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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN Green Climate Fund to Allocate $280 Million to Kazakhstan for Eco-Projects

    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

    ALMATY, June 3 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) will finance environmental projects in Kazakhstan worth $280 million, the Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday.

    The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nysanbayev, announced the new financing program during parliamentary hearings on the implementation of the best available technologies.

    According to the minister, the funds received will be used to develop renewable energy sources, stimulate the introduction of low-carbon technologies in the industrial sector, and support the development of electric vehicles.

    E. Nysanbaev said that in 2024, in order to promote green projects for the UN GCF, a country program was prepared, including 7 projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, increasing the sustainability of centralized water supply systems in rural areas, modernizing livestock farms, and supporting private sector initiatives in the field of green financing.

    The total budget for these projects is more than $1 billion, of which the fund is expected to provide $630 million in funding. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: South Texas stash house discovered by ICE Rio Grande Valley leads to the arrest of 16 illegal aliens

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HARLINGEN, Texas — A suspected stash house in Mercedes, Texas, was uncovered June 2 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulting in the apprehension of 16 illegal aliens.

    On June 1, ICE received a tip from an anonymous caller reporting that multiple illegal aliens were being harbored at a residence in Mercedes. ICE contacted the Mercedes Police Department, which conducted a welfare check of the property. Authorities spoke to the owner of the property who admitted to harboring approximately 16 individuals inside the home.

    “This operation underscores the critical role that the public and local law enforcement partners play in identifying and disrupting human smuggling operations,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Lippa. “Transnational criminal networks continue to endanger lives for profit. ICE will relentlessly pursue those who exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain.”

    The 16 individuals encountered were identified as nationals of Nepal, Albania, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. Sixteen were taken into custody for immigration violations and another individual, a Mexican national, is being questioned for his role in human smuggling.

    The investigation remains ongoing. The enforcement action was supported by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations.

    Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activity or tips related to human smuggling by calling 866-347-2423 or by submitting an anonymous tip via the ICE online tip form.

    Follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio to learn more about its enforcement efforts and investigations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: North-easterly winds forecast for the start of the 2024 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, wind change expected on Friday

    Source: Australia Safe Travel Advisories

    24/12/2024

    The Bureau of Meteorology is continuing to monitor the weather conditions closely over the coming days to provide vital information to the race crews and navigators in the 2024 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which commences on Boxing Day, Thursday 26 December 2024.

    Bureau senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse has been providing a series of marine safety and weather briefings to navigators and crews in the lead-up to the race.

    “At race start, we are expecting north to northeasterly winds, sunny skies and warm temperatures as the yachts exit the Heads,” Ms Woodhouse said.

    “Strong winds will develop on Boxing Day as the yachts head south along the NSW coast, and wind warnings are expected.”

    A trough is forecast to cross the south-east of the country on Friday morning, bringing a strong west to south-westerly wind change to Tasmanian waters and the Bass Strait.

    “This west to southwesterly change will be strong and abrupt as it arrives early Friday morning, and may bring the chance of a shower or even a thunderstorm and possibly gale-force winds for a period.”

    During the weekend, northwest to southwesterly winds are likely to persist, but the focus will be on lighter winds forecast along the Tasmanian east coast.

    The Bureau will continue to monitor the forecast and conditions, providing further briefings for crews and organisers ahead of the race start on Boxing Day, and during the race until the last yacht arrives in Hobart.

    Another front or trough bringing a southwest to southeasterly change to the region is expected near or on New Year’s Eve.

    Navigators and crews will be kept across forecast information via regular updates, as well as information that is continuously updated on the Bureau’s website, app and social media channels.

    Visit our Marine services for offshore yacht races.

    ENDS…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bloomberg Tax: Warren Seeks Details From Donors to IRS Pick’s Dormant Campaign

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    May 15, 2025

    Senate Finance Committee Democrats say donors to IRS commissioner pick Billy Long’s hibernating campaign fund could have been illegally influencing the former House lawmaker.

    “This brazen attempt to curry favor with Mr. Long is not only unethical—it may also be illegal,” the lawmakers led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote in one of the letters seen by Bloomberg Tax that were sent Thursday. The letters suggest that the circumstances of the donations raise questions over whether they constitute a violation of federal anti-bribery laws.

    Also at issue is the timing and size of the donations that were made to Long, who could soon lead the tax collection agency. Democrats asked donors why they gave, whether their donations were solicited, and whether they had matters currently pending in front of the IRS.

    Long, a former Republican House member from Missouri who has a confirmation hearing with the panel May 20, hasn’t been on any ballot for several years but saw nearly $137,000 flow into his dormant campaign committee for a Senate seat in the first quarter of this year. He also used the funds to repay a $130,000 personal loan. Donors to his campaign included people associated with firms that promoted so-called sovereign tribal tax credits that the Treasury Department and IRS say don’t exist.

    Warren signed the letters along with Finance ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). The Democrats’ letter is the latest in a string of demands from Democrats pressing Long about his dealings with White River Energy Corp., which has been selling the credits to wealthy investors through a network of promoters.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Chris Cioffi
    Source: Bloomberg Tax

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sirens: the dark psychology of how people really get drawn into cults

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Joy Cranham, Lecturer in the Department of Education, University of Bath, University of Bath

    Like other quirky TV shows that explore coercively controlling groups, Sirens leans into the “wackiness” of cult life. Set on a remote island, an affluent community exists under extravagant rule of Michaela Kell aka Kiki (Julianne Moore). Her devoted followers – many of whom are employed by her – are committed to ensuring her every whim is met.

    This carefully curated existence appears bizarre but flawless, until outsider Devon (Meghann Fahy) arrives looking for her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) and begins to illuminate the control and cult-like behaviour being used as tools of oppression.

    It is easy to laugh along with Sirens, to get caught up in the eccentric characters and absurd rituals – from assistants being instructed to sext Kiki’s partner to rituals around perfuming her underwear drawer each morning. We shake our heads at the characters’ choices and reassure ourselves: “I would never fall for that, I would just leave.”

    But the uncomfortable truth is it’s not that simple.

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    What portrayals of cult communities in sitcoms often miss, or gloss over, is the deeply manipulative psychology behind why leaving a cult is incredibly difficult.

    Research into cult experiences has shown, cults do not just trap people physically. They entrap them mentally and emotionally too.

    I have seen this in my own research into how to help children and their families resist exploitative and coercively controlling individuals and groups. We do see such entrapment in Sirens but it is often obscured by the wackiness of Michaela’s cult-ish community.

    Isolation and love-bombing

    In the real world, entrapment starts with isolation. New recruits are gradually cut off from their support networks, separated from their friends and family.

    We see this in Sirens between Simone, who is Kiki’s assistant, and her outsider sister Devon. In one episode, for instance, Simone makes it clear to Devon that their matching sister tattoos were no longer valuable to her.

    What was once a show of love has become viewed as “trashy” by Simone. This is a reflection of how Simone was being manipulated away from her previous values.

    Rejecting the importance of familial relationships is a tool often used by cult leaders, enabling them to construct rifts between the person in the cult and their loved one on the outside.

    In Sirens, we see a sisterly relationship become ruptured at the instruction of the powerful Kiki, who exploits the vulnerability of Simone to her own advantage.

    Then comes the love-bombing – a flood of praise, attention, and affection. It feels amazing, especially to someone who has been overlooked or undervalued.

    When the person expresses surprise, the group responds with lines like, “that’s because we truly see you” or they belittle the person’s previous relationships.

    The message from the group is clear: only we value you. Only we understand the real you.

    Fear and dependence

    But the honeymoon phase does not last. Soon, the fear of being cast out takes hold. The group convinces the person that they can only become their best self within the group, that they are fulfilling a higher destiny by being guided by the leader.

    Leaders in cults use authoritarian tactics, often portraying themselves as messianic figures with mystical powers. They demand unwavering loyalty and devotion. Questioning their authority is not tolerated. Any concern or question is reframed as a personal failing rather than as legitimate concern.

    Punishment for dissent reinforces the leader’s dominance and sends a clear message to the rest of the group: Do not question. The leader and their doctrines are irrefutable.

    This sort of control can lead people to do things they never imagined they would.
    Take the scene where Simone willingly chews gum that has just been in Kiki’s mouth. We might cringe at this, think it’s gross and abnormal, but it’s symbolic of something much bigger: it depicted total control being exerted over another.

    Here we watch as Kiki insults Simone, telling her her breath stinks. Instead of being seen as cruelty it is perceived as care, and Kiki then giving Simone the gum she has just chewed to rectify the problem, is perceived as kindness. Simone is grateful and doesn’t question it at all.

    Simone’s mind has been manipulated. Devon asks her: “Does Michaela have her talons so deep in your brain you cannot tell, you are in trouble?” Through using thought reform techniques, cults hack minds. They override critical thinking and replace it with fear and dependency.

    The constant sense of danger and fear keeps members in a state of acute stress, impairing their capacity to think clearly or make rational decisions. However, this constant fear is happening in a place they are repeatedly told and are convincing themselves is where they have never been happier.

    The cognitive dissonance of this can contribute to the group’s ability to retain members even when exposing them to prolonged psychological and or physical abuse. Even after someone leaves, the effects of this trauma can linger for years – sometimes a lifetime.

    Survivors often exit these groups with very few tangible resources. Education and employability may have been restricted and housing and financial independence are often tightly controlled by the group.

    Many survivors suffer from mental health issues and other stress induced physical ailments. As a result, survivors require various forms of support and different interventions over the cause of their recovery.

    And yet, in pop culture, cults are often played for laughs. The trauma is reduced to punch lines. To be fair, shows like Sirens effectively capture the bizarre nature of cult life and hopefully reading this piece has helped you look beyond the laughs to see the dark nature of how these groups operate. For survivors, cult life is not eccentric or surreal – it is traumatic.

    Joy Cranham volunteers for Faith to Faithless, an organisation that supports apostates who are often former members of high-demand religions or cult-like organisations. Faith to Faithless is connected to Humanist UK

    – ref. Sirens: the dark psychology of how people really get drawn into cults – https://theconversation.com/sirens-the-dark-psychology-of-how-people-really-get-drawn-into-cults-257759

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What if the Big Bang wasn’t the beginning? Our research suggests it may have taken place inside a black hole

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Enrique Gaztanaga, Professor at Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (University of Portsmouth), University of Portsmouth

    Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock

    The Big Bang is often described as the explosive birth of the universe — a singular moment when space, time and matter sprang into existence. But what if this was not the beginning at all? What if our universe emerged from something else — something more familiar and radical at the same time?

    In a new paper, published in Physical Review D, my colleagues and I propose a striking alternative. Our calculations suggest the Big Bang was not the start of everything, but rather the outcome of a gravitational crunch or collapse that formed a very massive black hole — followed by a bounce inside it.

    This idea — which we call the black hole universe — offers a radically different view of cosmic origins, yet it is grounded entirely in known physics and observations.

    Today’s standard cosmological model, based on the Big Bang and cosmic inflation (the idea that the early universe rapidly blew up in size), has been remarkably successful in explaining the structure and evolution of the universe. But it comes at a price: it leaves some of the most fundamental questions unanswered.

    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.

    For one, the Big Bang model begins with a singularity — a point of infinite density where the laws of physics break down. This is not just a technical glitch; it’s a deep theoretical problem that suggests we don’t really understand the beginning at all.

    To explain the universe’s large-scale structure, physicists introduced a brief phase of rapid expansion into the early universe called cosmic inflation, powered by an unknown field with strange properties. Later, to explain the accelerating expansion observed today, they added another “mysterious” component: dark energy.

    In short, the standard model of cosmology works well — but only by introducing new ingredients we have never observed directly. Meanwhile, the most basic questions remain open: where did everything come from? Why did it begin this way? And why is the universe so flat, smooth, and large?

    New model

    Our new model tackles these questions from a different angle — by looking inward instead of outward. Instead of starting with an expanding universe and trying to trace back how it began, we consider what happens when an overly dense collection of matter collapses under gravity.

    This is a familiar process: stars collapse into black holes, which are among the most well-understood objects in physics. But what happens inside a black hole, beyond the event horizon from which nothing can escape, remains a mystery.

    In 1965, the British physicist Roger Penrose proved that under very general conditions, gravitational collapse must lead to a singularity. This result, extended by the late British physicist Stephen Hawking and others, underpins the idea that singularities — like the one at the Big Bang — are unavoidable.

    The idea helped win Penrose a share of the 2020 Nobel prize in physics and inspired Hawking’s global bestseller A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. But there’s a caveat. These “singularity theorems” rely on “classical physics” which describes ordinary macroscopic objects. If we include the effects of quantum mechanics, which rules the tiny microcosmos of atoms and particles, as we must at extreme densities, the story may change.

    In our new paper, we show that gravitational collapse does not have to end in a singularity. We find an exact analytical solution – a mathematical result with no approximations. Our maths show that as we approach the potential singularity, the size of the universe changes as a (hyperbolic) function of cosmic time.

    This simple mathematical solution describes how a collapsing cloud of matter can reach a high-density state and then bounce, rebounding outward into a new expanding phase.

    But how come Penrose’s theorems forbid out such outcomes? It’s all down to a rule called the quantum exclusion principle, which states that no two identical particles known as fermions can occupy the same quantum state (such as angular momentum, or “spin”).

    And we show that this rule prevents the particles in the collapsing matter from being squeezed indefinitely. As a result, the collapse halts and reverses. The bounce is not only possible — it’s inevitable under the right conditions.

    Crucially, this bounce occurs entirely within the framework of general relativity, which applies on large scales such as stars and galaxies, combined with the basic principles of quantum mechanics — no exotic fields, extra dimensions or speculative physics required.

    What emerges on the other side of the bounce is a universe remarkably like our own. Even more surprisingly, the rebound naturally produces the two separate phases of accelerated expansion — inflation and dark energy — driven not by a hypothetical fields but by the physics of the bounce itself.

    Testable predictions

    One of the strengths of this model is that it makes testable predictions. It predicts a small but non-zero amount of positive spatial curvature — meaning the universe is not exactly flat, but slightly curved, like the surface of the Earth.

    This is simply a relic of the initial small over-density that triggered the collapse. If future observations, such as the ongoing Euclid mission, confirm a small positive curvature, it would be a strong hint that our universe did indeed emerge from such a bounce. It also makes predictions about the current universe’s rate of expansion, something that has already been verified.

    The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying ESA’s Euclid mission on the launch pad in 2023.
    https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid, CC BY-SA

    This model does more than fix technical problems with standard cosmology. It could also shed new light on other deep mysteries in our understanding of the early universe — such as the origin of supermassive black holes, the nature of dark matter, or the hierarchical formation and evolution of galaxies.

    These questions will be explored by future space missions such as Arrakhis, which will study diffuse features such as stellar halos (a spherical structure of stars and globular clusters surrounding galaxies) and satellite galaxies (smaller galaxies that orbit larger ones) that are difficult to detect with traditional telescopes from Earth and will help us understand dark matter and galaxy evolution.

    These phenomena might also be linked to relic compact objects — such as black holes — that formed during the collapsing phase and survived the bounce.

    The black hole universe also offers a new perspective on our place in the cosmos. In this framework, our entire observable universe lies inside the interior of a black hole formed in some larger “parent” universe.

    We are not special, no more than Earth was in the geocentric worldview that led Galileo (the astronomer who suggested the Earth revolves around the Sun in the 16th and 17th centuries) to be placed under house arrest.

    We are not witnessing the birth of everything from nothing, but rather the continuation of a cosmic cycle — one shaped by gravity, quantum mechanics, and the deep interconnections between them.

    Enrique Gaztanaga receives funding from the Spanish Plan Nacional (PGC2018-102021-B-100) and
    Maria de Maeztu (CEX2020-001058-M) grants.

    Enrique Gaztanaga is also a Professor at the Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC/IEEC) in Barcelona and publishes a science blog called Dark Cosmos.

    – ref. What if the Big Bang wasn’t the beginning? Our research suggests it may have taken place inside a black hole – https://theconversation.com/what-if-the-big-bang-wasnt-the-beginning-our-research-suggests-it-may-have-taken-place-inside-a-black-hole-258010

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

    The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.

    Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.

    The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.

    It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.



    Read more:
    Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack

    Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.

    These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.

    Explosions hit the Kerch Bridge in Russia on June 3, 2025. (The Independent)

    Increased pessimism

    Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.

    This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.

    This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.

    Russian vulnerabilities

    Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.

    These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.

    Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.

    In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.

    Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.

    Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.

    First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.

    Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.

    Attacks on civilians

    The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.

    Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedly threatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.

    By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.

    These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.

    Weakening Asian alliances

    Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.

    Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.

    Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.

    In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.

    At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.

    James Horncastle 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. How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts – https://theconversation.com/how-ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russian-airfields-could-derail-russias-war-efforts-258049

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Annual report tracks Canada’s progress toward addressing the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Taking care

    Crisis support is available to individuals impacted by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line at 1-844-413-6649 (toll-free).

    June 3, 2025 — Ottawa, Ontario, Unceded Algonquin Traditional Territory — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern and Arctic Affairs Canada

    Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people is a national crisis that must end. Responding to this national crisis requires all levels of government to work in true partnership with Indigenous partners to advance their solutions to improve safety, support healing from trauma, and ensure justice for all, especially those most impacted. Guided by Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and families and survivors, the Government of Canada is driving meaningful change that reflects Indigenous voices and leadership.

    The 2024–25 Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report outlines the federal government’s progress to respond to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. To date, the Government of Canada has taken concrete action on the Calls for Justice and has made significant efforts to advance the National Inquiry’s Final Report.

    Examples of progress include:

    • A Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking was appointed with a mandate to collaborate with Indigenous partners to address the increased risk experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
    • Over 90 Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBQTI+ organizations received federal funding to increase their ability to prevent or address gender-based violence across Canada.
    • Engagement and co-development of the Red Dress Alert pilot, an emergency response system for missing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, in a collaborative initiative from Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba and Giganawenimaanaanig—an Indigenous organization in the province.
    • 52 safety projects received support under the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative, supporting distinctions-based and 2SLGBTQI+ safety priorities in urban, rural, and Northern communities.
    • 32 healing projects to provide culturally grounded supports for First Nations, Inuit and Métis families experiencing grief and trauma were supported by federal investments.
    • More than 160 community-based projects were funded, and 14 regional First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations received continued support on the implementation of their long-term strategies to advance Indigenous self-determined priorities and Indigenous control over language revitalization, which is key to healing, identity, and addressing the root causes of violence.
    • 37 new shelters and 36 new transitional homes have been committed for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people seeking safety.

    In the year ahead, Canada will continue working with Indigenous partners to deliver tangible progress and strengthen the systems that keep people safe, as an essential part of collective efforts to build justice, healing, and lasting reconciliation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: For L-374 retiree, giving back is a way of life

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    Community service isn’t something John Beebe does. It’s much more than that. It’s who he is. The Local 374 (Hobart, Indiana) retiree has spent a lifetime giving back, volunteering, helping others, selflessly going the extra mile and stepping up. It’s not a brag. He doesn’t need a pat on the back.

    It’s just who John Beebe is.

    Beebe is well known as a go-to volunteer and overall champion for the Lake Area United Way; Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana; the town of Highland and Lake County, Indiana, where he lives; the Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation-AFL-CIO, which he served as Boilermaker liaison for 61 years; his Methodist church disaster relief team; and Scouting America. Especially Scouting.

    Serving others may have taken root when he joined the Boy Scouts as a kid—and with 73 years of Scouting under his belt, those are some deep roots. 

    “What intrigued me was the outdoors,” he says of his venture into Cub Scouts in 1952. He also admits, “I didn’t want to stay at home, because my mother would have me washing dishes.”

    If avoiding work was part of his motivation, the irony is that Scouts propelled him many years on a path that would hone his dedication to discipline, hard work and service to others. He eventually earned his Eagle Scout, went into the Scout’s Exploring program and was working as a lifeguard when a fellow Scouting enthusiast and Boilermaker recruited him to work a shipbuilding job. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a career, and he thought it could be a start. Turns out he had a knack for welding. After working a bit, then a short layoff and callback, he was told he’d be sworn in as a L-374 Boilermaker.

    Then came a war. Beebe was drafted and served in Vietnam. When he returned home, he took just a few weeks off before getting back to work. From then on, one job led to another, with his well-earned reputation as a good, hard worker and Eagle Scout serving him through the ranks.

    In one instance, he was called by a contractor to interview for a superintendent job he hadn’t applied to at Bethlehem Steele. They had his resume and wanted to talk to him, so he drove out and met with several gentlemen, one who sat against a wall and didn’t speak. At the end of it all, he was told to go get a cup of coffee. The silent man joined him and said, “Congratulations, you’re going to get hired. Those three guys work for me, and you’re getting hired because you’re an Eagle Scout. Eagle Scouts have leadership skills, and I know, because I’m an Eagle Scout.”

    Beebe has kept the cycle of goodwill going, volunteering his time with local Scouting throughout his life. Upon his return from Vietnam, he says the local program told him: “Boy we are glad to see you! You’re the new Scout advisor!”

    He’s remained close with the five men who earned their Eagle Scouts with him—they still get together once a month. His wife, who passed away in 1995, was an Explorer Advisor for the Scouts, and his kids were all into Scouting. He’s served the local Scouting Council and on the regional board.

    “It’s a good way to keep your kids off the street and out of trouble,” he says. “You never hear of an Eagle Scout getting into trouble.”

    With his background, it’s no surprise that organizations like United Way, area labor federation and other organizations have eagerly recruited Beebe over the years to fundraise, lend his leadership skills or literally lend a hand. 

    When areas of Munster, Indiana, flooded in 2010 and destroyed over 3,000 properties, Beebe was among multi-craft union members working side-by-side to clean up neighborhoods. He was also instrumental in assessing and reporting critical needs and where help was most needed. Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana gave him an award for that. 

    His contributions over decades with the Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation-AFL-CIO earned him the prestigious George Meanie Award. United Way presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s met an astronaut, former First Lady Laura Bush and former Vice President Mike Pence. He’s even been recognized as a “Distinguished Hoosier” by the then-Indiana State Governor Mitch Daniels.

    But that’s not why he’s done it all.

    “I give back as much as I can,” he says. “This is your home. This is where you live. We all need to take care of our community. Everything I do, I seem to have a lot of fun. I don’t want to be parked in front of a TV in a chair, so I stay busy.” 

    He has a solid reputation for staying busy helping others.

    “Brother Beebe is an example of what brotherhood means. He is someone Local 374, the labor movement and his community can count on—not out of obligation, but because he really cares about helping others,” says IVP-Great Lakes Dan Sulivan.

    When Beebe addresses families during Eagle Scout presentations, he encourages the Scouts’ parents to read the definition of the Citizenship Merit Badges and what it takes to earn them. Those badges focus on a person’s responsibility to their nation, the community and society.

    “Read them tonight or tomorrow, then go back and read them again in a few days to understand what your child went through,” he says is his advice. “They don’t teach that in school anymore.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Urges Court to Dismiss Challenge to California Law Limiting Use of State and Local Resources for Immigration Enforcement

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion to dismiss Huntington Beach’s meritless lawsuit challenging Senate Bill (SB) 54 – also known as “the California Values Act” – which limits the use of state and local resources in federal immigration enforcement. The motion to dismiss contends that Huntington Beach lacks standing to challenge SB 54. Following a challenge from the first Trump Administration to SB 54, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2019 upheld the California Values Act, holding that “SB 54 does not directly conflict with any obligations that [federal law] impose[s] on state or local governments.”  United States v. California, 921 F.3d 865, 887, 889 (9th Cir. 2019). 

    “California made a choice when it passed SB 54: To use our resources to protect public safety and to maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.” said Attorney General Bonta. “But instead of focusing on this vital responsibility, Huntington Beach is attempting to relitigate settled law in a misguided attempt to divert its limited resources to federal immigration enforcement. I respectfully urge the court to dismiss this meritless lawsuit.”

    In 2017, California enacted SB 54, also known as the California Values Act, declaring that a “relationship of trust between California’s immigrant community and local agencies is central to the public safety of the people of California,” that “[t]his trust is threatened when state and local agencies are entangled with federal immigration enforcement,” and that “[e]ntangling state and local agencies with federal immigration enforcement programs diverts already limited resources and blurs the lines of accountability between local, state, and federal governments.” Under SB 54:

    • California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from investigating, interrogating, detaining, or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes;
    • California law enforcement agencies may not allow officers to be supervised by federal agencies or deputized for immigration enforcement purposes;
    • California law enforcement agencies may not enter into new contracts with the federal government to house or detain noncitizens in a locked detention facility for purposes of immigration custody; and
    • California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from participating in joint law enforcement task forces where the primary purpose of the task force is immigration enforcement. 

    Nothing in SB 54 prohibits a California law enforcement agency from investigating, detaining, or arresting individuals for criminal activity under state or federal law. SB 54 provides some exceptions for coordination with federal immigration enforcement, including but not limited to, transfers of individuals convicted of certain felonies and misdemeanors. 

    In 2018, the first Trump Administration filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SB 54. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit affirmed that “California has the right, pursuant to the anticommandeering rule [derived from the Tenth Amendment], to refrain from assisting with federal efforts.” United States v. California, 921 F.3d at 873. When the Trump administration subsequently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that decision, the Court denied the request, leaving the Ninth Circuit’s decision and SB 54 in place.

    In the motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Attorney General Bonta argues that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the case, including because Huntington Beach lacks standing under longstanding Ninth Circuit precedent holding that local governments may not challenge the validity of state statutes under federal law in federal court.  

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to protecting, defending, and enforcing the rights of California immigrants. Following President Trump’s election, the Attorney General hosted a series of regional convenings with immigrant rights groups, elected officials, and others in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Salinas, and San Diego. He also released guidance to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and to assist public institutions, law enforcement, and prosecutors in complying with SB 54 and other applicable state laws. More on the Attorney General’s work and the full set of resources are available at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/.  

    A copy of the motion is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to Seven and One Half Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Victim in Marin Headlands

    Source: US FBI

    SAN FRANCISCO – Esbin Ramirez-Garcia was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for committing aggravated sexual abuse while on federal land.  Senior U.S. District Judge William Alsup handed down the sentence.

    Ramirez-Garcia, 28, a national of Mexico, pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, 2025, to one count of aggravated sexual abuse in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2241(a).  According to the plea agreement, Ramirez-Garcia admitted that late in the evening on Aug. 2, 2024, while giving the victim, with whom he had a prior relationship, a ride from her workplace in his truck, he asked her to get back together with him.  The victim refused to resume their relationship and asked to be let out of the vehicle, but Ramirez-Garcia grabbed her with his hand and continued driving, forcing her to accompany him.

    Ramirez-Garcia deviated from the route to the victim’s home and drove his truck to a parking lot in the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  Ramirez-Garcia forcibly placed his body on top of the victim’s body while she sat in the passenger seat and sexually assaulted her.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Acting Special Agent in Charge Betsy Smith made the announcement.  

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Alsup also sentenced the defendant to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered that he participate in a sex offense-specific treatment program, among other conditions.  The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Wistar Wilson prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery, Maureen French, and Fernanda Gonzalez.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Commander dismissed from Met for second time

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A Metropolitan Police Commander has been dismissed from the service for a second time for refusing to take a drugs test.

    A misconduct hearing, led by an independent legally qualified chair, found the allegation proven against Commander Julian Bennett at the level of gross misconduct.

    Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “I am enormously concerned that almost five years since this incident happened we have only now been able to dismiss Commander Bennett.

    “This should have been a simple matter. Commander Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test. As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Commander Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to co-operate.

    “He has been suspended on full pay for an extraordinary length of time. I am sure Londoners will be as outraged as we are at the utter waste of public funds spent paying a senior officer to sit at home suspended and not work.

    “In the last few years the Met has been making greater use of accelerated misconduct hearings to fast-track cases where the evidence is irrefutable. This allows us to dismiss officers far more quickly. And while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett’s matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy.

    “I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett’s prolonged case would not happen again.”

    Commander Bennett was initially dismissed in October 2023 by a misconduct panel independent of the Met.

    The hearing heard that on 21 July 2020 he refused to provide a urine sample for a drugs test, having been informed there was reasonable cause to suspect he had taken drugs. On 24 July 2020 he was suspended from duty.

    The panel found that Commander Bennett had breached the standards of professional behaviour to the level of gross misconduct.

    Two further allegations were found not proven – that between February 2019 and 21 July 2020, while off duty, Commander Bennett smoked cannabis, and that he gave an untrue explanation for why he refused to take the drugs test.

    Commander Bennett then applied to the Police Appeals Tribunal, which is an independent process run by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.

    In July 2024 the PAT quashed the dismissal decision and ordered a new hearing, on the technical basis that the panel had ruled on a matter that was not part of the allegations they were asked to consider.

    The Met considered a legal challenge by way of a Judicial Review but, after careful consideration and legal advice, decided Commander Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing.

    A date for a new hearing was set as quickly as possible in liaison with all parties.

    Commander Bennett has remained suspended throughout this process.

    He will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police and a number of police-related bodies.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MYTHBUSTER: The One Big Beautiful Bill Isn’t “Bad” for Families — It’s the Opposite

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    HOAX: The One Big Beautiful Bill is “bad for our families.”
    FACT: Democrats have totally lost the plot — opposing middle class tax cuts, an expanded child tax credit, border security, and more.
    They’re opposing the largest tax cut in history, which will put an extra $5,000 in their pockets with a double-digit percent decrease to their tax bills. In fact, Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 will pay around 15% less in taxes.
    They’re opposing NO TAX ON TIPS for the millions of Americans who work in the service industry and NO TAX ON OVERTIME for law enforcement, nurses, and more.
    They’re opposing historic tax cuts for senior citizens.
    They’re opposing a boost to the child tax credit.
    They’re opposing new savings accounts for newborns and the chance for children across America to experience the miracle of compounded growth.
    They’re opposing expanded access to childcare for hardworking American families.
    They’re opposing historic border security to keep their communities safe.
    They’re opposing expanded health savings accounts that give Americans greater choice and flexibility in how they spend their money.
    They’re opposing scholarships that empower Americans to choose the education that best fits the needs of their families.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two West Covina Women Arrested on Indictment Alleging $4.8 Million Hospice Services Scheme to Defraud Medicare

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The owner and operator of two West Covina hospices was arrested today on a 14-count federal grand jury indictment alleging she filed more than $4.8 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare – which paid more than $3.8 million on those claims – for medically unnecessary services for people not terminally ill and for paying kickbacks to marketers to procure patients.

    Normita Sierra, 71, a.k.a. “Normie,” of West Covina, is charged with nine counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy, and four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals.

    Also arrested today was Rowena Elegado, 55, a.k.a. “Weng,” also of West Covina, who is charged with one count of conspiracy, and four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals. 

    Both defendants are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    According to the indictment, Sierra owned and operated Golden Meadows Hospice Inc., and D’Alexandria Hospice Inc., which billed Medicare for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill during a scheme that lasted from September 2018 to October 2022.

    Sierra and Elegado allegedly worked together to pay marketers to recruit patients to the hospices, knowing that most of those patients had not been referred by their primary care physicians for such services. Those kickbacks, often referred to internally using the code words “girl scout cookies,” amounted to as much as $1,300 per patient, per month that the patient stayed on hospice service. 

    Others involved in the scheme included Carl Bernardo, 53, of Chino, who pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of receiving kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23. Relyndo Salcedo, 60, of Fontana, a nurse practitioner involved in the scheme, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of health care fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on November 20.

    Salcedo, a nurse practitioner, conducted initial assessments for the hospice and found many of the patients ineligible for hospice. But, under pressure from Sierra, who made the ultimate enrollment decisions even though she wasn’t a medical professional, and marketers such as Bernardo, Salcedo exaggerated and falsified the patients’ conditions to make them seem terminally ill. Hospice physicians then relied on Salcedo’s records to certify the patients as hospice appropriate.

    Once enrolled, those patients – who were not in fact terminally ill – rarely died, and instead were often discharged at around six months at Sierra’s direction, sometimes to her home health company or the other hospice company.

    During the scheme, Golden Meadows submitted at least approximately $3,870,642 in fraudulent claims, on which Medicare paid approximately $2,912,187. D’Alexandria submitted approximately $945,647 in fraudulent claims, on which Medicare paid approximately $894,199.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

    If convicted of the charges, Sierra would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each health care fraud count. Sierra and Elegado would face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each illegal kickback count. 

    The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the FBI investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Air pollution kills 42,000 South Africans in one year. Big polluters must be held accountable

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SOUTH AFRICA, 3 June 2025 – A new report released today by Greenpeace Africa and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals a devastating and avoidable public health crisis. In 2023 alone, 42,000 South Africans lost their lives due to exposure to fine particle pollution (PM2.5), including over 1,300 children under the age of five.

    Behind these deaths lies a simple truth: polluters are poisoning our air and putting profits above people. Industrial giants, especially in the coal and energy sectors, continue to emit dangerous levels of toxic pollutants into the air we breathe, fully aware of the devastating health consequences.

    The report shows that fine particle pollution (PM2.5 — a dangerous pollutant formed by burning coal and fuel and so small that it can enter the bloodstream through the lungs) cost South Africa over  R960 billion in 2023, the equivalent of 14% of the GDP. These costs come in the form of premature deaths, respiratory illness, lost workplace productivity, and overburdened health systems.

    Communities in the Highveld region and Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, which are home to the country’s largest coal-fired power plants and industrial zones, are hardest hit. The data makes it clear: coal is killing us.

    ‘Science is unequivocal. The air South Africans breathe is toxic, and the corporations driving this crisis must no longer be protected by silence or inaction,’ said Cynthia Moyo, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.

    Despite mounting evidence and repeated warnings from health experts, polluting industries continue to operate without accountability. Eskom’s coal fleet, for example, remains one of the world’s largest contributors to deadly air pollution, with some facilities continuing to apply for exemptions from pollution limits meant to protect public health.

    The report also shows that aligning South Africa’s air quality standards with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines could prevent up to 33,000 deaths per year. Even meeting existing national standards could save more than 9,000 lives annually.

    “South Africa’s Constitution guarantees the right to a healthy environment but that right is being violated every day by polluters. Communities deserve clean air, not corporate impunity,” added Dr Jamie Kelly, Health Impact Assessment Team Lead  at CREA.

    Greenpeace Africa calls for:

    • an immediate end to exemptions from air pollution limits for major emitters;
    • the full enforcement of national air quality standards;
    • a bold, just transition away from coal to renewable energy that centers communities;
    • stronger transparency and access to real-time pollution data for the public.

    This report, Unmasking the Toll of Fine Particle Pollution in South Africa, is not just a call to awareness, it’s a call to action. South Africans deserve clean air and a livable future. The time to hold polluters accountable is now.

    -End- 

    Contacts

    Ibrahima Ka Ndoye, International Communications Coordinator, Greenpeace Africa, +221 77 843 71 72, [email protected]

    Ferdinand Omondi, Communications and Storytelling Manager, Greenpeace Africa, +254 722 505233, [email protected] 

    Notes to editors

    Greanpeace Africa SA Air Pollution Report

    Greenpeace Africa has published the report here.

    CREA has published the report here.

    Greenpeace Africa media assets are available here.

    About Greenpeace Africa

    Greenpeace Africa is a growing movement of people acting in protection of the environment. Our campaigns use peaceful, creative confrontation to expose environmental injustices around the world and develop solutions for a green and peaceful future.

    About CREA

    The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) is an independent research organisation focused on revealing the trends, causes, and health impacts, as well as the solutions, to air pollution. The organisation’s work is funded through philanthropic grants and revenue from commissioned research.

    About the methodology

    PM2.5 exposure 

    Human exposure to PM2.5 is estimated using the dataset of van Donkelaar et al. (2021) and Hammer et al. (2023), version V5.GL.05.02. The dataset provides estimates of annual ground-level PM2.5 by combining Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) retrievals, the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (http://geos-chem.org), and global ground-based observations.

    Health impact assessment

    Based on the spatial distributions of the PM2.5 simulated exposure map, we then calculated the corresponding public health impacts between 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. CREA’s health impact assessment (HIA) framework builds on earlier work (Myllyvirta, 2020) but incorporates important methodological updates. Compared to the original approach, we now use integrated exposure response (IER) functions from the upcoming GBD 2023 study (IHME, 2025) instead of the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM), and we have added dementia as a new health endpoint. The framework continues to include a comprehensive set of health outcomes, selected to avoid overlap and to enable robust economic valuation.

    The full methodology is available in the report.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lee Jae-myung will likely be elected as new president of the Republic of Korea – media /more details/

    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

    SEOUL, June 3 (Xinhua) — Lee Jae-myung, the candidate for the presidency of the liberal Democratic Toburo Party, which holds the majority of seats in the country’s parliament, is likely to be elected as the new head of state, local television channel MBC reported on Tuesday.

    According to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Korea as of 22:53 local time /13:53 GMT/, based on the counting of 22.7 percent of ballots, Lee Jae-myung received 47.7 percent of the votes, while his main rival from the conservative Civil Power Party, Kim Moon-soo, received 44.1 percent.

    MBC estimated the probability of victory for the Democratic Party candidate Toburo at 97.6 percent.

    An exit poll jointly conducted by three broadcasters (KBS, MBC and SBS) showed Lee Jae-myung leading with 51.7 percent of the vote, ahead of Kim Moon-soo, who received 39.3 percent.

    Early voter turnout was 79.4 percent, the highest in 28 years after a record 80.7 percent in 1997.

    Voter turnout, including those who voted early on May 29 and 30, was up from the 77.1 percent recorded in the previous presidential election in 2022. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: The Apache Software Foundation Announces Two New Top-Level Projects

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Wilmington, DE, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), the global home of open source software the world relies on, today announced that Apache Gravitino and Apache StormCrawler have graduated from incubation and are now Top-Level Projects (TLP). 

    Apache Gravitino is a high-performance, open source metastore that unifies metadata across data warehouses, data lakes, lakehouses, streaming platforms, and AI systems. With a flexible and centralized architecture, Gravitino empowers organizations to seamlessly manage, discover, and govern distributed data and AI assets – eliminating data silos and simplifying modern data infrastructure. Supporting a broad ecosystem, including Apache Iceberg, Apache Hive, Apache Kafka, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more, Gravitino provides a unified metadata layer to enable intelligent data discovery, governance, and lakehouse federation at scale.

    “Gravitino is uniquely designed to bridge data and AI workloads. We’re excited to deploy it across our multi-cloud AI clusters and contribute to many prioritized AI and agent-based use cases,” said Jack Song, Director of Uber Data Platform. “Gravitino’s graduation marks its maturity entering the next level, backed by a thriving and engaged community.”

    Apache StormCrawler is an open source software development kit (SDK) for developers looking to build low-latency, scalable, and customizable web crawlers. The project consists of a collection of reusable resources and components, written mostly in Java and it uses Apache Storm®. StormCrawler is well suited for environments where URLs to be fetched and parsed arrive as a stream (i.e. continuously over time), as well as large-scale, recursive web crawling, especially when fast response times are important.

    “Becoming an Apache Software Foundation Top-Level Project is a significant milestone for an open source community, and we are extremely proud of the accomplishment,” said Julien Nioche, member of the Apache StormCrawler PMC. “We are eager to see how the StormCrawler community continues to grow, collaborate, and innovate as a TLP.” 

    Open source projects need healthy communities to thrive. The ASF provides projects with services and mentorship for building resilient and durable communities throughout their lifecycle. The Apache Incubator provides services to incoming projects (called podlings) that want to enter the ASF and adopt the Apache Way. 

    About The Apache Software Foundation (ASF)
    The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is the global home for open source software, powering some of the world’s most ubiquitous software projects including Apache Airflow, Apache Camel, Apache Cassandra, Apache Groovy, Apache HTTP Server, and Apache Kafka. Established in 1999, the ASF is at the forefront of open source innovation, setting industry standards to advance software for the public good. Learn more at https://apache.org.

    ASF’s annual Community Over Code event is where open source technologists convene to share best practices and use cases, forge critical relationships, and learn about advancements in their field. https://communityovercode.org/ 
    © The Apache Software Foundation. “Apache” is a registered trademark or trademark of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Residential Property Stock and Price Bulletin 2025 Tuesday 03 June 2025

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release

    Date: 3rd June 2025

    Delivery of housing statistics underpins strategic thinking

    As a first for the Community, an Alderney Residential Property Stock and Prices Bulletin for 2025 has been produced. This follows research being undertaken by the Data and Analysis team in the States of Guernsey, which covers information relating to the past 10 years.

    At the end of March 2025, there were 1,510 domestic property units in Alderney; 47% of the units were owner occupied, 45% were privately rented, 5% were deemed affordable and 4% had a tenure of ‘Other’.

    Within the privately rented category, 36% (16% of the total housing stock) were identified as having an owner whose primary address was not in Alderney. There were also 52 residential property transactions during 2024, compared with 43 during 2023.

    Chairman of the Housing Group, Iain MacFarlane said:

    “Housing is high on the agenda for the States of Alderney and a number of workstreams are underway. This data is welcomed and is essential in providing the States with an understanding of property stock and prices and how they have changed over time which links directly with availability of housing and the various associated trends. Further work will be undertaken to assess evolving, current and future needs for housing.”

    The bulletin can be found at the following link:

    Alderney Residential Property Stock and Price Bulletin 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government issues feedback on local plans to reshape councils

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER City Council has today (3 Jun) received the Government’s response to its interim proposal to expand the city’s boundary as part of plans to reorganise local government.

    In December 2024, the Government announced major changes to simplify how local government will work in England. This would abolish the two-tier system of councils which exists in many areas, including Leicestershire, and replace them with larger, single-tier unitary councils. This would in turn pave the way for devolution – the transfer of more power from central government to the regions.

    The Government invited local councils to make proposals for change in their areas.

    It has now issued feedback on the three separate proposals covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

    Leicester City Council’s interim proposal suggests a sensible and proportionate expansion of the city boundaries to include adjoining suburbs. This would create an expanded city council and a new single-tier authority in the county. These would be of roughly equal size and would both meet the Government’s target population for new unitary authorities, of at least 500,000 people.

    The Government feedback provides guidance on how plans can be further developed into a final submission for November. No decisions have been made at this stage. 

    City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We have now received and will carefully consider the Government’s feedback to our interim proposal and will be continuing discussions with the county, district and Rutland councils to see if we can agree a way forward.

    “I remain absolutely convinced that any realistic option for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland must address the historic accident of our city’s boundaries. An expanded city is key to unlocking devolution and boosting much needed housing development and economic growth.

    “With the local elections in the county now concluded, I hope that we will now be able to return to sensible discussions about where new boundary lines should be drawn as we consider not just the challenges but also the immense opportunities of reshaping our local councils.

    “We will, of course, ensure that people are kept informed as our proposal develops over the coming months.”

    Leicester City Council will now continue discussions with the county, district and Rutland councils to see if a joint proposal for change across the area can be developed.

    If this is not possible, the city council will continue to develop its own plan.

    All councils must submit their final proposals by 28 November 2025.

    Central government will have the final decision on a proposal, and will lead public consultation on it.

    The Government’s response to Leicester’s interim proposal is available to view online at: leicester.gov.uk/devolution

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces FEMA to Participate in Joint Damage Assessments in 5 Southwest Missouri Counties for May 23-26 Severe Storms and Flooding

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 3, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) of public infrastructure and response costs in Dade, Douglas, Ozark, Vernon and Webster counties after severe storms, straight-line winds, excessive rain, large hail and flooding caused heavy damage there from May 23 through May 26.   

    “The long Memorial Day weekend brought four consecutive days of damaging severe storms and flooding to southwest Missouri and led to the destruction of public infrastructure and emergency response costs that are well-beyond the capacity of Dade, Douglas, Ozark, Vernon, and Webster counties,”  Governor Kehoe said. “Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) personnel have been working with local officials as they have been preparing initial damage estimates and we believe the destruction requires joint reviews by FEMA, SEMA, and our local partners, in anticipation for a request for a federal disaster declaration.”

    Additional counties may be added as damage information is received from local officials.

    Joint PDA teams are made up of representatives from FEMA, SEMA and local emergency management officials. Beginning Tuesday, June 10, three teams will verify documented damage to determine if Public Assistance can be requested through FEMA. Public Assistance allows local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including debris removal and repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

    SEMA continues to coordinate with local officials, other state agencies, and volunteer and faith-based partners to identify needs and assist impacted families and individuals in areas of the state affected by this spring’s destructive severe weather. If you have damage, you should contact your insurance company and file a claim as soon as possible.

    Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, including general clean-up information, housing assistance, and mental health services, visit recovery.mo.gov.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese National at the University of Michigan Charged with Illegally Voting in the 2024 Election

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT – A criminal complaint was filed charging Haoxiang Gao, a citizen and national of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with false claims to register or vote and voting by aliens, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.

    According to the complaint, Gao was a college student attending the University of Michigan who illegally registered to vote in the days before the 2024 presidential election, apparently using his University of Michigan student ID, and then cast a ballot in the election at a polling location located at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The complaint further alleges that Gao made false statements regarding his citizenship on his voter registration application and his early voting application. After being charged with state offenses, the state court granted Gao a $5,000 personal bond with conditions, including that he does not leave the State of Michigan and that he surrenders his passport for the pendency of the case. Gao did surrender his passport but on January 19, 2025—the day before the new administration took office in Washington—Gao jumped bond and fled the country on a flight bound for Shanghai, China. Customs and Border Protection records show that Gao passed through Detroit Metropolitan Airport security using a PRC passport in his name but bearing a number different from the number on the passport that he surrendered to University of Michigan police.

    Relatedly, on Friday, May 30, 2025, a complaint was unsealed charging Gao with the federal offense of flight to avoid prosecution based on the allegations that he jumped bond and fled the country to avoid his state offenses.

    United States Attorney Gorgon stated, “Illegal voting is a serious crime that cast doubt on our elections and serves to disenfranchise United States citizens by diluting their power at the ballot box. But illegal voting by a foreign national who is from a country controlled by a communist party dictatorship – with no modern history or tradition of democratic government – is beyond the pale. I hope that today’s charges send a message to foreign nationals – including those who are students at our universities – that we will not tolerate illegal voting.”

    “The federal charges filed against Haoxiang Gao, a Chinese national, serve as a clear and unequivocal reminder that the FBI will investigate anyone who attempts to unlawfully interfere with the electoral process in the United States,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI treats all allegations of voter fraud with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to holding accountable those who violate our election laws. This case reflects the strength of our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, whose prosecutorial leadership has been critical. I also want to commend the dedicated efforts of the FBI’s Ann Arbor Resident Agency, in close collaboration with the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety & Security, for their outstanding investigative work.”

    A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.

    The FBI is investigating this case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Quadient Q1 2025 sales at €258m, with strong performance in Digital and Lockers. FY 2025 guidance maintained

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Key highlights

    • Q1 2025 consolidated revenue of €258 million, down 1.1% on a reported basis, including the contribution of Package Concierge, and down 2.5% organically(1)
    • Continued good momentum in Digital and Lockers, with double-digit growth in subscription-related revenue
    • Low point in the renewal cycle of mail equipment installed base, as expected
    • Positive current EBIT evolution supported by all three Solutions
    • Acceleration of digital financial automation strategy in Europe with the acquisition of Serensia, a leading French electronic invoicing certified platform
    • Stronger H2 anticipated on the back of continued strong momentum in Digital and Lockers with further improvement in profitability, expected Mail recovery and good order pipeline across Solutions
    • FY 2025 guidance maintained, i.e. organic growth acceleration in both revenue and current EBIT

    Paris, 3 June 2025

    Quadient S.A. (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, today announces its 2025 first quarter consolidated revenue (period ended on 30 April 2025).

    Geoffrey Godet, Chief Executive Officer of Quadient S.A., stated:

    “The first quarter of 2025 has been another strong quarter for our Digital and Lockers solutions, which delivered solid levels of subscription-related revenue organic growth at +11.1% for Digital and +12.7% for Lockers, demonstrating the strength and success of our two fast growing solutions as well as the quality of our recurring business model.

    As expected, our Mail performance was softer, reflecting the low point in the renewal cycle and a tough comparison base following the decertification-driven boost in 2024 in the United-States. The situation was further exacerbated by a particularly challenging American macroeconomic environment during the first quarter.

    Despite these headwinds in the quarter, we achieved current EBIT organic growth, supported by EBITDA margin positive development in all three solutions.

    With the acquisition of Serensia, a leading French electronic invoicing certified platform, Quadient is accelerating its digital financial automation strategy in Europe and will bring superior digital intelligent automation capabilities to its 300K+ customers worldwide, and notably to its 60K+ French customers, further accelerating their digital transformation, as they anticipate the 2026 mandatory e-invoicing law in France.

    While we expect the same uncertainty and market conditions to continue in Q2, we remain confident in our ability to deliver a stronger second half. As a result, we are maintaining our full-year 2025 guidance of acceleration in both organic revenue growth and organic EBIT growth compared to the 2024 growth rates.”

    Comments on Q1 2025 performance

    Group revenue came in at €258 million in Q1 2025, down 1.1% on a reported basis, and 2.5% organically compared to Q1 2024. Reported growth includes a positive scope effect of €4 million from the acquisition of Package Concierge in December 2024. The currency impact was broadly flat over the period.

    Subscription related revenue (€193 million, 75% of total sales) increased by +1.2% organically over Q1 2025, reflecting the continued strong momentum in Digital and Lockers. In contrast, non-recurring revenue declined by 12.0% organically against Q1 2024, due to a low point in the renewal cycle of mail equipment installed base, as expected. The decline in hardware sales has however been amplified by the challenging macroeconomic environment in the United States.

    By geography, North America (59% of revenue) declined organically by 2.4% in Q1 2025, impacted by macroeconomic uncertainty in the US delaying customer decision making and a strong comparison base in Mail following last year’s decertification-driven uplift in sales. The Main European countries (33% of revenue) recorded a 2.8% organic decline, while the International segment (8% of revenue) was down 2.0% organically.

    Consolidated revenue by Solution

    Q1 2025 consolidated revenue

    In € million Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change Organic change
    Digital 67 63 +6.5% +7.2%
    Mail 164 178 (7.9)% (7.9)%
    Lockers 27 20 +35.4% +12.2%
    Group total 258 261 (1.1)% (2.5)%
     

    Digital

    In Q1 2025, revenue from Digital reached €67 million, up 7.2% organically and up 6.5% on a reported basis compared to Q1 2024.

    This solid performance was driven by a strong 11.1% organic growth in Q1 2025 in subscription-related revenue, in acceleration compared to the previous quarter. Growth was broad-based across all regions, including a double-digit growth in North America. Subscription-related revenue represented 85% of Digital total sales, a further increase compared to 82% in Q1 2024.

    At the end of Q1 2025, annual recurring revenue (ARR) reached €237 million(2), vs. €232 million at the end of FY 2024, representing a 9.6% organic growth on an annualized basis.

    The Digital solution continued to demonstrate healthy booking trends, highlighted by:

    • Robust cross-selling bookings with Mail customers, up c. +50% year-on-year;
    • Double-digit growth in new customer acquisition within the Enterprise business.

    During the quarter, Quadient’s Digital Automation platform received several leadership recognitions across multiple analyst rankings, notably in AP/AR financial automation, where it is now ranked on par with its high positions in CCM/CXM.

    Quadient is accelerating its digital financial automation strategy in Europe, with the acquisition on 2nd June 2025 of Serensia, a leading French electronic invoicing certified platform, trusted by more than 160 customers (including TotalEnergies, Dalkia, RATP…), processing nearly 200 million invoices annually. This acquisition provides Quadient with:

    • First-class software Intellectual Property for its PDP platform (Partner Dematerialization Platform, registered by the French State), and
    • Access to Pan-European Public Procurement Online (PEPPOL) market.

    This acquisition further strengthens Quadient’s Finance Automation portfolio (which includes online payment, e-invoicing, account payable and account receivable automation, credit analysis, hybrid mail, …), and further accelerates Quadient’s Mail customers’ digital transformation, by providing additional pathways towards the necessary adoption of e-invoicing solutions, legally mandated across Europe. Please refer to our dedicated press release published on 2nd June for more details.

    Mail

    Mail revenue reached €164 million in Q1 2025, down 7.9% organically and on a reported basis compared to Q1 2024.   

    Hardware sales recorded a 15.8% organic decline in the first quarter of 2025. This decrease was primarily driven by:

    • A softer performance across all regions. This was expected, given the echo effect of the COVID period, with fewer contracts for renewal, reflecting the lower level of hardware placements made during the pandemic 5 years ago;
    • The United States was particularly affected, with a strong comparison base in Q1 2024, which had benefited from the decertification boosting effect (which ended in Q4 2024), as well as by increased economic uncertainty that delayed customer decision-making.

    Subscription-related revenue (72% of Mail sales) recorded an organic decline of 4.4% in the quarter.

    Despite these headwinds, Quadient continued to outperform the market this quarter.

    The Mail automation platform continued to show good commercial momentum, and double-digit growth in cross-sell order intake with Lockers and +50% for Digital bookings in Q1 2025. This dynamic is illustrated by the expansion of the partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, which has long relied on Quadient’s parcel locker systems to facilitate on-campus student and staff deliveries and is now extending the relationship to include a comprehensive mail management solution.

    At the end of April 2025, already 44.0% of Quadient installed base has been upgraded with its newest technology, compared to 42.4% at the end of January 2025.

    H2 2025 performance is expected to recover as the Mail equipment business will be supported by a stronger pipeline of contracts up for renewal over the second part of the year.

    Lockers

    Lockers revenue reached €27 million in Q1 2025, a 12.2% increase on an organic basis. The reported growth stood at 35.4% year-on-year, reflecting the positive contribution from Package Concierge (€4 million in Q1 2025).

    Subscription-related revenue increased by 12.7% organically in Q1 2025, benefiting from:

    • The outstanding strong volumes ramp up in the UK and French open networks;
    • The continued momentum in the US, driven by higher monetization of usage fees.

    Overall, subscription-related revenue stood at 65% of total revenue in Q1 2025 (vs. 68% in Q1 2024, this small drop reflecting the different revenue mix at the recently acquired Package Concierge).

    Non-recurring revenue (license & hardware sales and professional services) grew strongly by 11.4% organically in Q1 2025, driven by a significant locker placement in International, which more than offset the softer performance in North America. Moreover, another hardware sales deal for circa €5 million has been signed in International and will be recognized in H2 2025

    Quadient’s global locker installed base reached c.26,100 units at the end of Q1 2025, with 600 new lockers deployed over the quarter. This reflects the accelerated pace of new locker installations, particularly in the UK open network, which has expanded nearly fourfold over the last 15 months. This growth is driven by partnerships signed in recent quarters to host parcel lockers in new prime locations.

    In the UK, Quadient extended its partnership with EVRi, with a new large and long-term deal signed, including the consolidation of returns (Drop Box functionality). Quadient also signed a strategic partnership with Stasher, offering travelers a nationwide luggage storage service through Quadient’s smart locker network. These partnerships are expected to further drive volume and support continued adoption growth. In Japan (International segment), Quadient expanded the access to its network so that Amazon parcels can be delivered within approximately 6,000 “PUDO Stations” nationwide.

    LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT

    In May 2025, Quadient proactively extended the maturity of its €300 million undrawn Revolving Credit Facility by an additional year, pushing it to 2030.

    FY 2025 GUIDANCE MAINTAINED

    While Q2 is expected to face similar markets conditions to the previous quarter and continued macroeconomic uncertainty, Quadient remains confident in its ability to deliver a stronger performance in the second half of the year. This confidence is supported by:

    • A good profitability start of the year, with an improvement in EBITDA margin across solutions;
    • Moving forward:
      • Sustained strong momentum in Digital and Lockers, with further improvement in profitability;
      • An expected recovery in Mail in H2, as the renewal cycle of the mail equipment installed base should reverse and provide greater opportunities;
      • A promising order pipeline across solutions.

    In this this context, Quadient maintains its full-year 2025 guidance, of acceleration in both organic revenue growth and organic current EBIT growth compared to the 2024 growth rates, while acknowledging that ongoing global economic disruptions and their impact, in particular on the US market, remain difficult to predict at this stage.

    Q1 2025 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

    Quadient Recognized in Inaugural 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Accounts Payable Applications
    On 4 April 2025, Quadient announced it has been recognized in the first ever 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Accounts Payable Applications. A Gartner Magic Quadrant is a culmination of research in a specific market, giving a wide-angle view of the relative positions of the market’s competitors3.

    Quadient Receives SBTi’s Validation of its GHG Emission Reduction Targets
    On 7 April 2025, Quadient announced that the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. SBTi is a corporate climate action initiative that provides companies with science-based guidance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. This validation confirms that Quadient’s commitments align with scientific requirements to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

    Quadient Recognized in Analyst Report on Top AI Use Cases for Finance Automation
    On 16 April 2025, Quadient announced it has been recognized in a recent Forrester report on ways artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming accounts receivable (AR) processes. The report, “Top AI Use Cases for Accounts Receivable Automation In 2025,” includes mentions of Quadient AR for cash application and payment notice. Quadient considers its inclusion in the report as proof of the impact its AI- and machine learning-powered financial process automation offer, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making capabilities.

    Quadient Named a Leader in the SPARK Matrix™: Customer Communication Management Report for 2025
    On 24 April 2025, Quadient has been recognized as a Leader in the SPARK Matrix™: Customer Communication Management (CCM), Q2, 2025 report by global advisory and consulting firm QKS Group. This marks the fifth consecutive year Quadient has been named a Leader in the SPARK Matrix for CCM, a strategic vendor performance assessment tool that ranks vendors across the categories of Technology Excellence and Customer Impact.

    Quadient: 11% Increase in Software Sales to Mail Clients in 2024 Reflects Rising Demand for Smarter, Multichannel Communications
    On 30 April 2025, Quadient shared that businesses are increasingly turning to digital solutions to meet rising customer expectations for modern, multichannel communication. This shift is driving tangible growth: in fiscal year 2024, Quadient recorded a record 11% increase in cross-sales of its Digital automation solutions within its Mail customer base.

    POST-CLOSING EVENTS

    Stasher and Quadient Partner to Launch Nationwide Luggage Storage Using UK Smart Locker Network
    On 7 May 2025, Quadient announced a strategic partnership with Stasher, the world’s first luggage storage platform. This partnership marks a significant expansion of Stasher’s UK network and will provide travelers in key cities throughout the UK, including London, Birmingham, York, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff and Manchester, with more convenient, secure, and accessible luggage storage options through more than 1,640 Parcel Pending by Quadient smart lockers.

    Quadient and Nuvei Sign New Partnership to Enhance Cloud Payment Capabilities for Businesses Globally
    On 13 May 2025, Quadient and Nuvei announced a strategic technology partnership to enhance cloud payment capabilities for businesses globally. Through this partnership, Nuvei’s advanced payment processing technology is now integrated into Quadient’s cloud-based Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) automation solutions, providing businesses of all sizes across North America, the UK, and Europe with a unified platform to manage B2B payments more efficiently, securely, and at scale.

    AI-powered Automation and Real-Time Payments Secure Quadient Leader Position in SPARK Matrix for Accounts Receivable
    On 15 May 2025, Quadient has been positioned as a Leader in the SPARK Matrix™: Accounts Receivable Applications, 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year Quadient has been named as a leader in the report produced by the technology advisory and research firm QKS Group. Quadient believes this recognition is a testament to its continuing commitment to help businesses accelerate digital transformation, automate financial processes to increase business performance and create high-value customer interactions.

    Quadient Surpasses 300 Higher Education Locker Customers, Helping Campuses Modernize Logistics and Tackle Food Insecurity
    On 27 May 2025, Quadient announced that more than 300 higher education institutions in the U.S. are now relying on Parcel Pending by Quadient Lockers for streamlined package pickup and drop-off, bookstore merchandise, class and IT equipment exchange points, and addressing the challenge of student food insecurity.

    Quadient Advances AI Capabilities to Help Organizations Power Better Customer Interactions and Revenue Growth
    On 28 May 2025, Quadient announced the release of advanced AI capabilities designed for crafting and orchestrating highly personalized, omnichannel customer interactions. The extended AI is part of the latest release of Quadient Inspire, an industry-leading customer communications management (CCM) solution, and represents Quadient’s continued investment in transforming the way businesses dynamically communicate with customers.

    Quadient Accelerates its Digital Financial Automation Strategy in Europe with the Acquisition of Serensia
    On 2 Juin 2025, Quadient announced the acquisition of Serensia, a highly recognized a leading French electronic invoicing platform provider accredited by the French government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP). This strategic acquisition strengthens Quadient’s position in digital compliance and its ability to support both its 150,000 European customers and the more than 8 million businesses impacted in France as they transition to mandatory electronic invoicing.

    To know more about Quadient’s news flow, previous press releases are available on our website at the following address: https://invest.quadient.com/en/newsroom.

    CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST

    Quadient will host a conference call and webcast today at 6:00 pm Paris time (5:00 pm London time).

    To join the webcast, click on the following link: Webcast.

    To listen to the presentation by phone, please register using the following link to receive the dial-in details: Conference call.

    A replay of the webcast will also be available on Quadient’s Investor Relations website for 12 months.

    Calendar

    • 13 June 2025: Annual General Assembly
    • 24 September 2025: Half-year results and Q2 2025 sales

    About Quadient®

    Quadient is a global automation platform provider powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing.

    For more information about Quadient, visit https://invest.quadient.com/en/.

    Contacts

    APPENDIX

    Digital: New name for Intelligent Communication Automation

    Mail: New name for Mail-Related Solutions

    Lockers: New name for Parcel Locker Solutions

    Q1 2025 consolidated revenue

    Q1 2025 consolidated revenue by geography

    In € million Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change Organic
    change
    North America(a) 151 150 +0.6%(d) (2.4)%
    Main European countries(b) 86 89 (2.9)% (2.8)%
    International(c) 21 23      (5.6)%(d) (2.0)%
    Group total 258 261 (1.1)% (2.5)%
    (a)  Including the United States and Canada. Brazil and Mexico are also part of this segment as of 1stJanuary 2025.
    (b)  Including Austria, Benelux, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy (excluding Mail), Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
    (c)  International includes the activities of Digital, Mail and Lockers outside of North America and the Main European countries. From 1stJanuary 2025, Brazil and Mexico are no longer included and are now part of North America.
    (d)  The reported changes reflect a €0.9m reclassification effect due to the transfer of Brazil and Mexico from International to North America as of 1stJanuary 2025.

    (1) Q1 2025 sales are compared to Q1 2024 sales, to which is added pro rata temporis the revenue of Package Concierge for a consolidated amount of €4 million. The currency impact is broadly neutral in the period.
    (2) Q1 2025 ARR includes a €1.3 million positive currency effect vs 31 January 2025.
    (3) Gartner Research Methodologies, Gartner Magic Quadrant, 28 March 2025

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Egypt’s renewable power capacity to reach 31.6GW in 2035, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Egypt’s renewable power capacity to reach 31.6GW in 2035, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Power

    Egypt is endeavoring to augment the proportion of renewable energy within its electricity mix to 42% by the year 2035. The nation is actively expanding its capacity through the implementation of large-scale solar and wind energy initiatives. Against this backdrop, renewable power capacity in the country is expected to reach 31.6GW in 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% during 2024-35, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “Egypt Power Market Outlook to 2035, Update 2025 – Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape,” reveals that annual renewable power generation in Egypt is expected to increase at a CAGR of 19.4% during 2024-35 to reach 88.9TWh.

    With its advantageous conditions to harness solar and wind power, Egypt recognizes renewable energy as a pivotal factor for its economic growth. The country possesses considerable wind energy potential, particularly in the Gulf of Suez area, where stable wind speeds average 8-10 meters per second at a height of 100 meters.  Furthermore, Egypt enjoys between 2,800 and 3,200 hours of sunshine annually, with daily sunshine ranging from 9-11 hours from north to south.

    Attaurrahman Ojindaram Saibasan, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Egypt’s primary opportunity resides in the exponential growth of electricity consumption, which correlates directly with the increasing population size. This trend presents a significant investment opportunity for companies specializing in power generation equipment.”

    The adoption of renewable energy could enhance Egypt’s energy security while preserving foreign exchange income through continued gas exports. Additionally, it has the potential to reduce GHG emissions and mitigate environmental impacts.

    Saibasan concludes: “Electricity consumption is increasing across all sectors, including residential, industrial, and commercial, in Egypt. Growing demand is driving the need for new power generation projects and grid upgrades. Egypt has one of the fastest-growing populations in the region, with over 107.8 million people as of 2024. Urbanization is increasing, with new housing developments and smart cities like the New Administrative Capital requiring large-scale electricity infrastructure. The country is focusing on renewables to meet increasing demand.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major step forward for homes on another brownfield site

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 3rd June 2025

    A former Stoke-on-Trent school site which has been vacant for almost two decades is being given a new lease of life as a brand-new housing estate for almost 120 homes.

    Plans to transform the former Brookhouse Green Primary School site in Wellfield Road, Bentilee, into 117 new, affordable homes were approved in April as part of the city council’s mission to ensure everyone has access to a decent home. 

    Now the authority has entered into a pre-construction services agreement with GRAHAM – and work is expected to start on site before the start of next year.

    The national company will work collaboratively with the council to ensure that homes are of high quality and energy efficient.

    The plans include a mix of homes for older people to live independently, dormer bungalows, apartments and family houses. Construction is expected to last approximately two years.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “We have got a fantastic opportunity here to transform derelict brownfield land into new homes, creating new jobs and a sense of community.

    “We know people are in desperate need of new, affordable homes so I’m delighted that we have appointed GRAHAM and we are looking forward to working with them in future.

    “By working together, we’re making great strides to bring much-needed new homes to the city to ensure families can live their best lives now and in the future.”

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, ward councillor for Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend, added: “The redevelopment of this site will make a massive difference to local residents. This is a large piece of land which has been empty since the old school closed back in 2006, so I’m really pleased to see progress being made to bring it back into use.”

    The Wellfield Road site was deemed surplus to requirements in 2020. The redevelopment is being supported by a £1.8 million government grant from the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2.

    Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM,said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring this long-vacant site back into productive use.

    “By delivering a mix of high-quality, energy-efficient homes, we’re helping to address local housing needs and support wider regeneration goals. This project is a great example of how collaboration can unlock social value and long-term benefits for communities.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP acts early in Bangladesh to respond to worsening floods, calling for urgent support to reach millions more

    Source: World Food Programme

    DHAKA – As relentless rains batter southeastern Bangladesh, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is on the ground responding to rising needs in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.

    On 29 May, at the request of the Government, WFP activated its emergency response in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar District, just hours after flood warnings were triggered. Through its anticipatory action mechanism, 6,500 people received BDT 5,000 (US$43) per family, transferred directly to their mobile wallets. This early support allowed families to buy food and essentials, protect their homes and livelihoods, and brace for the floods ahead.

    “As always, climate shocks hit hardest in communities already living in poverty and facing high food insecurity,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh. “Because we acted early, families had a chance to prepare and face the storm with greater resilience.” 

    To respond to climate shocks this year, WFP has developed a four-phase emergency preparedness and response plan. It includes anticipatory action before the emergency to help people prepare, emergency food rations immediately after, financial support for affected people to access food as markets begin to reopen, and cash-for-work and income-generating activities to help communities recover quickly. 

    “Anticipatory action gives families a chance to prepare – to buy food, secure their homes and stay safe. But this window is narrow, and resources are limited. We are calling on partners to act with us – early, fast and at scale – to protect lives before the next wave of flooding hits,” added Scalpelli. 

    WFP aims to reach over 6 million people at risk but faces a funding gap of US$55 million.

    WFP’s latest response is part of a growing national effort to strengthen early action in Bangladesh. In 2024, over 15 anticipatory action frameworks were activated by UN agencies and INGOs. In 2025, 46 agencies are expected to implement anticipatory action, with increasing national leadership and expanded coverage of hazards like heatwaves, landslides and droughts.

    WFP’s anticipatory action is supported by partners including the European Union and donors contributing to our Global Anticipatory Action Trust Fund such as Germany and Ireland. We also acknowledge pooled funding and multilateral support, including from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and donors like Belgium, whose contribution enabled our recent response in Teknaf.

    #    #    #

    “I’ve never received any money during past rainy seasons or floods,” said Nurul Begum, who received WFP’s anticipatory assistance. In the picture, the mother of three smiles as she shows a message confirming receipt of BDT 5,000 from WFP. © WFP/Saikat Mojumder

     

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

    Follow us on X @wfp_bangladesh, Facebook @WFPinBangladesh, Instagram @wfp_bangladesh  

     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Keeping Coaldale and Lethbridge County safe from floods

    For more than three decades, the Town of Coaldale and Lethbridge County, located within the Malloy Drainage Basin, have experienced destructive floods that can damage homes, businesses and public infrastructure. Together with the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), the town and county have been working to address and mitigate the flooding dangers faced by their residents.

    Thanks in large part to Alberta government funding, groundbreaking is now underway for a new stormwater management facility that will reduce the risk of overland flooding in the region. This will help protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure in southern Alberta for years to come.

    Alberta’s government provided $3.73 million in funding through the Drought and Flood Protection Program to support critical community upgrades, including constructing new stormwater ponds and building a new South Coaldale regional stormwater management facility that will increase regional stormwater capacity and help combat overland flooding.

    “This project is an important step toward protecting southern Albertans from future floods. By investing in the right infrastructure today, we’re building a safer, stronger province for generations to come.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “I am pleased to see work underway for a new facility to help Coaldale manage stormwater effectively and help to keep their homes, businesses and farmland protected. This is a great example of working together to build a more resilient future for the region.”

    Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Water

    “For decades, Coaldale has been vulnerable to flooding events that have impacted homes, businesses and essential infrastructure. This new stormwater management facility is a long overdue and much-needed investment in public safety and community resilience. We’re proud to be working alongside our regional partners to deliver a solution that not only protects our residents today, but also positions Coaldale for sustainable growth into the future.”

    Jack Van Rijn, mayor, Town of Coaldale

    “We see significant value in this project. This facility is an investment in our communities to keep residents safe and protect the agricultural land that is so critical to the success of our region. By working in partnership with Coaldale and SMRID, we can ensure a lasting and long-term benefit for generations. Regional collaboration is essential to leveraging our collective resources and achieving outcomes that benefit the entire area.”

    Tory Campbell, reeve, Lethbridge County

    “The SMRID is thrilled to see the south Coaldale regional stormwater management facility  moving forward and are proud to support this important project. The SWMF will benefit the communities in the Malloy Drainage Basin, and southern Alberta more broadly, and play a critical role in flood mitigation in the future. The project exemplifies the spirit of regional partnership and co-operation, and will support the social, environmental and economic objectives of the area and protect homes, property and irrigation infrastructure that is vital to economic prosperity in the region.”

    David Westwood, general manager, St. Mary River Irrigation District

    The five-year, $125-million Drought and Flood Protection program is helping municipalities and Indigenous communities protect critical infrastructure from flooding and drought and improve public safety. The next round of funding applications will open in October, with another $25 million available to protect businesses, families and communities.

    Quick facts

    • The new south Coaldale stormwater management facility will help mitigate runoff from a 3,662-hectare rural catchment area during 1:100-year storm events, reducing the risk of future disasters.
    • The facility will include 100,000 cubic metres of stormwater storage.
    • The total project cost is estimated at $5.3 million, with $3.73 million being funded through Alberta’s Drought and Flood Protection Program.
    • Once constructed, the facility will provide significant protection to over 750 residences, roadways, municipal infrastructure and agricultural land.
    • Construction will begin this spring and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2026.

    Related information

    • Drought and Flood Protection Program
    • Approved projects

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 117-Units of Affordable Housing for Seniors in the Bronx

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today announced the completion of YP Senior Residence, a 117-unit affordable housing development in the Morris Heights neighborhood of The Bronx that is reserved for older New Yorkers. The $81 million project includes 37 supportive apartments where eligible tenants will receive on-site support services. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has financed almost 6,200 affordable homes in The Bronx. YP Senior Residence continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

    “New York is committed to supporting our more vulnerable communities, including seniors who help build and shape neighborhoods throughout the state,” Governor Hochul said. “As an affordable housing development for older New Yorkers, YP Senior Residence is making the cost of living more affordable for over 100 households in The Bronx. Thank you to our partners for bringing this important project to fruition.”

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “From creating record amounts of senior housing for older New Yorkers to building historic amounts of supportive housing for people who need a little extra help, we have the most pro-housing mayoral administration in New York City history. Through our partnership with Governor Hochul and projects like this one in the Bronx, we have doubled down on those efforts, delivering the housing that New Yorkers need at prices they can afford. Whether it’s individual developments like this or generational initiatives like our ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ plan to revitalize New York City’s zoning code, we are showing what is possible when government at all levels comes together to make a real difference in building a more affordable city for New Yorkers.”

    Apartments at YP Senior Residence are available to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. There are 37 units reserved for New Yorkers age 55 and older experiencing chronic homelessness eligible for on-site support services. The remaining 80 units are available to New Yorkers age 62 and older.

    YP Senior Residence includes sustainable features such as rooftop solar panels and a Variant Refrigerant Flow heating and cooling system that captures and repurposes heat already in the environment. There are Energy Star® appliances, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation for improved indoor air quality, water-conserving plumbing, and a green roof.

    The building is designed to promote a supportive environment and socialization while combatting isolation. It is full of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces including communal lounges on each floor, a rooftop terrace, and a landscaped courtyard.

    The project’s developer and support services provider is the Volunteers of America — Greater New York. Robert Sanborn Development is the co-developer.

    YP Senior Residence is supported by HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program which generated nearly $35 million in equity, a $20 million first mortgage bond from its Housing Finance Agency, $4.4 million from its Office of Resilient Homes and Communities’ Affordable Housing Fund Program, and $1.7 million from its Senior Housing Program.

    The project also received $6.5 million from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Senior Affordable Rental Apartments program, $6.1 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, $1 million in Reso A capital discretionary funding from the Bronx Borough President and the Bronx delegation of the City Council, and $135,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

    Operating funding for the supportive units is being provided by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, administered by the New York State Department of Health. All apartments will benefit from Project-Based Section 8 vouchers administered by NYC HPD.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Older New Yorkers deserve the opportunity to remain in the communities they love, and that means creating affordable apartments that provide the resources and amenities they need to live independently. This $81 million investment will allow more than 100 senior households to stay in The Bronx and offers support to those individuals who need it most. We thank Governor Hochul and each of our partners for their continued commitment to addressing the housing crisis.”

    New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program’s investment in YP Senior Residence will provide chronically homeless seniors in the Bronx with safe, affordable, apartments they can call home, along with easy access to vital support services that will help them remain housed and age in place with dignity and independence. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing to make permanent supportive housing a priority in New York State, and to all the state and local partners who supported the development of this important project.”

    New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Access to affordable housing and adequate support is critical for older adults who may otherwise experience isolation, preventable illness, homelessness or even death. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, the Department is committed to the wellbeing of all New Yorkers, and affordable and supportive housing like the YP Senior Residence will help some of our most vulnerable residents achieve basic needs for health and safety.”

    New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said, “Housing that is affordable, accessible, and supportive ranks among the highest priorities for older adults across New York State. Thanks to Governor Hochul, New York State is addressing this need with a comprehensive plan that brings forth innovative housing models to address health and social needs at the heart of age-friendly community development.”

    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Doreen M. Harris, President & CEO said, “The completion of today’s project welcomes more than 100 clean, comfortable living spaces to the Bronx and helps ensure New York residents benefit from the latest modern building solutions. Through the use of energy efficient appliances, ventilation, and plumbing, these affordable housing units and community spaces will improve the quality of life for many senior citizens within the community.”

    New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said, “Older New Yorkers are often the anchors of our communities and the stewards of our shared history. That’s why, at HPD, we are deeply committed to ensuring that those who helped build and sustain their neighborhoods can age with dignity in safe, affordable homes. Today’s event is a testament to the incredible work that can happen when we work together — guided by our values and commitment to take care of our neighbors, including those who need a bit of additional support — and deliver real, tangible results.”

    New York City Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter said, “I commend Volunteers of America-Greater New York for recognizing that older adults face unique challenges in remaining stably housed and for building affordable, supportive housing that will allow senior residents to continue to be vibrant, important members of their community. VOA-GNY has long been a vital collaborator with DHS in addressing homelessness. Here, they are stepping up once again to serve a need and ensure that older adults age with dignity and respect, maintain or establish social connections as they leave transitional housing to a permanent home.”

    New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park said, “One of my biggest priorities as commissioner has been to build bridges between the affordable housing side and the homeless services lane to create a pipeline of housing options for vulnerable New Yorkers. This project and the work of Volunteers of America-Greater New York will facilitate shelter exits and confront the issue of senior homelessness. The benefits of this residence couldn’t be clearer. We are thrilled for the tenants, who will have access to services they deserve, and we applaud VOA-GNY for being a valued partner in the effort to combat homelessness.”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Seniors are a crucial pillar of communities across New York, and we must ensure that they have a safe and supportive place to call home. The YP Senior Residence will address the growing threats of homelessness and isolation among older adults by creating 117 affordable and supportive apartments— Including units housing seniors who have experienced homelessness and building a safe, supportive environment for its occupants. I look forward to the positive change this project will bring to the Bronx and beyond, and I will continue to fight for the right of all Americans to age with dignity and security.”

    State Senator Robert Jackson said, “A society is judged by how it treats its elders — and today, we take a proud step forward. The YP Senior Residence is more than brick and mortar — it is policy made personal. It is what happens when we invest in care, not neglect; in permanence, not patches. This building says to our seniors—especially those who have known homelessness — that your journey matters, your dignity matters, and their golden years will not be lived in the shadows. Let this ribbon cutting also be a ribbon of commitment — to build not just housing, but justice, equity, and community. Congratulations to Volunteers of America and everyone who helped turn vision into refuge. Let’s keep building”

    Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia said, “Ensuring our seniors have access to safe, affordable housing is a top priority. I am proud to celebrate this housing development for the Bronx, a place where our seniors can age with dignity and independence. This is exactly the kind of investment we need to ensure every New Yorker has a safe and supportive place to call home.”

    Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “Ensuring our older adults have safe, stable, and affordable housing is not just a promise, but a priority. With the completion of YP Senior Residence, we are taking a significant step forward in allowing our most seasoned residents to age in place with dignity, stability, and the support they deserve. I am grateful to Governor Hochul, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Bronx delegation of the City Council, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for their continued partnership in uplifting our older New Yorkers and investing in a future where every generation is cared for and valued.”

    VOA-GNY President and CEO Jeffrey R. Ginsburg said, “It is an honor to help reverse the growing crisis of senior homelessness, and address the serious risks social isolation and loneliness can have on the health of older adults. We thank our partners for their generosity and collaboration, without whom the development of YP Senior Residence would not have been possible. Older New Yorkers deserve to age with dignity and independence, and we are proud to help make this possible.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY 2026 Enacted Budget includes more than $1.5 billion in new State funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. These measures complement the Governor’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, included in the FY 2023 Budget, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY 2025 and 2026 Enacted Budgets also strengthened the Governor’s Pro-Housing Community Program – which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have received Pro Housing certification, including New York City.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Foreign Exchange and Liquidity and Monthly Balance Sheet, May 2025

    Source: Danmarks Nationalbank

    THE FOREIGN-EXCHANGE RESERVE

    In May 2025, the foreign-exchange reserve decreased by kr. 0.5 billion to kr. 660.9 billion. The decrease reflects Danmarks Nationalbank’s net sale of foreign exchange for kr. 0.5 billion, and the central government’s net borrowing of foreign debt for kr. 0.1 billion, cf. table 1.

    For settlement in May, Danmarks Nationalbank has not intervened in the foreign exchange market.

    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases and the change in the foreign-exchange reserve – table 1

    Kr. billion May 2025 January – May 2025
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s interventions* to purchase foreign exchange, net 0.0 0.0
    Other** -0.5 5.6
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases -0.5 5.6
    The central government’s net foreign borrowing*** 0.1 0.9
    Change in the foreign-exchange reserve -0.5 6.5

    Note: Details may not add because of rounding and previously published figure may have been revised. All transactions as per settlement date.

    * Intervention takes place when Danmarks Nationalbank purchases and sells foreign exchange for Danish kroner in the foreign-exchange market in order to stabilise the exchange rate.

    ** Comprises e.g. interest accrued on the foreign-exchange reserve, the central government’s net payments in foreign exchange, and changes in the banks’ deposits in euro-denominated accounts at Danmarks Nationalbank.

    *** Including net payments to the central government in foreign exchange as a result of currency swaps.

    DEVELOPMENT IN LIQUIDITY

    In May, the central government’s net financing requirement amounted to kr. -11.8 billion. Since the turn of the year, the central government’s net financing requirement has been kr. -50.8 billion, cf. table 2.

    The net position of the banks and mortgage-credit institutes vis-à-vis Danmarks Nationalbank decreased by kr. 11.7 billion in May, to an outstanding amount of kr. 215.0 billion. In May, the central government’s liquidity impact decreased the net position by kr. 10.9 billion.

    Impact of various factors on the net position of the banks and mortgage-credit institutes via-a-vis Danmarks Nationalbank – table 2

    Kr. billion May 2025 January – May 2025
    The central government’s net financing -11.8 -50.8
    Redemption on domestic central-government debt* 4.4 30.3
    Net bond purchases by the government funds and own portfolio and financing of social housing 0.4 -2.7
    Other** 0.3 1.2
    The central government’s gross domestic financing requirement -6.7 -22.0
    The central government’s gross domestic borrowing*** 4.2 30.4
    The central government’s liquidity impact -10.9 -52.5
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases -0.5 5.6
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net bond purchases 0.1 -0.9
    Other factors**** -0.4 2.2
    Change in net position -11.7 -45.5

    Note: Details may not add because of rounding and previously published figure may have been revised. All transactions as per settlement date.

    * Including krone-denominated payments by the central government in currency swaps.

    ** Comprises foreign net financing requirement and changes in net collateral for the government’s swap portfolio.

    *** Gross long-term borrowing, net short-term borrowing and krone-denominated payments to the central government in currency swaps.

    **** Comprises e.g. changes in banknotes and coins in circulation.

    DANMARKS NATIONALBANK’S INTEREST RATES

    Since 22 April 2025 the discount rate has been 1.85 pct. p.a., since 22 April 2025 the current-account interest rate has been 1.85 pct. p.a., since 22 April 2025 the lending rate has been 2 pct. p.a. and since 22 April 2025 the rate of interest on certificates of deposit has been 1.85 pct. p.a.

    Enquiries can be directed to press advisor Teis Hald Jensen on tel. +45 3363 6066.

    BALANCE SHEET OF DANMARKS NATIONALBANK 31 MAY 2025

    Assets 2025 2025
    1000 kr. 31/05 30/04
    Stock of gold 40,309,044 40,309,044
    Foreign assets 566,881,908 567,242,187
    Claims on the International Monetary Fund 59,637,170 59,630,332
    Claims related to banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ TARGET accounts in ECB 22,525 35,894
    Monetary-policy lending 30,000,000 1,000
    Other lending 994,843 1,160,292
    – Banks’1) 994,843 1,160,292
    – Miscellaneous loans – –
    Domestic bonds 32,964,923 32,869,523
    Financial fixed assets, etc. 131,550 131,550
    Tangible and intangible fixed assets 784,982 715,435
    Other assets 4,824,247 5,170,251
    736,551,192 707,265,508

    1) Other lending to banks include loans for cash deposits.

    Liabilities 2025 2025
    1000 kr. 31/05 30/04
    Banknotes 46,638,763 46,730,241
    Coins 6,082,989 6,088,949
    Monetary-policy deposits 244,974,905 226,668,294
    – Current accounts 244,974,905 226,668,294
    – Certificates of deposit – –
    Other deposits 15,143,360 15,175,216
    – Deposits related to banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ TARGET accounts in ECB 22,525 35,894
    – Other deposits from banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ 871,172 947,726
    – Miscellaneous deposits 14,249,663 14,191,596
    Central government 265,043,218 254,056,564
    Foreign liabilities 5,898,251 5,801,316
    Counterpart of Special Drawing Rights allocated by the IMF (SDR) 45,039,776 45,039,776
    Other liabilities 6,891,005 6,866,227
    Capital and reserves 100,838,925 100,838,925
    736,551,192 707,265,508

    Note: The monthly balance sheet is calculated at beginning of year values +/- accumulated transaction values. The monthly balance does not include value adjustments and accruals, as these are only calculated at year-end, cf. Danmarks Nationalbank’s accounting principles.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW STUDY: Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Cause Over 51,000 Additional Americans to Die Each Year

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, June 3 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to new calculations from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania finding that more than 51,000 additional Americans will die each year if Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” is signed into law. 

    “Let’s be clear. The Republican reconciliation bill which makes massive cuts to Medicaid in order to pay for huge tax breaks for billionaires is not just bad public policy. It is not just immoral. It is a death sentence for struggling Americans,” Sanders said. “If this bill becomes law, more than 51,000 Americans will die unnecessarily each and every year. That’s not Bernie Sanders talking. That is precisely what experts at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania have found. In other words, when you throw 13.7 million Americans off the health care they have as the CBO has estimated, when you increase the cost of prescription drugs for low-income seniors, and when you make nursing homes throughout America less safe, not only will some of the most vulnerable people throughout our country suffer, but tens of thousands will die. We cannot allow that to happen.” 

    Sanders was responding to projections on the mortality implications of the Republican reconciliation bill he received in a letter today from the Yale School of Public Health and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. The letter estimates that if the Republican reconciliation bill is signed into law, over 51,000 people will die annually. 

    The estimate from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania is based on the annual impact of four policies included in the Republican reconciliation bill:

    • 11,300 more Americans will die as a result of working people losing health coverage from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA);
    • 18,200 more Americans will die as a result of low-income seniors losing subsidies that reduce their prescription drug costs;
    • 13,000 more Americans will die as a result of the elimination of safe staffing requirements in nursing homes; and
    • 8,811 more Americans will die as a result of the failure to extend tax credits for ACA coverage.

    Sanders concluded: “In the wealthiest country in the world, we should be guaranteeing health care to all as a human right, not taking health care away from millions of seniors and working families to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. As the Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, I will be doing everything that I can to see that this disastrous bill is defeated.” 

    Read the letter from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Brain Injury Awareness Month: Minister Nixon

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –