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Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI: Abacus Global Management Announces Share Repurchase Program; Insider Buying

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abacus Global Management, Inc. (“Abacus” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ABL), a leader in the alternative asset management space, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new $20 million share repurchase program, effective June 5, 2025 for over a period of up to 18 months, as well as recent Form 4 and other employee share purchases totaling over $2 million.

    “While it is unfortunate that Abacus Global Management has been subject to a short attack, we believe our artificially depressed share price represents an excellent buying opportunity for the Company,” said Jay Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Abacus Global Management. “We believe this is validated by our newly authorized share repurchase program, reflecting our Board’s continued confidence in our business model and strength of our balance sheet, and also by our employees who have spent over $2 million combined of their own money in recent share purchases. Our returns and valuation are audited, and consistent with a 20-year track record of generating positive revenue. We will not allow this distraction to affect our continued growth and our day-to-day operations.”

    During the pendency of the stock repurchase program, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time through various methods, including in open market transactions, block trades, accelerated share repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, derivative transactions or otherwise, certain of which may be made pursuant to a trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws. The timing, as well as the number and value of shares repurchased under the program, will be determined by the Company at its discretion and will depend on a variety of factors, including our assessment of the intrinsic value of the Company’s common stock, the market price of the Company’s common stock, general market and economic conditions, available liquidity, compliance with the Company’s debt and other agreements, applicable legal requirements, the nature of other investment opportunities available to the Company, and other considerations. The Company is not obligated to purchase any shares under the repurchase program, and the program may be suspended, modified, or discontinued at any time without prior notice. The Company expects to fund the repurchases by using cash on hand and expected free cash flow to be generated in the future.

    Abacus is committed to pursuing all available legal remedies against the individuals and entities responsible for orchestrating and disseminating the false and misleading short attack.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this press release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this press release) other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Abacus. Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to statements regarding: Abacus’s financial and operational outlook; Abacus’s operational and financial strategies, including planned growth initiatives and the benefits thereof, Abacus’s ability to successfully effect those strategies, and the expected results therefrom. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” ‎‎”intend,” “anticipate,” “goals,” “prospects,” “will,” “would,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    While Abacus believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the ‎fact that Abacus’s loss reserves are bases on estimates and may be inadequate to cover ‎its actual losses; the failure to properly price Abacus’s insurance policies; the ‎geographic concentration of Abacus’s business; the cyclical nature of Abacus’s industry; the ‎impact of regulation on Abacus’s business; the effects of competition on Abacus’s business; the failure of ‎Abacus’s relationships with independent agencies; the failure to meet Abacus’s investment ‎objectives; the inability to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; the ‎effects of acts of terrorism; and the effectiveness of Abacus’s control environment, including the identification of control deficiencies.

    These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties set forth in documents filed by Abacus with ‎the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Annual ‎Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent ‎periodic reports. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Abacus cautions you not to place undue reliance on the ‎forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Abacus assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Abacus does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

    About Abacus

    Abacus Global Management (NASDAQ: ABL) is a leading financial services company specializing in alternative asset management, data-driven wealth solutions, technology innovations, and institutional services. With a focus on longevity-based assets and personalized financial planning, Abacus leverages proprietary data analytics and decades of industry expertise to deliver innovative solutions that optimize financial outcomes for individuals and institutions worldwide.

    Contacts:

    Investor Relations

    Robert F. Phillips – SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs
    rob@abacusgm.com
    (321) 290-1198

    David Jackson – Director of IR/Capital Markets
    david@abacusgm.com
    (321) 299-0716

    Abacus Global Management Public Relations

    press@abacusgm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coral reefs face an uncertain recovery from the 4th global mass bleaching event – can climate refuges help?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Noam Vogt-Vincent, Postdoctoral Fellow in Marine Biology, University of Hawaii

    The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 1,429 miles just off Australia’s northeastern coast. Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Image

    Although tropical reefs might look like inanimate rock, these colorful seascapes are built by tiny jellyfish-like animals called corals. While adult corals build solid structures that are firmly attached to the sea floor, baby corals are not confined to their reefs. They can drift with ocean currents over great distances to new locations that might give them a better chance of survival.

    The underwater cities that corals construct are home to about a quarter of all known marine species. They are incredibly important for humans, too, contributing at least a trillion dollars per year in ecosystem services, such as protecting coastlines from wave damage and supporting fisheries and tourism.

    Unfortunately, coral reefs are among the most vulnerable environments on the planet to climate change.

    Since 2023, exceptionally warm ocean water has been fueling the planet’s fourth mass coral bleaching event on record, causing widespread mortality in corals around the world. This kind of harm is projected to worsen considerably over the coming decades as ocean temperatures rise.

    A healthy coral reef in American Samoa, left, experiencing coral bleaching due to a severe marine heatwave, center, and eventually dying, right.
    The Ocean Agency and Ocean Image Bank., CC BY-NC

    I am a marine scientist in Hawaii. My colleagues and I are trying to understand how coral reefs might change in the future, and whether new coral reefs might form at higher latitudes as the tropics become too warm and temperate regions become more hospitable. The results lead us to both good and bad news.

    Corals can grow in new areas, but will they thrive?

    Baby corals can drift freely with ocean currents, potentially traveling hundreds of miles before settling in new locations. That allows the distribution of corals to shift over time.

    Major ocean currents can carry baby corals to temperate seas. If new coral reefs form there as the waters warm, these areas might act as refuges for tropical corals, reducing the corals’ risk of extinction.

    A close-up of double star corals (Diploastrea heliopora) off Indonesia.
    Bernard DuPont/Flickr, CC BY-SA

    Scientists know from the fossil record that coral reef expansions have occurred before. However, a big question remains: Can corals migrate fast enough to keep pace with climate change caused by humans? We developed a cutting-edge simulation to find the answer.

    Field and laboratory studies have measured how coral growth depends on temperature, acidity and light intensity. We combined this information with data on ocean currents to create a global simulation that represents how corals respond to a changing environment – including their ability to adapt through evolution and shift their ranges.

    Then, we used future climate projections to predict how coral reefs may respond to climate change.

    We found that it will take centuries for coral reefs to shift away from the tropics. This is far too slow for temperate seas to save tropical coral species – they are facing severe threats right now and in the coming decades.

    How coral reefs form.

    Underwater cities in motion?

    Under countries’ current greenhouse gas emissions policies, our simulations suggest that coral reefs will decline globally by a further 70% this century as ocean temperatures continue to rise. As bad as that sounds, it’s actually slightly more optimistic than previous studies that predicted losses as high as 99%.

    Our simulations suggest that coral populations could expand in a few locations this century, primarily southern Australia, but these expansions may only amount to around 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares). While that might sound a lot, we expect to lose around 10 million acres (4 million hectares) of coral over the same period.

    In other words, we are unlikely to see significant new tropical-style coral reefs forming in temperate waters within our lifetimes, so most tropical corals will not find refuge in higher latitude seas.

    Even though the suitable water temperatures for corals are forecast to expand poleward by about 25 miles (40 kilometers) per decade, corals would face other challenges in new environments.

    Our research suggests that coral range expansion is mainly limited by slower coral growth at higher latitudes, not by dispersal. Away from the equator, light intensity falls and temperature becomes more variable, reducing growth, and therefore the rate of range expansion, for many coral species.

    It is likely that new coral reefs will eventually form beyond their current range, as history shows, but our results suggest this may take centuries.

    Fish hide out in the safety of Kingman Reef, in the Pacific Ocean between the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa. Coral reefs provide protection for many species, particularly young fish.
    USFWS, Pacific Islands

    Some coral species are adapted to the more challenging environmental conditions at higher latitudes, and these corals are increasing in abundance, but they are much less diverse and structurally complex than their tropical counterparts.

    Scientists have used human-assisted migration to try to restore damaged coral reefs by transplanting live corals. However, coral restoration is controversial, as it is expensive and cannot be scaled up globally. Since coral range expansion appears to be limited by challenging environmental conditions at higher latitudes rather than by dispersal, human-assisted migration is also unlikely to help them expand more quickly.

    Importantly, these potential higher latitude refuges already have rich, distinct ecosystems. Establishing tropical corals within those ecosystems might disrupt existing species, so rapid expansions might not be a good thing in the first place.

    A temperate reef near southern Australia, which could be threatened by expansions of tropical coral species.
    Stefan Andrews/Ocean Image Bank, CC BY-NC

    No known alternative to cutting emissions

    Despite enthusiasm for coral restoration, there is little evidence to suggest that methods like this can mitigate the global decline of coral reefs.

    As our study shows, migration would take centuries, while the most severe climate change harm for corals will occur within decades, making it unlikely that subtropical and temperate seas can act as coral refuges.

    What can help corals is reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are driving global warming. Our study suggests that reducing emissions at a faster pace, in accordance with the Paris climate agreement, could cut the coral loss by half compared with current policies. That could boost reef health for centuries to come.

    This means that there is still hope for these irreplaceable coral ecosystems, but time is running out.

    Noam Vogt-Vincent receives funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    – ref. Coral reefs face an uncertain recovery from the 4th global mass bleaching event – can climate refuges help? – https://theconversation.com/coral-reefs-face-an-uncertain-recovery-from-the-4th-global-mass-bleaching-event-can-climate-refuges-help-255804

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Innovation and Market Structure: Keynote Address by Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham, Piper Sandler Global Exchange and Trading Conference 2025

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Thank you for the invitation to speak at the Piper Sandler Global Exchange and Trading Conference.[1]  I’m honored to be asked to provide the keynote address here today during a time of rapid innovation and transformation of market structure—both in new products and new markets.
    When I became acting Chairman this year, I said we have to get back to basics. For the past half century, the CFTC has proudly served our mission to promote market integrity and liquidity in U.S. derivatives markets—markets that are critical to the real economy and global trade—ensuring American farmers, producers, merchants and other commercial end-users can mitigate risks to their business and support strong U.S. economic growth.  You—this audience in this room—are the leaders of those markets who ensure that they are deep, liquid, and well-functioning each and every day.  Our markets work best because there is a partnership between the regulator and our self-regulatory organizations (SROs): National Futures Association (NFA) and CFTC-registered designated contract markets (DCMs), derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs), and swap execution facilities (SEFs) for the derivatives markets, and Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA) and SEC-registered national securities exchanges and clearing agencies.
    Today, I will discuss how the CFTC is promoting regulatory policy that supports U.S. economic growth and American competition, and approaching innovation and market structure.  First, I will highlight the CFTC’s regulatory agenda that was submitted pursuant to the President’s executive orders.  Next, I will discuss the work of our operating divisions and questions about the self-certification process for new or changed contracts or rules. Finally, I will share some observations on the CFTC’s recent requests for comment on 24/7 trading and perpetual derivatives, and direct access and non-intermediated clearing.
    Unified Regulatory Agenda 
    I am pleased to announce the CFTC has submitted its 2025 Spring Unified Regulatory Agenda and will highlight a few items.  In accordance with Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,[2] I have identified the following rulemaking initiatives to provide regulatory certainty, eliminate unnecessary cost burdens, and unleash a golden age for markets:

    Improving the SEF “Made Available to Trade” (MAT) process for swaps

    Expanding access to markets for insured depository institutions by broadening the scope of products excluded from the swap dealer de minimis threshold calculation 

    Expanding access to markets by no longer requiring associated person registration for personnel of introducing brokers that only refer swaps to a wholly owned affiliate de minimis dealer

    Codifying foreign exchange product interpretation that window FX forwards and package spot FX transactions are not FX swaps 

    Codifying no-action relief from both the pre-trade mid-market mark disclosure requirement and certain documentation requirements for cleared swaps and prime brokerage transactions for swap dealers 

    Codifying no-action relief from the clearing requirement for legacy swaps resulting from multilateral portfolio compression exercises 

    Codifying no-action relief from ownership and control reporting under Parts 17, 18, and 20 of CFTC regulations

    Codifying no-action relief for DCMs and DCOs from duplicative reporting of fully collateralized binary options to swap data repositories (SDRs) under Parts 43 and 45 of CFTC regulations 

    Sunsetting duplicative and burdensome Part 20 large trader reporting obligations for physical commodity swaps, as required under Regulation 20.9 

    Eliminating the burdensome and costly cotton-on-call reporting requirements and related CFTC Cotton-on-Call Report

    These items have been longstanding issues regarding CFTC regulatory overreach and administrative burden, some for over a decade.
    New or Amended Product and Rule Submissions
    I want to commend CFTC staff in the Division of Market Oversight (DMO) and Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR) for the day-to-day work that supports growth and innovation in our markets.  Under my leadership in my first 100 days as acting Chairman (even without a majority on the Commission), and the leadership of acting DMO Director Rahul Varma, acting DCR Director Richard Haynes, and former acting DMO Director Amanda Olear, our hard working and dedicated DMO and DCR staff have engaged in the following activities, in addition to performing examinations and ongoing monitoring:
    DMO

    670 new products filed by exchanges

    43 product filings submitted by foreign boards of trade (FBOTs) 

    315 rule filings submitted by exchanges (211 market rules, 104 product related rules)

    Issued 3 certification letters to FBOTs under Regulation 30.13

    DCR

    This is a snapshot of our dynamic and vibrant derivatives markets, which serve the national public interest mandated in our statute by providing price risk mitigation, price discovery, and price dissemination.[3] 
    These day-to-day activities are in addition to the over 20 CFTC staff letters and other guidance, issued in just four months, to provide regulatory clarity and reduce regulatory burden.  DMO and DCR were involved in over half of those, and I want to commend the Market Participants Division (MPD) staff for all of their tremendous efforts as well.  This level of productivity from CFTC staff has not been seen since the first Trump Administration.
    Self-Certification Process for Exchanges and Clearinghouses
    As I have said before, our system of self-regulation works because our SROs take their role seriously in upholding the CFTC’s regulatory framework and ensuring market integrity.[4]  Self-regulation is effective when it is cooperative.  I commend DCMs, SEFs, DCOs, and SDRs (registered entities) that recognize and support the efforts of our DMO and DCR staff, and I urge these registered entities to do their best to assist staff and make the review process as efficient as possible.
    But even more important is that our registered entities must be committed to the rule of law, the public interest, and doing what’s right.  As you know, the CFTC has a principles-based regulatory framework that is designed to provide maximum autonomy and flexibility to our exchanges and clearinghouses.  This enables exchanges to launch self-certified new contracts and issue new rules one business day after submission to the CFTC.  In fact, the CFTC cannot stay or halt trading of a self-certified contract,[5] or suspend or revoke the registration of an exchange or clearinghouse,[6] without conducting an adjudicatory hearing—an in-house trial before the Commission as an administrative tribunal exercising our quasi-judicial authority.  In our entire history, the CFTC has never done so.  And we cannot force compliance with the law and CFTC regulations without obtaining a court order in litigation, whether by an enforcement action or otherwise.
    In the past, registered entities have ignored and failed to comply with Commission orders with impunity[7]—presumably because they know that the CFTC has much more limited authority to take action against exchanges and clearinghouses, in contrast to our authority over registered futures commission merchants (FCMs) and other intermediaries.
    That means that the self-certification process is built on trust, and it is bad for our markets, for market participants, and for the American people when this trust is broken.  For the CFTC’s hands-off self-certification process to work, registered entities must commit to operate in a “no surprises” environment and work through issues in partnership with CFTC staff.  On our part, the CFTC must commit to engaging in good faith with registered entities and be transparent about our processes. Nobody should be playing games.
    Part 40 regulations
    I will provide some background in response to questions that have been raised about the CFTC’s self-certification process.  Part 40 was established pursuant to the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 and has been in place since 2001.  Part 40 created a new framework for the certification and approval of new products, rules, and rule amendments that are submitted to the CFTC by registered entities such as DCMs, SEFs, DCOs, and SDRs.  It was again amended in 2011 pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act.  The Part 40 Proposal preamble states that Part 40 “govern[s] how registered entities submit self-certifications, and requests for approval, of their rules, rule amendments, and new products for trading and clearing, as well as the CFTC’s review and processing of such submissions.”[8]
    As I have noted before, the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA or Act) mandates that the Commission serve the public interest through our oversight of “a system of effective self-regulation of trading facilities, clearing systems, market participants and market professionals.” Part 40 is the cornerstone of effective self-regulation in our derivatives markets because it sets forth the standards for listing new contracts and issuing or amending rules for registered entities, including those that are SROs and have rulebooks that are enforceable against SRO members.  The penalties for violating SRO rules can be severe, including fines, suspension, or revocation of membership.[9]
    Stay of self-certification or extension of review period
    For example, regarding new products, under Regulation 40.2 the Commission can stay the self-certification of a new product only in circumstances involving a false certification, or a petition to alter or amend the contract terms and conditions pursuant to Section 8a(7) of the CEA.  The self-certification process does not involve Commission approval.  However, under Regulation 40.3, new products can be submitted to the Commission for review and approval, and the review period can be extended if the product raises novel or complex issues.[10]
    Similarly, regarding new rules or rule amendments submitted under Regulation 40.5 for Commission review and approval, the Commission can extend the review period for (1) novel or complex issues, (2) major economic significance, (3) incomplete submissions, and (4) not responding completely to CFTC questions in a timely manner.  And under Regulation 40.6, the Commission can stay the self-certification of new rule or rule amendment filings involving (1) novel or complex issues, (2) inadequate explanation, or (3) potential inconsistency with the CEA or CFTC regulations.[11]
    These checks and balances are integral to the CFTC’s oversight of registered entities, and I support DMO and DCR staff’s use of all these provisions to extend or stay the review period if any of these criteria have been met—especially if there are, as applicable, incomplete submissions, inadequate explanation, or for not responding completely to CFTC questions in a timely manner.  As I said two years ago, registered entities must ensure that they dot their i’s and cross their t’s, and show their work, when submitting product or rule filings.[12]
    Non-approval of new products or new rule or rule amendments
    I want to emphasize that the existing Part 40 regulations provide for Commission non-approval of new products, or new rule or rule amendments, only if submitted for review under Regulation 40.3 or 40.5, respectively.  Obviously, a product or rule will not be approved if it violates or is inconsistent, respectively, with the CEA or CFTC regulations.  The Commission can determine that “it will not, or is unable to approve” the product or rule, including for form and content requirements for submission, because the product “violates, appears to violate or potentially violates but which cannot be ascertained from the submission,” or the rule or rule amendment “is inconsistent or appears to be inconsistent” with the CEA and CFTC regulations.[13]
    These standards and criteria under Regulations 40.3 or 40.5 grant the Commission and CFTC staff considerable discretion in conducting reviews of product and rule filings for approval or non-approval. Again, I support the Commission issuing a notice of non-approval if any of these criteria have been met. 
    However, the Commission’s approval process does not apply to self-certified product or rule filings.  If an exchange or clearinghouse ignores a Commission order or notice of non-approval, the Commission cannot enforce compliance without either conducting an in-house trial or going to federal court to obtain a court order.[14]
    Requests for Public Comment on Innovation and Market Structure
    There is a line, often not very bright, between what is “business as usual” done in a new way and a truly different and innovative market practice.  The CFTC’s current regulations for DCMs and DCOs are very flexible—they allow for expansion into new ways of trading and clearing without major regulatory changes, but this is coupled with the need to use that flexibility responsibly.  Because our regulations are flexible, the CFTC is typically not focused on writing new regulations.  Instead, the CFTC is focused on how current regulations should best apply to actual proposals that have been submitted to us in a few innovative, but complex, areas.  To inform and assist the CFTC with its regulatory approach to innovation and market structure, we want to make sure to gather, and consider, the expertise and wisdom of the marketplace through requests for public comment. 
    24/7 Trading
    Many of the main issues raised by 24/7 trading and clearing that will need to be addressed are already clear.  No changes to CFTC regulations are necessary to enable 24/7 trading, which recently went live on Coinbase Derivatives (a DCM) and Nodal Clear (a DCO) in May 2025.  CFTC staff appreciate the firms that engaged with us for over a year to work through these issues, in a great example of the partnership in our markets.
    Nonetheless, because of the broader implications for market structure, the CFTC issued a request for comment in April 2025 on the uses, benefits, and risks of derivatives trading and clearing on a 24/7 (or almost 24/7) basis.[15]  That comment period recently closed and CFTC staff are currently evaluating the many helpful responses. 
    Collateral exchange
    To an extent, derivatives are already trading during low activity time periods and positions are already being held over weekends absent collateral exchange, so a more comprehensive move to 24/7 trading and clearing would bring with it both known and novel characteristics.  The novelties are, in part, related to the different schedules of specific market operations.  For example, trading may be continuous, but parts of the clearing process, such as exchange of collateral, require point-in-time calculations and periodic finality while risk continues to accrue.  This risk may be mitigated where client clearing takes place through FCMs that are highly capitalized and thus central counterparties (CCPs) can accept short-term credit exposure.
    Practices must be adapted for trading over weekends where (at least for the moment) collateral exchange is not possible.  Without on-call collateral, CCPs need pre-funded collateral to address credit and related liquidity risks that arise over a weekend. This raises questions about calibrating the possible exposures, such as the appropriate “margin period of risk” (MPOR) where collateral access is lost for more than one trading day.  Related, other risks like those associated with market liquidity may be mitigated if other similar markets are also open during the weekend, emphasizing the value and need for 24/7 spot market access for a broader liquidity pool.
    Operational challenges
    Many commenters to the CFTC’s request for information make a related but much broader point—24/7 trading must be evaluated holistically due to the effects not only on trading platforms and clearing houses but also the changes that would be required of FCMs, market participants, asset managers, third-party service providers, and others to account for changes in liquidity, price transparency, collateral access, and default management during non-traditional business hours.  These commenters stress that significantly increased costs would likely be borne by all market participants, not just those that choose to trade (or intermediate) 24/7.  For example, they note that these changes in market structure may also require renegotiation and redocumentation of relationships between market participants, such as between asset managers and FCMs.
    Many commenters point out that trading on a 24/7 basis may require CCPs, exchanges, intermediaries, their third-party service providers, asset managers, and others to have staffing virtually 24/7.  It will be important to maintain focus and resources on platform maintenance while markets are open, including dealing with unplanned outages, patch management, live change deployments, and rollback mechanisms, though some commenters suggested that some of these difficulties could be mitigated by having a maintenance window each day (such as 24/6 or 24/5 trading instead of true 24/7 trading).
    Market conditions, liquidity risk, and credit risk
    Concerns have been raised that low volume periods during weekends will cause diminished liquidity, wider spreads, increased volatility, and reduced price transparency, raising risk coverage questions similar to those noted above.  CFTC staff will need to address whether, on a product-by-product basis, other markets (cash markets, repo markets) will be available to make derivative pricing practicable.  In sum, there are concerns that risk management will be significantly challenged when high volatility and low liquidity paired with limited collateral asset mobility leads to increased defaults during a period when there may be limited ability of FCMs and CCPs to close-out positions or hedge associated risks.
    Solutions to these issues are always informed by anticipated benefits and costs of paths ahead.  The liquidity and credit risk concerns noted above drive the need for additional collateral or other measures to protect against weekend market moves, and a need to reduce or mitigate the effects of auto or manual liquidations.  This, of course, comes at a cost; posting excess margin, potentially at multiple exchanges, may have a negative impact on the efficient use of capital by market participants.  Moreover, some commenters expressed fears that, in times of high volatility, additional costs could rise to the fore.  For instance, elevated volatility could erode posted collateral to such an extent that positions may be unexpectedly auto-liquidated, leaving end-users without critical hedges.
    One view to consider, if sufficient data allows, would be to limit trading to only specified contracts that have sufficient customer demand for weekend trading to help ensure liquidity and appropriate pricing.  A number of commenters suggested that some products would be more appropriate for weekend trading than others.  I have previously noted the value of having already existing spot markets that trade 24/7, broadening the liquidity pool over the weekend period.  Consistent with this view, the proposals that the CFTC staff have seen so far have only focused on crypto asset products, where spot markets exist with continuous trading and sufficient depth of liquidity.  The CFTC is not aware of any plans to offer 24/7 trading beyond the crypto asset class at this time.
    For more traditional commodities, like agricultural commodities, liquidity and pricing concerns would likely need much deeper review, since the listing of contracts with limited open interest or trading volume for weekend trading may distort pricing and increase the risk of liquidations over the weekend—a fear expressed by many commentors who rely on the ability to maintain carefully constructed portfolios to achieve success in their trading strategies.
    CFTC staff are starting to get some informative data on market innovation towards more continuous trading hours.  Last month, 24/7 trading started on Coinbase Derivatives for a few crypto asset derivatives contracts, where the spot market is already open 24/7.  These first few weeks of trading have provided a useful window into the level of interest and viability.  In the last few weeks, weekend trading has been averaging over a thousand individual traders, across volumes that fall in the hundreds of thousands of lots, similar to an average (or even somewhat active weekday).  So, it may be the case that for markets already used to 24/7 trading, the extension to futures is less unbridgeable than it may be for other contracts.
    While there is a natural tendency to focus on the risks created by 24/7 trading, CFTC staff is also aware that weekend trading may allow for more real-time risk-reducing trades in response to unexpected events. These events—whether geopolitical, weather-related, or otherwise—can happen over the weekend, and forcing market participants to wait until Sunday afternoon in the U.S. to deal with them creates risks of its own.  That is why it is imperative to consider the benefits of market innovation, and not to only focus on the downsides.
    Other regulatory changes that CFTC staff may consider to address clearing member credit risk might allow for the use of tokenized assets such as non-cash collateral[16] or stablecoins, or other forms of margin that are not dependent on banks being open.
    Other considerations
    On the regulatory side, CFTC staff is also aware of other open questions such as existing definitions, like CFTC regulations that reference a “business day” that does not include weekends and holidays.  In addressing these cases, we would need to identify ways to both maintain the regulatory status quo for non-continuous markets and find flexible but effective procedures for 24/7 markets.
    Perpetual Derivatives
    A key trend in derivatives markets is an increase in retail trading.  In addition to the exponential growth in non-intermediated direct access retail trading and clearing, markets are keen to launch new retail-focused products.
    There has been much confusion about perpetual derivatives in CFTC-regulated markets.  Contrary to public reports, perpetual derivatives have already been trading in our markets for several months.  In April 2025, Bitnomial Perpetual Bitcoin USD Centi Futures went live and started trading. 
    Since the beginning of this year, a number of DCMs have self-certified the listing of perpetual derivatives.  (Again, under the CFTC’s self-certification process, no Commission approval is needed.)  CFTC staff appreciates the ongoing and active engagement with exchanges seeking to self-certify perpetual derivatives and their assistance in responding to questions and providing information.  To benefit from public input, CFTC staff also issued a request for comment on the potential uses, benefits, and risks of trading and clearing of perpetual derivatives contracts in CFTC-regulated markets (Perpetuals RFC).[17]  That comment period recently closed and CFTC staff are currently evaluating the many helpful responses.
    Comments in response to the Perpetuals RFC included a variety of viewpoints, reflecting the complexity of introducing a very different product type into markets that remain conceptually organized around intermediated, margined trading in physical delivery commodities. Nonetheless, the comments received reflect several themes that may be helpful in organizing market and regulatory perspectives going forward.
    A number of commenters were supportive of perpetual derivatives in the context of crypto asset markets.  They noted that perpetuals provide a continuous, lower cost spot-like exposure that does not need to roll out of an expiring futures contract to retain a position.  Commenters also noted potential advantages to bringing crypto asset perpetual derivatives to the U.S. market and under the U.S. regulatory umbrella.
    At the same time, several commenters raised concerns around the suitability of perpetual derivatives involving traditional physical commodities.  They expressed concern about a potential lack of convergence with the physical market given the absence of expiration, potentially making perpetuals ineffective for hedging longer term price risk.  Some thus see perpetuals as inconsistent with the risk management and price discovery function of futures markets.  Some commenters also argue that perpetual derivatives may present increased risk relative to traditional futures, including increased volatility, funding rates, leverage risk, and heightened potential for manipulation.
    Basis risk
    As a spot-market substitute, there is the usual risk management question around basis risk:  perpetual prices vs. spot prices, perpetual prices vs. futures prices. Many major market events in the last few decades involved mismanagement of basis risk, often due to liquidity differences leading to divergence.  Basis risk can rapidly increase when liquidity providers are different across two similar products or when the balance of buyers and sellers are significantly different across two similar products.  Accordingly, CFTC staff are interested in how the participant mix for perpetuals will be similar or different from that for related spot or traditional futures, especially if one market is dominated by institutional investors and the other dominated by retail.  Will we see a “tail wagging the dog” phenomenon, with retail investors driving the price movements of institutional positions?
    What the CFTC usually sees in traditional futures markets is that there is balance between institutional hedgers and institutional speculators in a primary market, with related retail markets (i.e., mini and micro futures) much smaller than the institutional market.  What happens in a case where the retail contract (perpetuals) becomes much larger than the related institutional product (traditional futures)?  Should there be concern that this may harm traditional roles of risk transfer and price discovery?
    Direct Access and Non-Intermediated Clearing
    Many of these same issues may also apply to non-intermediation in derivatives markets—providing direct access to market participants (particularly to retail traders) and clearing by CCPs of such direct access customers’ positions in individual accounts.
    In intermediated markets, FCMs clear customer positions as DCO clearing members and guarantee their customers’ positions to the DCO.  Those DCOs build trust in their clearing members by setting and monitoring membership requirements, including capital requirements that match capital to risk, and requiring the review of their members’ risk management procedures.  This trust is enhanced because clearing members protect not only their own and their customers’ positions but also, through mutualization, provide a backstop for the positions of all other clearing members—a defense-in-depth approach that has served the U.S. derivatives markets almost flawlessly for decades.
    FCMs clearing for their customers provide a check on the appropriate setting of margin by CCPs through their own risk management processes.  FCMs know their customers, their businesses, and their resources, and will often call for additional margin from specific customers based on their independent credit risk assessments.
    In a case where a CCP has thousands of direct participants, many of them retail, this detailed knowledge and associated trust is much more challenging.  As a result, all presently operating direct clearing retail DCOs are clearing only fully collateralized contracts where there is no need to accept credit exposure (or to call for additional collateral).
    Auto-liquidation and tear-ups
    CFTC staff are now being asked to consider whether this low trust/no trust model can be extended to a leveraged world where risk management will need to look very different.  In a world like this, the “heartbeat” of CCP risk management will likely need to match that same cadence in trading, at least implying the need for real-time posting of collateral—a “pay in cash, not in credit” model.  When the cash is insufficient—for example, when a customer’s margin has eroded below maintenance margin level as the market moves against them—the account will need to be closed, leading at first to a rules-based liquidation process.
    Unfortunately, this process to protect the CCP from individual participants may, in certain severe circumstances, harm the system as a whole.  Some commenters pointed out the possibility that auto-liquidations in volatile or illiquid weekend markets could be procyclical, leading to additional liquidations, and broader market instability.  These feedback effects may be especially pronounced during times of extraordinary stress, when liquidation is paired with unusually low available liquidity.
    A number of questions are yet to be answered for risk management in a leveraged, direct model:  What should the default waterfall look like in a direct access world? Should the risk of one retail trader be mutualized by other retail traders?  If not, are there other resources that can play the role of the traditional mutualized resource tranche?  What is the equivalent of the key “Cover 2” requirement in a world of direct access retail trading, where a CCP’s clearing members number in the thousands rather than the dozens?  How does one define “extreme but plausible” in such a world?  Many fundamental principles need to be re-analyzed where the credit risk and capital structure of clearing members is much different than today’s intermediated model.
    If traditional protections like prefunded mutualization are not feasible, or feasible only to a reduced extent, then it appears CCPs may need to shift more quickly to other default solutions like “variation margin gains haircutting” (VMGH) and tear-ups.  This might leave markets to grapple with a situation where solvent market participants may not get money they are expecting or find that they don’t hold the positions that are expecting.
    While these tools are already baked into the rules of most existing CCPs, they’ve not been used during this century.  If they are invoked at one direct-access CCP, what would that do to market confidence at other CCPs?  All of which leads to the most important question—can these markets still reliably play a role for hedgers who need position continuity? Will the value of futures markets be fundamentally changed, and not for the better?
    Technology innovation
    Given the pace of innovation, it’s clear that direct clearing models will also be impacted by impending changes, like 24/7 trading and clearing.  CFTC staff are now contemplating whether 24/7 trading and a direct clearing model where collateral needs to be exchanged in real time is even possible without the creation and adoption of new forms of collateral, like tokenization, which are not limited by banking hours.
    Here, CFTC staff think operational resiliency will be essential because market downtime will result in the loss of the needed real-time exchange of collateral.  There will also need to be an extensive customer engagement and education process to deal with large numbers of relatively small traders, paired with robust surveillance and operational and volatility controls to handle potentially highly disruptive activities like gamification, meme-ification, and other digital engagement practices likely to follow on to thousands of retail participants in these markets.
    Customer protection
    On the regulatory side, CFTC staff are tasked with determining where, in non-intermediated markets, the crucial obligations traditionally handled by intermediaries will be fulfilled.  I proposed last year that a captive FCM model would achieve the direct clearing market structure for DCMs/DCOs while preserving the important regulatory obligations that intermediaries perform, such as the laborious task of creating and disseminating risk disclosures, trade confirmations, and monthly account statements, complying with AML/KYC obligations, and of course, the bedrock of customer protections: segregation of customer funds, limited investments, acknowledgements from depositories, and daily seg reporting.[18]  Because a CCP is already an SRO, it does not make sense for it to be a member of an SRO such as NFA, FINRA, or similar organization, which are designed to be member organizations for intermediaries such as FCMs or broker-dealers and their personnel.
    Partnership and Trust
    I would like to share a message from CFTC staff to those seeking to innovate or significantly improve the traditional way of operating a market or CCP: 
    We are open to ideas, open to changes that will help the processes of price discovery and risk management.  But, please, engage the CFTC early in the development of novel and innovative products and market operations.  Too often, the CFTC is brought into the conversation long after crucial decisions have been made and resources expended, only to face regulatory obstacles that could have been avoided.  Self-certification should be the end of a dialogue with the CFTC, not the beginning.  Come talk to us.  Get a preliminary view before you commit to a particular course of action.  We are here not as an opponent or enemy, but as a sounding-board, someone who can help identify how innovations can be made consistent with our regulations or point to open questions that need to be answered.
    The CFTC staff have the expertise and knowledge to assist in identifying the challenges of innovations like the ones I have discussed. CFTC staff can help, often even at early stages, noting requirements that need to be accounted for in product and operational designs.
    Most importantly: Help us, help you.  CFTC staff are happy to discuss and provide preliminary views.  But this is often most helpful when innovators come to these discussions prepared, having reviewed CFTC regulatory requirements with knowledgeable professionals and thus ready to offer helpful solutions or alternatives.  Have answers to the questions you know we’ll ask. Consider and develop your trading, clearing, product, staffing, system, and operational plans early in the process. Engage with all relevant CFTC offices and divisions.  Don’t surprise us—don’t wait until the last minute to approach us before submitting an application, product, or rule filing.
    Conclusion
    Let me conclude by saying that the innovation and market structure that I have discussed appears to be just the beginning.  The pace is likely to increase in the coming years. We can only imagine the future of the derivatives markets and the business processes used in today’s trading and clearing systems.  That’s why it is critical that the CFTC must engage in smart regulation that is balanced with input from all stakeholders.  I believe that we can work cooperatively with both new entrants and traditional markets to incorporate innovation while maintaining market integrity.
    Markets operated smoothly throughout the recent volatility and all-time high volumes, and that’s a testament to the strength of U.S. capital markets and our regulatory framework that has been in place for almost a hundred years.  Since the 1930s, both derivatives and securities markets have gone through many transformative changes, from open outcry trading in the pits, to all-electronic trading on screens in fractions of a second.  Each transformation has resulted in the continuing dominance of U.S. capital markets and American innovation.  I look forward to seeing what’s next as we transform our markets again to create greater efficiencies and drive prosperity for American businesses and the American people.

    [1] I would like to thank Frank Fisanich, Richard Haynes, Sebastian Pujol Scott, Tom Smith, Rahul Varna, and Bob Wasserman for their contributions and assistance.

    [3] Section 3(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), 7 U.S.C. § 5(a).

    [5] 17 C.F.R. § 40.2.

    [6] CEA section 5e, 7 U.S.C. § 7b.

    [7] This does not refer to situations involving litigation where Commission actions have been contested.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján Slam Trump Administration for Illegally Gutting Agency Dedicated to Growing Local Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Amid Commerce Department’s stonewalling, senators ask GAO to investigate if Trump officials violated the law or engaged in misconduct & what officials are doing with funding Congress appropriated to serve minority enterprises & create jobs
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to slam the Trump Administration for its illegal dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The senators asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether actions by Trump Commerce Department officials or others in the Administration violated Congressional directives, the extent to which they undermined MBDA’s Congressional mandate, and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.
    “On May 2, 2025, the White House released its recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which expressly acknowledge that the Commerce Department under Secretary Howard Lutnick has ‘fully eliminated’ the MBDA,” the senators wrote in a letter to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. “Prior to this admission, my colleagues and I repeatedly raised concerns about the Department’s efforts to dismantle the MBDA unilaterally, particularly given Secretary Lutnick’s clear testimony during his confirmation hearing stating he did not support dismantling the agency. We sent multiple letters to Secretary Lutnick and the Department seeking basic information about the current state of the MBDA. To date, the Department has failed to substantively respond to any of our requests, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Department leadership is not taking these concerns seriously.”
    The senators have raised concerns and demanded accountability and answers from the Trump Administration since the president issued his unlawful executive order. This letter follows a letter the senators wrote to Keith Sonderling, Acting Under Secretary for MBDA, demanding the Trump Administration detail its compliance with a May 13 federal court injunction ordering it to stop the illegal dismantling of the agency and reinstate its personnel and grantmaking capacities. The senators previously sent a May 1, 2025 inquiry to Sonderling to demand he promptly turn over key documents and information related to the dismantling of the MBDA and recent funding termination notices sent to all grantees by DOGE. On June 3, the senators also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that they investigate whether actions by Trump Commerce Department officials or others in the Administration violated congressional directives, the extent to which they undermined MBDA’s congressional mandate and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.
    In October 2024, Heinrich led the unveiling of a new, larger office space for the New Mexico Minority Business Development Center in Albuquerque to expand support for local businesses across the state as they create the types of careers New Mexicans can build their families around. Heinrich wrote the legislative provision that established and funded the New Mexico Business Center in 2020, securing more than $2.5 million in federal resources through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency for its staffing and programming.
    In May, during the Senate Commerce hearing on the nomination of Paul Dabbar to be U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Luján pressed Mr. Dabbar on the dismantling of the MBDA by the Trump Administration and highlighted the successes of the MBDA. Luján championed an amendment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make the MBDA permanent. He also secured passage of a provision to double the funding level for the MBDA’s Rural Business Development Center Program and to expand this program’s eligibility to include all Minority-Serving Institutions, which will expand opportunities for New Mexico’s colleges and universities. Additionally, in 2021, Luján championed legislation to make permanent and expand the reach of the Minority Business Development Agency.
    The text of the letter can be found HERE and below:
    Comptroller General Dodaro:
    We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of the actions taken by the Trump Administration to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), despite Congress statutorily authorizing the agency and appropriating funding to further its mission. A robust investigation by GAO would help shed light on whether officials at the Department of Commerce (Department) or elsewhere in the Administration circumvented the directives of Congress, the extent to which the MBDA’s ability to administer its grants and combat potential fraud has been undermined, and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.
    On May 2, 2025, the White House released its recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which expressly acknowledge that the Commerce Department under Secretary Howard Lutnick has “fully eliminated” the MBDA. Prior to this admission, my colleagues and I repeatedly raised concerns about the Department’s efforts to dismantle the MBDA unilaterally, particularly given Secretary Lutnick’s clear testimony during his confirmation hearing stating he did not support dismantling the agency. We sent multiple letters to Secretary Lutnick and the Department seeking basic information about the current state of the MBDA. To date, the Department has failed to substantively respond to any of our requests, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Department leadership is not taking these concerns seriously.
    The MBDA was created by Executive Order in 1969. In 2021, Congress statutorily authorized the MBDA in bipartisan legislation, the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (MBDA Act), which was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In so doing, Congress directed the MBDA to, among other things, “enable the Federal Government to better serve the needs of minority business enterprises.” The bipartisan law also established a new Senate-confirmed position to lead the agency. By making the MBDA and its programs permanent, Congress made a deliberate decision to promote job creation, spur innovation, and support business owners from a variety of backgrounds.
    Last Congress, the Congress funded the MBDA pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which contained a $68.25 million appropriation for the “necessary expenses of the Minority Business Development Agency in fostering, promoting, and developing minority business enterprises, as authorized by law.” These investments have paid significant dividends: In FY 2024 alone, the MBDA helped the country’s more than 12 million minority businesses access over $1.5 billion in capital and create or retain approximately 23,000 jobs. That same level of funding has been appropriated through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4). 
    Despite Congress’s clear statutory directive, on March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order effectively eliminating the MBDA and certain other federal entities. In so doing, the Executive Order called for the head of the MBDA to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within seven days “confirming full compliance with this order and explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent.” In the weeks that followed, the Trump Administration has unilaterally dismantled the MBDA—terminating effectively all its staff, canceling its grant programs, and removing its signage from the Department.
    As part of these efforts, our offices reviewed a funding termination notice that was sent to an MBDA grantee by a member of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) named Nate Cavanaugh, who was purportedly acting “Under the Authority of Keith Sonderling, Acting Undersecretary of MBDA.” In the notice, the Department claims the grant is being terminated because it “is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interests of the United States and the MBDA Program.” The termination notice further states that “MBDA is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.” The notice is silent about why the grants are inconsistent with the MBDA’s priorities and programs, which Congress, not the Department, set by statute. And the notice also suggests that the Department of Commerce or others in the Administration may be using funding appropriated for the MBDA for other, unrelated purposes.
    Fortunately, on May 13, 2025, a federal district court issued a Preliminary Injunction requiring the Trump Administration to reverse its actions to eliminate the MBDA, including by restoring agency employees to their status prior to the Executive Order issued on March 14, 2025. However, the Trump Administration quickly appealed this order, making clear it intends to continue pursuing its efforts to fully eliminate the MBDA notwithstanding Congress’s clear directives.
    It is essential that Congress and the public understand how the Trump Administration’s recent actions have affected the MBDA’s ability to carry out its statutory mission and obligations and to understand how funds appropriated to the MBDA are being used. Therefore, we are requesting your assistance to investigate activities that have occurred at MBDA since January 20, 2025, and report on the following:
    A detailed review of all actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including any acting leadership, to “fully eliminate” or otherwise dismantle the MBDA, including any efforts to pause or halt MBDA work functions, lower or eliminate the agency’s budget, or otherwise reduce the resources available to MBDA to complete its work.
    A detailed review of all actions taken by the any member of DOGE, including any volunteers, special government employees, contractors, or Department employees affiliated with DOGE, to “fully eliminate” or otherwise dismantle the MBDA, including any efforts to pause or halt MBDA work functions, lower or eliminate the agency’s budget, or otherwise reduce the resources available to MBDA to complete its work.
    A detailed review of actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including MBDA leadership and acting leadership, to pause, halt, or terminate any grants or funding that were administered or approved by the MBDA as of January 20, 2025. Please include information on the involvement of DOGE or DOGE-affiliated employees, including any volunteers, special government employees, and contractors, in decisions to pause, halt, or terminate MBDA grants or funding.
    A detailed review of the status of all MBDA grants, including:
    The extent to which grants have been terminated or funds continue to be disbursed;
    A description of the types of funded activities that are considered “consistent with the agency’s priorities” and that “serve the interests of the MBDA program”; and
    A detailed explanation of how the MBDA intends to repurpose its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda, including any specific program or activity that has received or is expected to receive repurposed funding.

    A detailed review of actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including MBDA leadership and acting leadership, to reduce the MBDA’s workforce after January 20, 2025. Please include information on the involvement of DOGE or DOGE-affiliated employees, including any volunteers, special government employees, and contractors, in decisions to reduce the MBDA’s workforce.
    A detailed review of the effects of recent Department of Commerce and DOGE actions on:
    The operations of the MBDA’s statutorily created offices, how responsibilities are being allocated to any remaining staff, and the status of physical office space; and
    The ability of the agency to fulfill its statutorily required functions under the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (Division K of the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58), including but not limited to:

                                                                  i.      The MBDA’s statutory responsibilities for private and public sector development;
                                                               ii.      The MBDA’s efforts to conduct research and provide outreach and educational services;
                                                             iii.      The operation of the MBDA’s Business Center Program, Rural Minority Business Center Program, and the national network of public-private partnerships;
                                                              iv.      The administration of the minority business development grants program;
                                                                v.      The functioning of the Minority Business Enterprises Advisory Council; and
                                                              vi.      The extent to which the Administration’s actions regarding MBDA are consistent with the statutory obligations under the Minority Business Development Act of 2021.
    The ability of the agency to effectively administer its current grants, detect and prevent potential fraud in its programs, and cooperate with any investigations into potential fraud or other wrongdoing. 
    A detailed review of the Commerce Department’s or MBDA’s development and implementation of plans to reorganize, restructure, or eliminate the MBDA’s work, and how these plans may affect the Administration’s ability to meet its statutory responsibilities, including a review of which “components or functions” of the MBDA the Trump Administration found to be “statutorily required and to what extent,” pursuant to President Trump’s March 14, 2025, Executive Order on “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Rips Trump’s Plan to Let Palantir Build Dossiers on American Citizens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) railed against the Trump administration’s plan to turn over Americans’ most personal information that was harvested by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers to Palantir so the company can build dossiers on every American.
    “Under the Trump Administration, DOGE aggressively collected sensitive data across agencies, breaking down firewalls that are supposed to protect us. Then came the Executive Order directing agencies to ‘eliminate information silos’ – basically, to share and pool that data,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “And just last week, we learned that Palantir, a Silicon Valley company known for building surveillance tools, is being hired to build AI-powered profiles on every American using the data DOGE collected. It’s hard to overstate how dangerous this is.”
    CLICK HERE or the image below to watch Trahan’s remarks. A transcript is embedded below.

    Last week, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration has drastically increased federal contracting with Palantir, a Silicon Valley tech firm started by Peter Thiel who has donated heavily to Republican campaigns. Palantir has historically worked closely with the Pentagon and the intelligence community to provide big data analytics and AI products, and in recent years has expanded its customer base to include private companies, civilian agencies, and state and local governments. According to the Times report, the company is now being directed to use its AI systems to merge the personal data of Americans collected by different federal agencies into one database, essentially creating a profile on every person in the country.
    During the hearing today, Trahan pointed out how this type of system could be weaponized by the government against Americans.
    “Let me just give you an example – a hypothetical, of course, but not a far-fetched one. Sarah is a regular American. She pays her taxes, owns a gun legally, and is raising her daughter Emma on her own. She and Emma rely on Medicaid to get the care they need,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “One day, Sarah shares a post on Facebook. She’s concerned about something the President said about firearms, and she posts so. But in Washington, an AI-powered monitoring system flags her post. A political appointee digs into her personal data and sends emails to agency heads urging them to take action against her.”
    “Within days, Sarah’s life falls apart,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “The IRS audits her and claims she owes thousands. Emma’s doctor says her Medicaid isn’t active anymore, and now Sarah has to pay out of pocket. Now, to be clear, this story is made up. But it’s not science fiction. It’s an alarm. It’s a warning.”
    In March, Trahan announced an effort to rewrite the Privacy Act of 1974, a 50-year-old law designed to protect Americans’ privacy that has not been meaningfully updated since its passage in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Dozens of organizations and individuals have responded to Trahan’s request for information about how to strengthen privacy protections while preserving the ability to modernize and improve the efficiency of government services.
    “I’ve spent the past three months talking with civil liberties groups, privacy experts, and people across the country – and the one thing is clear: We need stronger privacy laws,” Congresswoman Trahan concluded. “I believe we can protect people’s data and modernize government to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. These goals are not at odds – they’re linked.”
    —————————————–
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks As Delivered
    House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing: The Federal Government in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
    June 5, 2025

    Trahan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of this important conversation.
    Over on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is where I usually serve, we have a lot of conversations about technology, and one thing is always clear: data is at the heart of AI. That’s why I believe that any serious discussion about AI has to start with a conversation about privacy. And that’s what I’m here to do today – to sound the alarm about a deeply troubling trend: our own government’s growing appetite for Americans’ personal data.
    Let me just give you an example – a hypothetical, of course, but not a far-fetched one.
    Sarah is a regular American. She pays her taxes, owns a gun legally, and is raising her daughter Emma on her own. She and Emma rely on Medicaid to get the care they need.
    One day, Sarah shares a post on Facebook. She’s concerned about something the President said about firearms, and she posts so. But in Washington, an AI-powered monitoring system flags her post. A political appointee digs into her personal data and sends emails to agency heads urging them to take action against her.
    Within days, Sarah’s life falls apart. The IRS audits her and claims she owes thousands. Emma’s doctor says her Medicaid isn’t active anymore, and now Sarah has to pay out of pocket.
    Now, to be clear, this story is made up. But it’s not science fiction. It’s an alarm. It’s a warning.
    Mr. Schneier, you talked in your testimony about coercion as an “adversarial use” of data. What kinds of coercion could bad actors inside the government use if they had detailed profiles on every American?

    Mr. Schneier: I would think of it as selective investigation. The government has enormous powers to investigate people, and the question is who they choose to investigate. There’s a famous book from many years ago called “Three Felonies a Day” – that we in our normal lives commit three felonies a day because there are just so many rules and we don’t know them.
    So given things like that, who you choose to enforce the law on matters. So this data can be used to select people whom to investigate, people whom to charge. And this could be used selectively by any regime – even not the U.S. – any country that wants to do this.
    Trahan: Unfortunately, this isn’t a hypothetical trend – it’s already happening.
    Under the Trump Administration, DOGE aggressively collected sensitive data across agencies, breaking down firewalls that are supposed to protect us. Then came the Executive Order  directing agencies to “eliminate information silos” – basically, to share and pool that data. And just last week, we learned that Palantir, a Silicon Valley company known for building surveillance tools, is being hired to build AI-powered profiles on every American using the data DOGE collected.
    It’s hard to overstate how dangerous this is.
    Mr. Schneier, are you worried that once this data is centralized, future administrations – no matter their party – could weaponize it? I mean, are we on the verge of opening Pandora’s box?
    Mr. Schneier: I don’t know if Pandora’s Box has been open years ago, but certainly giving this power to a government is something that feels very un-American. There are reasons why this data was siloed. There are reasons why we didn’t have these powers.
    I mean you can imagine humans doing this well before AI, but we chose not to. So AI can certainly make this more efficient, but yes this is power in the hands of a human who wants to wield it for ill can do that very efficiently.
    Trahan: We need a national reckoning on privacy. That means strong oversight of this Administration and its tech partners, and real legislation to protect Americans’ rights.
    You know, I’ve spent the past three months talking with civil liberties groups, privacy experts, and people across the country – and the one thing is clear: We need stronger privacy laws.
    I believe we can protect people’s data and modernize government to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. These goals are not at odds – they’re linked.
    So if you’re listening and you’re concerned about what’s happening – about Big Tech, about government overreach, about your family’s privacy – call my office. Let’s have a national conversation. Let’s protect the freedom our founders fought for and the privacy we all deserve.
    And one last thing I just wanted to mention because over the course of this hearing, the Chair has suggested that no one on the other side of the aisle called attention to the harms of the Republicans’ ten-year ban on state AI regulations. That’s patently false.
    We had robust debate on the Energy and Commerce Committee with several Democratic members, myself included, calling attention to this provision during and after our 26-hour markup. In fact, Democrats offered an amendment to strike the language entirely. So Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record the results of the recorded vote.
    Chairman: Without objection.
    Trahan: Thank you. I yield back.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Premier’s statement on Eid al-Adha

    Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Eid al-Adha:

    “Today, Muslims in British Columbia and around the world will gather to celebrate the holiest days in the Muslim calendar.

    “Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorates the devotion of the Prophet Ibrahim.

    “Muslims will gather to pray at their local mosque, to share meals with loved ones and to provide food to people in need. The values of charity and kindliness are central to the celebration of Eid al-Adha.

    “Eid al-Adha also marks the conclusion of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage made by Muslims to the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

    “This joyous and sacred celebration offers an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how fortunate we are in British Columbia to have diverse and vibrant Muslim communities with connections to every corner of the world. Those communities make tremendous contributions in making our province a better place.

    “To all who celebrate – Eid Mubarak!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scotland Office partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Scotland Office partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, joined by his sleeping baby daughter, and Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Liz Cameron sign the deal in Edinburgh

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, joined by his sleeping baby daughter, at today’s partnership agreement signing with Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Liz Cameron in Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh.

    A partnership agreement to launch a Brand Scotland overseas trade missions initiative was signed today (Friday) by the Scotland Office and Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC).

    This collaboration will be supported by a UK Government grant of up to £100,000 for 2025/26 aimed at promoting Scottish trade and attracting foreign direct investment into Scotland.

    As part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, Brand Scotland is boosting economic growth by promoting Scottish products and services while attracting international inward investment.

    The initiative will include a series of trade missions focused on showcasing Scottish businesses globally.

    Ian Murray and Liz Cameron signed the agreement at the UK Government’s Queen Elizabeth HQ in Edinburgh.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    This agreement will help give Scotland a global platform to sell everything our brilliant country has to offer – from whisky and seafood to our world class services.

    The trio of trade deals secured by the Prime Minister in recent weeks is a huge opportunity for Scotland’s economy – with the most populous country in the world, the richest country in the world and our most important market. This partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce will create valuable opportunities for Scottish firms and help kickstart economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    I have already been to Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States to bang the drum for Scotland and with this partnership we will take businesses to even more markets. The Scotland Office will be Scotland’s window to the world.

    Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive and Director Dr Liz Cameron CBE said:

    Delivering impactful trade missions that will sell Brand Scotland and our innovative and dynamic businesses will strengthen our global presence. This partnership with the Scotland Office is vital for economic growth and will help more businesses trade internationally and encourage more inward investment.

    The world wants our quality products and services and this significant investment in Brand Scotland will create even more opportunities to sell our nation internationally. Our businesses continue to successfully engage with SCC overseas missions and now by combining forces between SCC and the Scotland Office, we can drive our economy further by providing valuable platforms and alliances for more exporters to sell their fantastic products and services to new global markets.

    Scotland is open for business and we welcome Brand Scotland’s support to allow us to trade with confidence on a world stage.

    Leading entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors have also welcomed the agreement.

    Founder & CEO of Greenock-based PG Paper Dr Poonam Gupta OBE said: 

    At PG Paper, international trade is the backbone of our business. We have built a multi-million pound business by connecting with over 60 countries. This partnership between the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office sends a clear message: Scotland is ambitious, outward-looking, and ready to lead. The Scotland Office initiative will help businesses like ours expand our international reach, forge high-value connections, and drive economic impact both at home and abroad. This is exactly the kind of bold, collaborative action Scotland needs to accelerate exports and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

    CEO of Aberdeen-based PCL Group Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE said: 

    As a global IT and energy tech company operating in over 27 countries, we know first-hand how critical international trade is to business growth and innovation. Trade missions are strategic enablers that unlock new markets, foster long-term relationships, and elevate Scotland’s global standing. The collaboration between Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office is exactly the type of public-private partnership needed to amplify Scotland’s voice on the world stage and grow our economies.

    Details of trade missions will be confirmed in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lake Xingkai imposes 40-day fishing ban

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — A 40-day fishing ban was officially imposed on Lake Xingkai (Khanka), located on the China-Russia border, on Friday.

    According to the Zhongxinshe news agency, more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels have already left their fishing areas.

    According to the study, there are 65 species of fish in Lake Xingkai. In order to ensure biodiversity and promote sustainable fisheries development, a seasonal ban on fishing in the lake has been in place since 1952.

    From June 6 to July 15, all fishing on the lake will be prohibited, the local public safety department reminded.

    In order to tighten the fight against poaching and ensure security, border control officers have increased patrols in the lake area. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding Available for Shoreline Cleanup, Debris Recycling, Litter Prevention

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Seafood industry and sportfishing associations, community groups and other organizations can once again access funding to support ocean and shoreline cleanup projects throughout Nova Scotia.

    “Clean coastlines benefit local communities and enhance the reputation of our seafood industry as a provider of top-quality products,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Our goal is to limit the amount of debris that reaches the shore and increase recycling from cleanup initiatives.”

    Funding is available through the Marine Debris Clean-up Program for:

    • shoreline cleanups – up to a maximum of $2,000 per event; applications will be accepted until February 1, 2026, or until all available funds are allocated
    • litter prevention projects – up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $3,000 per project; applications are open until June 30, as part of a competitive selection process
    • marine debris recycling – up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per project; applications are open until June 30, as part of a competitive selection process.

    More information about the program and applying is at: https://novascotia.ca/fish/marine-clean-up/.

    Quotes:

    “Through continued support from the Marine Debris Clean-up Program, Coastal Action has been able to continue a range of projects that not only target persistent marine debris on Nova Scotia’s shorelines, but also strengthen our relationships with local partners. The program has been supportive in helping us work towards solutions on the ground and inspire more collaboration toward cleaner coastlines and responsible disposal.”
    — Kelly Mackarous, Coastal and Marine Program Manager, Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation

    Quick Facts:

    • Sunday, June 8, is World Ocean Day
    • Nova Scotia has 13,000 kilometres of coastline
    • the Marine Debris Clean-up Program supports efforts, in partnership with seafood industry associations, to clean Nova Scotia’s shorelines of debris and help protect the environment
    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden introduces bipartisan bill to make childbirth free for parents

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would prohibit cost-sharing by private insurers for prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care

    WASHINGTON — Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Young Kim (CA-40), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and David Valadao (CA-22) today introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, which would require private health insurance companies to fully cover the costs of childbirth and related maternity care.

    The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would amend the list of Essential Health Benefits under the Affordable Care Act to include detailed minimum services for prenatal, labor and delivery, perinatal, and postpartum care for up to one year after a child’s birth and would require private insurers to cover those services without cost-sharing. 

    “Pregnancy and childbirth are a normal part of family life, so insurance companies should treat it like the routine care it is and cover the cost,” Golden said. “It shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars to give birth at the hospital, and other necessary maternity services shouldn’t be a luxury. This is simple, commonsense reform and will make it easier for Mainers to start and grow families on their own terms without a huge hospital bill.”

    Mainers pay 19 percent more than the national average for childbirth, according to the Health Care Costs Institute, with an average out-of-pocket cost of roughly $2,400. That figure includes delivery only; Other costs associated with prenatal and postnatal care, and the high cost of NICU services for the nearly one in 10 babies who need it, can quickly add up for new parents. 

    “Americans shouldn’t have to choose between starting a family and being strapped in debt. Unfortunately, rising living costs on top of excessive hospital and health care fees after giving birth deter individuals from becoming parents,” Kim said. “We should do what we can to make life more affordable, which is why I’m proud to help lead the charge to cut childbirth cost-sharing fees and ensure women, babies and families receive the care they deserve without astronomical costs.”

    “When my daughter was born by emergency C-section nine weeks early, I wanted to focus all my attention on my recovery and her well-being for the six weeks she was in the NICU, not our medical bills,” McClellan said. “The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act will provide more pregnant and postpartum patients the peace of mind that they can access care without worrying about how to pay for it.”

    “The cost of maternal care is already expensive, and too often, families with private insurance are hit with surprise medical bills they didn’t see coming,” Valadao said. “Building a family already comes with so much uncertainty, but designating maternal care as an Essential Health Benefit and eliminating cost-sharing will give parents some peace of mind during one of life’s most important moments. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this practical, bipartisan solution that puts families first.”

    Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). 

    Full text of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act can be found here, and a one-pager can be found here.

    WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

    “The Maine Hospital Association strongly supports this vital legislation to eliminate cost-sharing for prenatal, labor and postpartum care. In a rural state like Maine, where many communities face significant barriers to accessing maternity care and OB units have closed due to workforce and financial pressures, this bill offers critical support,” said Jeffrey Austin, vice president of government affairs and communications for the Maine Hospital Association. “By removing financial burdens on patients, we can strengthen the sustainability of rural obstetric services, improve maternal health outcomes, and ensure that every family — regardless of ZIP code — has access to the care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.” 

    “As physicians and advocates for the health of all Mainers, we commend Rep. Golden for his leadership in prioritizing maternal and infant health,” said R. Scott Hanson, MD, MPH, FACP, president of the Maine Medical Association. “This bill is a vital tool for closing gaps in care and supporting families during one of the most critical times in their lives. We know firsthand that extending the coverage to one year postpartum will save lives. We look forward to supporting Rep. Golden on the bill to strengthen critical programs, improve care coordination and help ensure that every mother and child can access the care they need to thrive.”

    “Anything policymakers can do to reduce health care costs, including out-of-pocket costs, for example deductibles and coinsurance, will help consumers who are struggling with high health care costs and medical debt,” said Ann Woloson, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. “This bill does just that — adding maternity care to the list of essential health benefits and requiring private insurers to cover the cost of maternity care without cost-sharing will provide some very much needed relief from rising health care costs.” 

    “No one should go into debt because they have a baby or experience a reproductive health emergency,” said Alex Carter, policy advocate at Maine Equal Justice. “As a legal aid provider, medical debt is among the top concerns for our low-income clients. For people who are just over the income limit for Medicaid or who have high-deductible insurance plans, an expensive hospital bill can change the economic trajectory of a family, diverting resources away from their basic needs and discouraging people from seeking follow-up care. We support Rep. Golden’s bill to ensure everyone can grow their families and access the maternal health care they need without the fear of crushing medical bills.” 

    “Right now, many new parents in Maine are burdened with medical debt the moment their child is born — debt that weighs down their finances for years and blocks economic opportunity,” said James Myall, policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy. “The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would end this cycle, making sure no parent starts or grows their family under a mountain of bills.” 

    The bill also has been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the American Medical Association; the American Hospital Association; the American Society for Reproductive Medicine; the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs; March of Dimes; and the National Partnership for Women & Families. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident – a public health historian explains how the system was shaped to serve profit and politicians

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Zachary W. Schulz, Senior Lecturer of History, Auburn University

    Concessions to the private sector are one reason why health care is so costly. FS Productions/Tetra images via Getty Images

    A few years ago, a student in my history of public health course asked why her mother couldn’t afford insulin without insurance, despite having a full-time job. I told her what I’ve come to believe: The U.S. health care system was deliberately built this way.

    People often hear that health care in America is dysfunctional – too expensive, too complex and too inequitable. But dysfunction implies failure. What if the real problem is that the system is functioning exactly as it was designed to? Understanding this legacy is key to explaining not only why reform has failed repeatedly, but why change remains so difficult.

    I am a historian of public health with experience researching oral health access and health care disparities in the Deep South. My work focuses on how historical policy choices continue to shape the systems we rely on today.

    By tracing the roots of today’s system and all its problems, it’s easier to understand why American health care looks the way it does and what it will take to reform it into a system that provides high-quality, affordable care for all. Only by confronting how profit, politics and prejudice have shaped the current system can Americans imagine and demand something different.

    Decades of compromise

    My research and that of many others show that today’s high costs, deep inequities and fragmented care are predictable features developed from decades of policy choices that prioritized profit over people, entrenched racial and regional hierarchies, and treated health care as a commodity rather than a public good.

    Over the past century, U.S. health care developed not from a shared vision of universal care, but from compromises that prioritized private markets, protected racial hierarchies and elevated individual responsibility over collective well-being.

    Employer-based insurance emerged in the 1940s, not from a commitment to worker health but from a tax policy workaround during wartime wage freezes. The federal government allowed employers to offer health benefits tax-free, incentivizing coverage while sidestepping nationalized care. This decision bound health access to employment status, a structure that is still dominant today. In contrast, many other countries with employer-provided insurance pair it with robust public options, ensuring that access is not tied solely to a job.

    In 1965, Medicare and Medicaid programs greatly expanded public health infrastructure. Unfortunately, they also reinforced and deepened existing inequalities. Medicare, a federally administered program for people over 64, primarily benefited wealthier Americans who had access to stable, formal employment and employer-based insurance during their working years. Medicaid, designed by Congress as a joint federal-state program, is aimed at the poor, including many people with disabilities. The combination of federal and state oversight resulted in 50 different programs with widely variable eligibility, coverage and quality.

    Southern lawmakers, in particular, fought for this decentralization. Fearing federal oversight of public health spending and civil rights enforcement, they sought to maintain control over who received benefits. Historians have shown that these efforts were primarily designed to restrict access to health care benefits along racial lines during the Jim Crow period of time.

    Bloated bureaucracies, ‘creeping socialism’

    Today, that legacy is painfully visible.

    States that chose not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are overwhelmingly located in the South and include several with large Black populations. Nearly 1 in 4 uninsured Black adults are uninsured because they fall into the coverage gap – unable to access affordable health insurance – they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to receive subsidies through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.

    The system’s architecture also discourages care aimed at prevention. Because Medicaid’s scope is limited and inconsistent, preventive care screenings, dental cleanings and chronic disease management often fall through the cracks. That leads to costlier, later-stage care that further burdens hospitals and patients alike.

    Meanwhile, cultural attitudes around concepts like “rugged individualism” and “freedom of choice” have long been deployed to resist public solutions. In the postwar decades, while European nations built national health care systems, the U.S. reinforced a market-driven approach.

    Publicly funded systems were increasingly portrayed by American politicians and industry leaders as threats to individual freedom – often dismissed as “socialized medicine” or signs of creeping socialism. In 1961, for example, Ronald Reagan recorded a 10-minute LP titled “Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine,” which was distributed by the American Medical Association as part of a national effort to block Medicare.

    The health care system’s administrative complexity ballooned beginning in the 1960s, driven by the rise of state-run Medicaid programs, private insurers and increasingly fragmented billing systems. Patients were expected to navigate opaque billing codes, networks and formularies, all while trying to treat, manage and prevent illness. In my view, and that of other scholars, this isn’t accidental but rather a form of profitable confusion built into the system to benefit insurers and intermediaries.

    President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts would reduce Medicaid spending by about US$700 billion.

    Coverage gaps, chronic disinvestment

    Even well-meaning reforms have been built atop this structure. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, expanded access to health insurance but preserved many of the system’s underlying inequities. And by subsidizing private insurers rather than creating a public option, the law reinforced the central role of private companies in the health care system.

    The public option – a government-run insurance plan intended to compete with private insurers and expand coverage – was ultimately stripped from the Affordable Care Act during negotiations due to political opposition from both Republicans and moderate Democrats.

    When the U.S. Supreme Court made it optional in 2012 for states to offer expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, it amplified the very inequalities that the ACA sought to reduce.

    These decisions have consequences. In states like Alabama, an estimated 220,000 adults remain uninsured due to the Medicaid coverage gap – the most recent year for which reliable data is available – highlighting the ongoing impact of the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid.

    In addition, rural hospitals have closed, patients forgo care, and entire counties lack practicing OB/GYNs or dentists. And when people do get care – especially in states where many remain uninsured – they can amass medical debt that can upend their lives.

    All of this is compounded by chronic disinvestment in public health. Federal funding for emergency preparedness has declined for years, and local health departments are underfunded and understaffed.

    The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how brittle the infrastructure is – especially in low-income and rural communities, where overwhelmed clinics, delayed testing, limited hospital capacity, and higher mortality rates exposed the deadly consequences of neglect.

    A system by design

    Change is hard not because reformers haven’t tried before, but because the system serves the very interests it was designed to serve. Insurers profit from obscurity – networks that shift, formularies that confuse, billing codes that few can decipher. Providers profit from a fee-for-service model that rewards quantity over quality, procedure over prevention. Politicians reap campaign contributions and avoid blame through delegation, diffusion and plausible deniability.

    This is not an accidental web of dysfunction. It is a system that transforms complexity into capital, bureaucracy into barriers.

    Patients – especially the uninsured and underinsured – are left to make impossible choices: delay treatment or take on debt, ration medication or skip checkups, trust the health care system or go without. Meanwhile, I believe the rhetoric of choice and freedom disguises how constrained most people’s options really are.

    Other countries show us that alternatives are possible. Systems in Germany, France and Canada vary widely in structure, but all prioritize universal access and transparency.

    Understanding what the U.S. health care system is designed to do – rather than assuming it is failing unintentionally – is a necessary first step toward considering meaningful change.

    Zachary W. Schulz 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. US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident – a public health historian explains how the system was shaped to serve profit and politicians – https://theconversation.com/us-health-care-is-rife-with-high-costs-and-deep-inequities-and-thats-no-accident-a-public-health-historian-explains-how-the-system-was-shaped-to-serve-profit-and-politicians-256393

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Bunn, Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

    President Donald Trump has grandiose plans for Golden Dome. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    President Donald Trump’s idea of a “Golden Dome” missile defense system carries a range of potential strategic dangers for the United States.

    Golden Dome is meant to protect the U.S. from ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and missiles launched from space. Trump has called for the missile defense to be fully operational before the end of his term in three years.

    Trump’s goals for Golden Dome are likely beyond reach. A wide range of studies makes clear that even defenses far more limited than what Trump envisions would be far more expensive and less effective than Trump expects, especially against enemy missiles equipped with modern countermeasures. Countermeasures include multiple warheads per missile, decoy warheads and warheads that can maneuver or are difficult to track, among others.

    Regardless of Golden Dome’s feasibility, there is a long history of scholarship about strategic missile defenses, and the weight of evidence points to the defenses making their host country less safe from nuclear attack.

    I’m a national security and foreign policy professor at Harvard University, where I lead “Managing the Atom,” the university’s main research group on nuclear weapons and nuclear energy policies. For decades, I’ve been participating in dialogues with Russian and Chinese nuclear experts – and their fears about U.S. missile defenses have been a consistent theme throughout.

    Russian President Vladmir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have already warned that Golden Dome is destabilizing. Along with U.S. offensive capabilities, Golden Dome poses a threat of “directly undermining global strategic stability, spurring an arms race and increasing conflict potential both among nuclear-weapon states and in the international arena as a whole,” a joint statement from China and Russia said. While that is a propaganda statement, it reflects real concerns broadly held in both countries.

    Golden Dome explained.

    History lessons

    Experience going back half a century makes clear that if the administration pursues Golden Dome, it is likely to provoke even larger arms buildups, derail already-dim prospects for any negotiated nuclear arms restraint, and perhaps even increase the chances of nuclear war.

    My first book, 35 years ago, made the case that it would be in the U.S. national security interest to remain within the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which strictly limited U.S. and Soviet – and later Russian – missile defenses. The United States and the Soviet Union negotiated the ABM Treaty as part of SALT I, the first agreements limiting the nuclear arms race. It was approved in the Senate 98-2.

    The ABM Treaty experience is instructive for the implications of Golden Dome today.

    Why did the two countries agree to limit defenses? First and foremost, because they understood that unless each side’s defenses were limited, they would not be able to stop an offensive nuclear arms race. If each side wants to maintain the ability to retaliate if the other attacks – “don’t nuke me, or I’ll nuke you” – then an obvious answer to one side building up more defenses is for the other to build up more nuclear warheads.

    For example, in the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviets installed 100 interceptors to defend Moscow – so the United States targeted still more warheads on Moscow to overwhelm the defense. Had it ever come to a nuclear war, Moscow would have been even more thoroughly obliterated than if there had been no defense at all. Both sides came to realize that unlimited missile defenses would just mean more offense on both sides, leaving both less secure than before.

    In addition, nations viewed an adversary’s shield as going hand in hand with a nuclear sword. A nuclear first strike might destroy a major part of a country’s nuclear forces. Missile defenses would inevitably be more effective against the reduced, disorganized retaliation that they knew would be coming than they would be against a massive, well-planned surprise attack. That potential advantage to whoever struck first could make nuclear crises even more dangerous.

    Post-ABM Treaty world

    Unfortunately, President George W. Bush pulled the United States out of the ABM Treaty in 2002, seeking to free U.S. development of defenses against potential missile attacks from small states such as North Korea. But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).

    The U.S. pullout did not lead to an immediate arms buildup or the end of nuclear arms control. But Putin has complained bitterly about U.S. missile defenses and the U.S. refusal to accept any limitation at all on them. He views the U.S. stance as an effort to achieve military superiority by negating Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

    Russia is investing heavily in new types of strategic nuclear weapons intended to avoid U.S. missile defenses, from an intercontinental nuclear torpedo to a missile that can go around the world and attack from the south, while U.S. defenses are mainly pointed north toward Russia.

    Russia maintains a large force of nuclear weapons like this mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.
    Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via APPEAR

    Similarly, much of China’s nuclear buildup appears to be driven by wanting a reliable nuclear deterrent in the face of the United States’ capability to strike its nuclear forces and use missile defenses to mop up the remainder. Indeed, China was so angered by South Korea’s deployment of U.S.-provided regional defenses – which they saw as aiding the U.S. ability to intercept their missiles – that they imposed stiff sanctions on South Korea.

    Fuel to the fire

    Now, Trump wants to go much further, with a defense “forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland,” with a success rate “very close to 100%.” I believe that this effort is highly likely to lead to still larger nuclear buildups in Russia and China. The Putin-Xi joint statement pledges to “counter” defenses “aimed at achieving military superiority.”

    Given the ease of developing countermeasures that are extraordinarily difficult for defenses to overcome, odds are the resulting offense-defense competition will leave the United States worse off than before – and a good bit poorer.

    Putin and Xi made clear that they are particularly concerned about the thousands of space-based interceptors Trump envisions. These interceptors are designed to hit missiles while their rockets are still burning during launch.

    Most countries are likely to oppose the idea of deploying huge numbers of weapons in space – and these interceptors would be both expensive and vulnerable. China and Russia could focus on further developing anti-satellite weapons to blow a hole in the defense, increasing the risk of space war.

    Already, there is a real danger that the whole effort of negotiated limits to temper nuclear arms racing may be coming to an end. The last remaining treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, the New START Treaty, expires in February 2026. China’s rapid nuclear buildup is making many defense officials and experts in Washington call for a U.S. buildup in response.

    Intense hostility all around means that for now, neither Russia nor China is even willing to sit down to discuss nuclear restraints, in treaty form or otherwise.

    A way forward

    In my view, adding Golden Dome to this combustible mix would likely end any prospect of avoiding a future of unrestrained and unpredictable nuclear arms competition. But paths away from these dangers are available.

    It would be quite plausible to design defenses that would provide some protection against attacks from a handful of missiles from North Korea or others that would not seriously threaten Russian or Chinese deterrent forces – and design restraints that would allow all parties to plan their offensive forces knowing what missile defenses they would be facing in the years to come.

    I believe that Trump should temper his Golden Dome ambitions to achieve his other dream – of negotiating a deal to reduce nuclear dangers.

    Matthew Bunn is a member of the National Academies Committee on International Security and Arms Control and a board member of the Arms Control Association. He is a member of the Academic Alliance of the United States Strategic Command and a consultant to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

    – ref. Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe – https://theconversation.com/golden-dome-dangers-an-arms-control-expert-explains-how-trumps-missile-defense-threatens-to-make-the-us-less-safe-258048

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the Musk and Trump relationship is breaking down – a psychologist explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    It is not a good break-up. These were always two big beasts used to getting their own way. Two alpha males, if you like the evolutionary metaphor, trying to get along. And now the Donald Trump and Elon Musk relationship is in meltdown.

    Who could forget that iconic image from just a few short weeks back? Elon Musk standing behind the seated the US president, Donald Trump, in the Oval Office, towering over him. Trump, his hands clasped, having to turn awkwardly to look up at him. That silent language of the body. Musk accompanied by his four-year old, a charming and informal image, or that great evolutionary signal of mating potential and dominance, depending on your point of view.

    These were also clearly two massive narcissistic egos out in their gleaming open-top speedster. Musk was appointed special advisor to Trump, heading the Department of Government Efficiency, cutting excess and waste. The backseat driver for a while.

    There were a lot of bureaucratic casualties already, road kill at the side of the highway as the sports car roared on with frightening speed. But things were always going to be difficult if they hit a bump in the road. And they did. Perhaps, more quickly than many had imagined.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    There were differing views on what caused the crash. Many pointed to the dramatic fall in the sales of Tesla, a 71% fall in profits in one quarter, and the inevitable impact on Musk’s reputation. And yesterday Tesla shares were falling even faster, as investors panicked. The attacks on Tesla showrooms couldn’t have helped either.

    Others pointed to Trump’s proposed removal of the tax credit for owners of electric vehicles, or the political backlash in Washington over Space X’s potential involvement in Trump’s proposed “golden dome” anti-missile defense system.

    However, according to former White House strategist Steve Bannon, what really caused the crash was when the president refused to show Musk the Pentagon’s attack plans for any possible war with China. There’s only so far being the president’s best buddy can get you. Bannon is reported as saying: “You could feel it. Everything changed.” That, according to Bannon, was the beginning of the end.



    Read more:
    Trump sees himself as more like a king than president. Here’s why

    Elon Musk has criticised Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’.

    So now we watch Trump and Musk stumbling away from the crash scene. One minute Trump is putting on a show for the cameras. He’s beaming away and introducing the “big, beautiful bill”, a budget reconciliation bill that rolls together hundreds of controversial proposals. Next, he is accusing Musk of “going crazy” and talking about withdrawing government contracts from the Musk empire.

    Musk is unhappy too. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” he wrote on X. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.”

    Rejection and repositioning

    He says he’s disgusted by the bill. Disgust is one of the most primitive of all the emotions. A survival mechanism – you must avoid what disgusts you. He’s social signalling here, alerting others, warning them that there’s something disgusting in the camp.

    Musk is highly attuned to public perception, perhaps even more so than Trump (which is saying something). With his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), Musk was able to direct (and add to) online discourse, shaping public conversations.

    Psychologically, Musk’s rejection of Trump is an attempt to simultaneously elevate himself and diminish the man behind the bill. He can call out the president’s action like nobody else. He is positioning himself anew as that free thinker, that risk taker, innovative, courageous, unfettered by any ties. That is his personality, his brand – and he’s reasserting it.

    Trump on Musk’s criticism of the ‘big beautiful bill’

    But it’s also a vengeful act. And it’s perhaps reminiscent of another political insider (and geek), former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings, who was sacked by the then UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, in 2020. Cummings was accused of masterminding leaks about the social gatherings in Downing Street.

    He went on to criticise Johnson as lacking the necessary discipline and focus for a prime minister as well as questioning his competence and decision-making abilities. The revenge of a self-proclaimed genius.

    And revenge is sweet. In a 2004 study, researchers scanned participants’ brains using positron emission tomography (PET) – a medical imaging technique that is used to study brain function (among other things) – while the participants played an economic game based on trust. When trust was violated, participants wanted revenge, and this was reflected in increased activity in the reward-related regions of the brain, the dorsal striatum.

    Revenge, in other words, is primarily about making yourself feel better rather than righting any wrongs. Your act may make you appear moral but it may be more selfish.

    But revenge for what here? That’s where these big narcissistic egos come into play.

    Psychologically, narcissists are highly sensitive to perceived slights – real or imagined. Musk may have felt Trump was attempting to diminish his achievements for political gain, violating this pact of mutual respect. This kind of sensitivity can quickly transmogrify admiration into contempt.

    Contempt, coincidentally, is the single best predictor of a breakdown in very close relationships.

    Disgust and contempt are powerful emotions, evolving to protect us – disgust from physical contamination (spoiled food, disease), and contempt from social or moral contamination (betrayal, incompetence). Both involve rejection – disgust rejects something physically; contempt rejects something socially or morally. Musk may be giving it to Trump with both barrels here.

    Break-ups are always hard, they get much harder when emotions like these get intertwined with the process.

    But how will the most powerful man in the world respond to this sort of rejection from the richest man in the world? And where will it end?

    Geoff Beattie 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. Why the Musk and Trump relationship is breaking down – a psychologist explains – https://theconversation.com/why-the-musk-and-trump-relationship-is-breaking-down-a-psychologist-explains-258213

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: A financial backbone for stability, not band-aids for crises

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The impacts of disasters are woven into all aspects of life.

    Impacts send shockwaves across all systems – essential services, infrastructure, health, education and economic. They interact with climate change, conflict, economic fragility, and inequality – amplifying risks across systems.

    However, even though disaster costs are rising, financing for disaster risk reduction (DRR) is largely fragmented, short-term, and reactive.

    “Let us be clear: financing disaster risk reduction is not a cost – it is an investment, with benefits across different agendas: from protecting development, to reducing humanitarian needs, and achieving climate and environmental goals.”

    Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction

    To protect development gains from being eroded by a spiral of deepening crises, countries must systematically embed risk reduction in national budget processes – across all levels of government. This will require a raft of innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and novel inclusive approaches to ensure that investments provide benefits to those who need them most.

    At a ministerial roundtable session at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction, ministers from 43 countries, together with the World Bank and UNDP, discussed the challenges and opportunities they face when financing resilience building; their experiences, successes and solutions; and concrete proposal for inclusive and equitable financing strategies.

    The ministers acknowledged that there is a deficit in global financing for disaster preparedness. The Philippines, South Sudan, Fiji, Barbados, and members of the African Union, amongst others, drew connections between financial planning for disaster risk and broader climate financing, noting the important role of resources like the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the Loss and Damage Fund.

    Financing resilience is public investment

    Too often, public budgets only respond after disaster strikes. The consequence is mounting human and economic losses, especially in vulnerable countries.

    “The root causes of disaster risk – inequality, misaligned financial incentives, insufficient risk governance – remain unaddressed in many development models.”

    – UNDRR’s 2025 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR 2025) 

    To address this will require a fundamental rethink, positioning disaster risk reduction firmly in development finance.

    “We must support developing countries in establishing national disaster risk reduction financing systems that are tailored to their development priorities.”

    – Kamal Kishore at the ministerial roundtable. 

    These systems must be pro-active, not reactive, and aligned with each country’s unique development goals, while integrating a firm understanding of systemic and cascading risks.

    India, for example, is taking a rule-based approach with pre-determined allocations that flow from national to district levels. Japan and Norway noted that they are both mainstreaming DRR into private sector practice, with Norway advocating for legal requirements for DRR in corporate strategies.

    The GAR 2025 findings reinforce this more holistic approach, recommending that countries reconfigure their financial and economic governance to create more favourable conditions for DRR investments, especially by shifting public spending “away from short-term consumption and toward resilience-building.”

    Integrating disaster risk financing into budgets

    Resilient budgets require more than a single DRR line item.

    Mr. Kishore highlighted the need to embed risk considerations throughout public financial planning: “This includes exploring ways of embedding resilience into budget planning at every level.”

    That means sectoral ministries, infrastructure agencies, local governments, and fiscal authorities must all adopt risk-informed budget planning. This shift is not just about earmarking funds, but about transforming how development priorities are selected, financed, and measured.

    Countries including Brazil are calling for a global task force on effective DRR financing, while the Philippines proposed a global financing mechanism to support disaster resilience efforts, recognising the need to anchor DRR in fiscal systems.

    In a conversation with Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Mr Kishore noted that we need a coordinated, global system making the appropriate mechanisms accessible to those who need them most:

    “We have the tools to assess risk and see how much investment will lead to what kind of reduction in risk. We really need to make it a comprehensive system – where national budgets, whether countries have high income or low income – take into account the kind of disaster risk they face and systematically invest in it.” 

    Ms. Mohammed noted the need to develop more innovative financing mechanisms as a key priority during the Global Platform.

    “We need to get to a space where we have more tools accessible to us to do it, and that again is a big challenge for this week.” 

    Tackling systemic challenges

    For many countries, even those with the political will to invest in reducing disaster risk, systemic barriers stand in their way. These include:

    • Weak institutional frameworks for DRR investment planning.
    • Limited understanding of how DRR links to fiscal risk.
    • Inadequate incentives to prioritise risk reduction in capital budgeting.

    DRR financing also needs to penetrate to local levels, enabling resources to reach the communities that need them most. Without fiscal devolution, even the most risk-informed national strategies will fall short in implementation.

    Incentives for private sector investment

    Initiatives to finance resilience must move away from reliance on public coffers.

    This involves building stronger partnerships with the private sector, and cultivating greater awareness of the benefits of such investments and the dangers of neglecting them.

    “We must enhance partnerships with the private sector, as it is a major source of financing that is often not guided by an understanding of disaster risks,” Kamal Kishore said. 

    The financial sector can play a catalytic role by developing innovative instruments, such as resilience bonds, blended finance structures, and a broad spectrum of insurance solutions. Several countries are already putting such innovations into practice:

    • China described its rollout of agricultural insurance, and its investment of $154 billion in property insurance.
    • Kiribati described its community-based insurance for drought programme providing payouts to farmers and fishers.
    • Norway highlighted parametric insurance schemes.
    • The Bahamas explained how they use their disaster-related expenditures tracking tool to map pre-disaster investments and post-disaster costs.

    To mainstream such approaches, updated regulatory frameworks, disclosure standards, and fiscal incentives are needed to guide private capital toward risk reduction and embed DRR into national financial systems.

    Risk-aware international finance

    The global community must step up to encourage investors, both public and private, to prioritize DRR financing.

    “We must rally the international community to prioritize investment in disaster risk reduction. This includes dedicating a larger portion of assistance funding to disaster risk reduction and ensuring all development funding is risk informed.”

    – Kamal Kishore

    Official development assistance (ODA) and climate finance must be structured and delivered accordingly. Risk-blind development projects, even when well-intentioned, can inadvertently amplify vulnerability.

    Several countries at the roundtable – including Cambodia, Paraguay, and Montenegro – highlighted the importance of integrating DRR into social investment strategies, including gender-responsive financing, elderly-focused social protection, and health system resilience. Czechia called for embedding DRR funding across the humanitarian-development nexus.

    “The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development presents a critical opportunity to advance all these priorities to ensure all development is safe from disasters.”

    – Kamal Kishore

    The shift toward DRR financing within national budgets is technically feasible, economically wise, and morally urgent. As extreme weather events, pandemics, and conflict interact in increasingly complex ways, the costs of inaction grow exponentially.

    By embedding DRR in national budgets, governments protect long-term development investments, and communities gain tools and funding for local resilience.

    Additionally, the private sector becomes a co-architect of safety, increasing its stake in resilience building efforts, and international aid transitions from offering band-aids to repeated crises to providing a backbone for lasting stability.

    “We must acknowledge that resilience is a long-term economic necessity, and it does have the best return on investment.”

    – Amina Mohammed

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CPSC Highlights the Safety of Older Americans During National Safety Month

    Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer products present significant injury risks to older Americans, sending more than three million seniors to the hospital each year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is hard at work addressing these hazards and helping them to live safer, more independent lives.
    According to CPSC’s most recent report, Senior Injuries and Deaths Associated with Consumer Products: 2024 Report, consumer products are associated with 41,000 senior deaths each year. CPSC is emphasizing the importance of keeping older adults safe during June—National Safety Month. 
    This report comes as the CPSC sets yet another recall record for products violating the Safety Standard for Adult Portable Bed Rails. Last week CPSC announced the results of a recent enforcement sweep targeting these products, which can pose deadly entrapment and strangulation hazards when they do not comply with federal safety standards. In doing so, CPSC secured remedies for consumers in multiple recalls, totaling more than 95,000 units.
    “CPSC continues to carry out its vital mission and is outpacing key safety and performance metrics from recent years, including with respect to senior safety,” said Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “I want to recognize the leadership of my colleague Commissioner Dziak, who has done more than others to advance this cause.”
    “My family has seen firsthand how a senior injury can change lives forever,” said Commissioner Douglas Dziak. “Several years ago, my mother-in-law suffered a serious head injury after an in-home fall. She has never fully recovered and requires significant ongoing treatment and care. Unfortunately, as the Commission’s report describes, our story is not unique, and I will continue to prioritize senior safety by seeking to reduce consumer hazards for seniors and increase awareness regarding senior injury risk.”
    Older adults and their caregivers can work to prevent these tragic injuries and deaths by following these safety steps:

    Check if the portable adult bed rails in your home have been recalled. If they have, do not use them. If purchasing new ones, look for bed rails that meet the ASTM voluntary standard ASTM F3186 – 17, Standard Specification for Adult Portable Bed Rails and Related Products.
    Install handrails on both sides of any stairs in your home and grab bars in bathrooms. Keep stairs well-lit and free of clutter.
    Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Install carbon monoxide alarms on each floor outside sleeping areas.
    Do not wear loose clothing while cooking on the stove. The clothing can catch fire. Keep an eye on food cooking on the stovetop and in the oven. Stand by your pan.
    Do not swim alone. Take swimming lessons. Use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device if you are unsure of your swimming ability.
    Never operate a portable generator inside the home. Generators should be used outside at least 20 feet away from the house, and never near windows or vents.
    Watch for traffic and wear the appropriate gear when riding four-wheelers, bicycles and e-scooters, including bicycle helmets.

    For more tips go to Older Adult Safety | CPSC.gov. 

    About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products. 
    Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
    For lifesaving information:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Pacific – 05-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s relationship with the Pacific region has political, economic and development dimensions. The EU is the Pacific region’s second largest trading partner. Australia and New Zealand are the EU’s like-minded partners, facing common geostrategic challenges and promoting multilateralism and a global rules-based order. In June 2018, negotiations were launched for a comprehensive EU-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) and the fifteenth round of negotiations took place in April 2023. The EU signed an FTA with New Zealand in July 2023.Under the Samoa Agreement the EU has a partnership with the 15 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that centres on development, fisheries and climate change. It also has partnerships with the three Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fish restocking exercise held on National Fish Releasing Day 2025 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality today (June 6) jointly organised the National Fish Releasing Day 2025 fish restocking exercise concurrently with other exercises nationwide, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to raise public awareness of the conservation of aquatic resources and the need to improve aquatic habitats.

    Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, said, “Today is the National Fish Releasing Day designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Hence, fish restocking exercises are launched nationwide concurrently to restore and enhance aquatic resources. We are actively responding to this initiative and are conducting restocking exercises jointly with the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality for the first time.”

    Miss Wong added that the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries, released by the Government in collaboration with the agriculture and fisheries sectors in December 2023, proposed the implementation of restocking to restore and enhance fisheries resources, as well as to strengthen public education, arouse public awareness of the conservation of marine resources and environment, and enhance understanding of the significance of restocking.

    After the launching ceremony, AFCD representatives and some guests proceeded to Tung Ping Chau Marine Park (TPCMP) and Hong Kong waters adjacent to Shenzhen in Mirs Bay, where they released some 23 500 juvenile fish of native species, including Hong Kong grouper (Epinephelus akaara), star snapper (Lutjanus stellatus), black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), and two newly added species this year, yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) and red seabream (Pagrus major). The released juvenile fish are from reputable hatcheries and in good health, with their broodstock originating from Hong Kong or the nearby South China Sea. Restocking is a science-based approach of releasing appropriate species to their natural environment, allowing them to grow and reproduce. TPCMP, with its diverse habitats including artificial reefs, coral communities, natural rocky reefs and boulders, provides a favourable habitat for these juvenile fish. Commercial fishing has been banned in this marine park. The AFCD will conduct underwater surveys regularly to monitor the condition of the released fish and will continue to monitor the overall status of fishery resources in Hong Kong.

    The fish restocking exercise, supported by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, brought together about 150 students, representatives from religious groups, fishermen’s associations and green groups, etc. The AFCD will also arrange for the public and students to take part in other restocking exercises later this year, and strengthen collaboration with various groups to organise more educational activities for the public and schools, share information about restocking, as well as provide technical advice to groups interested in conducting restocking in local waters.

    The AFCD reminds the public to think carefully before participating in animal release activities to avoid affecting the ecological environment or causing unnecessary suffering to animals. The public may consider participating in science-based restocking or other charitable activities as alternatives to animal releases.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Analysis of the latest Mirai wave exploiting TBK DVR devices with CVE-2024-3721

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Analysis of the latest Mirai wave exploiting TBK DVR devices with CVE-2024-3721

    The abuse of known security flaws to deploy bots on vulnerable systems is a widely recognized problem. Many automated bots constantly search the web for known vulnerabilities in servers and devices connected to the internet, especially those running popular services. These bots often carry Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploits targeting HTTP services, allowing attackers to embed Linux commands within GET or POST requests.

    We recently observed the use of CVE-2024-3721 in attempts to deploy a bot in one of our honeypot services. This bot variant turned out to be part of the infamous Mirai botnet, targeting DVR-based monitoring systems. DVR devices are designed to record data from cameras, widely used by many manufacturers and can be managed remotely. In this article, we describe the new Mirai bot features and its revamped infection vector.

    Exploitation

    During a review of the logs in our Linux honeypot system, we noticed an unusual request line linked to a CVE-2024-3721. This vulnerability allows for the execution of system commands on TBK DVR devices without proper authorization as an entry point, using a specific POST request:

    The POST request contains a malicious command that is a single-line shell script which downloads and executes an ARM32 binary on the compromised machine.

    Typically, bot infections involve shell scripts that initially survey the target machine to determine its architecture and select the corresponding binary. However, in this case, since the attack is specifically targeted at devices that only support ARM32 binaries, the reconnaissance stage is unnecessary.

    Malware implant – Mirai variant

    The source code of the Mirai botnet was published on the internet nearly a decade ago, and since then, it has been adapted and modified by various cybercriminal groups to create large-scale botnets mostly focused on DDoS and resource hijacking.

    The DVR bot is also based on the Mirai source code but it includes different features as well, such as string encryption using RC4, anti-VM checks, and anti-emulation techniques. We’ve already covered Mirai in many posts, so we’ll focus on the new features of this specific variant.

    Data decryption

    The data decryption routine in this variant is implemented as a simple RC4 algorithm.

    The RC4 key is encrypted with XOR. After the key decryption, we were able to obtain its value: 6e7976666525a97639777d2d7f303177.

    The decrypted RC4 key is used to decrypt the strings. After each piece of data is decrypted, it is inserted into a vector of a custom DataDecrypted structure, which is a simple string list:

    Data decryption routine

    The global linked list with decrypted data is accessed whenever the malware needs particular strings.

    Adding decrypted strings to the global list

    Anti-VM and anti-emulation

    To detect if it is currently running inside a virtual machine or QEMU, the malware lists all processes until it finds any mention of VMware or QEMU-arm. Listing running processes is simply a matter of opening the /proc directory, which is the proc filesystem on Linux.

    Each process ID (PID) has its own folder containing useful information, such as cmdline, which describes the command used to start the process. Using this information, the malware verifies if there are any processes with VMware or QEMU-arm in their command line.

    Process check

    The implant also verifies if the bot process is running outside an expected directory, based on a hardcoded list of allowed ones:

    Allowed directories

    Once those checks are successfully completed, Mirai will continue normal execution, preparing the vulnerable device for receiving commands from the operator.

    Infection statistics

    According to our telemetry data, the majority of infected victims are located in countries such as China, India, Egypt, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and Brazil. It’s challenging to ascertain the exact number of vulnerable and infected devices globally. However, by analyzing public sources, we’ve identified over 50,000 exposed DVR devices online, indicating that attackers have numerous opportunities to target unpatched, vulnerable devices.

    Conclusion

    Exploiting known security flaws in IoT devices and servers that haven’t been patched, along with the widespread use of malware targeting Linux-based systems, leads to a significant number of bots constantly searching the internet for devices to infect.

    The main goal of such bots is to carry out attacks that overwhelm websites and services (DDoS attacks). Most of these bots don’t stay active after the device restarts because some device firmware doesn’t allow changes to the file system. To protect against infections like these, we recommend updating vulnerable devices as soon as security patches become available. Another thing to consider is a factory reset if your device is indeed vulnerable and exposed.

    All Kaspersky products detect the threat as HEUR:Backdoor.Linux.Mirai and HEUR:Backdoor.Linux.Gafgyt.

    Indicators of compromise

    Host-based (MD5 hashes)
    011a406e89e603e93640b10325ebbdc8
    24fd043f9175680d0c061b28a2801dfc
    29b83f0aae7ed38d27ea37d26f3c9117
    2e9920b21df472b4dd1e8db4863720bf
    3120a5920f8ff70ec6c5a45d7bf2acc8
    3c2f6175894bee698c61c6ce76ff9674
    45a41ce9f4d8bb2592e8450a1de95dcc
    524a57c8c595d9d4cd364612fe2f057c
    74dee23eaa98e2e8a7fc355f06a11d97
    761909a234ee4f1d856267abe30a3935
    7eb3d72fa7d730d3dbca4df34fe26274
    8a3e1176cb160fb42357fa3f46f0cbde
    8d92e79b7940f0ac5b01bbb77737ca6c
    95eaa3fa47a609ceefa24e8c7787bd99
    96ee8cc2edc8227a640cef77d4a24e83
    aaf34c27edfc3531cf1cf2f2e9a9c45b
    ba32f4eef7de6bae9507a63bde1a43aa
    IPs
    116.203.104[.]203
    130.61.64[.]122
    161.97.219[.]84
    130.61.69[.]123
    185.84.81[.]194
    54.36.111[.]116
    192.3.165[.]37
    162.243.19[.]47
    63.231.92[.]27
    80.152.203[.]134
    42.112.26[.]36

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on May 29, 2025 2025-06-06 Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    By Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND)

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

    Zhang Xiaogang: Friends from the media, good afternoon, welcome to this month’s regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China

    I have a piece of news to release at the top.

    The PLA National Defense University (NDU) sent a delegation to attend the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) upon invitation on May 29. The visit is scheduled till June 2, during which the delegation will also have exchanges with military and civilian units in Singapore.

    Journalist: Not long ago, the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was held in Beijing. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech. Could you please provide more details about military cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Recently, President Xi Jinping attended the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and delivered a keynote address. He summarized the best practices for developing China-LAC relations, and announced the launch of five programs of Solidarity, Development, Civilization, Peace and People-to-People Connectivity. In the speech, President Xi has charted the course for building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.

    China-LAC cooperation has withstood winds and rains, and transcended mountains and oceans across half a globe. The cooperation has bolstered economic growth and improved the livelihoods of the LAC region, bringing tangible benefits to the local people. In recent years, the Chinese and LAC militaries have had frequent high-level exchange, and conducted numerous working level meetings. Events such as the China-LAC States Defense Forum, China-LAC Military Medicine Forum and Seminar for Senior Military Officers from LAC Countries have been held multiple times. China-LAC defense cooperation has been productive, deepening our friendship and mutual trust. The Chinese side stands ready to work with the defense establishments and militaries of LAC countries to act on the Global Security Initiative, and deepen substantive cooperation in such areas as mutual visits, professional exchanges and personnel training. Together, we will promote sustained and solid progress in building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.

    Journalist: In his recent speech, Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan would continue to strengthen its defenses and avoid war by preparing for it. Will the PLA conduct military exercises as countermeasures as before?

    Zhang Xiaogang: As long as Lai Ching-te continues his provocations for “Taiwan independence”, there will be no tranquility in the Taiwan Strait and no stability for our Taiwan compatriots. We warn the DPP authorities that “Taiwan independence” separatists will come to no good end. The PLA will remain combat-ready at all times, enhance combat readiness, and safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Journalist: The US recently unveiled plans for the Golden Dome missile defense system, and announced that it would be completed in 3 years. May I have your comments on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The US presses ahead with the Golden Dome system and deploys space-based weapons, continuously expands its military build-up and stokes an arms race in outer space. Such acts violate relevant principles of the Outer Space Treaty, heighten the risk of turning the space into a war zone and triggering a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control regime. Its actions will once again open the Pandora’s box. This proves again that no country has done more than the US in militarizing the space and making it a battlefield. We urge the US side to stop expanding military build-up in space, and take concrete actions to uphold global strategic stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that Japan’s Defense Ministry recently announced that Chinese aircraft carrier PLANS Liaoning conducted take-off and landing operations of ship-borne aircraft in the East China Sea. Officials of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said that similar activities were conducted by Chinese aircraft carriers before, but this training occurred in waters closer to Japan. The Japanese Defense Ministry therefore decided to make it public and this is the first time for the Ministry to release such information. What’s your comment on this?

    The second question is that the US President Donald Trump recently said that the US was mass-producing hypersonic missiles. As one of the major countries that develop hypersonic technologies, how does the Chinese side view the impact on the global arms control regime caused by the US accelerating its deployment of such strategic weapons?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On the first question, the task fleet led by PLANS Liaoning conducted training in relevant waters, which does not target any specific country or entity and is in line with international law and practice. I think the Japanese side overreacted.

    On your second question, We pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, never engage in arms race with any other country, and are committed to global strategic stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that the US Carrier Strike Group led by USS Nimitz re-entered the South China Sea through the Singapore Strait on May 26 after its visit to Malaysia. What’s your comment on this?

    The second question is that reports suggest that the Indian side recovered an undetonated PL-15E air-air missile during the India-Pakistan conflict. Can you confirm this? Will this give the Indian side assess to relevant military technology?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, activities to flex its muscle and stir up troubles in the South China Sea will find no support. The Chinese side will firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

    On your second question, the type of missile you mentioned is for export and has also been exhibited in international and domestic defense expos multiple times.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first is the Commander of the US Army Pacific recently claimed that China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific had made the situation more dangerous. He said that no one would have imagined that Beijing would conduct drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan five years ago, but now such moves were commonplace. In addition, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command said that the Chinese side was conducting comprehensive exercises in preparation for recovering Taiwan and was increasingly active in other regions of the Pacific. May I have your comments on this?

    The second question is that according to Taiwan media reports, the DPP authorities have stepped up its procurement of the Patriot missiles, drawn personnel from its Marine Corps to form combat units for the “Greater Taipei Area”, and launched several drills on responses to the so-called “PLA attacks on Taiwan”. Public opinion in Taiwan believes that these actions are preparing for Lai Ching-te’s desertion in the face of war. Do you have any comment?

    Zhang Xiaogang: For your first question, Taiwan is part of China. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, which brooks no external interference. For the cross-Strait situation, there is no factor more destabilizing than the provocations made by the “Taiwan independence” separatists and the disruptions by foreign forces. It’s legitimate, necessary, lawful and justified for the Chinese side to take actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the US side to stop fanning the flames on the Taiwan question. Such behaviors would only backfire.

    For your second question. Don’t be fooled by Lai Ching-te’s reckless provocations now. When the day comes, people like him will be the first to run away. For the PLA, defeating military elements of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces is like shooting fish in a barrel. Those notorious separatists have no chance to escape.

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Journalist: I have two questions. Firstly, you just announced that the PLA NDU sent a delegation to attend this year’s SLD. Why didn’t the Chinese side send higher level military officials to attend the dialogue? The US Department of Defense has already announced its attendance at the dialogue, and said that the US was a more credible regional partner than China. What’s your comment on that? My second question is that this year marks the 80th year of the World Anti-Fascist War. Many European countries have held celebrations commemorating this victory. September 3rd marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Many people are expecting the Chinese side to hold a military parade to commemorate this anniversary. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, China consistently engages in constructive dialogues to articulate our vision and initiatives. We are committed to enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation through these exchanges, contributing Chinese wisdom to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The PLA NDU delegation attending this year’s SLD will have in-depth exchanges with participating parties to build more consensus.

    As for the second question, I have no information to release here.

    Journalist: What is the Chinese Ministry of National Defense’s assessment on the equipment supplied by the Chinese military to Pakistan in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan? An Indian official said that China provided satellite and air defense systems for Pakistan, but these systems performed below average. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Pakistan and India are neighbors who cannot move away from each other. We call on the both sides to keep calm, exercise restraint and avoid complicating the situation. China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

    Journalist: It’s reported that US Defense Secretary recently said that the US side would build up its military to meet China’s “threat” at every turn, and counter China in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Commander of the US Army Pacific said that the US army was building agile new units in response to potential conflicts with China. What’s your comment on

    Zhang Xiaogang: Conflict and confrontation should not be the choice of either side. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the right way for China and the US to deal with each other. The US side should stop conjuring up a powerful enemy for itself whether intentionally or unintentionally. Such imagination is not rational and extremely dangerous. The Chinese military will make all-out efforts to enhance our combat readiness, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

    Journalist: Some US and Israeli media outlets call on the US to stop its military assistance to Egypt, because of Egypt’s close cooperation with China. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: China-Egypt cooperation is not aimed at any third party, nor will it be interfered by any third party. The Chinese and Egyptian militaries will continue to deepen friendship, mutual trust and practical cooperation.

    Journalist: As China’s first aircraft carrier with catapult system, PLANS Fujian is undergoing a series of intensive sea trials. What kind of signal does that send out?

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Zhang Xiaogang: The sea trial is a necessary part for the construction of aircraft carriers. PLANS Fujian will conduct relevant tests as planned.

    Journalist: According to a satellite image revealed last week, H-6 bombers and a KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft were seen on Yongxing Dao of Xisha Qundao. What is the purpose of this deployment? Some experts suggest that it is to send signals to the Philippines and Vietnam. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: I am not aware of the information you mentioned. I want to emphasize that the Xisha Qundao is an inherent part of the Chinese territory. We oppose the hype about relevant military activities.

    Journalist: An African Young Officers Delegation visited China recently. Some commentary regarded the trip as one that combines culture, technology and friendship. Could you please provide more details on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The African Young Officers Delegation concluded its 10-day visit to China on May 15. During the visit, nearly a hundred military officers from over 40 African countries, including Egypt, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya, came to cities such as Beijing, Changsha and Shaoshan. They visited military units, academies and high-tech enterprises, attended themed lectures and seminars, toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China and the former residence of Comrade Mao Zedong, and had in-depth exchanges with their Chinese counterparts. Members of the delegation expressed how impressive and inspiring this visit was. This is the 4th African Young Officers Delegation invited to China by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. This visit deepened the traditional friendship between the Chinese and African militaries, and advanced the building of an All-weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first one is that the US Indo-Pacific Commander reportedly said that China was outpacing the US in the production of warships and other equipment. He said that the rates of changes on the depth and breadth of PLA’s exercises was what kept him up at night. May I have your comments on this?

    The second question is that it’s reported that China’s third large hospital ship PLANS Ark Auspicious has been commissioned, marking the deployment of large ocean-going hospital ship to the Eastern Theater Command, South Theater Command and North Theater Command respectively. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question, China does not engage in arms race with any other country. We develop our military to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests and to bring stability and positive energy to global peace and security.

    On your second question, PLANS Ark Auspicious is the third 10,000-ton-class ocean-going hospital ship domestically designed and built by China. It features a combat-oriented layout and is equipped with advanced medical equipment. PLANS Ark Auspicious, together with Ark Peace and Ark Silk Road, not only forms the backbone of medical support on the sea, but also executes tasks of international humanitarian medical services, emergency medical rescue in major disasters, and foreign exchanges and cooperation on military medicine. PLAN hospital ships will help the Chinese military materialize the vision of building a maritime community with a shared future and offer the world more public security goods of higher quality.

    Journalist: Does the Chinese delegation plan to meet with any other delegations on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue? Is there any planned meeting with the US delegation?

    Zhang Xiaogang: Regarding this, we will release information in due course. The Chinese side values our defense relations with the US military and is open to communications at different levels. We hope the US side will earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, work with us in the same direction, and promote the steady and sound development of military-to-military relations.

    Journalist: Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun recently visited France and Germany, and attended the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial. Please provide further details about this.

    Zhang Xiaogang:Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun led a delegation to visit France and Germany and attend the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin from May 11 to 17. Minister Dong held talks with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius respectively. The leaders had an in-depth exchange of view on international and regional issues of mutual interests, and reached consensus on strengthening substantive engagements and cooperation between the Chinese and French and the Chinese and German militaries. Minister Dong also met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix on the sidelines of the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial. In his speech delivered at the conference, Minister Dong emphasized that the Chinese side will work with different parties to act on the Global Security Initiative, uphold the core position of the UN, redouble efforts on the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs), support the training of professional peacekeepers, optimize the composition and capabilities of Chinese Peacekeeping Standby Force, advance continuous innovation of UNPKOs, and contribute more to UNPKOs.

    Journalist: Lately, official new media accounts of PLA theater commands and services and arms have been opened on the ‘China Bugle” app. What’s your comment on that?

    Zhang Xiaogang: China Bugle is the mobile flagship platform of information release launched by the PLA News Media Center. As of now, the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the PAP, as well as the PLA Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern and Central Theater Commands have opened their official new media accounts on this app. This demonstrates the deep integration of different forms of military media, and provides an important channel for the public to learn about defense and military development in an all-round manner. Going forward, more military units and media outlets will join the “China Bugle” app to form an integrated new media platform for military news.

    Journalist: The draft of the Japanese defense ministry’s Defense White Paper 2025 was revealed. The draft claims that China is ramping up its nuclear, missile, maritime and aviation capabilities; that PLA’s activities near Taiwan demonstrate that Beijing is trying to improve its combat capabilities; and strengthened China-Russia military cooperation is a concern for Japan. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: In the draft of its Defense White Paper, the Japanese side repeats its irresponsible comments about China’s military development, and points fingers at China’s legitimate military activities and external military cooperation. We are strongly opposed to this. This year marks the 80th year of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At this special historical juncture, it’s even more important for Japan to reflect on its behaviors, instead of making unfounded smears and accusations against others. We urge the Japanese side to follow the path of peaceful development, act prudently in the domain of military and security, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the international community with concrete actions.

    Journalist: Head of Taiwan’s defense authorities Koo Li-hsiung reportedly said in an interview that US forces and alliances across Asia was crucial for holding Beijing in check. He also expressed hope for the US to expedite arms sales to Taiwan to help Taiwan address military threats from China.What’s your comments on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no interference. We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and greatest effort. However, should the “Taiwan independence” separatists make provocations, challenge our bottom lines, or even cross the red lines, we will have to take decisive measures. The US side supports “Taiwan independence” separatists through arms sales. Such acts are self-defeating and will push Taiwan into the abyss of war.

    Journalist: Recently, the Chinese and Cambodian militaries successfully held the Golden Dragon 2025 joint exercise. Please provide more details.

    Zhang Xiaogang: The Chinese and Cambodian armed forces conducted the Golden Dragon 2025 joint exercise in Kampong Chhnang Province and the airspace and waters off the Sihanoukville Port from May 14 to 28. As the 7th iteration of the Golden Dragon series, this year’s exercise has three highlights. First, it focused on counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance operations, conducting drills on relevant subjects. Second, the China-Cambodia Joint Support and Training Center at Port Ream provided support for drills on the sea for the first time. Air force helicopters took part in the exercise for the first time. Land, naval, air and joint logistic support components from both sides conducted drills together. Third, the exercise consisted of two parts: naval & air operations and ground & air operations. Participating troops were organized into mixed groups to learn from each other during tactical training and comprehensive drills, which helped to enhance command coordination and emergency response capabilities of the two sides. During the joint exercise, the PLA contingent also donated school supplies and provided free medical services to the local community. China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries, and make greater contributions to building a China-Cambodia All-weather Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, and to preserving regional security and stability.

    Journalist: The Philippine Coast Guard said that the Coast Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Coast Guard conducted a joint patrol in waters off Palawan, which reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to maritime security and the “rule-based international order”. What’s your comment on this?

    Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), answers questions at a regular press conference on the afternoon of May 29, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

    Zhang Xiaogang: At present, the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable. The freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to all countries under international law has never been an issue. Some countries provoke confrontation in the name of cooperation, flex muscles under the guise of freedom, and create chaos with the pretext of order. They have become the biggest source of risks that undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea. We urge relevant countries to stop ganging up and stirring up troubles in the South China Sea, and stop harming regional peace and stability.

    Journalist: I have two questions. The first question is about the PLA aircraft carrier Liaoning and its task fleet. They are currently off the southeast coast of Taiwan. The Taiwan authority said that they have taken joint intelligence means to monitor relevant operations throughout the whole process. Some people suggest that the PLA will probably conduct military exercises before or after the Dragon Boat Festival. Can you confirm whether the PLA has relevant plans? My second question. According to media reports, the CIA is about to release its annual report, suggesting that the Chinese mainland poses the greatest threat to the world and increasing menace against Taiwan. It also said that the rapid modernization of the PLA would prevent the US from entering the Pacific. What’s your comment on this?

    Zhang Xiaogang: On your first question. Relevant military activities organized by the PLA recently are routine arrangements according to our annual training plan.

    On your second question, as we all know, China is unwavering in our commitment to peace, development and international order. The biggest threat to the current cross-Strait situation comes from separatist activities for “Taiwan independence” and support from foreign forces. If relevant countries truly care about stability in the Taiwan Strait, they should abide by the one-China principle and unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence”.

    If there are no other questions, this concludes today’s press conference. Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government’s new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government’s new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect

    Government bans unfair bonuses for water companies that don’t meet high standards

    • Unfair bonuses now banned for water companies that don’t meet high standards.  

    • Water bosses awarded themselves over £112 million in bonuses and incentive payments in the last decade.  

    • Strengthened enforcement is just one part of the Government’s strategy to reform the water sector and attract investment as part of its Plan for Change.  

    Unfair bonuses have been banned for senior executives at six water companies, as new measures in the Water (Special Measures) Act come into force today (Friday, 6th June).  

    The government is clear that transformative change across the water sector is needed to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas, and modernise the sector for decades to come.  

    Under new rules, companies are not permitted to pay bonuses to water bosses that oversee poor environmental and customer outcomes. This delivers on a key manifesto commitment and has been backdated to apply to any bonuses relating to the financial year from April last year.  

    This applies to Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities, and Southern Water, where bosses are not permitted to receive bonuses with immediate effect.  

    Water companies have awarded over £112 million in bonuses and incentives over the last decade. Last year alone, £7.6 million in bonuses were paid to water bosses in England. 

    It’s crucial that companies attract the best talent to deliver essential upgrades to the water system. Companies that do meet Ofwat’s standards will still be eligible to pay executives bonuses – a powerful incentive for them to deliver immediate environmental improvements, better customer outcomes, and improve financial resilience.  

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:      

    Water company bosses, like anyone else, should only get bonuses if they’ve performed well, certainly not if they’ve failed to tackle water pollution.  

    Undeserved bonuses will now be banned as part of the Government’s plan to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. 

    Promise made, promise delivered. 

    Today’s ban holds water bosses to account and ensures they can no longer cash in while their companies pollute rivers, neglect customers, or mismanage finances.  

    Strengthened enforcement is just one part of the government’s strategy to reform the water sector, which also includes working with the companies and their investors to make the water industry one of growth and opportunity, attracting investment and ensuring its stable financial footing for years to come. 

    The government is determined to reform the sector in a way that continues to attract high quality, long-term investors to rebuild our water infrastructure. Following the publication of the Independent Water Commission’s interim report, Ministers will look at proposals carefully, and outline further action in due course. 

    While it is for water companies to set their own remuneration, new standards published by Ofwat that come into force today mean bonuses will not be permitted be handed out in specific cases when a water company:   

    • Fails to meet core environmental standards and presides over serious pollution offences 

    • Fails to meet basic financial resilience standards (e.g. meet minimum credit rating requirements)    

    • Fails to meet core consumer standards (e.g. failure to operate and maintain sewage networks)   

    • Is convicted of a criminal offence (e.g. criminal convictions for serious environmental failings including illegal spills)   

    Under new rules published by Ofwat today, any company failing to meet key standards will automatically lose the right to award bonuses. If a company pays a bonus while banned, Ofwat has the powers under the Water (Special Measures) Act to direct the company to claw back the money. Any company that does not comply with Ofwat’s directions will face enforcement action. 

    To further protect customers and clean up our waterways, the government has secured a record £104 billion of private investment – the largest ever since privatisation to cut sewage discharges by nearly half over the next five years. This money will now be ringfenced for new pipes and treatment works, not shareholder payouts.  

    Notes to editors  

    • The table below outlines companies’ compliance on current information. 

    • It is up to individual water companies to determine appropriate financial rewards. Ofwat will consider action required once water companies publish their remuneration decisions in their annual reports for the 2024-25 financial year.

    ANNEX A: Companies affected by the ban:

    Water company Consumer standards Environment standards Financial resilience Criminal offence Subject to ban? Details of criteria
    Anglian Water Fail – 1 incident CEO bonus banned* Cat.1 data in Annex C
    Northumbrian Water Company can pay bonuses
    Severn Trent Company can pay bonuses
    Southern Water Fail – 1 incident CEO and CFO bonus banned Cat.1 data in Annex C
    South West Water Company can pay bonuses
    Thames Water Fail – 7 incidents Fail – April 2024 CEO and CFO bonus banned Thames Water Utilities Limited (‘Thames Water’) – undertakings under Section 19 – Ofwat
    United Utilities Fail – 1 incident CEO & CFO bonus banned Cat.1 data in Annex C
    Wessex Water Fail – 1 Conviction CFO bonus banned** Wessex Water fined £500,000 for sewage killing thousands of fish – GOV.UK
    Yorkshire Water Fail – S94 Breach Fail – 1 incident CEO & CFO bonus banned Yorkshire Water to pay £40m enforcement package following Ofwat wastewater investigation – Ofwat

    *Anglian Water’s CFO is not subject to the ban because they were not in post for the Cat.1 incident. Their CEO was in post during the Cat.1 incident and therefore faces a ban.   

    **Wessex Water’s CEO is not subject to the ban because they were not in post for the criminal offence that triggers the ban.

    ANNEX B: Total CEO/CFO bonuses paid by water companies in England (in thousands)

    Water company 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Total
    Anglian Water 1,482 1,798 1,569 3,429 3,234 713 2,222 1,152 1,291 95 16,984
    United Utilities 3,227 2,942 2,284 2,247 2,733 2,733 3,138 2,763 2,377 1,366 25,810
    Northumbrian Water 597 484 595 479 384 269 259 214 311 315 3,907
    Southern Water 757* 427 187 756 645 815 842 669 – 312 5,410
    Severn Trent Water 3,367 2,294 2,978 1,788 2,201 2,674 2,777 4,471 3,413 3,309 29,271
    South West Water 556 832 640 259 521 984 1,230 755 362 470 6,609
    Thames Water 2,432 609 203 807 448 937 538 794 – 770 7,538
    Wessex Water 236 353 482 552 485 – 640 651 459 387 4,246
    Yorkshire Water 2,305 1,288 1,588 631 1,547 1,666 1,568 1,122 571 616 12,902
    Total 14,959 11,027 10,526 10,948 12,197 10,791 13,213 12,591 8,784 7,639 112,676

    *Long Term Incentive Plan value for Southern Water is a four-year figure, from 2011-15. Since there was no annual breakdown for 2014/15, the LTIP value has been divided by 4.

    ANNEX C: Category 1 incidents

    Water company Number of Category 1 incidents Date Location
    Anglian Water 1 September 2024 Peterborough
    Southern Water 1 August 2024 New Forest District
    Thames Water 7 January 2024 Three Rivers District
    January 2024 Chiltern District
    February 2024 Slough
    April 2024 Enfield London Borough
    April 2024 Sevenoaks District
    November 2024 Reigate and Banstead District
    December 2024 Runnymede District
    Yorkshire Water 1 December 2024 Kirklees District
    United Utilities 1 December 2024 Bolton

    Quotes

    Ali Plummer, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 

    Bonuses should reflect excellence, not routine negligence and widespread environmental degradation. Our rivers and wildlife continue to suffer because companies have repeatedly prioritised profit over public health and nature protection. Removing bonuses if high standards aren’t met, is a welcome first step from Ofwat. 

    This must be backed up with strong resources for environmental regulators to ensure this is enforced.

    Ben Seal, Head of Access & Environment, Paddle UK, said:

    When something so precious as our nations water is on the line, public outrage at water executives pocketing big bonuses for failing to prevent pollution, is entirely justified.  

    It is positive to see the steps taken through the new Water Special Measures Act beginning to take effect. Let’s hope that blocking the payment of these bonuses is just another means of helping focus minds on driving up environmental performance, rather than prioritising profit. 

    Mark Lloyd, CEO, The Rivers Trust, said:

    The fact that water company bosses will no longer be rewarded for poor environmental performance is a significant moment in rebuilding public trust. It’s great to see the environment being valued as it should be, and that the personal responsibility of water industry leaders in looking after the environment is being recognised. 

    The measures announced today tackle the most serious pollution incidents, but we still need to be aware that the vast majority of pollution comes from smaller, more insidious events which, in combination, can cause far greater harm to our rivers.

    Ali Morse, Water Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said:  

    This is a change that’s important to billpayers. Customers don’t think it’s right that senior staff are rewarded whilst our rivers and seas bear the brunt of poor water sector performance. No one is under any illusions that this alone will significantly ease pressure on household bills, or make good the harms caused to the environment already; it’s more a point of principle – that even a single incident can result in a bonus ban –  and, along with other recent changes, sends a strong signal to the industry that it must do more to prioritise the health of the environment upon which its business relies.

    Deborah Meaden, Businesswoman, entrepreneur and Dragons Den Investor, said:

    This is a very welcome step as part of the battle to better protect our waters and waterways. Bonuses should rightly be focused on constantly improving water quality in our seas and rivers, not just to stop the damage but actually repair and restore.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai hosts state banquet for President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  
    On the morning of June 5, President Lai Ching-te welcomed with full military honors President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife, who are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. In remarks, President Lai noted that over the past few years, bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has grown closer and more diverse, and said that moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, we will continue to promote programs in line with international trends, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. The military honors ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office. After a 21-gun salute and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, President Lai and President Arévalo each delivered remarks. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Last year, our two countries celebrated the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, providing mutual support all along the way. Especially over the past few years, bilateral cooperation has grown closer and more diverse. We have a long record of remarkable results, whether in terms of medicine and public health, education and culture, technological cooperation, or economic and trade exchanges. Moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote programs in line with international trends. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation for young people, as well as scholarship programs, and actively cultivate high-tech and information and communications technology industry talent, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. Although separated by a great distance, the peoples of both countries are closely connected by their ideals and values. I am confident that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will become closer and more diverse, beginning a very promising new chapter. I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he is honored to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan), this beautiful nation, and to receive full military honors, which reflects the mutual respect between our two nations as well as our solid friendship. Especially as this state visit comes as we celebrate 90 years of formal diplomatic ties, he said, he has brought the foreign minister, economics minister, private secretary to the president, and social communication secretary as members of his delegation, in the hope of our ties embarking on a new chapter. President Arévalo said that Guatemala-Taiwan ties have in recent years been growing steadily on a foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation, making significant progress, and that our peoples have also cultivated sincere friendships and cooperative relationships across many fields. Our nations are especially promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, he said, key fields which are conducive to economic and social development. He expressed his hope that on such good foundations of the past, we can further strengthen our bilateral ties for the future. President Arévalo stated that through this state visit they not only want to reaffirm the good bilateral ties between our nations, but that they also hope to define a trajectory for the future of our cooperation in the direction of expanding economic cooperation, building economic and trade alliances, and facilitating investment to foster a Taiwan-Guatemala relationship that benefits both peoples. He then expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for helping Guatemala over the past 90 years and reaffirmed the unwavering support of Guatemala for the Republic of China (Taiwan). On the occasion of this visit, he said, he hopes to extend a friendly hand to the people of Taiwan, adding that he looks forward to our nations continuing to take major steps forward on the road of mutual assistance and prosperity. Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  
    At noon on June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, conferred a decoration upon President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and hosted a state banquet for President Heine and her husband at the Presidential Office. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations and speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. He also expressed hope for Taiwan and the Marshall Islands to work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges, and that together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. At the decoration ceremony, President Lai personally conferred the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on President Heine before delivering remarks, a translation of which follows:  The Marshall Islands was the first Pacific ally that I visited after taking office as president. When I arrived there, I was immediately drawn to its beautiful scenery. And I received a very warm welcome from the local people. This gesture showed the profound friendship between our two nations. I was truly touched. I also remember trying your nation’s special Bob Whisky for the first time. The flavor was as unique and impressive as the landscape of the Marshall Islands.  In addition to welcoming our distinguished guests today, we also presented President Heine with the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to thank President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations, and for staunchly speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. Both I and the people of Taiwan are profoundly grateful to President Heine for her friendship and support. Over the past few years, cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown ever closer. And this visit by our distinguished guests will allow our two countries to further expand areas of bilateral exchange. I have always believed that only through mutual assistance and trust can two countries build a longstanding and steadfast partnership. I once again convey my sincere aspiration that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges. Together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. In closing, I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for leading this delegation to Taiwan, which deepens the foundations of our bilateral relationship. May our two nations enjoy a long and enduring friendship. President Heine then delivered remarks, stating that she felt especially privileged to receive the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and humbly accepted the honor with the utmost gratitude, humility, and deep responsibility. This is a deep responsibility, she said, because she understands that since its inception in 1933, this order has been bestowed upon a select few. She then thanked President Lai for this great honor. President Heine stated that the banquet was not just a celebration of our bilateral friendship, but a true reflection of the generosity of the Taiwan spirit and a testament to the enduring ties between our nations, founded on shared values and aspirations, including a respect for the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and a deep commitment to democracy. President Heine stated that the Taiwan-Marshall Islands partnership continues to evolve through practical cooperation and mutual support. In recent years, she said, our countries have worked hand in hand across a range of vital sectors, including the recent opening of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telehealth Center and the ongoing and successful Taiwan Health Center, various technical training and scholarship programs, and various climate change adaptation projects in renewable energy, coastal resilience, and sustainable agriculture.   President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands continues to be a proud and vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations. Taiwan’s exclusion from these platforms, she said, is not only unjust, but is bad for the world, and the global community needs Taiwan’s voice and expertise.  President Heine also expressed sincere appreciation to all of the Taiwanese friends who have contributed their efforts to deepening bilateral relations, including government officials, healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and volunteers. The people of the Marshall Islands, she said, deeply appreciate and value everyone’s efforts and service. President Heine said that as we celebrate our partnership, let us look to the future with hope and determination, continue to work together, learn from one another, and support one another to champion a world where all nations can chart their own course based on peace and international law. Also attending the state banquet were Marshall Islands Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Finance David Paul, Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chairperson Joe Bejang, and Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai and President Hilda C. Heine of Marshall Islands hold bilateral talks and witness signing of agreements
    On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Presidential Office following a welcome ceremony with military honors for her and her husband. The leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government and the Nitijela (parliament) of the Marshall Islands for their longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation and for voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. President Lai said that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to deepen its diplomatic partnership with the Marshall Islands and build an even closer cooperative relationship across a range of fields, engaging in mutual assistance for mutual benefits and helping each other achieve joint and prosperous development to yield even greater well-being for our peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I once again warmly welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and our guests to Taiwan. During my visit to the Marshall Islands last year, I said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family. When Vice President Hsiao and I took office last year, President Heine led a delegation to Taiwan. It is now one year since our inauguration, and I am delighted to see President Heine once again, just as if I were seeing family arrive from afar. Through my visit to the Marshall Islands, I gained a profound sense of the friendship between the peoples of our two nations, well-demonstrated by bilateral exchanges in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. And it is thanks to President Heine’s longstanding support for Taiwan that our countries have been able to further advance collaboration on even more issues, including women’s empowerment and climate change. In recent years, the geopolitical and economic landscape has changed rapidly. We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to deepen our partnership and build an even closer cooperative relationship. In just a few moments, President Heine and I will witness the signing of several documents, including a memorandum of understanding and a letter of intent, to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as sports, education, and transportation. Taiwan will take concrete action to work with the Marshall Islands and advance mutual prosperity and development, writing a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the government and Nitijela of the Marshall Islands. In recent years, the Nitijela has passed annual resolutions backing Taiwan’s international participation, and President Heine and Marshallese cabinet members have been some of the strongest advocates for Taiwan’s international participation, voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. Building on the pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, Taiwan will continue to work with the Marshall Islands and other like-minded countries to deepen our partnerships, engage in mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and help one another achieve joint and prosperous development. I have every confidence that the combined efforts of our two nations will yield even greater well-being for our peoples and see us make even more contributions to the world. President Heine then delivered remarks, and began by conveying warm greetings of iokwe from the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She said she was deeply honored to be in Taiwan for an official visit, and extended appreciation to President Lai and his government for their gracious invitation and warm welcome. President Heine stated that this year marks 27 years of diplomatic ties between our two nations, and that they are proud of this enduring friendship. This special and enduring relationship, she said, is grounded in our shared Austronesian heritage, and strengthened by mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems and our steadfast commitment to the core values of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. President Heine stated that Taiwan’s continued support has been invaluable to the people and national development of the Marshall Islands, particularly in the areas of health, education, agriculture, and climate change. She also expressed deep appreciation to Taiwan for providing Marshallese students with opportunities to study in Taiwan, and for the care extended to Marshallese who travel here for medical treatment. President Heine also announced that she would be presenting a copy of a resolution by the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands reiterating their appreciation for the support provided by the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and calling on the United Nations to take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people from the UN system. She added that she looked forward to the bilateral discussions later that day, and to continuing the important work that both countries carry out together. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Heine witnessed the signing of a letter of intent regarding sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft, marking the formal beginning of Taiwan-Marshall Islands air transport cooperation. The visiting delegation also included Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair Joe Bejang. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai welcomes President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands with military honors  
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and her husband on the morning of June 3 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. The president said that over our 27 years of diplomatic relations, our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. And moving ahead, he said, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Heine each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great pleasure to welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. When I traveled to the Marshall Islands on a state visit last December, I was received with great warmth and courtesy. I once again thank President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share Austronesian cultural traditions, and we are like-minded friends. Throughout our 27 years of diplomatic relations, we have always engaged with each other in a spirit of reciprocal trust and mutual assistance. Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. This is President Heine’s first state visit to Taiwan since taking office for a second time. We look forward to engaging our esteemed guests in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern. And moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with the Marshall Islands across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. In closing, I thank President Heine, First Gentleman Kijiner, and their entire delegation for visiting Taiwan. I wish you all a pleasant and successful trip.  A transcript of President Heine’s remarks follows: Your Excellency President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, honorable members of the cabinet, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings of iokwe on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I wish to also convey my appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, for the hospitality and very warm welcome – kommol tata. This visit marks my seventh official state visit to this beautiful country. It’s a testament to my strong commitment to further deepening ties between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan). During this visit, I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with Your Excellency President Lai to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two nations and our peoples.  For over a quarter-century, Taiwan has been a strong ally and friend to the Marshall Islands. Our partnership has thrived across many sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. Through Taiwan’s generous support and collaboration, we have made significant progress in improving the lives of our people, empowering our communities, and fostering sustainable growth. The Marshall Islands deeply values our partnership with Taiwan and appreciates Taiwan’s support over the years. Despite our small size and limited voice on the global stage, the Marshall Islands deeply cherishes our friendship with Taiwan, and to that end, I wish to reaffirm my government’s commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In light of current constraints in global affairs, it is now more urgent than ever that the international community of nations recognize the fundamental rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people and recognize Taiwan’s aspiration to engage fully in global affairs. It is with this in mind that I wish to reiterate to Your Excellency President Lai, the Taiwanese people, and the world that under my government, Marshall Islands will continue to acknowledge Taiwan’s contribution on the global stage and urge like-minded countries to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in the international arena. In closing, may I once again extend our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for your warm welcome.  Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-05-29
    President Lai attends 2025 Europe Day Dinner
    On the evening of May 29, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2025 Europe Day Dinner. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan looks forward to further establishing institutionalized mechanisms with Europe for our trade and investment ties and hopes to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. The president said that Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains, and noted that Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it is in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. He expressed hope to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: Chairman [Henry] Chang (張瀚書), thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your second term. I’m confident that under your leadership, the ECCT [European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan] will build even more bridges for cooperation between Taiwan and Europe. I would also like to thank EETO [European Economic and Trade Office] Head [Lutz] Güllner and all the European country representatives stationed in Taiwan. Your hard work over the years has helped deepen Taiwan-Europe relations and brought about such fruitful cooperation. Thank you. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. In 1950, then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to create a European federation dedicated to preserving peace. The declaration symbolized a new flowering in the post-war era of democracy, unity, and cooperation. As we face the geopolitical challenges and drastic economic changes of today’s world, the Schuman Declaration still speaks to us profoundly. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with our democratic partners, and will join hands with Europe to build a partnership of even greater resilience and mutual trust. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner. It is also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Last year, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Europe totaled US$84.7 billion. This demonstrates our vibrant economic and trade ties and reflects the high levels of confidence our businesses have in each other’s markets and systems. We look forward to Taiwan and Europe further establishing institutionalized mechanisms for our trade and investment ties. And we hope to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the EU, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. Today’s Taiwan has an internationally recognized democracy and a semiconductor industry vital to global security and prosperity. This enables us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic supply chains and the economic order. In particular, we see supply chains dominated by a new authoritarian bloc expanding their influence through non-market mechanisms, price subsidies, and monopolies on resources, as they seek global control of critical technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Their actions not only distort principles of market fairness, but also threaten the international community’s basic expectations for democracy, the rule of law, and corporate responsibility. In response, Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains. We will also introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. This is more than a proposal for economic cooperation; it is an alliance of shared values and advanced technology. Security in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability have always been issues of mutual interest for Taiwan and Europe. So here today, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to thank the EU and European nations for continuing to take concrete actions in public support of peace and stability across the strait. Such actions are vital to regional security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster itself to achieve real peace through strength, and will work with democratic partners to safeguard freedom and democracy, thereby showing our determination for regional peace. At this critical time, Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it’s in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. I look forward to our joining hands at this strategic juncture to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. Also in attendance at the event was British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Musk-Trump breakup puts $22 billion of SpaceX contracts at risk, jolting US space program

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    About $22 billion of SpaceX’s government contracts are at risk and multiple U.S. space programs could face dramatic changes in the fallout from Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s explosive feud on Thursday.

    The disagreement, rooted in Musk’s criticism of Trump’s tax-cut and spending legislation that began last week, quickly spiraled out of control. Trump lashed out at Musk when the president spoke in the Oval Office. Then in a series of X posts, Musk launched barbs at Trump, who threatened to terminate government contracts with Musk’s companies.

    Taking the threat seriously, Musk said he would begin “decommissioning” SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft used by NASA.

    Hours later, however, Musk appeared to reverse course. Responding to a follower on X urging him and Trump to “cool off and take a step back for a couple of days,” Musk wrote: “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”

    Still, Musk’s mere threat to abruptly pull its Dragon spacecraft out of service marked an unprecedented outburst from one of NASA’s leading commercial partners.

    Under a roughly $5 billion contract, the Dragon capsule has been the agency’s only U.S. vessel capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station, making Musk’s company a critical element of the U.S. space program.

    The feud raised questions about how far Trump, an often unpredictable force who has intervened in past procurement efforts, would go to punish Musk, who until last week headed Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal government.

    If the president prioritized political retaliation and canceled billions of dollars of SpaceX contracts with NASA and the Pentagon, it could slow U.S. space progress.

    NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens declined to comment on SpaceX, but said: “We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the president’s objectives in space are met.”

    Musk and Trump’s tussle ruptured an extraordinary relationship between a U.S. president and industry titan that had yielded some key favors for SpaceX: a proposed overhaul of NASA’s moon program into a Mars program, a planned effort to build a gigantic missile defense shield in space, and the naming of an Air Force leader who favored SpaceX in a contract award.

    Taking Dragon out of service would likely disrupt the ISS program, which involves dozens of countries under a two-decade-old international agreement. But it was unclear how quickly such a decommissioning would occur. NASA uses Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft as a secondary ride for its astronauts to the ISS.

    SPACEX’S RISE

    SpaceX rose to dominance long before Musk’s foray into Republican politics last year, building formidable market share in the rocket launch and satellite communications industries that could shield it somewhat from Musk’s split with Trump, analysts said.

    “It fortunately wouldn’t be catastrophic, since SpaceX has developed itself into a global powerhouse that dominates most of the space industry, but there’s no question that it would result in significant lost revenue and missed contract opportunities,” said Justus Parmar, CEO of SpaceX investor Fortuna Investments.

    Under Trump in recent months, the U.S. space industry and NASA’s workforce of 18,000 have been whipsawed by looming layoffs and proposed budget cuts that would cancel dozens of science programs, while the U.S. space agency remains without a confirmed administrator.

    Trump’s nominee for NASA administrator, Musk ally and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, appeared to be an early casualty of Musk’s rift with the president when the White House abruptly removed him from consideration over the weekend, denying Musk his pick to lead the space agency.

    Trump on Thursday explained dumping Isaacman by saying he was “totally Democrat,” in an apparent reference to reports Isaacman had donated to Democrats. Isaacman has donated to some Republican but mostly Democratic candidates for office, according to public records.

    Musk’s quest to send humans to Mars has been a critical element of Trump’s space agenda. The effort has threatened to take resources away from NASA’s flagship effort to send humans back to the moon.

    Trump’s budget plan sought to cancel Artemis moon missions beyond its third mission, effectively ending the over-budget Space Launch System rocket used for those missions.

    But the Senate Commerce Committee version of Trump’s bill released late on Thursday would restore funding for missions four and five, providing at least $1 billion annually for SLS through 2029.

    Since SpaceX’s rockets are a less expensive alternative to SLS, whether the Trump administration opposes the Senate’s changes in the coming weeks will give an indication of Musk’s remaining political power.

    SpaceX, founded in 2002, has won $15 billion of contracts from NASA for the company’s Falcon 9 rockets and development of SpaceX’s Starship, a multipurpose rocket system tapped to land NASA astronauts on the moon this decade.

    The company has also been awarded billions of dollars to launch a majority of the Pentagon’s national security satellites into space while it builds a massive spy satellite constellation in orbit for a U.S. intelligence agency.

    In addition to not being in U.S. interests, former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said canceling SpaceX’s contracts would probably not be legal.

    But she also added, “A rogue CEO threatening to decommission spacecraft, putting astronauts’ lives at risk, is untenable.”

    (Reuters) 

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, State Sen. Riccelli, MultiCare CEO & Local Providers Raise Alarm Over Republican Health Care Cuts in Eastern and Central WA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    NEW: 16 million could lose health insurance under GOP bill, CBO finds

    ***WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hosted a virtual press conference laying out how the budget reconciliation bill that Republicans passed through the House of Representatives on May 22nd  will be devastating for Washington state’s health care system and the 1.9 million people across Washington state who rely on Apple Health, as well as the more than 270,000 Washingtonians who access coverage through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder. Joining Senator Murray for the press conference were Washington State Senator Marcus Riccelli (LD-3), MultiCare Inland Northwest and Yakima Senior Vice President Alex Jackson, Navigation and Engagement Supervisor at Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, Alex Cordova, and Julie Sparkman, a home care provider in Spokane and member of SEIU 775.  

    The Republican legislation would cut more than $1 trillion from America’s health care system and is the largest cut to Medicaid in history. Updated estimates released yesterday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that Republicans’ legislation will kick 16 million people off their health insurance—between the drastic cuts to Medicaid and the sabotage of the Affordable Care Act and refusal to expand tax credits Democrats passed to lower health insurance premiums. Among other things, Republicans’ bill would institute work reporting requirements for Medicaid, which have been proven not to increase employment and just strip health care coverage from people who are already working or exempt—this would put more than 620,000 Washingtonians at risk of losing their health care coverage or having it delayed because of a wall of new paperwork. Republicans’ reconciliation bill also includes a provision to defund Planned Parenthood, threatening the closure of up to 200 health centers. Republicans are advancing the legislation through the budget reconciliation process, which only requires a simple majority to pass in both chambers of Congress.

    “I can’t emphasize this enough: the Republican bill is nothing short of a catastrophe for health care in America. And this legislation would be a massive hit to our state’s budget. One estimate from KFF found that Washington state would lose around $32 billion in federal Medicaid spending over the next 10 years. There is just no way our state would be able to make up that shortfall,” Senator Murray said on the press call today. “The Republican tax bill will strangle everyone who relies on Medicaid in red tape, creating more barriers to coverage through intentionally confusing and burdensome new work reporting requirements that could leave more than 620,000 Washingtonians without health coverage or delayed coverage. The vast majority of people on Medicaid are already working—this bill is just a scam by Republicans to make it so hard to qualify for Medicaid that people just give up. And again, this bill will mean higher costs and less access to health care for everyone—not just people on Medicaid or the ACA…My office has been flooded with calls and emails from people who are terrified about what the cuts in this bill would mean for them and their families.”

    “So, here’s my message to everyone today: this is not over. We can kill this bill. It won’t be easy, but we have to fight, and we have to try,” Senator Murray continued. “In 2017, Americans across the country spoke out, got loud, took to the streets, and the wave of public outcry we created ultimately killed Republicans’ first attempt at ACA repeal…Republicans in Congress are not immune to public pressure, and neither is this Administration. Your voice matters. Whatever you can do to speak up—please do it. And for my part, I will not be quiet. I will keep sounding the alarm every way I can, talking to my colleagues, and lifting up the stories of people who would be hurt by this bill.”

    The Joint Economic Committee estimated last month that at least 274,000 people in Washington state would lose their health insurance under the Republican plan. Communities in Central and Eastern Washington are among the most reliant on Medicaid and the two Congressional Districts in Washington state with the most people enrolled in Medicaid (known as Apple Health in Washington state) are WA-04 and WA-05. In Washington’s 4th District, 38 percent of the population (300,511 people) rely on Medicaid, including 70 percent of kids. In Washington’s 5th District, 30 percent of the population (237,567 people), including 56 percent of kids, rely on the program.

    “For people in Spokane and across Washington State, these proposed federal Medicaid cuts represent a real threat to basic health, access to care, and financial stability,” said Washington State Senator Marcus Riccelli (LD-3). “There is no doubt this legislation will force many of our rural hospitals and clinics to close and lead to increased wait times and reduced services in urban areas, like I represent. It’s clear many people in Spokane and Washington will face unneeded health risks and suffering…In Spokane County, over 35 percent of the population is covered by Medicaid. Pulling the rug from underneath thousands of people in my community and across our state, and across this country, will mean a loss of comprehensive services to people. This means reducing or eliminating access to primary care, behavioral health, and dental care. This means delaying care. This means floods of people ending up in the emergency room that did not have to be there…And let’s be clear, the more people that end up in our hospital systems, the more expensive it will be on our already overburdened system…Working families will face significant costs to treat chronic illness or a trip to emergency room, which is already overwhelming enough…Six in ten Washington adults already say they can’t pay an unexpected medical bill, and three in 10 Washington residents say they live in a household with medical debt already, even with insurance. Can you imagine if these cuts happen, if you’re even able to find care, now what you’d be faced with?”

    “From a patient’s perspective, the biggest concerns about the [One Big Beautiful Bill] Act are the numerous provisions that will make it harder for patients to get health insurance coverage and keep that coverage. Some of those barriers include: a shortened enrollment period; requirements to purchase insurance via the Health Benefits Exchange every year—right now, patients are automatically re-enrolled; requirements to verify individuals on Medicaid expansion every six months; requirements for those in the expansion population to verify work status, again, every six months,” said Alex Jackson, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive for MultiCare Inland Northwest and Yakima. “When people lose their coverage, their medical needs don’t go away. In fact, look at health insurance coverage—the lack of health insurance coverage can end up exacerbating those needs, as patients without insurance genuinely don’t receive the preventive care that they desperately need that keep patients and populations healthy. Patients may even ration food or skip medication altogether. All this adds up to patients who, when they do seek care, will require higher level care—which is also more expensive. In addition, they often enter the healthcare system through an emergency department…putting increased stress, not only on them, but on other patients in emergency department care as well. In accordance with our mission in MultiCare, we provide care for all who need it, any day, any hour of the day as well, irregardless of their ability to pay. When patients lose access to health insurance, health systems like MultiCare will have no choice but to care for those patients and absorb the increased costs associated with providing uncompensated care—creating a financially unintentional and unsustainable situation for health systems. Ultimately, we may have to cut services, causing entire communities to lose important access to care. For smaller hospitals and health systems, particularly those in rural areas that have already been mentioned today, they have may have no choice but to close their doors entirely, leaving those communities without access to even seeking our services like an emergency department. And not only that, it will also close, likely, the largest employer in that community as well.”

    “We provide 150,000 visits every year to the working poor in our communities. Last year, we provided over 90,000 visits to patients on Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan insurances. We estimate about one-third of our patients will lose their health coverage, not because they are not eligible, but because of the heavy administrative burdens, or because less of the subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable. Our community health center has been a navigator lead organization since 2014, the beginning of the Affordable Care Act. Our navigators cover 6,600 square miles, mostly rural, between Yakima and Kittitas County. We have completed over 200,000 Medicaid and health benefit exchange applications during that time, we have heard a lot of family stories about what makes health care accessible and affordable,” said Alex Cordova, Navigation and Engagement Supervisor at Yakima Neighborhood Health Services. “Most of our help has gone to helping people apply for Medicaid, and if they make just too much money for Medicaid, then we have looked at their options through the exchange products. Most of the people we have are working, disabled, or have children at home they are caring for. We are really worried about [what] the proposed changes will do for our families, and so are they. Recently, we had a family of five, parent working as a construction worker. Their children did qualify for Apple Health. Unfortunately, the parents did not—they were a little bit over income by like $150. Then we did have them explore the insurances through the exchange, but they were grateful for the help, but they were just worried that losing subsidies will make it harder for them to have insurance in the future. We also see…a lot of clients with Medicaid coming in, and they are quite fearful for the future. They ask, what’s going on, what’s going to happen to my coverage? How is that going to affect my family? So, just right now, open enrollment is from November 1st to January 15th, but the exchanges are going to shorten the open enrollment period by a month. And right now, also losing tax credits is going to make it harder for families to get insurance through the exchange. So, we’re supposed to be moving forward, not backwards.”

    “Almost exactly two years ago, my grandson Magnus was in a horrific car accident just outside Liberty Lake. He was only four months old. One moment he was smiling and babbling, and the next, he was being rushed by ambulance to Sacred Heart, fighting for his life. By the time my daughter and I arrived at the hospital, Magnus was already in the Pediatric ICU. He had suffered internal injuries, three skull fractures, and multiple brain bleeds. The doctors told us the chances of survival were almost none, to prepare for end-of-life care. Those were the worst three days of my life. I lived them five minutes at a time. I didn’t want to step away—not to eat, not even to go to the bathroom—because I was terrified, he wouldn’t be there when I got back. But Magnus made it. He spent a month in the PICU. And what saved him wasn’t luck. It was the infrastructure. It was the ambulance, the ICU, the trained doctors and nurses, the machines keeping him alive—and every bit of it supported by Medicaid,” Julie Sparkman, Spokane home care provider and member of SEIU 775. “This is what’s at stake. When people talk about cutting Medicaid, especially in rural areas, they’re talking about shutting down hospitals, losing emergency care, and removing access to life-saving treatment. Magnus didn’t have time to be transferred. If the nearest hospital had been hours away—he wouldn’t be here today…I support our family with my work as a home care provider. But here’s the truth: healthcare workers are going to leave the field. Caregivers like me are preparing to leaving this work. Not because we want to, but because we have bills, too. Rent, groceries, gas—it all keeps going up, but Medicaid funding has to be there for that program to remain. When Medicaid is cut by hundreds of billions of dollars, caregivers lose hours, wages get cut, and benefits disappear. Many of us simply won’t be able to stay in this work, even though we love it—because love doesn’t pay the electric bill. And when we leave, it’s not just a workforce problem. It’s a care crisis. Clients go without support, families burn out, and rural communities are left behind. None of this is theoretical. Accidents happen. Illness happens. Aging happens.  Emergencies don’t care where you live, or how far the nearest hospital is. And you don’t come out of an ICU by accident—it takes skilled people, working systems, and resources. We built this safety net for a reason—so people in crisis have somewhere to go, and someone to help them. We cannot abandon it now. We need to fight to protect Medicaid, protect our hospitals, and protect rural healthcare. Because no one should lose the person they love just because the care they needed was too far away or already gone.”

    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered at today’s press conference, are below and video is HERE:

    “Thank you all for joining this call today.

    “We are here because right now in Congress, Republicans are ramming through a mega-bill that would gut health care access across the country—all so they can pay for tax handouts for billionaires.

    “This big, betrayal of a bill, which they are trying to get to President Trump’s desk before July 4th, would be a 1 trillion dollar hit to our health care system and the largest cut to Medicaid in history. Nearly 11 million people in America would lose their health care coverage, that’s nearly 8 million people getting kicked off Medicaid and another 3 million who would lose their Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage.

    “Not only that, but Republicans are refusing to extend critical tax credits that lower people’s health insurance premiums—which will make another 4.2 million people lose coverage. And that will raise costs for everyone. People getting kicked off their health care, hospitals and nursing homes in our rural areas will shut down, small businesses no longer being able to afford to provide health care for their employees, and skyrocketing premiums for working and middle-class families.

    “I can’t emphasize this enough: the Republican bill is nothing short of a catastrophe for health care in America. And this legislation would be a massive hit to our state’s budget—one estimate from KFF found that Washington state would lose around $32 billion in federal Medicaid spending over the next 10 years. There is just no way our state would be able to make up that shortfall.  

    “The Republicans tax bill will strangle everyone who relies on Medicaid in red tape, creating more barriers to coverage through intentionally confusing and burdensome new work reporting requirements that could leave more than 620,000 Washingtonians without health care coverage or delayed coverage. The vast majority of people on Medicaid are already working—this bill is just a scam by Republicans to make it so hard to qualify for Medicaid that people just give up.

    “And again, this bill will mean higher costs, less access to health care for everyone—not just people on Medicaid or the ACA. And you know, that is especially true in our rural communities, which stand to be the hardest hit by this legislation. One analysis found that 700 rural hospitals across the country would be forced to close under this bill. You’ll hear more from Alex Jackson with MultiCare about how this bill would affect hospitals in Central and Eastern Washington.

    “Now my office has been flooded with calls and emails from people who are terrified about what the cuts in this bill would mean for them and their patients. An endocrinologist in Wenatchee wrote to tell me about how, after the ACA became law, they saw many new patients who had insurance for the first time in their adult life. These patients had been paying for expensive over-the-counter insulin, but under the ACA they were finally able to get better treatment with newer insulins and more advanced technology. They wrote: ‘If Medicaid cuts take away coverage for these patients, it will be like going back to the dark ages in terms of treatment.’

    “A doctor in Yakima wrote to tell me about one of their patients, an 82-year-old woman who has chronic pain and heart issues. Her Medicaid coverage pays for a caregiver, and it allows her to live at home relatively independently. Without Medicaid, all of that would fall away.

    “A doctor in Spokane wrote to tell me how many of their patients are already suffering extreme financial hardship. Many of them can barely scrape enough money together for their appointments, and that is with the current levels of Medicaid support. And they wrote: ‘these patients are our neighbors and community members—not criminal freeloaders as some people seem to believe.’

    “Another person from Spokane explained how cutting Medicaid—meaning more care goes uncompensated—will exacerbate the existing shortage of mental health care in Spokane County.

    “Now, Trump and his cabinet full of billionaires clearly don’t get it. But I have to say, for the life of me, I do not understand how some of the same Republicans who represent districts most reliant on Medicaid, ever looked at this bill, looked at what it would do to the people they serve, and said, ‘count me in!’

    “So, here’s my message to everyone today: this is not over. We can kill this bill. It won’t be easy, but we have to fight, and we have to try.

    “This bill is in the Senate now, and Republican senators are going to change it—which means if they can pass it, it will have to go back to the House again. In 2017, Americans across the country spoke out, they got loud, they took to the streets, and the wave of public outcry we created ultimately killed Republicans’ first attempt at ACA repeal. So, blocking this Health Care Heist is not out of reach.

    “Republicans in Congress are not immune to public pressure, and neither is this Administration. Your voice matters. Whatever you can do to speak up—please do it. For my part, I will not be quiet. I will keep sounding the alarm every way I can, talking to my colleagues, and lifting up the stories of people who would be hurt by this bill.

    “We have a big task in front of us, but we have stopped Republican health care repeal before, we can do it again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney speaks with Premier of China Li Qiang

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Premier of China, Li Qiang.

    The leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, including the importance of engagement, and agreed to regularize channels of communication between Canada and China.

    The leaders also discussed trade between the two countries. They welcomed their trade ministers’ meeting this week, during which Canada and China agreed to convene the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) at an early date to address outstanding trade issues. Prime Minister Carney took the opportunity to raise trade irritants affecting agriculture and agri-food products, including canola and seafood, as well as other issues, with Premier Li.

    The leaders took note of recent bilateral engagement on fentanyl and other opioids, and committed their governments to working together to address the fentanyl crisis.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses concern over US travel ban from 12 countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    GENEVA, June 6 (Xinhua) — United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday expressed concern over the new travel ban imposed by the United States.

    In a statement sent to Xinhua, he said the broad and comprehensive nature of the new restrictions raises concerns “from the perspective of international law.”

    According to F. Türk, although international law allows states to regulate their borders sovereignly, they “have an obligation to ensure equal protection of all persons before the law and to prevent discrimination on any grounds, including nationality, origin, religion, migration or other status.”

    “We are also generally concerned that the extremely unfortunate official public statements containing disparaging assessments of those affected by these measures contribute to the stigmatization of people from the countries concerned both in the United States and abroad and may increase their likelihood of facing xenophobic hostility and harassment,” the High Commissioner added.

    US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday completely banning entry into the country for citizens of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea. The document will go into effect on June 9. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: We tracked 13,000 giants of the ocean over 30 years, to uncover their hidden highways

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ana M. M. Sequeira, Associate Professor, Research School of Biology, Australian National University

    Alexandra Vautin, Shutterstock

    Big animals of the ocean go about their days mostly hidden from view. Scientists know this marine megafauna – such as whales, sharks, seal, turtles and birds – travel vast distances to feed and breed.

    But almost a third are now at risk of extinction due largely to fishing, shipping, pollution and global warming.

    Protecting them can be difficult, because we don’t often know where these animals are.

    New research I led sought to shed light on the issue. My colleagues and I gathered 30 years of satellite tracking data to map hotspots of megafauna activity around the globe.

    We tracked 12,794 animals from 111 species to find out where they go. The results reveal underwater “highways” where megafauna crisscross the global Ocean. They also show where megafauna dwell for feeding and breeding. Now we know where these special places are, we have a better chance of protecting them.

    Satellite tracking reveals marine megafauna migration pathways and places of residence.
    Sequeira et al (2025) Science

    Pulling all the data together: a mega task

    For more than 30 years, marine biologists have tagged large animals in the sea with electronic devices and tracked their movements via satellite. The trackers capture data on everything from speed of travel, to direction of movement and where the animals spend most of their time.

    I put a call out to the global research community to bring together the tracking data. I hoped it would help scientists better understand the animals’ movements and identify their favourite places.

    Some 378 scientists from 50 countries responded. We assembled the world’s largest tracking dataset of marine megafauna. It includes species of flying birds, whales, fishes (mostly sharks), penguins, polar bears, seals, dugongs, manatees and turtles. They were tracked between 1985 and 2018, throughout the world’s oceans.

    Ana Sequeira swimming with a whale shark in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, to collect samples.
    Australian Institute of Marine Science

    Mapping reveals a lack of protection

    When we started analysing the data, it showed the tagged animals used some parts of the ocean more frequently than others. Most of them travelled to the central Indian Ocean, northeast Pacific Ocean, Atlantic north, and waters around Mozambique and South Africa.

    It’s likely this reflects a lack of data from elsewhere. However, these species are known to go to places where they are most likely to find food, so we expect some areas to be used more than others (including the areas we detected).

    Then we were able to identify the world’s most “ecologically and biologically significant areas” for the tracked animals.

    Currently only about 8% of the global ocean is protected. And only 5% of the important marine megafauna areas we identified occur within these existing marine protected areas.

    This leaves all of the other important marine megafauna areas we identified unprotected. In other words, the species using those areas are likely to suffer harm from human activities taking place at sea.

    More than 90% of the important marine megafauna areas we identified are exposed to high plastic pollution, shipping traffic or to intensifying global warming. And about 75% are exposed to industrial fishing.

    We also found marine megafauna tend to spend most of their time within exclusive economic zones. This area lies beyond the territorial sea or belt of water 12 nautical miles from the coast of each country, extending 200 nautical miles from shore. The presence of megafauna in these exclusive economic zones means individual countries could increase the protection afforded within their jurisdictions.

    About 40% of the important marine megafauna areas were located in these zones. But about 60% were on the high seas.

    The future of marine megafauna conservation

    The High Seas Treaty, recently adopted by the United Nations and signed by 115 countries, governs the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological biodiversity on the open ocean.

    Working alongside this treaty, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030. This presents an opportunity to ensure important marine megafauna areas are well represented.

    We used an optimisation algorithm to identify the best areas to protect, when it comes to marine megafauna. We gave priority to areas that are potentially used for feeding, breeding, resting and migrating across all the different species.

    But even if important marine megafauna areas are selected when 30% of the ocean is protected, about 60% of these areas would still stay unprotected.

    Significant risks from human activities will remain. Management efforts must also focus on reducing harm from fishing and shipping. Fighting climate change and cutting down noise and plastic pollution should also be key priorities.

    Like for most megafauna on land, the reign of marine megafauna might come to an end if humanity does not afford these species greater protection.

    Ana M. M. Sequeira receives funding from the Australian Research Council and a Pew Marine Fellowship from the Pew Charitable Trusts. She is also affiliated with the University of Western Australia.

    – ref. We tracked 13,000 giants of the ocean over 30 years, to uncover their hidden highways – https://theconversation.com/we-tracked-13-000-giants-of-the-ocean-over-30-years-to-uncover-their-hidden-highways-254610

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: South Africa unveils plan to tackle climate change in coastal areas

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

    A man works at the Extrupet plastic recycling center in Wadeville, near Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    To mark World Environment Day, South Africa on Thursday unveiled its inaugural Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Response Plan, a strategic initiative to enhance resilience in coastal areas facing climate threats.

    Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Dion George said the initiative aligns with South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and supports the country’s ocean economy goals while safeguarding critical sectors like tourism and fisheries.

    “This plan provides a strategic framework to guide national, provincial, and local government efforts in building coastal resilience. It emphasizes the importance of protecting coastal communities, infrastructure, and natural systems through proactive planning, risk-informed development, and collaborative governance,” said George.

    The minister called on all sectors, government, business, civil society, and individuals, to join hands in implementing the plan.

    “By aligning climate adaptation with economic development, South Africa can build a thriving, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economy that benefits both people and the planet,” he said.

    South Africa’s coastline is facing growing climate challenges that threaten coastal communities, key economic sectors, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems.

    Scientific projections indicate worsening impacts such as accelerated sea-level rise, intensifying coastal erosion, and more frequent severe storms that trigger destructive flooding and forced displacement of vulnerable residents. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier, Ranking Member Pallone introduce Legislation to Protect Children and Mothers, Strengthen our Nation’s Vaccine Infrastructure

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, stand up to RFK Jr.’s dangerous anti-vaccine actions, and protect children, expectant mothers, and other vulnerable members of the community from vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr.’s peddling of conspiracy theories.”

    “Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Ranking Member Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.

    For months, RFK, Jr.’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.

    Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk. 

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by: 

    • Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:
      • This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.
    • Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:
      • This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.
    • Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:
      • This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
    • Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:
      • This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.

    Read the full bill text HEREand a section-by-section summary HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on the Department of the Army’s Posture and Readiness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    Watch Video Here

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing on the Department of the Army’s posture and requirements for the challenges ahead.

    During the hearing, the committee received testimony from the Army’s senior civilian leader, Secretary Driscoll, and the highest-ranking commissioned officer within the Department of the Army, General George.

    In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker emphasized that this hearing marked the beginning of the Army’s dialogue with Congress on the Army’s Transformation Initiative (ATI) and underscored the committee’s willingness to partner with Army leadership to address fundamental problems within the service.

    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.

    Good morning. The Senate Armed Services Committee meets today to receive testimony on the posture of the United States Army. I want to thank our witnesses, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and the Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George, for being here.  Unfortunately, it seems the detailed Fiscal Year 2026 budget will not be available for several more weeks.

    Nonetheless, we will benefit from speaking with you both, Secretary Driscoll and General George. In the past month, we’ve been speaking publicly about the Army Transformation Initiative, or “ATI”. This initiative seeks to change portions of the Army’s capabilities and force structure while maintaining the Army’s flat budget.

    The Army provided this committee with the first real set of details on the ATI about a week ago. This hearing marks the beginning of the Army’s discussion with Congress on the idea.  We are ready to work with you, gentlemen.

    In fact, we must work together rapidly to fix fundamental problems with the U.S. Army.  Since 2000, the list of failed Army modernization initiatives – such as the Comanche helicopter, the Crusader howitzer, and the Future Combat Systems – has continued to grow.

    Between 2002 and 2012, the Army spent $50 billion on programs it eventually canceled. The record in the past five years has been better but still contains significant missteps. The Army recently spent $2 billion on a scout helicopter that will never fly. Other cancellations of programs have followed, including the Strategic Long-Range Cannon program, the Extended Range Cannon Artillery programs, and the M-10 Booker armored infantry support vehicle, as well as the “Hum-Vee.”

    Fundamentally, the Army needs to decide how to adapt to the changing character of warfare and meet priority missions, particularly against China and Russia. Mr. Secretary, many ideas you propose in your Transformation Initiative and your budget will meet that mark. I think you will find widespread support for increasing investments in long-range fires and air and missile defense, as you proposed. I would note, however, the lack of logistics investments in your plan, given the Army’s central role in logistics in the Pacific – so perhaps we’ll talk about that.

    Mr. Secretary, I think you will find Congress a very willing partner when presented with convincing analysis that justifies investment changes. In particular, those changes should help American soldiers deter war and, if necessary, win in convincing fashion. Where we do disagree, will likely be in effects on the industrial base. Our defense industrial base is brittle. We cannot afford to let sites close, or we will lose the defense expertise of many skilled workers. We need investment strategies that recognize this. Our investments should provide stability and ensure the United States can maintain maximum competition. The Army cannot follow the “divest to invest” strategy that the Navy and Air Force have wanted to pursue. The United States faces too many threats today to leave gaps in capabilities. It will require tightly woven investment strategies among the Army, Congress, and industry to get this right.

    MIL OSI USA News –