeleton – hence the name.

    Reference:

    RN-Yuganskneftegaz is the largest asset of Rosneft Oil Company, accounting for approximately 34% of the Company’s total production. The company conducts geological exploration and development of fields in 40 license areas with a total area of over 21 thousand km2 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra.

    The company’s cumulative production since the beginning of its operations exceeds 2.7 billion tons of oil.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 25, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri confers 32 gallantry, distinguished service & meritorious service medals to ICG personnel

    Source: Government of India

    Raksha Mantri confers 32 gallantry, distinguished service & meritorious service medals to ICG personnel

    ICG has grown into a formidable, trustworthy & one of the world’s most efficient marine forces: Shri Rajnath Singh

    RM exhorts marine forces to remain alert of conventional and unconventional threats

    Posted On: 25 FEB 2025 1:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh conferred gallantry, distinguished service, and meritorious service medals to the personnel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) during the 18th ICG Investiture Ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 25, 2025. A total of 32 medals – six President’s Tatrakshak Medals (Distinguished Service), 11 Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry) and 15 Tatrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service) – for 2022, 2023 and 2024 were presented to the personnel for their exemplary service, acts of valour, and selfless dedication to duty, often in challenging & extreme conditions.

    List of Awardees of PTM & TM

    Congratulating the personnel, Raksha Mantri described the medals as not just a memento, but a symbol of bravery, perseverance and unwavering resolve towards maintaining the honour of the tricolour. He commended the personnel for their efforts in ensuring coastal security, organisational efficiency, seizure of drugs, rescue operations and international exercises.

    Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the growth of ICG into a formidable, trustworthy and one of the most efficient marine forces in the world. “Geographically, India is surrounded by sea on three sides and its coastline is vast. The nation’s strategic security faces two types of threats. The first is war which is dealt by the Armed Forces, and the second are the challenges of piracy, terrorism, infiltration, smuggling & illegal fishing for which the marine forces, especially ICG, are always alert. ICG, working proactively to tackle these challenges, is a key player in ensuring strategic security,” he said.

    In the last one year, ICG has achieved significant achievements in maritime safety, security and humanitarian operations. It apprehended 14 boats and 115 pirates, apart from carrying out a major drug seizure of about Rs 37,000 crore. In addition, ICG saved 169 lives through various rescue operations and provided medical assistance to 29 seriously injured people.

    Raksha Mantri termed these achievements as not just statistics, but a story of ICG’s courage and dedication towards national security. By being alert on the maritime borders, ICG not only stops illegal infiltration, but also helps in positively impacting India’s sovereignty and internal security, he said. Shedding light on the emergence of unconventional threats due to the latest technological advancements, he called upon the marine forces, especially ICG, to remain alert of challenges such as cyber attacks, data breach, signal jamming, radar disruption and GPS spoofing, in addition to the conventional threats.

    Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that the vision of a secure & prosperous India can only be realised if its security system is robust and the forces are strong. He reiterated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s commitment to increasing the efficiency of ICG. “Indian Coast Guard has been allocated Rs 9,676.70 crore for the Financial Year 2025-26, which is 26.50% more than the previous budget. It is a crucial step towards modernising ICG. In addition, the procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels, six Air Cushion Vehicles, 22 Interceptor Boats, six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and 18 Next Generation Fast Patrol Vessels has been approved to make ICG stronger,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri acknowledged ICG’s focus on technological advancements, while commending the foundation laying of the Digital Coast Guard project. All these efforts will continuously strengthen the ICG to effectively deal with conventional and unconventional threats, he said, assuring the Government’s full support in achieving this objective.

    Prior to the ceremony, Raksha Mantri inspected the Ceremonial Guard of Honour, reflecting the solemnity and importance of the occasion. The awardees and their families also interacted with Shri Rajnath Singh, marking a fitting conclusion to the event. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani, other senior officials of ICG & Ministry of Defence and the families of the awardees were present on the occasion.

    ***

    SR/Savvy

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Smart is sexy – new study on fish doing puzzles hints intelligence partly evolved via sexual selection

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ivan Vinogradov, Animal Behaviour Researcher, Australian National University

    Turner Brockman/iNaturalist, CC BY-SA

    We humans often underestimate the intelligence of other animals. You’ve probably seen videos of monkeys, ravens or parrots solving puzzles.

    But fish also possess impressive problem-solving skills, despite the notorious slander that goldfish have a three-second memory.

    The intelligence of animals can be a useful tool when testing various ideas in biology. For example, could intelligence have evolved in part thanks to sexual selection, rather than as a means of survival?

    In a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, we used distinct tests to measure cognitive abilities of male mosquitofish – a thumb-sized fish endemic to central America but now a major pest in many parts of the world, including Australia.

    We then tracked how many offspring each male produced when competing for mates in small ponds. Our study showed that smarter males had more offspring than their less intelligent brethren.

    Our findings imply that the evolution of cognitive abilities may have been driven by sexual selection, with smarter males gaining more mating opportunities.

    To be smart is to survive

    Cognitive abilities, such as learning and problem solving, likely arose because they helped animals gather food, find shelter and avoid predators.

    Individuals that were better at these tasks lived longer and passed on genes to their offspring that improved the offspring’s performance. Natural selection favoured smarter survivors who had more descendants than the average individual.

    As a result, populations became smarter over time.

    But there is another explanation for the evolution of intelligence: smarter is sexy. A better brain might help an animal find more mates, have more sex, and eventually have more babies.

    If this is the case, intelligence partly evolved through sexual selection, where traits that boost mating and fertilisation success become more common over generations.

    We did our study on male fish – sexual selection is usually stronger on males than females, because in most species there are more males seeking mates than females ready to mate and breed.

    A shoal of mosquitofish.
    David Fanner

    Measuring animal IQ

    Even in humans, intelligence can be difficult to pin down: maths skills, creativity, street smarts, and standardised IQ tests all capture different aspects of human braininess.

    For animals, this challenge is tougher still. But biologists broadly agree that cognition is the ability to acquire, store, process, and act on information; and that distinct cognitive abilities are governed by different brain regions.

    We designed four special underwater tests to tap into these distinct cognitive abilities of our male mosquitofish.

    First, we measured their spatial learning by placing fish in a maze with a single correct route that led them to a shoal of their compatriots. Mosquitofish are highly motivated to swim with other fish, so reaching this shoal acts as a reward for solving the maze.

    Second, we measured their self-control (formally called “inhibitory control”) by placing a transparent barrier between the fish and a reward. We then documented how quickly a male learned not to swim into the barrier but to detour around it.

    A variation of the apparatus used to test self-control in mosquitofish. Fish needed to overcome their impulse to swim straight through the transparent barrier and detour it instead.
    Ivan Vinogradov

    Then, we measured associative learning by presenting a fish with two coloured corridors once a day. One colour (for example, green) led to a dead end, while the other (for example, red) to a reward.

    The number of days it took a male to consistently choose the correct corridor – the one with a reward – indicated how quickly they learned the association.

    Lastly, we reversed the colour cues to measure reversal learning. If green, for example, was previously the dead end, it now became the reward corridor, while red became the dead end. This tested how quickly the fish could “overwrite” his previously learned association to learn the new one.

    A winning edge in mating

    After these tests, we moved the males to ponds where they competed for mates. Two months later, the females gave birth, and genetic paternity tests revealed who fathered each offspring.

    Males that scored highly on self-control and spatial learning had significantly more children. But why?

    Something about these males seemingly gave them an edge in securing mating opportunities. Perhaps females recognised and preferred smarter males? Maybe smarter males were better at chasing the females and forcing them to mate (a common, if unpleasant, practice in mosquitofish).

    Future research is needed to observe the males’ mating behaviours more closely and see if smarter and dumber males differ in how they court mates.

    Our research sheds light on the evolution of our most prized possession – the brain. It seems that sophisticated intelligence isn’t only driven by our need to find food or avoid danger to survive, but also by the complex challenges of finding love.

    Ivan Vinogradov 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. Smart is sexy – new study on fish doing puzzles hints intelligence partly evolved via sexual selection – https://theconversation.com/smart-is-sexy-new-study-on-fish-doing-puzzles-hints-intelligence-partly-evolved-via-sexual-selection-249862

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – Sister Ana, a missionary among young Filipinos: this is how we help them discover their talents

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 25 February 2025

    Photo: Suor Ana Palma

    by Pascale RizkSan Carlos (Agenzia Fides) – A few days ago the seventh edition of the “Asian Mission” initiative ended, which this year had the motto “Made for a mission. Made for peace”. The event brought together 50 participants, including eight young people from Japan, five from the diocese of Daejon in South Korea, five from the Philippine diocese of Nampicuan and two from San Fabian, as well as 30 young people from the “Servants Missionary Youth” group from Malasiqui. The meeting, organized by the Congregation of the Servants of the Gospel of the Divine Mercy, takes place once a year and was held from February 6 to 16 in San Carlos, in the Philippine province of Pangasinan.”While young people in the Philippines suffer from poverty, young people in South Korea and Japan suffer from their families’ crushing expectations of success within a very competitive, rigid and demanding social system that causes a high suicide rate. The Asia Mission initiative aims to support all these young people,” says Sister Ana Palma, a Spanish missionary who has been in the Philippines with her community since 2015. “By creating this space, we want to sensitize young people to realities that are different from their own.””They should experience ‘human fraternity’ by being able to participate in pastoral activities with young people, children and university students. At the Pangasinan State University, young people meet with the university pastoral staff to share experiences of life in their respective societies and discuss ways to promote peace. In general, games, workshops and key meetings are held on human values such as freedom of expression, human dignity and work, depending on the age group,” explains the nun.San Carlos is 122 kilometers from Manila and is characterized by great poverty. It is usually the fathers who provide for the families by working in agriculture; families are made up of an average of five or six people and the most common work is building bamboo houses, called “Bahay-kubo”. The daily wage is 450 pesos, which is about 9,900 pesos a month, or about 200 euros. Women who do the cleaning work receive 350 pesos a day. With this income, families cannot afford to send all their children to university, and they only choose those who have the best prospects of success.The different needs of these young people also include the financial aspect. The parishes promote university scholarships of 1,500 pesos (about 26 euros) per month for the entire academic year. “My community sponsors 20 students with financial support of 1,750 pesos – 360 euros per year – from private donors,” adds Sister Ana, who continues: “Our work with young people aims above all to give them the confidence to change their lives. We encourage them to discover their potential, their talents and abilities. They are all very gifted, but at the same time they are crushed by the reality of poverty, which always makes them underestimate their potential.”According to Sister Ana, young people who are unable to continue their studies at university help their fathers with construction work, and the girls act as “laundresses,” washing the clothes by hand for families who do not have washing machines. It also happens that girls enrolled in university have difficulty paying the exam fees and therefore turn to prostitution.In addition to their work with young people, the missionaries of the Congregation of the Servants of the Gospel of Divine Mercy are involved in children’s catechism in parishes, in the distribution of the Eucharist to the elderly from door to door and in various educational, recreational and entertainment programs for young people. Every week, the missionary community meet with the youth group of the “Servants Missionary Youth” to pray. “The strength and power of prayer is very important. Filipino Catholics have a strong sense of popular piety,” emphasizes the missionary from Granada.”I am very happy that these young people, who come from very poor families – I know, for example, a family with up to fourteen members – can study at university. Many study nursing, political science or education. It is beautiful to see how they mature through open-mindedness,” says Sister Ana, “Even if, unfortunately,” reports Sister Ana, “today many are leaving the Catholic Church to join the ‘Born Again’ sect, attracted by music and animation”. (Agenzia Fides, 25/2/2025)
    Photo: Suor Ana Palma

    Photo: Suor Ana Palma

    Photo: Suor Ana Palma

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace Africa applauds the Court’s decision to secure final victory for the Black Johnson Beach campaign

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Dakar: 21-02-2025/The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the Save Black Johnson Beach campaign, marking a significant victory for environmental conservation. Launched in 2022 by a group of dedicated civilians, the campaign sought to prevent the construction of fishmeal factories and harbour that  would threaten the beach’s delicate ecosystems and overshadow the small-scale fishing on which communities rely. 

    Greenpeace Africa celebrates this historic decision, which not only safeguards Black Johnson Beach but also serves as an inspiring precedent for communities worldwide fighting against environmental injustice.

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa said: 

    “This ruling is a historic victory for the people of Black Johnson and for coastal communities across West Africa. It proves that governments cannot hand over our oceans and lands to destructive industries without consequences. The Supreme Court has spoken, private land and critical marine ecosystems are not for sale. We call on other communities facing environmental destruction to stand up, resist, and demand justice.”

    The fishmeal industry is driving ocean destruction across West Africa, threatening food security and livelihoods. 

    “This Supreme Court decision is a turning point, it shows that communities have the power to resist and win. Black Johnson Beach is now a symbol of resilience and environmental justice. We urge all communities facing similar threats to take action and fight for their rights.We celebrate this victory, but the fight is far from over. Across the region, the fishmeal industry continues to plunder our seas for profit. Greenpeace Africa stands in solidarity with all communities resisting this destruction. We call on those on the frontlines of environmental struggles to stay strong, organize, and push back, because together, we can protect our oceans, our fisheries, and our future.” Added Dr. Aliou. 

    Black Johnson Beach is home to five distinct ecosystems, including pristine beaches and coastal habitats, critical mangrove forests that protect against erosion, marine ecosystems with vital fish breeding grounds, diverse rainforests supporting wildlife, and freshwater rivers and wetlands essential for biodiversity.

    Contacts for  interview:

    Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, [email protected], +237 656 46 35 45 

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaign Lead, [email protected] 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Winter in Moscow sites invite city residents and tourists to celebrate Maslenitsa

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Maslenitsa festivities within the framework of the project “Winter in Moscow” will last until March 2 inclusive. Thematic programs have been prepared by the capital’s parks, museums, galleries, cultural centers, libraries and the Moskino cinema park. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.

    “Traditional folk games, performances by folk groups, theatrical performances and themed master classes await the townspeople. We have decided to abandon the traditional ritual of burning the Maslenitsa effigy this year for environmental and safety reasons,” said Alexey Fursin.

    Ditties, dances and old games

    On February 26 at 19:00, a concert of students of the Department of Folk Performing Arts and the Department of Folk Singing of the Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke will take place in the Gogol House. Maslenitsa songs, folk melodies in modern arrangements, ditties and jokes will be performed, including “Along the Wide Street”, “Oh, Pancakes, My Pancakes”, “And We Seen Off Maslenitsa” and other compositions. Need pre-registration.

    On March 2 at 13:00, the Vnukovo Cultural Center will host the festive festivities “Wide Maslenitsa”. Russian folk games have been prepared for guests, including the stream and gorelki, as well as relay races and round dances. You can listen to Russian folk songs performed by the Sing Pro pop vocal studio and the Steppe vocal ensemble, watch choreographic numbers with the participation of the Zhemchuzhina ensemble. In addition, visitors will be offered to paint a Maslenitsa figurine, play board games, and make a doll-amulet. Admission is free.

    On February 27, the Rostokino Gallery will host a master class called “Maslenitsa Costume.” Participants will learn more about the tradition of creating straw dolls for the holiday and learn how they were decorated. An experienced craftsman will explain what the different colors in the doll’s costume mean, what signs and symbols our ancestors used. Everyone will be able to create a unique author’s image for the figurine. Admission is free, no registration required.

    On February 28 at 18:30, the cultural center “Creative Lyceum” will organize the program “Maslenitsa Culture”. Visitors will be presented with a concert program of the Russian music ethnostudio “Posolon”. Dance songs “Maslenka Shiroka”, “And we are waiting for Maslenitsa”, “Vesennaya Lyricheskaya” and “Solnyshko” will be performed to the accompaniment of folk instruments – gusli and balalaika. Admission is free, no registration required.

    Maslenitsa festivities in film scenery

    Maslenitsa festivities will also take place in the Moskino cinema park. Admission is free, but to participate you must buy a ticket to the territory of the cinema park.

    On March 1 from 13:00 to 16:45, the Gonzaga Theater will show the performances “Wide Maslenitsa” about the merry buffoons Marfusha, Mityusha and Vesnushka, which will introduce the audience to folklore traditions. And from 17:00 to 18:00, there will be a master class on crafts from Old Believer Artem Chernyshev.

    In the “Center of Moscow” set, guests will be treated to the relay races “Stove-Nurse” and “Cockfights”, and at the chromakey, the old Russian game of gorodki, which develops accuracy, coordination and strategic thinking.

    In the “Cowboy Town” decorations, from 11:00 to 17:10, an immersive quest “The Strange Case of the Missing Cows” will be held for children. And in the fairy tale park, guests will be treated to themed games – felt boot throwing and “Zakrutikha”.

    “Solar Wind” and festive processions in parks

    On March 1 at 13:00 a thematic program will begin in the Kuskovo forest park. Visitors will enjoy a performance by the children’s ensemble “Krutukha”, a mini-performance about Maslenitsa, an interactive lecture by the artist-painter Ilya Lysenkov, creative master classes led by the staff of the library No. 90 named after A.S. Neverov. And fans of active recreation will be invited to a running tour of the forest park. Admission is free.

    Free Maslenitsa performances will be shown on March 1 and 2 at 12:00 in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, and on March 2 at 12:00 — in the Izmailovo Estate. An interactive musical program, active games-competitions, master classes in baking pancakes, songs, ditties and Maslenitsa fun have been prepared for visitors. Admission is free.

    The big Maslenitsa program will be held on March 2 from 13:00 on the Palace Square and other sites of the natural and historical park “Tsaritsyno”. The symbol of the arrival of spring will be the art object “Solar Wind” with scarlet and gold pinwheels and canvases, created by Marina Zvyagintseva, one of the founders of public art in Russia. On the Palace Square, visitors will see a performance by the group “Skazki”, take part in the theatrical program of the youth ensemble “Veretenets”, a festive procession and a round dance. Entrance to the main entertainment events of the program is free.

    A holiday for the little ones

    On March 2, from 12:00 to 15:00, the children’s center of the Museum of Moscow will hold a festive program called “Frying Pan Miracle” in the museum courtyard. Children will learn about Maslenitsa traditions, create bright outfits, and dance. Musical accompaniment performed by DJ Elma will be played on the radio station “Shum”. In the “Dress-up” workshop, children will create festive images, and help with makeup in the “Rumyantsy” workshop. At 14:30, a pancake disco will begin – a Maslenitsa procession, the culmination of which will be a large spring round dance. Admission is free.

    Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 brings together various events in the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go ice skating, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, and show concern for those who need it.

    Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The largest festivals of the capital “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light” and many others are organically woven into the project. All information about the project and winter season events can be found in a special section of mos.ru.

    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/150516073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth doorstop interview in Palm Cove, Queensland

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    MATT SMITH, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEICHHARDT: Good morning, my name’s Matt Smith. I’m the ALP’s candidate for the Federal seat of Leichhardt. Today, I’ve got Minister Amanda Rishworth and Jen Rees from Surf Life Saving here for a really important announcement around accessibility to our beaches and national parks. One of my favourite memories with my children is taking them to the beach and listening to them squeal and run away from the waves, that interaction with the ocean that so many Australians and tourists take for granted. Unfortunately, the beach can be a tough place if you’re in a wheelchair. Sand is not particularly conducive to wheels, and this announcement gives the beach back to everybody, the national parks back to everybody. So, you can take your children down, you can listen to them enjoy themselves, you can have that experience that you had growing up and share that with the next generation. 

    It’s also fantastic for the tourist industry here in Queensland. Opening up our national parks and our beaches to everybody provides another string to our already well-heeled bow. Giving people the opportunity to experience all that Far North Queensland has to offer, regardless of their ability to move, is really important and gives us an opportunity to share our truly beautiful part of the world. I’ll hand over now to Minister Rishworth to go over some more of the details of what is a truly special announcement today.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: It’s so wonderful to be here with Matt Smith, Labor’s candidate for the Federal seat of Leichhardt, and of course Jen and the other surf lifesavers here at Palm Cove. Today we’re announcing a fund called Accessible Australia. This funding will be to partner with state governments and local councils and other organisations, such as Surf Life Saving clubs, to ensure that our beaches and other natural spaces are more accessible.

    We know that we have some of the best beaches, I might argue with Matt about where in Australia they’ll be, but according to Accessible Beaches Australia, a charity that does a lot of work in this area, only 2 per cent of our beaches are actually accessible for people with disabilities. So, that’s cutting up a whole lot of opportunities for so many people to just enjoy the beautiful sand and the water here in Australia.

    We want to change that, and we also want to make sure that people have access to our national parks, some beautiful national parks here in North Queensland, but also around Australia. And so, funding will be available, for example, for beach wheelchairs, all terrain wheelchairs, for matting, for grading, to allow more accessibility to our beaches and our parks.

    In addition, there will be funding to allow for the investment into what’s called Changing Places. These are important facilities that allow not only disability friendly toileting spaces but also showers and other really important facilities. We were willing to partner with state governments when it comes to these facilities to work with the community to make our natural environment much more attractive.

    I did want to take this opportunity to commend Surf Life Saving Queensland and the work they’ve been doing with the local councils and community members. Here in North Queensland – here at Palm Cove, Mission Beach – there is already, importantly, access to the beach because of the Mobi matting and the wheelchair accessibility. And just hearing Jen talk about the impact that that can have in terms of accessibility for nippers, for the wider community is really, really important.

    I’d really like to commend the work being done by Surf Life Saving Queensland along with their local councils to really focus on this accessibility. It really is to be commended, and we hope that this fund, Accessible Australia, will help accelerate the work that’s being done, and thank all of them for the work they do. Hearing Jen talk about the wraparound support that clubs get to support, whether it’s a participant in the Surf Life Saving club or perhaps a visitor at the beach, is so important so that everyone can enjoy our natural resources. So, I’d like to thank them. I’d like to thank particularly Palm Cove Surf Life Saving Club for hosting us here today and appreciate the work they’re doing. I’ll now hand over to Jen from Surf Life Saving Queensland.

    JEN REES, SURF LIVING SAVING NORTH QUEENSLAND: Here in tropical North Queensland we’re very proud that four out of our five Surf Life Saving clubs have got beach wheelchairs, and we’ve got two clubs with mats that roll out. So, part of Surf Life Saving Queensland’s inclusive action plan, we’re looking at how we communicate out to the community, and they can go on our website and they can find existing beaches, they can find out what facilities are available and what’s not available. Here in Palm Cove, at least, it’s like the council supporting us with a wheelchair that has access to the beach, and Port Douglas is supported by Douglas Shire Council with their wheelchair. And then Ellis Beach has had a fantastic donation from the Muslim community with another additional wheelchair, and down Mission Beach they’ve also had a donation. So, the community is banding together to see what [indistinct]. Surf Life Saving Queensland been taking a holistic approach.

    JOURNALIST: How do we select which clubs or which beaches receive this funding?

    JEN REES: So, that’s available through clubs and beaches throughout Queensland on the website, and you can look up accessible beaches and there will be information and photographs on what facilities are available.

    SPEAKER: And out of all of the Surf Life Saving clubs, obviously, like, a particular one is going to get change rooms. How is that selected?

    JEN REES: So, that’s listed under the club. So, we have a [indistinct]. So, for example, this club here, you’ve got accessibility to the supporters’ club, you’ve got an indoor accessible toilet, change room and shower, you’ve got an elevator up to any sort of function room. So, all of that’s actually listed on the website.

    SPEAKER: And in terms of the Mobi matting, is that just rolled out through the lifeguard hours, like, when the lifeguards are open?

    JEN REES: Yes. So, it’s important that there is a service on, the lifeguards and lifesavers have a service on. And then during that service, if you come up and you would like to use it, we’ll roll it out, we’ll get the chair out, and we’ll support getting everything ready. And then that person does need a carer with them to put them into the chair. We’ve also got adaptable sports programs and a lot of resources available to clubs who want to do adaptable sport. And our state program now – we have state sports events coming up which have adaptable events in them. So, members with a disability have got a modified sporting environment where they can compete and participate.

    JOURNALIST: So, if this funding [indistinct] Far North Queensland, what difference will that make?

    JEN REES: It’s fundamental to consultation. So, any parent with someone with a disability or any adult with a disability, they’re going to look and see, can I go to the toilet, can I shower, can I participate, is there a program that’s modified to suit my needs. So, the resources are available and the support’s available for any club who does have a new member come into their environment.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We will be partnering with state and territory governments, along with local councils and Surf Life Saving clubs to deliver this funding where the need is. Surf Life Saving Queensland is so far advanced in their planning, we certainly look forward to supporting them along with other organisations and state governments and local councils. So, we’ll be working with the Queensland Government, partnering with them, through them, with the Surf Life Saving clubs and the councils.

    In terms of your question about the impact this has, the impact that just simple things such as Mobi matting or beach wheelchairs changes the whole experience for someone with a disability. They are able to get into the water, they’re able to touch the water, feel the sand. It has such a huge impact. And just a few days ago in my own electorate in South Australia, we had an event, surfing for the disabled, and the smiles on these people’s faces where they haven’t been able to access the water, enjoy the waves, was really something special.

    JOURNALIST: The funding’s $17.1 million. How much of that is going to be spent here in regional Queensland?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh, look, we will have to work through that with state governments, but we expect over 350 sites to be able to access the funding.

    JOURNALIST: Can you give us a rough idea of how many sites in Far North Queensland?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, it will be about working through with the State Government. What I would say, though, is that the work that Surf Life Saving Queensland’s done and the readiness that they have to have the equipment available, to have the support for the Surf Life Saving clubs puts them in a very, very good position to access the funding.

    JOURNALIST: What’s the goal of the funding… [indistinct]?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We want to work with state and territory governments. Obviously, they have the predominant responsibility for access to the built environment, but we can see the work being done on the ground. As Jen mentioned, community members are raising money. A lot of money comes from philanthropic organisations. So, I don’t necessarily have a goal, but I would like to see it a lot more accessible, working with state and territory governments. I’m hoping with the Commonwealth putting funding on the table, we can unleash and leverage funding also from state governments and local councils.

    JOURNALIST: Do we have a rough figure of how many mobile matting and wheelchairs will be added?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We think approximately there’ll be 350 sites nationally that will have improvements. That will include not just the Mobi matting – but potentially the Changing Places. They vary in cost. So, look, we’re open to the flexibility because what we want to do is make sure we’re delivering. But we are hoping to open up not only the Mobi matting, not only the wheelchairs, but also the Changing Places and other equipment that makes our natural spaces more inclusive.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, we’re told that four out of five Surf Life Saving clubs up here already have those facilities in place that help that experience. Where will this funding be most needed in Australia?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, there is always more we can do. As we heard from Jen, for some places it’s about having the wheelchairs, for others it’s about the matting, for others it’s about the changing rooms and the changing spaces. So, look, we want to make sure that places across Australia are getting access to it. But it’s places like this, with the work that Surf Life Saving Queensland has already done, that puts it in a prime position to access this funding. Because of course, what we know is it’s not just about the equipment, it is the care and attention on the ground. As Jen mentioned, this is available when there’s a lifeguard service available, people have to be trained. So, the work that Queensland Surf Life Saving has done has put them in a prime position to look at how they can better improve the beaches here in North Queensland.

    JOURNALIST: For places like this that already have a wheelchair, a Mobi mat, and potentially great change rooms, how are they going to benefit from this funding?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, of course we always can do better and there will be organisations that will have certain requests, maybe they want another wheelchair, maybe they need more matting, maybe in some places the matting needs to be replaced. They’ve already got the skills and abilities. So, look, we’ll work through that in more detail, but as you can see here, the investment made by the local council is having a real difference for people and we want to see that more available across Australia for local residents, but also for tourists alike.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Where in Siberia did dinosaurs live?

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    At the popular science marathon “Darwin Week” junior researcher of the A. A. Trofimuk Institute of Oil and Gas Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, engineer of the scientific and educational center “Evolution of the Earth” Faculty of Geology and Geography of Novosibirsk State University, paleontologist Vsevolod Efremenko told which dinosaurs lived in Chukotka and Sakhalin, where to look for their remains and how representatives of the paleofauna adapted to life beyond the Arctic Circle. At present, it is reliably known that 12 species of dinosaurs lived in Siberia. Scientists have discovered about 30 places in Russia where their remains have been preserved to this day, but this does not mean that dinosaurs lived only in those places. It is possible that they lived everywhere, but, unfortunately, bones and teeth, and even more rarely – imprints of feathers and fur, are preserved only in certain conditions.

    — Scientists very rarely find complete dinosaur skeletons. Even finding bone joints is a great success for paleontologists. In 95% of cases, they find teeth, vertebrae, bones or their fragments, parts of skulls and jaw fragments. A significant part of the finds are shells, remains of insects and other invertebrates, imprints of fish and fossil plants — in terms of biomass, they all significantly exceeded dinosaurs. In addition, for their remains to be preserved for tens of millions of years, special conditions are required, which are possible when many factors come together, which is a rather rare phenomenon. Nevertheless, all this makes our work more interesting, — said Vsevolod Efremenko.

    The remains of dinosaurs should be looked for in sedimentary rocks, which are the compressed remains of ancient lakes, rivers and swamps. They are usually formed in an aquatic environment, contain fossils and are destroyed fairly quickly on the earth’s surface. The remains of prehistoric animals are not preserved in volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Success in the search for dinosaurs can be expected if it is possible to determine the places where the shores of seas, rivers or lakes, as well as swamps, used to be, and to determine the excavation sites by their contours.

    At the beginning of the Cretaceous period, 145 million years ago, the position of the continents on our planet was already close to the modern one, only the oceans occupied a significantly larger area, and there were no polar ice caps in the polar region. In Siberia and Asia there was a mountainous terrain, and dinosaurs could have lived in the intermountain plains along the banks of rivers and lakes. Closer to the extinction – 66 million years ago – the continents occupied an even closer position to the modern one, and sedimentary basins are almost no longer observed in Siberia. Accordingly, there are almost no sedimentary rocks in which paleontologists can count on finds from that period. Therefore, the remains of dinosaurs of that period could not have been preserved. But in the Far East, the situation was different, so paleontologists discover very interesting finds there.

    — The climate in the Cretaceous period was quite comfortable for dinosaurs — moderate in the Arctic, warm northern in Siberia, and close to subtropical in the Transbaikal Territory. This is evidenced by the climatic reconstruction made on the basis of paleoflora. Dinosaurs could easily settle throughout the territory of Eurasia, Siberia, including Chukotka and Sakhalin. Even in Antarctica, fossil birds are found that once felt quite comfortable in those places, — explained Vsevolod Efremenko.

    The most ancient dinosaurs discovered in Russia lived in the Jurassic period (201-145 million years ago). In Siberia, two of their locations are known – in the Krasnoyarsk and Transbaikal regions.

    The most famous dinosaur of Transbaikalia was found in the vicinity of the village of Kulinda. Scientists have named it Kulindadromeus transbaikaliensis. It lived in these places about 168 million years ago. It was a small non-avian dinosaur of modest size (about the size of an average dog) covered in feathers and scales. It combined bird and reptilian features and was most likely warm-blooded.

    In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the vicinity of the village of Sharypovo, the remains of two dinosaurs of the Jurassic period were discovered: several bones of the predatory tyrannosaurid kilesk (a distant relative of the tyrannosaurus) and many bones of several stegosaurs, from which a whole skeleton was later assembled. Surprisingly, the bones of this herbivorous dinosaur were found among numerous shells of prehistoric turtles in a coal quarry.

    — Paleontology is a very creative science. We can guess from individual bones what genus and species of dinosaur they belong to, and then reconstruct the entire skeleton. This was the case with the kileskos, which hunted stegosaurs. The remains of these ancient animals are found next to each other. But in order not to damage the priceless finds, the paleontologist must work very carefully in the excavation. Since all the bones are scattered, it is necessary to clearly record the position of each of them, so that when assembling the dinosaur skeleton, you do not end up with a chimera, — the paleontologist explained.

    In the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago), the diversity of dinosaurs was enormous. At least a dozen sites of their remains have been discovered in Siberia. One of the largest is in the vicinity of the village of Shestakovo in the Kemerovo region. It was here that paleontologists found a large number of bones and even entire skeletons of Psittacosaurus sibirica, a small dinosaur that lived here 125-100 million years ago. The remains of the sauropod Sibirotitan were also found at this location — large cervical vertebrae. These 20-ton giants shared this territory with Psittacosaurus, as well as the recently discovered Ceratosaurus kiyakursor. It was a very mobile, long-legged, small dinosaur. Scientists have found parts of its skeleton — the humerus, cervical vertebrae, a fragment of the girdle of the forelimb, as well as the bones of the hind limb in anatomical articulation. Unfortunately, neither the skull nor its parts were found, and scientists cannot yet say with complete certainty whether this dinosaur was a predator or a herbivore.

    The northernmost dinosaur site is Teete in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). During the Cretaceous period, the climate here was warm and mild. Here, paleontologists have discovered stegosaurid teeth and vertebrae, as well as sauropod teeth.

    — Over three field seasons, expedition members collected a rich collection of teeth and vertebrae of small therapsids and salamanders. Remains of turtles, fish, lizards and extinct reptiles were also found. Surprisingly, this territory is a refugium — a region where species of ancient animals that have already become extinct in other places have survived for a long time, — said Vsevolod Efremenko.

    The scientist also spoke about other paleontological finds indicating that dinosaurs lived in Chukotka, Sakhalin and the Far East. Herbivorous duck-billed hadrosaurs lived in Chukotka, as well as ceratopsians – it was previously believed that they inhabited only North America. Eggshells were also found, which means that dinosaurs did not end up in the polar latitudes as a result of migration. They constantly lived and reproduced in these places.

    Many significant finds were made in Blagoveshchensk in the Far East. One of the most striking is the duck-billed dinosaur Olorotitan. The uniqueness of the find was that at the time of its discovery it was the most complete articulated dinosaur skeleton discovered in Russia. Its body length was approximately 8 meters, height – 3.5 meters, and weight could reach 3 tons.

    The richest finds were made in the Transbaikal Territory. They belong to the Jehol biota – these are fossil remains of feathered dinosaurs, birds, mammals and plants, which are found in large quantities in the Lower Cretaceous deposits of North-Eastern China. So far, these unique locations of ancient fauna have not been fully studied and, according to Vsevolod Efremenko, there is enough work for many generations of paleontologists.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Bennet Reintroduce Bill to Make High-Rise Apartments Safer for Residents, Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Michael Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act to help place more sprinklers in older high-rise residential buildings where fires are especially dangerous. Companion legislation has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) and John Larson (D-CT-1), another co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

    “The annual cost of fires is enormous, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Americans and causing billions of dollars in property damage. Fortunately, state-of-the-art sprinkler systems can help avert these tragedies by controlling and extinguishing fires, protecting firefighters, and saving countless lives,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would create a tax incentive for property owners to modernize the sprinkler systems in their high-rise buildings, helping better protect these communities.”

    “Older high-rise apartments pose serious risks for residents and firefighters because they were completed before modern fire codes required sprinklers,” said Senator Bennet. “This common-sense, bipartisan bill can help save lives by encouraging building owners to modernize their properties by installing sprinklers.”

    Recent research has found that Americans “have the least amount of time today to safely exit their homes in the event of a fire than at any time in history,” and fire deaths have steadily increased over the last decade. However, the current tax code does not adequately incentivize high-rise building owners to install fire sprinklers, since it treats them similarly to plumbing and depreciates the costs over 39 years. The High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act encourages high-rises to modernize their fire prevention systems by decreasing this cost recovery to 15 years. 

    “Fire sprinklers are one of the most effective ways to save the lives of both civilians and firefighters in the event of a fire,” said Bill Webb, Executive Director, Congressional Fire Services Institute. “The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) strongly supports the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, which will make it more economical to install fire sprinkler systems in residential high-rise properties. Incentivizing installation of fire sprinkler systems will help to protect property and most importantly, save lives. CFSI looks forward to working with Senators Bennet and Collins, and Representatives Malliotakis and Larson to help this bill become law.”

    “Residential high-rise structures are among the most challenging and dangerous environments the fire service operates in,” said Victor Stagnaro, Chief Executive Officer, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “Automatic fire sprinklers are a proven technology that contains fire, provides residents the necessary time to evacuate, and saves lives. We applaud Senator Bennet, Senator Collins, Representative Malliotakis, and Representative Larson for their continued commitment to the safety of our citizens and the health and well-being of our nation’s firefighters.”

    “Sprinklers save lives by helping address unique challenges posed by high-rise buildings such as longer egress times and distance, fire department accessibility and fire control,” Jim Pauley, President and CEO, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “NFPA strongly supports the bipartisan High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act and urges Congress to act quickly.”

    “Statistics consistently show that fire sprinkles save lives,” said Steve Hirsch, Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council. “I applaud Senators Bennet and Collins and Reps. Malliotakis and Larson for reintroducing this important legislation, which would incentive the installation of sprinklers in high-rise buildings.”

    “Almost every high-rise fire in this country has a firefighter injury and many more are having civilian and firefighter fatalities,” said Shane Ray, President, National Fire Sprinkler Association. “There should not be a high-rise building in America in 2025 that is not properly protected. Thank you to Congressman Larson, Congresswoman Malliotakis, Senator Bennet, and Senator Collins for protecting the occupants and firefighters.” 

    “I thank Senators Bennet and Collins for introducing the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act,” said Chief Josh Waldo, President and Board Chair, International Association of Fire Chiefs. “Passage of this legislation would be a historic accomplishment by incentivizing the installation of fire sprinklers in high-rise buildings. As we have seen in the Grenfell Tower fire in the UK and in fires here in America, we must have the best fire protection systems possible in high-rises to save human life.”

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 2025 Asia–Pacific SDG Partnership Report—Delivering a Just Transition: Advancing Decent Work, Gender Equality, and Social Protection

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Produced by ADB, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the United Nations Development Programme, the report looks at workforce disruption and underscores the need to boost training, improve social protection, and target gender equality. It highlights how sectors including renewable energy and sustainable fisheries can create jobs and why digitalization and innovative financing mechanisms are key to pushing countries toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

    MIL OSI Economics –