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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Heat in Buildings: Warm words and targets not enough without action

    Source: Scottish Greens

    03 Apr 2025

    By watering down this bill the SNP are setting up to fail Scotland’s climate targets.

    The Scottish Government is watering down its Heat in Buildings Strategy and stripping away almost all of its serious policy measures, says Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie.

    This follows a Ministerial statement in which the Scottish Government dropped the most significant measures in the Bill and delayed it further.

    The Bill, which was under development by Mr Harvie in his time as a Minister, and was on track for introduction in November last year, was intended to focus on improving the energy efficiency of our homes and changing to clean heating systems.

    The Bill was included in the Scottish Government’s September 2024 Programme for Government, after the Greens were out of government. No explanation has been given today for what has changed since September.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “If climate policy over recent years has taught us anything, it’s that warm words are not enough and that setting targets is utterly meaningless without action and leadership from the Government. Yet that’s what the SNP are now proposing to repeat.

    “The Heat in Buildings programme was one of the very few parts of Scottish climate policy that was being praised by the independent Climate Change Committee. Yet the Scottish Government is now stripping out almost all of the serious policy measures, and is admitting that this means significant progress won’t be made in the near future.

    “This will keep more people stuck on gas, which is bad for our planet and will continue to punish people all across our country by forcing them to fork out while the fossil fuel companies post record profits. 

    “It will also mean even more challenging emission cuts will have to come from other sectors, or the new Climate Change Plan will fail too. And the Government seems to have no idea how to answer this question.

    “The SNP are confirming once again today that on their own, they are only too ready to water down climate policy, and yet another target will be set up to fail.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regionally led security co-operation is vital for peace in West Africa: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Regionally led security co-operation is vital for peace in West Africa: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, on peace consolidation in West Africa.

    I will make three points today. First, the United Kingdom urges support for democracy, constitutional order and the protection of civic space in the region. We welcome the steps taken towards a return to constitutional order in Guinea and Mali and note recent developments in Niger. 

    We urge the authorities to maintain progress in their transitions, and call on them to lift restrictions on political parties, civil society and media institutions and on peaceful public demonstrations

    We note the upcoming Presidential elections in Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau this year and call on the governments to ensure these are inclusive and align with their constitutions.

    Second, the United Kingdom is concerned by the security situation in the Sahel, including terrorist groups controlling territory and wreaking havoc on local populations. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks across the region, including in Niger on 21 March, and express our condolences to the families of the victims.

    We encourage UNOWAS to continue its critical role in supporting inclusive dialogue processes, which respond to and address, root causes of violence, to prevent further breaches of international humanitarian law. 

    Regionally led security co-operation remains vital, and the UK welcomes efforts such as the ECOWAS standby force which will enable Member States to deploy rapidly to counter shared threats. We also encourage careful consideration of security partners in the region to avoid worsening the threat posed. 

    Third, the United Kingdom is concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. Since 2019, the UK has provided life-saving assistance to over 16 million people in the Sahel. We encourage all parties to ensure rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance and protect the safety of humanitarian convoys. 

    To conclude, given the significant challenges the region is facing, including challenges which transcend national borders. It is imperative, therefore, that there is cooperation, coordination and communication between the states and peoples of the region with the international community.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts made to bridge the differences between the Alliance of Sahel States and ECOWAS. The United Kingdom also expresses its thanks to UNOWAS for its work in aiding African states to promote freedom, security, and prosperity.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: McGovern, Brown, Hayes Introduce Bill Blocking GOP Plan To Cut SNAP Benefits For Tax Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    ** VIDEO: Press Conference Announcing The Hunger Free Future Act **

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, Representatives James P. McGovern (D-MA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) introduced The Hunger Free Future Act to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from backdoor benefit cuts. 

    The legislation has 56 cosponsors in the House. 

    The Hunger Free Future Act requires that any updates to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) do not result in an increase in hunger among low-income families. The USDA uses the Thrifty Food Plan to determine benefit size. SNAP maximum allotments (benefit amounts) are updated each year based on the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in June, taking effect on Oct. 1. The Thrifty Food Plan is the cost of groceries needed to provide a healthy, budget-conscious diet for a family of four. 

    The House Republican budget resolution, which passed in February, calls for $230 billion in cuts to SNAP. According to reporting by Politico, Congressional Republicans are primarily targeting changes to the Thrifty Food Plan to execute these cuts. 

    “SNAP helps make sure children, seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities have enough food to stay healthy. Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are going after these very modest benefits –about $2 per meal – to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It’s a special kind of cruel to take food out of the mouths of hungry people to fund yet another tax break for the richest people in this country,” said Congressman James P. McGovern, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and a senior Member of the Committee on Agriculture. “Our bill is simple: it will protect modest SNAP benefits and make sure future updates don’t make hunger worse.”  

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk: take your hands off SNAP. This bill sends a loud and clear message: we won’t let Republicans gut food assistance to fund tax handouts to billionaires,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture. “I’m proud to introduce the Hunger Free Future Act with two relentless anti-hunger champions, Congressman McGovern and Congresswoman Hayes, backed by over 50 of our colleagues. Our bill would block Republican efforts to fund tax cuts for the wealthy by making backdoor cuts to SNAP benefits through so-called reforms to the Thrifty Food Plan. Slashing SNAP to help the ultra-wealthy buy another yacht isn’t just wrong—it’s heartless, gutless, and shameless. We will fight this every step of the way.”

    “Forty-seven million food insecure Americans are too many. Yet at every chance House Republicans continue to push for crush feeding programs,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture. “SNAP is our most effective anti-hunger tool ensuring children, families, and seniors get the nutritious food they need to live healthy lives. Efforts to shrink the program will devastate our most vulnerable communities. I am pleased to join Rep. Brown and Rep. McGovern in introducing the Hunger-Free Future Act to block any changes that would compromise SNAP or exacerbate food insecurity in our country.”

    “At a time when some Congressional leaders are threatening to cut federal nutrition programs, we are pleased to see Reps. Brown, Hayes, and McGovern take a stand for the more than 42 million Americans relying on SNAP to keep food on the table. The Hunger-Free Future Act keeps future benefit adjustments for the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for determining a household’s monthly SNAP allotment, ensuring that children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and those living in rural areas, can continue to afford the food they need for an adequate diet,” said Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). “We want a country where children thrive, families have what they need, and our economy works for everyone, and that vision requires protecting and strengthening SNAP. We urge Congress to reject proposals that would weaken SNAP and instead focus on strengthening this nutrition lifeline.” 

    Bill text available here.

    In addition to bill sponsor Brown and co-leads McGovern and Hayes, the following members are cosponsors of the Hunger Free Future Act: Rep. Adams (NC-12), Rep. Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Bell (MO-01), Rep. Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Carson (IN-07) Rep. Carter (LA-02), Rep. Chu (CA-28), Rep. Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Davis (IL-07), Rep. McClain Delaney (MD-06), Rep. DelBene (WA-01), Rep. Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Fields (LA-06), Rep. Figures (AL-02), Rep. Goldman (NY-10), Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Johnson (TX-32), Rep. Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rep. Landsman (OH-01), Rep. Latimer (NY-16), Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Meng (NY-06), Rep. Moore (WI-04), Rep. Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Pingree (MA-01), Rep. Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Ramirez (IL-03), Rep. Riley (NY-19), Rep. Rivas (CA-29) Rep. Salinas (OR-06), Rep. Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Smith (WA-09), Rep. Sorenson (Il-17), Rep. Soto (FL-09), Rep. Stevens (MI-03), Rep. Stickland (WA-10), Rep. Sykes (OH-13), Rep. Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Thompson (MS-02), Rep. Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Titus (NV-01), Rep. Tokuda (HI-02), Rep. Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Velazquez (NY-07)

    Additional Background

    1. In 2021, the Biden Administration updated the Thrifty Food Plan, providing the first real increase in SNAP purchasing power in decades. For more information on possible Republican cuts to the Thrifty Food Plan, click here.
    2. According to the USDA, 21% of households in Congresswoman Brown’s district, OH-11 (75,000 households total) rely on SNAP benefits, including 31% of Black households. The percentage of households in OH-11 that depend on SNAP is the highest for a congressional district in Ohio. 
    3. Congresswoman Brown has made fighting for SNAP recipients a priority. Brown invited the President of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank as her guest to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress. She also recently took part in the SNAP Challenge, attempting to purchase a week’s worth of groceries on a budget of $42, reflecting that the average daily benefit for SNAP is just six dollars. 
    4. On March 17, Brown and McGovern joined all Agriculture Committee Democrats in a letter led by Ranking Member Hayes to Committee Chairman Thompson urging bipartisan negotiations on the farm bill and opposing harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Decarbonising homes and buildings

    Source: Scottish Government

    Revised Heat in Buildings Bill to be brought forward

    A revised Heat in Buildings Bill will set a new target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045 alongside continuing work to reduce fuel poverty.

    Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan today confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to bring forward a revised Bill for consideration by the Scottish Parliament later in 2025, to include:

    • A target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045, sending a strong signal to homeowners, landlords and other building owners on the need to prepare for change while outlining collective actions to help do this.
    • Provisions to boost heat network development by developing requirements for large, non-domestic premises, including powers to require public sector buildings to connect to district heating when available.
    • Powers to set minimum energy efficiency standards for owner/occupier and non-domestic properties, subject to further consideration. Regulations will be progressed under existing powers to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector.

    Dr Allan said:

    “It is vital that we find the right balance both to reach net zero by 2045, and reduce fuel poverty.

    “Many households, families and businesses are facing difficult circumstances right now and it is simply unaffordable for many building owners to make great changes in the near future – particularly for those in rural and island locations, whose needs and circumstances we must continue to consider carefully. 

    “Our plan to deliver a revised Bill responds to the legitimate reservations and concerns raised since our consultation completed, including the risk of exacerbating fuel poverty and burdening every individual householder with an overly onerous responsibility as we decarbonise.

    “Instead of placing prohibitions on every homeowner, we will establish targets for Government to reach. Rather than looking at action through the lens of decarbonising alone, we will also commit to doing everything within our power to reduce costs for people.”

    The proposed Bill will remain technology-neutral, reflecting that different properties and people will require different solutions – for example, clean heating solutions in some remote and rural areas may vary from urban areas.

    The Bill would accompany related work on a Social Housing Net Zero Standard and reform of Energy Performance Certificates under existing powers.

    Dr Allan also welcomed the second report by the independent Green Heat Finance taskforce, published today. This also takes a collective approach, focusing on options for financing place-based solutions, heat networks and social housing retrofit.

    He added:

    “This report makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the work we need to do to boost clean heat demand amongst consumers and instil market confidence to develop new products, including financing solutions.

    “It also identifies key steps the UK Government needs to take to stimulate the clean heat market and reduce fuel poverty, in particular emphasising the importance of rebalancing relative gas and electricity prices, which we continue to push for.”

    Background

    Responses to consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill undertaken in 2023-24 

    Green Heat Finance Taskforce Report: part 2

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Changing Futures to change futures for extra year

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A Council project that helps to improve the lives of some of Plymouth’s most vulnerable residents has received funding for an extra year of life-changing work.

    Changing Future Plymouth works in partnership with local organisations to improve the outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage across the city.

    Since its inception in 2021, the programme has worked with victims of domestic abuse, people living with mental health challenges, families and individuals who have experienced homelessness, those involved in substance use, and people who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

    By co-producing activities with people who have experience using services in the city, the programme has supported culture change, trauma-informed practice, and approaches that put people at the heart of the work to support Plymouth working together as an alliance.

    Now, a combined grant of around £772,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the National Lottery Community Fund will allow the project to continue for a final year.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said: “I’m so proud of Changing Futures Plymouth which is a project which has already done exactly what it says on the tin.

    “By working with people experiencing hardship, we have been able to tailor services and support that deals with complex need in a way that a blanket approach could not achieve.

    “It is so pleasing to see this project continue to provide the type of support needed for people to re-build their lives.”

    While being delivered primarily by the Council, Changing Futures relies on expert partners including from the Zone, Trevi, Ahimsa, BTheChange, Trauma Informed Plymouth Network, Improving Lives Plymouth, and Shekinah.

    This has allowed the following interventions and services to be rolled-out:

    Peer Research Network (PRN)

    Peer Researchers have been embedded in a range of organisations, including BCHA, Gifted Women and the PCC Violence Against Women and Girls team has allowed them to provide visible and valuable lived experience presence in services, whilst influencing service improvements, promoting trauma informed workplace practices, and engaging with people using services in creative ways.

    Your Story

    This tool has been designed to enable people using services to take control of their information, share their story in a way that matters to them, and minimise the need for them to repeat their story multiple times to multiple agencies. The learnings and output from this project are supporting the new Supported Housing Hub.

    Trauma Informed Plymouth Network (TIPN)

    The Inclusion & Resilience branch of the Trauma Network has been welcoming organisations and individuals to share their experience of supporting marginalised groups for over a year. This is the latest chapter of the work done by
    Changing Futures Plymouth, with partners, to co-develop the Antiracist Taskforce and Antiracism Allyship Network. So far, over 3000 people have received Trauma Awareness training through the network

    Find out more about Changing Futures Plymouth at www.plymouth.gov.uk/changing-futures

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tenant evicted today after officers tackle drug-related activity with neighbours’ support

    Source: City of York

    A police officer supports the eviction

    Published Thursday, 3 April 2025

    Following a ruling by a District Judge, a Council tenant has been evicted this morning (Thursday 3 April) after drug-related activities and anti-social behaviour caused misery for her neighbours.

    The Council was granted a possession order by York County Court to end the tenancy of Mandy Livesey, of 20 St Stephen’s Square, Acomb, York. This follows reports from neighbours to the Council and police about drug-taking and dealing, loud noise and arguments at the apartment, and an endless succession of visitors. The anti-social behaviour in the home and area was a continual source of disruption and concern for local people who were worried about its impact on their families.

    City of York Council officers served a legal warning of eviction (a Notice of Intention to Seek Possession) on Ms Livesey, which she breached.  

    Following complaints from neighbours and evidence of loud noise, drink and drug-taking and numerous anti-social visitors, the Council returned the case to York County Court. After considering evidence, the judge granted the Council permission to apply for a warrant of eviction.

    Council officers then evicted Ms Livesey today, advising her where she could get information on her housing options, should she need it.

    Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said: “Thank you to all the neighbours and officers involved in ending this anti-social behaviour. This much-needed home will be re-let as quickly as possible.

    “This case proves that together, we can tackle this kind of disruption and so improve the quality of life of those affected. Please report your concerns and work with us so we can take appropriate and effective action.”

    Acting Sergeant Ben Ambler of North Yorkshire Police, added: “Drug use and antisocial behaviour has a detrimental impact on the quality of life for local people. It’s unacceptable and we’ll use all the powers and resources available to us to take action against those who make other people’s lives a misery.

    “This result is evidence of our joint working with City of York Council and my thanks go to them for their work that has culminated in this eviction. I hope local residents are reassured that we will take action to tackle issues relating to drugs and anti-social behaviour and the impact these have on our communities.”

    Please report anti-social behaviour here, or report it to the police on 101 if a non-emergency.

    Anti-social noise levels can be reported here or by calling 01904 551525 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm, or by calling the Noise Patrol 01904 551555 from 9pm Friday to 3am Saturday and between 9pm Saturday to 3am Sunday.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Republicans’ Blueprint to Give Billionaires More Tax Cuts—and Pretend They Are Free—While Kicking Kids Off Medicaid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Senate Republicans’ modified budget resolution.
    “Republicans blowing up our national debt to dole out massive tax cuts for billionaires is nothing new, but their attempt to use a ridiculous budget gimmick to try and evade longstanding budget rules and pretend their billionaire tax giveaways are somehow free is some next-level stuff.
    “My preschool students would understand that zero and $3.8 trillion are not the same thing —and I don’t think it’s too much to ask United States Senators to admit that same basic fact. But since Republicans are plowing ahead with budget gimmicks so they can give billionaires new, permanent tax cuts, here’s a question: does that same imaginary math work for child care and housing too? Or is the magical thinking just to help billionaires?
    “It’s worth noting that while Republicans cheer on Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s devastating cuts—insisting our country cannot afford to keep our Social Security offices staffed, or fund cancer research, or spend a single penny more to invest in working families—their number one priority in Congress is blowing up the deficit to give billionaires new tax breaks while kicking kids off Medicaid and cutting nutrition assistance families count on.”
    The budget blueprint Senate Republicans unveiled today sets Republicans up to dole out $5.3 trillion in new tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit billionaires, the ultra-rich, and largest corporations. But to help allow themselves to make the tax cuts permanent without making even more devastating cuts to, for example, Americans’ health care under the Senate’s strict budget reconciliation rules, Republicans want to use a gimmick known as “current policy baseline” to pretend that extending $3.8 billion in tax cuts won’t cost the country a cent–and to try to make them permanent in clear violation of the longstanding Byrd rule that enforces reconciliation in the Senate. The budget resolution also sets Republicans up to make massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical domestic programs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Developers – participants of the SEZ are entering the active phase of housing construction

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In Donetsk and Lugansk, an active phase of building houses has begun at a number of construction sites for new residential complexes. One of the necessary stages in this life cycle of projects is the installation of tower cranes, reported Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “Construction has a multiplier effect: building materials are purchased, jobs are created, tax deductions are generated for the budget, and the infrastructure of populated areas is updated. Therefore, in order to grow the economy of new regions and update the housing stock there, the task is to “shake up” investment construction. Today, a number of developers in the reunited regions have entered the active phase of constructing facilities. For example, a 50-meter tower crane has already been installed on the territory of the future large-scale residential area on Lineva Street in Lugansk for the construction of a 9-story building with 80 apartments, and a crane has been brought to the construction site of the first new residential complex in Donetsk in ten years and is being prepared for assembly,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Both developers are participants in the free economic zone, which is managed by the Development Fund of Territories.

    “Currently, a new microdistrict is being built in Lugansk on a land plot of 31.9 hectares. The living area of the houses will be 368.8 thousand square meters. It is planned that already in 2026, more than 6 thousand families will be able to improve their living conditions. And in Donetsk, a 22-storey building with 105 apartments is being built. The residential complex will have its own parking lot, as well as sports and children’s playgrounds, recreation areas. All necessary construction materials – concrete, reinforcement, crushed stone and cement – are purchased, including from local manufacturers, which supports the development of local enterprises,” added FRT General Director Ilshat Shagiakhmetov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EU subsidiaries of third country players account for 10% of total EU assets. Their presence is more significant in the derivatives market, the EBA Report finds

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published two Reports on the market share of subsidiaries of non-EU banks in the EU, as well as on EU banks’ assets and liabilities in foreign currencies. The market share of EU subsidiaries of third country banking groups amounts to 10.17% of total assets as of December 2023, mostly owing to exposures towards credit institutions and other financial corporations in the EU. Of the individual asset categories, the market share of third country players is highest in derivatives while their largest sources of income are fees and commission income and interest income from credit institutions and other financial corporations.

    As of December 2023, the market share of third country players was 10.17% of total assets, and accounted for 33.73% in derivatives, 8.17% in loans and 6.06% in debt securities. More than 70% of loans and derivatives were granted to counterparties domiciled outside the home country. The market share of third country players mostly owed to exposures towards credit institutions and other financial corporations in the EU, amounting to 30.79% and 22.44% of total assets of all counterparties, respectively.

    As of December 2023, the assets reported by subsidiaries of third country banking groups towards credit institutions and other financial corporations accounted for 78% of total assets. Moreover, 80% of these assets were located outside of the country where the subsidiaries were domiciled.

    In relation to the P&L items, the market share of subsidiaries of third country banking groups represented 5.16% of interest income, 1.85% of dividend income, 12.22% of fee and commission income and 32.28% of other operating income. Subsidiaries of third country banking groups enjoyed a high market share on fee income originating from commodities (77.34%), fiduciary transactions (48.74%), central bank administrative services for collective investment (30.57%), corporate finance (30.19%), custody (25.68%) and foreign exchange (19.73%).

    Finally, in terms of the assets involved in the services provided, the market share of subsidiaries of third country banking groups is high in central administrative services for collective investment (53.11%), fiduciary transactions (28.87%) and custody assets (20.55%).

    The Reports also show that EU/EEA banks hold nearly 30% of their exposures in foreign currencies, while they receive 21% of total funding in foreign currencies (without including foreign subsidiaries of EU banks). Foreign currency funding consists of funding in Euro (4% of total funding), other EEA currencies (1.9% of total funding) and other foreign currencies (14.7% of total funding). The US dollar is the main contributor to funding in other foreign currencies (12% of total funding).

    On wholesale funding, EU/EEA banks mainly tap markets of foreign currency funding. Unsecured wholesale funding represents two thirds of total foreign currency funding, followed by repurchase agreements (13% of foreign currency funding). More than half of unsecured wholesale funding in foreign currencies comes from financial customers, while non-financial customers provide less than a third of unsecured wholesale funding in foreign currencies.

    On net stable funding ratio (NSFR), EU banks’ buffers remain comfortably above the minimum requirement both for the total NSFR ratio and for the NSFR in the main significant currencies. The average foreign currency NSFR is below 100% only for Norwegian krone and Japanese yen. The average NSFR in USD stood at 107.2% as of December 2023,  higher than the level observed in June 2021 (83%). However, the NSFR in USD remains below 100% for 60 banks out of the 267 banks reporting USD as a significant currency.

    Note to the editors

    1. The identification of non-EU entities and operators was made based on the country of domicile of the ultimate parent.
    2. The EBA relied on different data sources to carry out the analyses included in the Report. The analysis on funding structure and assets and liabilities in foreign currency is based on EBA supervisory reporting data. The investigation of the market share relies mainly on FINREP templates, available at the EBA for banking groups (i.e. institutions that report on a consolidated basis). However, only a limited number of subsidiaries of third country banking groups have established a banking group in the EU and report on a consolidated basis, while the majority of the subsidiaries operate on a solo basis and report FINREP individual templates. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Vermilion — Vermillion RCMP lay trafficking charges

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On March 17, 2025, Vermillion RCMP responded to a report from the Alberta Sheriff’s at the Vermillion Provincial Courthouse, of possible drugs found on someone at the location.

    Vermillion RCMP attended and located a 35-year-old individual, of no fixed address, and after investigation, was found to have a quantity of suspected fentanyl in individual baggies.

    The individual was charged with Possession of CDSA for the purpose of trafficking, and failure to comply with Undertaking.

    The individual was brought before a justice of the peace, where she was remanded with a court date of April 7, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Vermillion.

    The Vermillion RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of any drug related crimes in the area. Anyone with information in relation to drug or organized crimes is asked to please contact the Vermillion RCMP at 780-835-4441 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan crisis: UN rights chief condemns extrajudicial killings in Khartoum

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    3 April 2025 Human Rights

    The fight for Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, likely involved widespread summary executions of civilians following its recent recapture by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Thursday.

    Citing credible reports of extrajudicial killings in several areas of the capital, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the victims were suspected of collaborating with rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters.

    “I urge the commanders of the Sudanese Armed Forces to take immediate measures to put an end to arbitrary deprivation of life,” insisted Mr. Türk, pointing to reports attributing the killings to SAF soldiers, State security personnel and affiliated militias.

    Video horrors

    The High Commissioner’s comments follow the review of “multiple horrific videos” available on social media since 26 March, apparently filmed in southern and eastern Khartoum and showing armed men “some in uniform and others in civilian clothes” executing civilians.

    In some of the video footage, perpetrators state that they are punishing supporters of RSF, the UN rights chief said, adding that he was “utterly appalled” by the development.

    One report from the Janoub Al Hezam area of southern Khartoum apparently showed the alleged killing of at least 20 civilians, including one woman, by SAF and affiliated supporters.

    Accountability call

    “Extrajudicial killings are serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law,” Mr. Türk said. “Individual perpetrators, as well as those with command responsibility, must be held accountable for such unacceptable actions under international criminal law.”

    Sudan’s spiralling crisis stems from the breakdown of a transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

    The country was the first that Mr. Türk visited as High Commissioner in November 2022 and he has invested heavily in trying to protect Sudanese people from heavy fighting and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that has gripped the country. In May 2024 he spoke to rival generals Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan of the SAF and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the RSF, in an effort to pursue a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

    Human Rights Council spotlight

    At the current Human Rights Council session in Geneva, however, the High Commissioner warned more than 600,000 people are on the brink of starvation in Sudan after nearly two years of fighting.

    “Famine is reported to have taken hold in five areas, including Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur,” Mr. Türk said, referring to the shelter where the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to suspend its lifesaving operations amid intense fighting.

    An additional five more areas could face famine in coming months and a further 17 are at risk, the High Commissioner told the Council on 27 February. “My own staff have heard harrowing testimonies of death from starvation in Khartoum and Omdurman.”

    El Fasher alert

    In an alert late Wednesday, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, warned that 250,000 people – mostly women, children and older people – had fled violence in the Al Malha area, around 180 kilometres north of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

    “Many are now scattered across 15 villages, lacking even basic necessities, the UN agency said, highlighting that just last week, the UN migration agency, IOM, said that 75,000 people had been displaced because of clashes.

    “The newly reported figure would mark a very significant escalation in displacement and signal a serious deterioration in an already dire humanitarian situation across North Darfur,” OCHA said.

    In eastern Sudan, meanwhile, humanitarian partners continue to respond to a hepatitis outbreak spreading among displaced communities at the Gharb Al Matar displacement site in Kassala state.

    Between 27 and 31 March, more than 60 new suspected cases were reported, bringing the total to 236 cases in less than a month.

    The outbreak is being driven by overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation and limited healthcare.

    Millions displaced

    To date, an estimated 8.8 million people have been forced from their homes to camps and other locations within Sudan; 3.5 million more have fled across borders.

    More than 30.4 million people need assistance, from healthcare to food and other forms of humanitarian support. Less than 30 per cent of hospitals and clinics are still working, and outbreaks of disease are rampant in displacement camps.

    Online threat

    In a statement, Mr. Türk expressed concern at the rise in online hate speech and incitement to violence in Sudan, “with lists of individuals accused of collaborating with the RSF posted online”. The High Commissioner also warned that ethnic groups from the Darfur and Kordofan regions were being targeted disproportionately, before calling for the Sudanese authorities to launch independent, transparent and effective investigations into the latest incidents.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, Van Hollen Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    April 03, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02)and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reintroduced the bicameral IDEA Full Funding Act to ensure all children with disabilities can access a free, high-quality public education.In 1975, Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to provide these essential educational opportunities, and this legislation ensures that Congress fulfills its commitment.

    Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. However, that pledge has never been met, and current funding is below 13 percent. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet our obligation to America’s children and schools. It is cosponsored by more than 30 Senators and over 60 House members. Text of the IDEA Full Funding Act can be viewed here.

    “While we’ve made substantial progress to fund special education services in recent years, we still have important work left to do to live up to the original commitment Congress made,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “All children – no matter their zip code, race, disability, or any other factor – should be able to access a full, exceptional education, and this legislation will help school districts provide thenecessary resources to make this vision a reality. The current chronic underfunding leaves an unfair burden on students, teachers, schools, and families.Our bill holds up the federal government’s end of the bargain to fully fund special education services on apermanent basis and set all students up for long-term success.”

    “Fifty years ago, Congress passed the IDEA Act, and with it, made a promise to children with disabilities and their families – but we have fallen short of that promise every year since. While Donald Trump and Elon Musk are illegally gutting public education in America, we are fighting to strengthen it. Our bill will ensure that Congress finally meets its commitment to fully fund IDEA, putting us closer to delivering equal access to high-quality education for every student in this country,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    Rep. Huffman requested $16.3 million for IDEA Part B Grants to States in FY2024, taking a key step toward securing full federal funding. He will continue to advocate for more federal funding in the upcoming FY2025 appropriations cycle, ensuring that every child can access the resources they need to succeed.

    This bill is co-led in the House by Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Don Bacon (NE-02), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), and Mike Bost (IL-12). 

    “As the Trump Administration slashes support for students with disabilities by dismantling the Department of Education, I am proud to join my colleagues in advancing legislation that mandates increased IDEA funding. Together with parents, teachers, and education advocates, we will hold the President accountable for his reckless attacks on accessible education and make sure every kid has the chance to learn, grow, and–ultimately–succeed,” said House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse.

    “This bipartisan legislation is fulfilling a long overdue promise made by the federal government to support students with disabilities by funding 40% of the cost of special education,” said Rep. Don Bacon. “For far too long that commitment has gone unfulfilled, and now we are taking action to deliver on that promise. I’m honored to co-lead the reintroduction of the IDEA Full Funding Act.”

    “For too long, the federal government has fallen short on its commitment to share the cost of education with states for individuals with special needs, placing an unfair burden on schools, teachers, and families,” said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson. “The IDEA Full Funding Act reaffirms our promise and makes IDEAwhole over the next 10 years. This is a positive step toward ensuring every student with disabilities receives the support and resources they need to thrive.

    “As the mother of a child who benefited from special education, I know firsthand just how lifechanging these programs can be for Minnesota students and their families,” said Rep. Angie Craig. “I’m proud to be co-leading this bipartisan legislation to fully fund special education programs and ensure our special educators and paraprofessionals have the resources they need to keep up this critical work.”

    “Every child, regardless of ability, deserves access to a high-quality education and a fair opportunity to succeed,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. “For too long, the federal government has fallen short of its commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), leaving schools and families to shoulder the burden. We’re working to change that through the bipartisan, bicameral IDEA Full Funding Act—legislation that will ensure students in Bucks and Montgomery counties, and across the nation, have access to the full range of resources, support, and high-quality education they need to reach their fullest potential.”

    “Parents of kids with special needs are fresh off of fighting for their kids during COVID, and we won’t stop. We know that every kid has needs – and gifts. No one is disposable and we’re tired of having to fight for the crumbs. Fully fund IDEA. Now,” said Rep. Janelle Bynum.

    “For many parents, raising a child with a disability is a full-time job. Every child, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, deserves the opportunity to develop skills that will help them lead fulfilling lives. That’s why I’m a proud co-lead of the IDEA Full Funding Act,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell. “Parents have to fight too damn hard to get their child the resources they need, and Congress has fallen short of our promise to support all students as they learn essential skills for adulthood. This bill would require regular mandatory increases in spending to match the needs of America’s classrooms. Fully funding IDEA is a big step in bringing down barriers and stepping up our students for success.”

    “For too long, the federal government has fallen short of its funding commitment to students with special needs, forcing schools to subsidize rising special education costs with general education funds,” said Rep. Pete Stauber. “This leaves every student at a disadvantage. As the parent of a child with special needs, I am proud to continue the fight to ensure Congress fulfills its promise to our special needs students and their parents, so our educators can strengthen special education services while meeting the needs of every American student.”

    This legislation is supported by a broad and diverse group of over 70nationaland localorganizations, including by theSchool Superintendents Association (AASA), theAssociation of School Business Officials International (ASBO), and the Council for Exceptional Children.

    “I see firsthand the critical role special education plays in shaping the future of our students. With the growing needs of students with disabilities, it is more important than ever that we fully fund IDEA. Every child, regardless of ability, deserves access to the education and support they need to thrive. I urge Congress to please find it in their hearts to vote this critical legislation through and support all our beautiful children across this great nation,” said Jaime Green, Superintendent of Trinity Alps Unified School District (TAUSD).

    “AASA is proud to support the IDEA Full Funding Act being introduced today. We strongly support this legislation as a key priority in strengthening our nation’s schools and supporting them in their work to ensure all students—regardless of ability—have an opportunity to access a high-quality education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) represents a critical commitment to help level the playing field for historically disadvantaged populations, students with disabilities. We are proud to endorse the IDEA Full Funding Act, being introduced in both the House and Senate this week, for its work to hold Congress accountable and create a clear path and plan of action. We thank Senator Van Hollen and Representatives Thompson and Huffman for their leadership on this important issue,” said AASA Executive Director Dr. David R. Schuler.

    “School districts everywhere are facing significant financial strain as they strive to educate and serve all students, including those with disabilities. Fully funding IDEA would help schools keep up with rising costs to effectively assess and respond to increasing needs, attract and retain specialized instructional support personnel, and provide assistive equipment and technology to help students learn and succeed,” said Elleka Yost, ASBO Director of Advocacy & Research.

    “As the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) turns 50 years old this year, now is the perfect time for Congress to make good on its pledge to fully fund IDEA,” said Chad Rummel, executive director of the Council for Exceptional Children. “We thank Sen. Van Hollen, Reps. Huffman and Thompson, and all the bill cosponsors for introducing this bill to provide the resources needed to support the infants, toddlers, children and youth served under IDEA,” said Kuna Tavalin, Senior Advisor at the Council for Exceptional Children.

    Additional cosponsors in the House include Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Mike Bost (IL-12), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Judy Chu (CA-28), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Jim Costa (CA-21), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jim Himes (CT-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), John Mannion (NY-22),Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DL-AL), LisaMcClain (MI-09), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07),Chellie Pingree (ME-01),Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08),Josh Riley (NY-19),AndreaSalinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), PeteStauber (MN-08), Marilyn Strickland(WA-10), Eric Swalwell, (CA-14),Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Juan Vargas (CA-52), NikemaWilliams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

    The legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is also supported by: TheSchool Superintendents Association (AASA), AFT, AFL-CI”, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Occupational Therapy Association, American PsychologicalAssociation, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, CAST, Center for Learner Equity, Coalition for Adequate Funding for Special Education, Coalition for Community Schools, Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA), Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Learning Disabilities, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, EDGE Consulting Partners, EdTrust, Education Reform Now, First Focus Campaign for Children, Higher Education Consortium for Special Education, Institute for Educational Leadership, Learning Disabilities Association of America, NAESPA (NationalAssociation of ESEA State Program Administrators), NationalAssociation for Music Education, NationalAssociation for Pupil Transportation, NationalAssociation of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, NationalAssociation of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS), NationalAssociation of Private Special Education Centers, NationalAssociation of School Psychologists, NationalAssociation of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Down Syndrome Congress, National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association, National PTA, National Rural Education Association (NREA), NBJC, Teach For America, TheAdvocacy Institute, TheArc of the United States, TNTP.

    The bill is also supported by these local and state organizations: ABC SELPA, ABC Unified School District, ACSA Region 5, Albany Unified School District, Anaheim Elementary SELPA, Antelope Valley SELPA, Arcadia Unified School District, Association of CaliforniaSchool Administrators, Berryessa Union School District, Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District, Briggs Elementary School District, Butte County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), CaliforniaAssociation of School Business Officials, CaliforniaSchool Boards Association, Clovis Unified School District, CTA, Duarte Unified School District, East San Gabriel Valley SELPA, EDGE Consulting Partners, El Dorado County Charter SELPA, El Monte Union High School District, Emery Unified School District, Fillmore Unified School District, Foothill SELPA, Franklin McKinley School District, Fresno County Charter SELPA, Fresno County SELPA, Garden Grove Unified School District, Garvey Elementary School District, Glendale Unified School District, Gonzales Unified School District, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Humboldt-Del Norte SELPA, Kern High School District SELPA, King City Union School District, La Cañada Unified School District, Las Virgenes Unified School District, Live Oak School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Marin County SELPA, Merced County Office of Education, Merced County SELPA, Millbrae Elementary School District, Milpitas Unified School District, Monrovia Unified School District, Monterey County Office of Education, Monterey County SELPA, Moorpark Unified School District, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Mountain Elementary School District, Mountain View School District, MPUSD, NCCSE SELPA, North Monterey County Unified School District, North Region SELPA Director, North Santa Cruz County SELPA, North West SELPA, Oak Grove School District, Oak Park Unified School District, Oakland Education Association, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland Unified Special Education Department, Ocean View School District, Oceanside Unified School District, Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Ojai Unified School District, Orange Unified SELPA, OUSD, Oxnard School District,Pacific Elementary School District, Pacific Grove Unified School District, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Placer County SELPA, Pleasant Valley School District, Rancho Santa Fe School District, Ravenswood City School District, Riverside Unified School District SELPA, RuralSchools Association of New York, Salinas Union High School District, San Antonio Union School District, San Diego Unified School District, San Gabriel Unified, San Joaquin County Office of Education,San Juan Unified School District, San Lorenzo Valley USD, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, San Luis Obispo County SELPA, San Marino Unified School District, San Mateo Adult & Career Education, San Mateo County Office of Education, San Mateo County SELPA, San Miguel Joint Union School District, San Ramon Valley Unified School District/SELPA, Santa Barbara County SELPA, Santa Clara County Office of Education, Santa Clara Elementary School District, Santa Clarita Valley SELPA, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Santa Paula Unified School District, Scotts Valley Unified School District, SELPAAdministrators of CA, Shandon Joint Unified School District, Sierra Sands SELPA, Simi Valley Schools, Simi Valley Unified School District, Siskiyou County Office of Education, SMCOE, Solana Beach School District, Sonoma County SELPAand Sonoma County Charter SELPA, Soquel Union Elementary School District, South East Santa Clara SELPA, South Monterey County JUHSD, South Orange County Special Education Local Plan Area, South Pasadena Unified School District, Special Education Teacher and Administrator, Spreckels Union School District, SUESD, Sunset Elementary School, Tehama County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and Tehama County Department of Education (TCDE), Temple City Unified School District, Tri-City SELPA (Culver City, Santa Monica-Malibu, Beverly Hills Unified School Districts), Tri-Valley SELPA, Tuolumne County SELPA, VCOE, Ventura County Office of Education, Ventura County SELPA, West Contra Costa SELPA, West Contra Costa Unified School District, West San Gabriel Valley SELPA, Yolo County SELPA, Yuba County Office of Education.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s best Easter treats

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Traditional fruit or chocolate chip? This local list caters to all tastes.

    We put the call out on the WeAreCBR Instagram page for Canberrans to vote for their favourite local Easter treat.

    Remember that opening hours vary over Easter, so if you’re hoping to snap up a treat this weekend, be sure to check opening hours ahead of time.

    From Easter eggs to hot cross buns, these are the best treats as voted by you:

    Le Bon Melange’s hot cross buns are just as delicious as their standard offerings of pastries and cakes.

    Southsiders can get their Easter fix at L’épi Artisan Baker, with gluten-free hot cross buns, traditional hot cross buns, and chocolate hot cross buns.

    In addition to their usual Filipino fare, Lola and Lola are offering bright purple ube-langka hot cross buns.

    The local chocolatier have Easter bunny lollipop packs, chocolate easter bunnies and chocolate Easter eggs, each available in dark, milk and white chocolate.

    Studio Cocoa, online and at various stores throughout Canberra

    Studio Cocoa stock a range of handmade chocolate Easter treats. Choose from cute bonbons, mini eggs, praline bunnies, smash eggs, crème eggs, funfetti truffles and hampers.

    Wildflour, Townsville Street Fyshwick, Brierly Street Weston and Eyre Street Kingston

    Check your local Wildflour café for chocolate and traditional hot cross buns or buy a hot cross bun pack from their online store.   

    Sweet Bones, Scullin Place Scullin and Lonsdale Street Braddon

    In addition to their usual line-up of vegan treats, Sweet Bones have a special limited Easter menu on Saturday 30 March from 9am to 1pm. You can buy individual hot cross buns or pre-order a pack of their bake-at-home cinnamon scrolls from their online shop.

    Locals flock to this Scandinavian-inspired bakery for their deliciously spiced Easter fruit buns.

    Danny’s hot cross buns are a Canberra classic. If you happen to miss out this year, don’t fret: they’re available year-round on Saturdays as fruit buns (without their cross).

    Although it’s not strictly a Canberra bakery, Clementine Bakery’s hot cross buns are available at all Two Before Ten locations.  

    Pop Canberra, Lonsdale Street Braddon

    Consider Pop Canberra your one-stop local Easter chocolate shop. This Easter you’ll find hot chocolate bombs, smash eggs, chocolate bars and more.

    Three Mills Bakery, Leeton Street Fyshwick, Newcastle Street Fyshwick, Cooyong Street City and Market Street Belconnen
    Three Mills’ hot cross buns are available at their bakeries, stockists across Canberra and online. You can also order their Easter bundle, which includes hot cross buns and a selection of bake-at-home goodies to get you through the long weekend.

    Spilt Milk’s Easter egg smash features gelato with smashed chocolate Easter eggs and caramel sauce.

    If your Easter travels take you beyond Canberra’s border, stop in at Little Sutton Bakehouse for their freshly baked hot cross buns.

    Another regional favourite, Murrumbateman Chocolate offers chocolate tasting experiences as well as easter treats including chocolate hens, hot cross bun chocolates, mini eggs, chocolate bars, cocktail-inspired chocolates and more. Visit their café or order online for Canberra delivery.

    While Kate specialises in hot chocolate bombs, her Easter range includes sham bunnies and eggs filled with lollies and treats, cracked eggs, an extreme gift box and more.

    Sonoma, Lonsdale Street Braddon

    Sonoma’s ‘not cross buns’ feature their signature ‘s’ in place of a cross, but otherwise carry all the delicious hallmarks of a traditional hot cross bun.

    The Knox are offering traditional fruit and chocolate hot cross buns this Easter.

    Did we miss your favourite? Send us an email at ourcanberra@act.gov.au.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Yarralumla Nursery banks seeds for the future

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Yarralumla Nursery’s staff carefully monitor the conditions of the seed bank.

    When bushfire swept through Yarramundi Reach in 2003, it took with it Roman Cypress trees first planted in 1916.

    While that exact type of Cyprus could well have disappeared from the ACT, Yarralumla Nursery’s seed bank came to the rescue.

    “Yarralumla Nursery’s seed bank is a wonderful resource that has been used to create Canberra’s urban forest,” the nursery’s Senior Director Matt Parker said.

    “We were able to propagate the same genetic Cyprus from our seed bank.”

    The seed bank is a living record of every seed collected, purchased and stored at the Yarralumla Nursery since 1913.

    The latest to be added are the seeds of the Bunya Pine tree.

    Native to Queensland, these large conifers hold sacred values for First Nations peoples and come from a plant family dating back to the Jurassic period.

    Bunya Pines can be found throughout Canberra – from the National Arboretum to Lanyon Homestead.

    The seed bank is a valuable historical asset for the nursery and the role it has played in establishing Canberra’s green spaces.

    It now contains over 200 genus of seeds, with relevant information painstakingly recorded.

    Seeds are stored in alphabetical order, in old glass ‘lolly’ jars of all shapes and sizes.

    They are hand-labelled with the species weight and seed registration number and consistently maintained at 20–22°C.

    “If seeds are dried and stored correctly, there are minimal issues,” Yarralumla Nursery Production Operations Manager Belinda Ryan said.

    “Our propagation staff specialise in monitoring the conditions of the seed bank and storing the seeds. For example, jars need to be at least two-thirds full of seed to maintain temperature and reduce air moisture and you can’t put seed into warm jars as this may break seed dormancy, meaning they could start to grow.”

    Around 15,000 plant cards – which staff refer to as birth certificates – feature seed information dating back to 1913.

    While these were once housed in wooden draws at the nursery they have since been digitised and are available on the Archives ACT website.

    “Some Eucalyptus species from the ’60s are still viable and germinating,” Belinda said.

    “The seed bank at Yarralumla Nursery is an amazing space full of nostalgia; I like searching through and finding the oldest seeds,” Matt said.

    And now the newest are safely stored under B for Bunya Pine.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Easy ways for Canberrans to reduce waste

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Getting involved in neighbourhood initiatives like community gardens can help make a positive difference.

    If you avidly use your household recycling bin, upcycled old furniture, or received something from a “buy nothing” group in your community, you’ve been a part of the circular economy.

    It’s a system that’s designed to minimise waste and maximise the use of resources. It promotes the repurposing, recycling and reuse of materials so nothing goes to waste.

    The circular economy reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s also a pretty useful way to save money.

    There are lots of ways that Canberrans can get involved in the circular economy.

    Recycle correctly

    If you can’t reduce or reuse, then recycling is the best choice.

    Not everything that can be recycled can go in your yellow recycling bin.

    Recycle these in your recycling bin:

    • aluminium and steel cans
    • glass bottles and jars
    • paper and flat cardboard
    • plastic bottles and containers

    For other items, the Recyclopaedia is your go-to guide for recycling.

    For example, batteries aren’t accepted in household bins. However, there are over 60 local collection points for the safe disposal of batteries.

    Choose alternatives to single-use plastics

    Choose reusable alternatives to single-use items such as water bottles, shopping bags and food containers to reduce waste.

    Support local sustainable businesses

    Look for local businesses that prioritise sustainability by offering products made from recycled materials or following eco-friendly production practices.

    Some examples of sustainable businesses in Canberra include:

    • Thor’s Hammer
    • Soft Landing
    • repair businesses
    • local charity shops.

    Get things repaired

    Instead of automatically replacing broken or damaged items, consider repairing them.

    Explore local repair cafes, workshops, or DIY repair tutorials to extend the lifespan of products and minimise waste.

    A great place to start is the Tuggeranong Repair Café or the Hawker Community Repair Café.

    The handy team of volunteers can help fix a range of items including household electrical items, clothing, laptops, tablets and mobile phones and more.

    Find out more about the Tuggeranong Repair Café or learn more about the Hawker Community Repair Café.

    Connect with your community

    Get involved in local community initiatives focused on waste reduction and circular economy practices. These might include:

    • neighbourhood clean-up events
    • clothing swaps
    • community gardens
    • composting and food waste reduction.

    By working together, Canberrans can create positive change on a larger scale.

    Live in an apartment building? Consider working with a local collection and composting service.

    Do your research

    Make informed choices about what to buy and where to buy it. Prioritise products that are:

    • durable
    • energy-efficient
    • made from recycled or renewable materials.

    Shop second-hand

    Buying your items second-hand helps reduce waste to landfill and is typically more affordable.

    Ways to buy second-hand goods include:

    • local charity shops
    • vintage stores or boutiques
    • markets, such as the Old Bus Depot Markets
    • Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.

    Make your own

    Your Libraries ACT card comes with access to Creativebug, an online platform with art and craft video classes. There are classes on making and repairing clothes, knitting, and crocheting. There are also courses on how to make home décor or craft projects that make brilliant gifts for friends and family.

    Keep an eye on the Tuggeranong Repair Café and Hawker Community Repair Café who sometimes offer repair workshops where you can learn skills from local volunteers.

    Growing your own produce is another way to prevent food wastage and resources. New to gardening? Learn how to grow veggies at home in Canberra.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New 30-unit public housing development opens in Tuggeranong

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The new homes vary in size and cater to a wide range of needs.

    A new 30-unit public housing development has opened in Tuggeranong and is ready to welcome tenants.

    The unit complex is one of the largest public housing developments delivered under the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program.

    The program, launched in 2019, aims to deliver 1,400 renewed or new public homes by mid-2027, which will increase the total number of public housing in the ACT by 400.

    The new homes cater to a wide range of needs and are Class C Adaptable, making them suitable for people with disability and people as they grow older.

    The development features an onsite playground and a range of unit sizes, from one-bedroom to four-bedroom.

    They have each been completed with above-standard energy efficiency ratings, to provide tenants greater comfort and increased affordability.

    The development is located close to shops, services and transport, as well Lake Tuggeranong and surrounding parks, allowing residents easy access to Tuggeranong’s outdoor spaces.

    The ACT has the second-highest proportion of public housing out of any jurisdiction in the country.

    The ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program is on track to meet its targets.

    More than 640 homes have already been built or bought, and another 577 are in the construction pipeline.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Construction begins on new Belco half-pipe

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Katie Pike will no longer need to travel interstate to train for skating competitions.

    The new competition-standard half-pipe at Belconnen skatepark is another step closer.

    With off-site fabrication underway, construction has now started on site to expand the skatepark alongside the legendary ‘Belco Bowl’.

    Fencing of the site has been completed with works over the coming weeks to include demolition activities to provide access to site and earthworks to start preparing the area for the future half-pipe.

    The concrete slab is in place and the on-site assembly of the prefabricated metal and wooden ramps is underway.

    The new half-pipe is expected to open to the public early in the second half of 2024.

    The Canberra Skateboarding Association and Canberra BMX Club have called for improvements to Canberra skate parks.

    The city’s skate culture is already strong, and the sport is growing in popularity.

    Belconnen is Canberra’s best-known skatepark and already considered world-class by many enthusiasts.

    Also known as a vertical or vert ramp, the new half-pipe will take ACT skating to another level, growing the city’s appeal to both national and international skaters.

    Young Canberra skater and international competitor Katie Pike is excited about the development.

    “I’m really looking forward to having a competition vert ramp in my home skatepark,” she said.

    “That will help me out a lot because obviously I have to travel to Sydney to skate competition vert ramps and now that we have one in Canberra it will be a lot easier. Instead of having to travel most weeks I can just train five minutes away from home.”

    Joel Bliss, another local skater, is also enthusiastic.

    “I’ve been waiting, I think, my whole Canberra skating life for this moment,” he said.

    “The first sessions are going to be amazing. I’ll probably just drop in and roll around for a while to get used to it. Because these ramps are big! The vert ramps we are used to around here are like mini ramps in comparison to this actual proper-sized ramp, so the speed you get on these things is just a thing in itself.

    “It’s going to be unreal and there will be skaters from all over Australia that will come when they hear about it. It’s going to be a good thing. I can’t wait,” Joel said.

    The ACT Government manages seven skateparks and another 12 parks that feature skating facilities across Canberra.

    These cater not only to skateboarders but also cyclists, scooters, rollerbladers and rollerskaters.

    “I think it’s really good and I think it will help with the progression of skating in Canberra,” Katie said.

    The competition-standard half-pipe is funded by both the ACT Government and the Australian Government under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

    Joel Bliss can’t wait for the new half-pipe to be completed.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New West Belconnen public housing ready for tenants

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    There are nine new units complete.

    Nine new public housing units in West Belconnen are now complete and ready to welcome tenants.

    The homes have been developed under the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program, which has seen more than 475 homes built and a further 577 under design or construction since the launch of the program in July 2019.

    The new homes add to the category of public housing in highest demand: approximately 80 per cent of all housing applicants can be housed in a two-bedroom dwelling.

    Each of the homes is equipped with Class C adaptable features, suitable for people with different mobility and accessibility needs, and support tenants to age in place.

    They are located close to a school, shops, and transport and feature a 7-star energy rating, offering greater comfort and increased affordability for tenants.

    The program demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to providing high-quality public housing that caters to tenants’ needs.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program funding announced

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Both Thor’s Hammer and Women’s Shed Canberra are grant recipients.

    Fourteen social enterprises have been successful in the ACT Government’s new social enterprise grants program.

    The ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program aims to support new social enterprises to start up, and help existing social enterprises to take the next step in their business journey.

    The 14 enterprises will share in $340,000, to help get their ideas off the ground with the support of The Mill House Ventures.

    The Mill House Ventures is delivering the grant program on behalf of the ACT Government, and will work with the recipients to help them achieve their purpose.

    “As the key organisation supporting social enterprises in the ACT, The Mill House Ventures is thrilled that these grants will provide so much practical assistance to our region’s early stage and start up social enterprises,” CEO at The Mill House Ventures Craig Fairweather said.

    “The independent assessment panel had a very difficult, but rewarding, task in determining the final list of successful grant recipients.”

    The recipients are highly motivated and committed to supporting the local Canberra community, providing solutions to challenges and building resilience.

    Grant recipients include:

    • Women’s Shed Canberra, which offers women of all backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, an ability to meet and to learn skills in building trades within a safe and supportive community.
    • GetAboutAble, a leading Australian accessibility consultancy that supports businesses and other organisations to improve their access and inclusion.
    • The Climate Factory, an organisation facilitating the creation of climate-cooling microforests in suburban locations, promoting biodiversity and fostering community engagement in environmental initiatives.

    The delivery of social enterprise grants was identified as a transformative project in CBR Switched On: ACT’s Economic Development Priorities 2022 – 2025.

    ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program recipients:

    • Her Kitchen Table ($30,000)
    • Women’s Shed Canberra ($30,000)
    • The Climate Factory ($29,915)
    • Fundraise for Australia ($12,500)
    • GetAboutAble ($30,000)
    • RecycleAbilities ($29,000)
    • SeeMe Please ($30,000)
    • Accessilife ($20,000)
    • Endless Australia ($30,000)
    • Catalyst Living Skills ($30,000)
    • ShowGo ($28,585)
    • U Shape Us ($20,000)
    • Warehouse Circus ($10,000)
    • The Easy Read Toolbox ($10,000)

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Expanding Inpatient Capacity at State Mental Health Facilities

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that 125 new beds have opened at state-operated psychiatric centers over the past four months, boosting New York’s capacity to provide intermediate-level care to individuals living with mental illness. Opened statewide since December 1, 2024, the new beds represent more than a third of the capacity added at state psychiatric centers since Governor Hochul took office in 2022 — the largest inpatient expansion at these facilities in decades.

    “New Yorkers living with longer-term psychiatric challenges need access to care they can count on and that’s what these new beds promise to deliver,” Governor Hochul said. “Adding new capacity complements other critical investments we’re making in mental health care, including an expansion of outpatient supports, services and specialized housing to help individuals in recovery live safely in their community.”

    OMH has added 125 new beds split between five state psychiatric centers during the first three months of 2025. This expansion added 60 adult beds, 15 children’s beds and 50 forensic beds, including:

    • 25 beds at the Greater Binghamton Psychiatric Center in Binghamton
    • 25 beds at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens
    • 10 beds at Capital District Psychiatric Center in Albany
    • 15 beds at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg
    • 25 beds at Kirby Psychiatric Center in Manhattan
    • 25 beds at Rochester Psychiatric Center in Rochester

    With these additions, Governor Hochul has brought 875 beds online since taking office, including 325 new beds at state-operated psychiatric centers, and 550 beds restored at community-based hospitals. An additional 75 beds are in planning for three Transition to Home units slated to begin opening at the Creedmoor campus in 2026.

    The first 25-bed Transition to Home unit opened at Manhattan Psychiatric Center in late 2022, with a second 25-bed unit opening several months later. These units provide recovery-focused treatment specifically designed for individuals with severe mental illnesses who are experiencing homelessness.

    In addition to this expansion at state facilities, Governor Hochul has helped restore 550 beds that were offline at community-based hospital beds statewide. These hospitals typically serve individuals requiring shorter term care –often several weeks or less –while the state psychiatric centers provide longer-term treatment that can last months.

    Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Our focus is to ensure all New Yorkers can access the right level of care whenever and wherever they need it. In addition to expanding both acute and intermediate inpatient capacity, we are also investing in outpatient supports and specialized housing to help people receive mental health care in the setting most appropriate for their need. Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to strengthening our mental health system is creating one that is truly responsive to the needs of all New Yorkers.”

    Governor Hochul’s signature $1 billion investment into strengthening New York State’s mental health care system and her subsequent budget initiatives have resulted in a significant expansion of outpatient services. This includes tripling the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics statewide from 13 to 39, which provide mental health and substance use disorder services to anyone who walks in the door.

    This plan has added 24 new adult and young adult Assertive Community Treatment teams, with an additional 16 teams under development. This ongoing expansion will significantly increase the capacity of these teams to treat New Yorkers most in need within their communities, rather than in more restrictive hospital settings.

    Governor Hochul’s plan has funded 22 new Youth ACT teams. These multi-disciplinary teams are designed to address the significant needs of children ages 10 up to 21, who are at risk of entering, or are returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services.

    Additionally, the State has added 31 new Critical Time Intervention teams under the Governor’s initiative to provide care management services and support that help people during transitions in care, including when they leave inpatient settings. An additional 19 teams are in planning.

    Governor Hochul’s mental health initiative has also expanded the ‘Safe Options Support’ program to operate in all five boroughs of New York City and throughout the state, helping more than 970 chronically homeless individuals into permanent housing. There are now 17 teams operating throughout New York City, one on Long Island and 10 in communities in upstate.

    To date, the plan has provided funding for 1,276 units of new specialized housing, with an additional 2,224 housing units in the pipeline. This housing includes community residence-single room occupancy units, supportive housing-single room occupancy units and short term transitional residential units.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Helping Tenants Have A Fair Chance at Affordable Housing

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted her support for New York City’s FARE Act, which will prohibit landlords from passing brokers’ fees onto tenants when the law goes into effect this June. The State filed an amicus brief to affirm that State law does not interfere with the tenant-protective FARE Act. The FARE Act complements Governor Hochul’s historic FY25 Enacted Budget that supports tenants and renters, including by enshrining in law landmark protections from price gouging and unfair eviction practices.

    “New Yorkers deserve a fair chance at affordable housing, and the FARE Act advances that critical goal,” Governor Hochul said. “Renters should not have to face the burden of paying thousands of dollars up front for an apartment, especially when they often are not requesting the services. Come this June, renters will be able to keep their hard-earned money in their pockets which will help them afford to live in the greatest city in the world.”

    New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé said, “I thank the Governor for her support. As New Yorkers already know, the lawsuit is a meritless attempt to delay relief for the renters of our city. It is bad-faith and will fail. Come summer, the abusive system of forced broker fees will end.”

    The Fairness in Apartment Rentals Expense (FARE) Act prohibits landlords from passing the fees of brokers they hire onto prospective tenants in New York City. Brokers fees contribute to thousands of dollars in upfront costs that New York City tenants often must shoulder before being able to rent an apartment even when they have not requested the brokers’ services. New York City is one of the only housing markets in the country where this practice is common.

    The Governor also provided critical assistance, helping New York City renters access affordable homes in December 2024 by providing essential support to ensure the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City history. As the city confronts a generational housing crisis with a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, the citywide rezoning will enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion, which will include $1 billion in State funding that the Governor has proposed in this year’s budget, towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. The City of Yes proposal alone exceeds all the housing created from rezonings during any mayoral administration of the last 50 years, including all of the 12 years of the Bloomberg administration and all eight years of the de Blasio administration.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “For far too long, excessive brokers’ fees have exacerbated the housing crisis by imposing undue financial barriers on individuals and families looking to rent an apartment. The FARE Act is a game changer for tens of thousands of renters who will find a whole new landscape in June that gives them a better chance at securing an apartment without having to worry about undue brokers’ fees that were baked into a lease. We are thankful that Governor Hochul and our partners in New York City continue to work in concert to make our state more affordable and livable for all.”

    Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “Tenants are not revolving ATMs for big real estate. It’s simple: there is nothing in state law that requires tenants to cover the cost of their landlord’s real estate broker, and New York City’s FARE Act makes clear that the landlord is responsible for the broker’s fee. With one in four New Yorkers already struggling to stay financially afloat in the Big Apple, tacking on thousands of extra dollars in unnecessary fees is nothing more than an extra barrier to securing safe, stable housing. This law will undoubtedly put money back in the pockets of cash-strapped New Yorkers who already face increasingly unaffordable rents.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on State-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan 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 55,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing Certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Nearly 300 communities have been certified, including all five boroughs of New York City.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: AssetVal and Restb.ai to Modernize Broker Price Opinions with AI-Powered Visual Validation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssetVal, a valuation industry leader known for delivering high-quality Broker Price Opinions (BPOs), is partnering with Restb.ai, a trusted innovator in computer vision AI for the mortgage industry, today announced the integration of Restb.ai’s advanced computer vision technology to elevate the consistency and accuracy of its residential BPO offerings. This AI-driven enhancement enables AssetVal to validate the condition and quality of both subject properties and comparables, helping reduce valuation drift and deliver more consistent price opinions at scale.

    Broker Price Opinions – long a staple of real estate’s valuation ecosystem – are often vulnerable to variation between agents and assignments. Deploying Restb.ai’s property intelligence capabilities helps AssetVal deliver a new level of objectivity and precision to BPO analysis, modernizing the process while maintaining its trusted human foundation.

    “At AssetVal, we’ve built our reputation on delivering high-quality valuations – and BPOs are no exception,” said Tami Rund, CEO at AssetVal. “Restb.ai’s AI solutions allow us to validate property condition and quality more consistently to improve BPO accuracy, giving our clients greater confidence in every price opinion we deliver.”

    Enhancing BPO accuracy leveraging visual intelligence
    AssetVal’s integration of Restb.ai brings powerful automation to its BPO workflow, enabling:

    • Heightening the quality of BPOs: Leveraging Restb.ai solutions to detect property conditions and quality more consistently and objectively.
    • Greater BPO accuracy: By more accurately matching comparables of similar condition and quality, AssetVal improves alignment with true market value.
    • Reduced valuation drift: The new capabilities help mitigate inconsistencies between multiple BPOs on the same property, an ongoing challenge in high-volume servicing environments.

    “AssetVal is setting a new standard for BPO quality,” said Tony Pistilli, President, Valuation at Restb.ai. “By embedding our computer vision capabilities, they’re enabling their broker network to focus on valuation insights instead of subjective image review, all while improving consistency across the board.”

    A legacy of quality powered by innovation
    Founded in 1995, AssetVal has built a legacy of valuation excellence delivering BPOs, appraisals, inspections, and data and analytics to some of the nation’s largest servicers and investment banks. The company’s reputation for meeting tight timelines and exceeding compliance standards is bolstered by meeting the highest standards in data protection and privacy (SOC 2 Type II certification) and proprietary compliance tools supported by a robust vendor panel.

    With offices in Colorado and Texas, AssetVal is known as the leading valuation firm with a strong focus on BPOs. Its latest innovation with Restb.ai further reflects its commitment to quality and modernization.

    For more information, visit assetval.com and restb.ai.

    About AssetVal
    AssetVal, Valuation Solutions, AssetVal Inc., a woman owned business, was founded on May 5, 1995. AssetVal is a full spectrum valuation provider working with servicers, investors and originators. Founded in the real estate and valuation space, AssetVal has spent the last 30 years developing and continuously improving upon its proprietary web application, building the most experienced vendor panel, and perfecting its ordering and QC processes to provide top-tier products and services.

    AssetVal was one of the first to develop an advanced proprietary web-based valuation application. Its in-house development team – taking advantage of emerging technologies – has continuously enhanced and upgraded its application. AssetVal has been providing products and services to some of the nation’s largest servicers, investment banks and originators for over 30 years. With the use of in-house technology and third-party partners such as Restb.ai, AssetVal provides some of the best technology and industry leveraged products for an integrated approach.

    About Restb.ai
    Restb.ai, the leader in AI-powered computer vision for real estate, provides image recognition and data enrichment solutions for many of the industry’s top brands and leading innovators in the mortgage industry with AI solutions for valuations and appraisals. Its advanced AI-powered technology automatically analyzes property imagery to unlock visual insights at scale – including property conditions – empowering mortgage, valuation, and appraisal firms with relevant and actionable property intelligence. Its proprietary artificial intelligence technology transforms property imagery into actionable insights, helping clients unlock new value from visual data and providing deep insight into each of the 1 million property photos uploaded daily.

    Media contacts:
    Restb.ai
    Maya Makarem | maya@restb.ai
    or
    Kevin Hawkins | WAV Group
    206-866-1220
    kevin@wavgroup.com.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1511c311-9e06-4a26-8393-afe1c4c4127e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/557f4111-5294-459d-ba8f-4b809a43f94d

    The MIL Network –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: YMX Logistics CEO Speaking on Panel at ACT Expo on the Electrification of Yard Operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HENDERSON, Nev., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YMX Logistics, a national leader in integrated yard logistics, including gate management, spotting and shuttling services, trailer rentals, and yard management technology solutions, announces that CEO Matt Yearling will participate on a panel at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, discussing the electrification of logistics.

    Warehouse Sector: Logistics from Storage to Shipment will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM in Room 157 – 159 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. The panel of logistics experts will explore cutting-edge strategies and technologies to maximize the efficiency of distribution centers and manufacturing plants’ operations.

    Manufacturing and distribution facilities are under pressure to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Discover how technologies like yard trucks, forklifts, and pallet jacks lead the transition to alternative fuels in warehouse operations.

    “With substantial reductions in fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and carbon emissions, EV yard trucks are emerging as a strategic necessity rather than a luxury,” says Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. “For enterprise shippers looking to optimize yard operations without taking on the burden of fleet ownership, outsourcing to a specialized yard logistics provider that deploys EV yard trucks offers a scalable, cost-effective path to efficiency and sustainability.”

    Matt Yearling is a strong advocate for electrifying yard operations and will be discussing the need for how yard operations must evolve. He will discuss how YMX has created a new gold standard for yard operations, delivering operational excellence through service excellence, electrification, technology enablement, and process optimization. YMX recently introduced YMS OS, a proprietary logistics framework designed to optimize YMX yard operations through technology-enabled insights and execution. YMX OS is redefining how enterprise yard operations can create value at the intersection of operations and technology.

    Matt will also discuss whether enterprises should manage the transition to EV trucks in-house or outsource yard management to a yard logistics provider. Outsourcing yard operations to an integrated yard logistics provider that operates EV yard trucks can unlock immediate benefits like cost reduction, fuel savings, and lower maintenance costs.

    ACT Expo is the largest conference and trade show highlighting the most advanced transportation technologies and renewable fuels available in the marketplace today. The show serves as the official annual meeting place for 12,000+ transportation leaders looking to gain insight and hands-on access to the fuels, technologies, and vehicles driving the future of transportation. ACT Expo features dozens of product debuts and significant announcements from leading OEMs and suppliers, unparalleled networking opportunities with the industry’s most influential and progressive leaders, peer-to-peer learning for progressive fleet operators, and access to the most extensive assembly of advanced commercial vehicles anywhere.

    ABOUT YMX

    YMX Logistics is trusted by the world’s largest shippers and specializes in sustainable and optimized integrated yard logistics operations, spotting and shuttling services, and yard management technology solutions. With a team that brings decades of experience working for large shippers, Silicon Valley innovators, and top-tier consulting firms, YMX delivers reliable and high-performance outsourced yard and transportation operations to enterprise customers and Fortune 500 companies in the retail, manufacturing, and distribution sectors across North America. For more information, please visit ymxlogistics.com. 

    For More Information, Contact:
    Becky Boyd
    MediaFirst PR
    Cell: (404) 421-8497
    Email: Becky@MediaFirst.Net

    The MIL Network –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Big Takeaway — We’re headed to NATO!

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Here’s the big takeaway – we’re headed to @NATO! — Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2nnwVUdKV4

    MIL OSI Video –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Search for new lease of life for Pounds House

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A search is on for a sympathetic new owner who can revive and restore a Grade II listed mansion house in the heart of Plymouth.

    Pounds House in Central Park is in need of a new lease of life and the Council, which owns the building, has looked extensively at options but has not identified a use for it and has now decided to open up its future to other interested parties.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member with responsibility for assets said:
    “We constantly review our properties and assets to make sure they provide value in meeting the needs of our services to residents and helping us deliver priorities for the city.

    “This involves both buying and selling properties to best meet the needs of the residents we serve.

    “We have not identified a Council use for the building that would warrant large scale investment and need to focus our efforts elsewhere. It is a shame, but we need to be pragmatic and offer this as an opportunity which we hope others will grasp. We want this building to be loved for the long term.”

    The Council has a large portfolio of assets, from land to office blocks, retail parks and shops, which support the local economy and thousands of jobs. As a landowner it keeps its properties under constant review, assessing them on whether they are used, the cost of upkeep, whether it fits in with the Council’s and the city’s priorities. As well as disposing assets, it also acquires them, depending on needs of the city, its economy and its residents.

    In the last five years the Council has spent £490,787 on the property, including work to the roof and rainwater goods, security, electrical installations, gas and water hygiene inspections/testing and insurance. Removing the property from the Council’s books would remove a substantial liability for maintenance. The mansion house has been empty since 2017 and significant external work is needed.

    The future of the house has had a number of false starts. Investigation works were due to start in 2020 but were put on hold to allow the building to be used as part of the Mayflower 400 celebrations. There were further delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 some work carried out to address more pressing issues including repairs to very old window frames.

    The house is expected to be sold at auction in the next few months. As there is a small area around the boundary of the house that will form part of the disposal package, the Council is placing a Loss of Public Open Space legal notice in the Herald and on the Council’s website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Drone Surveying Market One of The Fastest Growing Segments of the Drone Industry as Revenue Opportunity Climbs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The US Drone Surveying Market has been the Global Market Leader in recent years and is expected to continue for years to come. The US has been the market leader in the drone industry since the start of the drone revolution. Across industries, companies have employed drones for their day-to-day operations. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, mining, real estate, and agriculture are some of the prominent end-use industries for the drone surveying market. According to an industry report, the US drone surveying market is expected to witness double-digit market growth in the forecast period and is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 2540.0 million by the end of 2033. The construction and mining industry is expected to be the market leader in the demand for drone surveying services. Increased spending from governments and rising demand for residential and commercial spaces would add a significantly high pace to the overall drone surveying demand in the US. The report said; “Why Land Survey Commands Largest Market Share? The drone land survey as a service is a common one among all industries. The demand for land surveys arises from sectors such as construction, mining, energy, real estate, public administration, and agriculture among others. That is why land survey services contribute most to the drone survey company’s revenue. The drone land survey holds around 53% of the total market share in the drone survey industry. With the help of drone land surveys, companies/institutions get their desired datasets which ultimately help them in making informed decisions. For example, a land survey for infrastructure development can help companies and planning and development by providing required 3D maps or images. It is expected that the land survey market to remain the top revenue contributor for drone survey service providers.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), EHang (NASDAQ: EH), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT).

    Fact.MR continued: “Construction Industry to Contribute Most to the Drone Surveying Service Demand. The spending on infrastructural development has been all-time high across the major economies of the world. The market players are taking the help of drone service providers in different stages of planning and development. Drone surveying companies provide services for the use of town planning, land record digitalization, urban city development, and other development-related services. With the help of drones, companies are able to cover increased areas (acres of land/area) within no time, and with precise and accurate data. These collected images and data can be easily converted into meaningful output, which can be useful in the planning and development of urban towns. Drone surveying has been very useful for the construction industry by providing important insights with minimal cost and improved efficiency.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Closes Second Southeast Region Acquisition, Wallace Surveying Corporation, Set to Become the Third Acquisition to Power Its National Drone as a Service (DaaS) Business – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it has closed the acquisition of Wallace Surveying Corporation (“Wallace”) of West Palm Beach, Florida, a well-established land survey company with thirty years of experience. Wallace provides construction and land development surveys delivering accurate and reliable data that supports project planning and design for developers, contractors, engineers, and architect customers.

    This is ZenaTech’s second acquisition in the Southeast region as part of a larger national roll-up strategy to disrupt the land survey industry by accelerating the use of drones for speed and accuracy benefits. The acquisition also further powers the Company’s national Drone as a Service, or DaaS, business as the third US acquisition set to provide access to the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series. These multifunction drones are set to provide a variety of services including power line inspections, precision agriculture, law enforcement, and search and rescue for natural disasters such as hurricanes.

    “Wallace Surveying Corporation is well respected in the South Florida business community with longstanding existing customer relationships. Its team brings considerable expertise toward our goal of innovating land surveys at scale leveraging advanced drone data collection, data management, mapping and digital deliverables. This acquisition is another step towards our vision to create a national DaaS business, bringing AI drone efficiencies and precision to a variety of legacy verticals and manual tasks,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech’s Drones as a Service or DaaS model is similar to Software as a Service (SaaS), but instead of providing software solutions over the Internet, the company will offer ZenaDrone solutions and services on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving more precision, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or farming precision agriculture applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments like spraying, without the need for specialized training.

    Accurate land surveys are essential for the planning, designing, and executing of roads, bridges, and building projects for cities, commercial, and residential projects, and are required for legal purposes. Remotely piloted drones with an array of sensors and cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPS systems for capturing high-resolution pictures and data are revolutionizing the land survey industry gathering aerial data across expansive terrains in a matter of hours instead of weeks or months using more traditional photogrammetry methods. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/.

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) 2024 Financial Results Shows Revenue and Assets Increase.

    2024 Financial Results:

    • As of December 31, 2024, and consistent with its recent 6K filing, ZenaTech’s 2024 full-year revenue increased by 7% to $1.96 million as compared to $1.82 million for the full year of 2023 (all figures in $Cdn. dollars)
    • Comprehensive loss for the period was ($4.04 million) versus ($.251 million) last year due to increased one-time costs of listing on Nasdaq Capital Market from lawyers, accountants, auditors, financial advisor (investment banker) and other going public expenses
    • Assets have increased over 110% to $34.6 million at year-end 2024, up from $16.4 million at year-end 2023. This is due to the company’s acquisition of three patents, and a total of four software companies. In addition, the company has signed multiple Letters of Intent (LOIs) as part of an acquisition strategy that will tremendously increase future revenue
    • Liabilities continue to be low, having increased $3.7 million to $12.8 million at year-end 2024 from $9.1 million at year-end 2023
    • The Company’s ratio of debt to total capitalization is 31%, which is well within the accepted standard of less than 50%
    • ZenaTech’s existing cash and funds available through lines of credit will be sufficient to finance the next 12 months of the company’s operations. We anticipate that cash generated internally, and lines of credit will be sufficient to fund our drone development and acquisitions
    • Additional information is available from ZenaTech’s 6K filing on the SEC EDGAR website. The company will be filing its 20F by the due date, which is April 30, 2024, for Private Foreign Issuers. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/.

    Other recent developments in the drone/aviation industries include:

    Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) recently announced a partnership today to build the AI foundation for the future of next-gen aviation technologies. For decades, the aviation industry has made only incremental improvements, constrained by legacy technology and a dominant duopoly in commercial aviation. With the rapid acceleration of AI, as well as breakthroughs in distributed electric propulsion, the industry is now poised for change.

    The two plan to leverage Palantir Foundry and AIP to accelerate the scaling of Archer’s aircraft manufacturing capabilities at its facilities in Georgia and Silicon Valley, with the intent to advance the development of software solutions to drive innovation across the entire value chain.

    This would include the development of next-gen software utilizing AI to improve a range of aviation systems, including air traffic control, movement control and route planning, with the goal of improving efficiency, safety and affordability across the industry.

    Archer and Palantir will formalize this partnership later today during a signing ceremony between Palantir co-founder and CEO, Alex Karp, and Archer founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, at Palantir’s AIPCon.

    EHang (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), and its joint venture company in Hefei, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“HeYi Aviation”), have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (“OC”) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”).

    This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, allowing citizens and consumers to purchase flight tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and diverse commercial human-carrying flight services at related operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, operators will also gradually expand into more other scenarios such as urban commuting based on operational conditions legally and compliantly. The issuance of the first batch of OCs sets a new benchmark for the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility and further unleashing a more powerful vitality of the new-quality productive forces.

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently reported its financial results for the 2024 Transition Period (as of December 31, 2024 and the eight months then ended) and provides a corporate update.

    “Red Cat’s partnerships and global expansion strategy is already yielding strong results. Over the past few months, we’ve introduced the Black Widow and Edge 130 drones to key international markets, including the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and soon Latin America,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “This momentum underscores growing global interest in our Family of Systems. The ongoing development of Black Widow for the U.S. Army’s SRR Program of Record, bolstered by AI partners like Palantir and Palladyne, we’re not only meeting immediate defense needs—we’re ensuring our warfighters and allies are well equipped for rapidly-evolving battlefield.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe | Lord Speaker’s Lecture

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    The Lord Speaker welcomed the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, in February to mark the signing of the Treaty of London 75 years ago, which established the Council of Europe.

    The President gave a lecture entitled ‘The Council of Europe: 75 Years and Beyond’, and was joined in conversation by Lolrd Foulkes of Cumnock to discuss the past, present and future work of the Council and parliamentarians’ contribution in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
    • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aZkjwAEbcw

    MIL OSI Video –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Morgan McGarvey Statement on Donald Trump’s Tariff Announcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    April 02, 2025

    Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey released the following statement following Donald Trump’s tariff announcement: 

    “I want to bring more manufacturing jobs home, but tariffs don’t solve problems on their own. To work, they must be backed by a comprehensive plan. Donald Trump has not paired his overly broad, half-baked tariffs with any comprehensive strategy to return manufacturing jobs to the United States, and without one, these tariffs will only hurt working families and small businesses, while decimating Kentucky’s bourbon industry. 

    “Families are already struggling to get by in Trump’s economy. Things will only get worse as Donald Trump continues to undermine unions and strip workers’ health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Top Originator Donald Campbell Joins Rate in Andover, MA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, today announced the addition of Donald Campbell as one of its newest top-producing loan originators in Andover, Massachusetts. Campbell, who has spent 13 years in the mortgage industry, is recognized for his commitment to supporting first-time homebuyers and providing an exceptional client experience.

    Following in his mother’s footsteps, who began her mortgage career in 2001, Campbell has built his reputation for helping clients navigate the homebuying process. Campbell and his team’s commitment to service and lasting relationships has earned them a loyal clientele in the thousands.

    “Rate has been a breath of fresh air, especially seeing their commitment to the Latino community,” said Campbell. “Their Language Access Program is unmatched—they’ve meticulously translated their entire customer-facing platform into Spanish, ensuring both accessibility and compliance.”

    “We’re excited to have Donald join our team,” said Jeff Nelson, Chief Production Officer-East at Rate. “His experience and dedication to his clients make him a valuable addition to our company, and I’m eager to see his continued growth with Rate.”

    By bringing Campbell on board, Rate continues to strengthen its presence in Massachusetts, emphasizing client-centric solutions and a diverse, talented team of experts.

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top 5 Mortgage Lender by Inside Mortgage Finance for 2024; Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

    Press Contact

    press@rate.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e7a1518-ebab-436c-b6c6-3620149ce2bc

    The MIL Network –

    April 4, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Evicted PNG settlement fears collective punishment over gang rape and killing

    By Harlyne Joku and BenarNews staff

    Residents of an informal Port Moresby settlement that was razed following the gang rape and murder of a woman by 20 men say they are being unfairly punished by Papua New Guinea authorities over alleged links to the crime.

    Human rights advocates and the UN have condemned the killing but warned the eviction by police has raised serious concerns about collective punishment, violations of national law, police misconduct and governance failures.

    A community spokesman said more than 500 people living at the settlement at the capital’s Baruni rubbish dump were forcibly evicted by the police in response to the killing of 32-year-old Margaret Gabriel on February 15.

    Port Moresby newspapers reported the gang rape and murder by 20 men of 32-year-old Margaret Gabriel . . . “Barbaric”, said the Post-Courier in a banner headline. Image: BenarNews

    Authorities accuse the settlement residents, who are primarily migrants from the Goilala district in Central Province, of harboring some of the men involved in her murder.

    Prime Minister James Marape condemned Gabriel’s death as “inhuman, barbaric” and a “defining moment for our nation to unite against crime, to take a stand against violence”, the day after the attack.

    He assured every effort would be made to prosecute those responsible and his “unwavering support” for the removal of settlements like Baruni, calling them “breeding grounds for criminal elements who terrorise innocent people.”

    Gabriel was one of three women killed in the capital that week.

    Charged with rape, murder
    Four men from Goilala district and two from Enga province, all aged between 18 and 29, appeared in a Port Moresby court on Monday on charges of her rape and murder.

    The case has again put a spotlight again on gender-based violence in PNG and renewed calls for the government to find a long-term solution to Port Moresby’s impoverished settlements.

    Dozens of families, some of whom have lived in the Baruni settlement for more than 40 years, were forced out of their homes on February 22 and are now sleeping under blue tarpaulins at a school sports oval on the outskirts of the capital.

    Spokesman for the evicted Baruni residents, Peter Laiam . . . “My people are innocent.” Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    “My people are innocent,” Peter Laiam, a community spokesman and school caretaker, told BenarNews, adding that police continued to harass the community at their new location.

    “They told me I had to move these people out in two weeks’ time or they will shoot us.”

    Laiam said a further six men from the settlement were suspected of involvement in Gabriel’s death, but had not been charged, and the community has fully cooperated with police on the matter, including naming the suspects.

    Authorities however were treating the entire population as “trouble makers,” Laiam added.

    “They also took cash and building materials like corrugated iron roofing for themselves” he said.

    No police response
    Senior police in Port Moresby did not respond to ongoing requests from BenarNews for reaction to the allegations.

    Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Turi last week thanked the evicted settlers for information that led to the arrest of six suspects, The National newspaper reported.

    Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Junior defended the eviction at Baruni last month, telling EMTV News it was lawful and the settlement was on state-owned land.

    Bare land left after homes in the Baruni settlement village were flattened by bulldozers at Port Moresby, PNG. Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    Police used excavators and other heavy machinery to tear down houses at the Baruni settlement, with images showing some buildings on fire.

    Residents say the resettlement site in Laloki lacks adequate water, sanitation and other facilities.

    “They are running out of food,” Laiam said. “Last weekend they were washed out by the rain and their food supplies were finished.”

    Separated from their gardens and unable to sell firewood, the families are surviving on food donations from local authorities, he said.

    Human rights critics
    The evictions have been criticised by human rights advocates, including Peterson Magoola, the UN Women Representative for PNG.

    “We strongly condemn all acts of sexual and gender-based violence and call for justice for the victim,” he said in a statement last month.

    “At the same time, collective punishment, forced evictions, and destruction of homes violate fundamental human rights and disproportionately harm vulnerable members of the community.”

    The evicted families living in tents at Laloki St Paul’s Primary School, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, PNG. Image: Harlyne Joku/Benar News

    Melanesian Solidarity, a local nonprofit, called on the government to ensure justice for both the murder victim and displaced families.

    It said the evictions might have contravened international treaties and domestic laws that protect against unlawful property deprivation and mandate proper legal procedures for relocation.

    The Baruni settlement, which is home primarily to migrants from Goilala district, was established with consent on the customary land of the Baruni people during the colonial era, according to Laiam.

    Central Province Governor Rufina Peter defended the evicted settlers on national broadcaster NBC on February 20, and their contribution to the national capital.

    “The Goilala people were here during pre-independence time. They are the ones who were the bucket carriers,” she said.

    ‘Knee jerk’ response
    She also criticised the eviction by police as “knee jerk” and raised human rights concerns.

    The Goilala community in Central Province, 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the capital, was the center of controversy in January when a trophy video of butchered body parts being displayed by a gang went viral, attracted erroneous ‘cannibalism’ reportage by the local media and sparked national and international condemnation.

    The evictions at Baruni have touched off again a complex debate about crime and housing in PNG, the Pacific’s most populous nation.

    Informal settlements have mushroomed in Port Moresby as thousands of people from the countryside migrate to the city in search of employment.

    Critics say the impoverished settlements are unfit for habitation, contribute to the city’s frequent utility shortages, and harbour criminals.

    Mass evictions have been ordered before, but the government has failed to enact any meaningful policies to address their rapid growth across the city.

    While accurate population data is hard to find in PNG, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that the number of people living in Port Moresby is about 513,000.

    Lack basic infrastructure
    At least half of them are thought to live in informal settlements, which lack basic infrastructure like water, electricity and sewerage, according to 2022 research by the PNG National Research Institute.

    A shortage of affordable housing and high rental prices have caused a mismatch between demand and supply.

    Melanesian Solidarity said the government needed to develop a national housing strategy to prevent the rise of informal settlements.

    “This eviction is a wake-up call for the government to implement sustainable urban planning and housing reforms rather than resorting to forced removals,” it said in a statement.

    “We stand with the affected families and demand justice, accountability, and humane solutions for all Papua New Guineans.”

    Stefan Armbruster, Sue Ahearn and Harry Pearl contributed to this story. Republished from BenarNews with permission. However, it is the last report from BenarNews as the editors have announced a “pause” in publication due to the US administration withholding funds.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    April 4, 2025
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