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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government kickstarts £100 million fusion investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Government kickstarts £100 million fusion investment

    A first of its kind partnership between the government and private sector could see over £100 million invested into the UK’s growing fusion energy industry.

    • Government invests £20 million into “Starmaker One” – a British fusion investment fund which is expected to leverage £100 million into the UK
    • world first government partnership with fusion private venture capital fund – keeping Britain at the forefront of the global fusion race
    • fusion has potential to help make Britain a clean energy superpower as part of the Plan for Change – driving economic growth and creating skilled jobs

    Today (3 April) the government has announced £20 million to kickstart ‘Starmaker One’ – a British private fusion investment fund that will help fusion businesses and start-ups in the sector grow and commercialise at scale. 

    It is expected the upfront investment will unlock further investment from the private sector as the fusion industry grows – helping cement the UK as a world leader in the technology and creating highly-skilled jobs.  

    Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun by combining two forms of hydrogen and heating them at extreme temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy. 

    Companies in the UK have often identified lack of access to capital as a barrier to scaling up and commercialising their businesses. An injection of cash from government will give the private sector confidence to invest in fusion, developing its vast potential as an unlimited source of energy and ensuring the UK continues to compete in the global fusion race.  

    The funding boost will help small fusion companies provide training for their workforce in key areas such as physics, engineering and chemistry. It will also support companies to develop technologies and capitalise on the opportunities of fusion energy in markets such as magnetics, industrial AI, robotics, healthcare, transportation and energy storage.  

    Fusion already supports thousands of jobs in the UK, in regions such as Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances. Fusion is a key industry sector in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor with independent research from London Economics showing that every £1 invested in fusion it benefits the economy by nearly £4. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  

    This government is taking back control of Britain’s energy by driving for clean homegrown power through our Plan for Change.  

    Fusion has the potential to provide us with energy security, whilst attracting the best technologies to our shores and training up the next generation of British scientists and engineers.  

    We are backing both nuclear and fusion power, and today we take a step forward in growing this exciting industry.

    Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion, Lord Vallance said: 

    Fusion energy is a technology with enormous potential, and an industry in which the UK is already well established.    This investment will help to unlock the funding the fusion industry needs to grow, which will boost regions across the UK such as Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, and in Culham in Oxfordshire, the epicentre of UK fusion.

    Energy Minister Kerry McCarthy, said:  

    This investment is our Plan for Change in action – we are backing British pioneers to secure the clean energy of the future while supporting jobs today, from scientists and welders to engineers and construction managers.  

    As countries around the world recognise the huge potential of fusion, breakthroughs in this technology are happening thick and fast, and we want to keep the UK at the forefront of the global race by helping projects to innovate and grow here, in turn driving economic growth.

    Investment in Starmaker One signals the first early-stage fusion energy venture capital fund outside the US and the first of its kind to partner with government as an investor. Investing in fusion technology will pave the way to delivering a clean safe, secure and abundant baseload energy, helping to meet rising energy demand in the years ahead. 

    This investment will give industry cash upfront to grow their businesses and supply chains. It follows on from a government commitment for a record level of £410 million, announced in January, for UK fusion research and collaboration with other countries to develop clean, unlimited power and drive economic growth. 

    Successful deployment of fusion energy would be globally transformative and allow the UK to export the technology to a global fusion market expected to be worth trillions of pounds in the future.

    This notice is for information only and does not constitute an invitation to invest. The fund is not available to retail investors. 

    Notes for editors  

    • Starmaker One is a limited partnership in which the government is a cornerstone investor. The fund has potential to raise between £100 million and £150 million overall (including the £20 million from DESNZ) for investment into fusion-related technology
    • East X Ventures will act as fund manager. Government will receive a share of any returns made by the partnership
    • East X Ventures is the venture capital arm of East X, a London based quantitative systematic research and investment firm operating across global commodity markets.  East X Ventures invests in early-stage, science-led companies with high-growth, world-scale potential
    • The funding comes from the government’s existing Research and Development budget for 2024/2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter champions bill improving health care access in rural America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter champions bill improving health care access in rural America

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Shomari C. Figures (D-AL), Michael Rulli (R-OH), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) today introduced the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bill extending critical programs that increase access to health care services in rural communities.


    Rural residents often encounter barriers to accessing health care, including workforce shortages, distance and transportation issues, facility closures, and health insurance coverage. These roadblocks result in unmet health care needs, leading to a 43 percent higher mortality rate for rural Americans compared to those living in cities and suburbs. By reauthorizing Rural Health Services Outreach programs, this bill will lead to increased access to health care services and preventive screenings, improved chronic disease management and health outcomes, expanded telehealth services, and reduced emergency department visits for the nearly 500,000 individuals who receive direct services for these programs annually.


    “Health care outcomes should not be dependent on a patient’s zip code. We must ensure that vitally important health services are able to reach people in all communities, which is exactly what the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Programs do. Reauthorizing these programs will continue President Trump’s legacy of supporting rural communities’ chronic health care needs through flexible, community-driven solutions,”     said Rep. Carter.


    “Improving rural health care is one of my top priorities, and I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation,”     said Rep. Figures. “This bill reauthorizes critical programs that will strengthen access to quality health care in my district and other communities across the country.” 


    “Week after week, we hear ridiculous stories of taxpayer money being sent to shadowy organizations overseas. Meanwhile, rural communities here at home are left behind, struggling to access the care they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to stand with Congressman Carter today in sponsoring the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025. This reauthorization ensures that grants supporting healthcare in our underserved communities will continue—and taxpayer dollars will go where they’re needed most: to the American people,”     said Rep. Rulli.


    “The Eighth District is nearly 10,000 square miles, with many of my constituents living in rural communities that depend on a scarce number of medical providers in their area. In Congress, I’m focused on supporting rural health care to ensure that Americans can get care close to home,”     said Rep. Schrier. “As a doctor, I understand the importance of rural clinics and hospitals. Without them, patients, including those in my district, would have to drive even farther to seek medical care. That’s dangerous in an emergency. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to extend key federal grants that strengthen rural health care.”


    In FY 2022, over 85 percent of grant recipients through these programs demonstrated improvement in one or more clinical measures, such as controlled A1cs and blood pressure.


    “Rural residents often encounter barriers to accessing healthcare including workforce shortages, distance and transportation issues, healthcare facility closures. The Rural Health Care Services Outreach programs seek to break down these barriers by supporting community-driven initiatives to promote care coordination, chronic disease prevention, and sustainable health solutions in underserved rural areas. NRHA applauds Representatives Carter, Figures, Rulli, and Schrier for their efforts to reauthorize these critical programs and for their continual support of the health of rural communities.” –     Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association


    Background

    In 2020, President Trump signed into law legislation reauthorizing rural health outreach services programs under the 2020 CARES Act through FY 2025. The Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 will extend these critical programs through 2030. Further, bill changes will ensure that local rural needs are prioritized in grant awards. 

    Read full bill text here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Carter Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Over-the-Counter Drug Regulation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Chairman Carter Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Over-the-Counter Drug Regulation


     Subcommittee Chairman Carter’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:


     “I want to welcome everyone to today’s hearing on the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program, referred to as ‘OMUFA.’ I’m especially pleased that we’re talking about the reauthorization of this program as almost 5 years to the date, the initial bill – sponsored by my good friend from Ohio, Representative Latta, as well as one of Georgia’s finest, Senator Johnny Isakson – was signed into law by President Trump in March 2020.


     “The enactment of this program reformed and modernized the regulation of OTC monograph drugs and authorized the FDA to assess and collect user fees dedicated to OTC monograph drug activities. Industry and public health stakeholders supported these reforms, which have provided the FDA with additional resources and tools to streamline the monograph process to increase access to quality commonly used drugs and self-care products for the American consumer. This program is designed to improve innovation, while maintaining the FDA ‘gold-standard’ of safety.


     “The current legislative authority for OMUFA expires September 30th, 2025 – at which point, new legislation will be required to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph User Fee program for another five-year term.


     “Over-the-counter medications are widely used to treat common ailments such as colds, headaches, and seasonal allergies. In fact, nearly 9 out of every 10 Americans use OTC medications regularly and trust these affordable remedies to get well and stay healthy. Safe, reliable, and affordable OTC drugs allow consumers to treat common ailments at home, usually without visiting a health care provider, saving the health care system billions annually.


     “Of particular note is a company called Symrise. They own and operate a manufacturing plant in Georgia’s First Congressional District. Symrise manufactures aroma molecules and fragrance ingredients, which are used in various consumer products across a number of product categories. They also manufacture two of the key UV filters that are commonly used in many OTC sunscreens on the market today.


     “Sadly, Symrise’s Colonel’s Island plant experienced a serious fire in 2022. Symrise made the strategic decision to re-invest in the site and restore its capacity in my community, at a time when other companies were leaving. They successfully completed renovations and today, the plant is again fully operational, back at its pre-fire capacity. This is a real success story, and we are grateful for their commitment to Georgia.


     “We are also fortunate to have Mr. Kevin Menzel before our Committee today. Mr. Menzel is President of Focus Consumer Healthcare, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kobayashi Healthcare. Kobayashi was founded as a family company in 1886 in Japan. They established a presence in the United States in 1998, and maintain manufacturing and operations in Dalton, Georgia – employing 270 people with products ranging from OTC medicines and supplements, to recreational products like Hot Hands Hand Warmers. Georgia’s pro-business climate and infrastructure make it an ideal location for companies such as Kobayashi. In fact, just recently, Kobayashi began expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint even further, with a significant announced investment in Georgia — doubling its capacity to support ongoing growth and expand employment.


    “Success stories such as Symrise and Kobayashi highlight why it is critical for this Subcommittee to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program in a timely manner. This program demonstrated the ability to bring more jobs back to America, while increasing access to safe, reliable, and affordable OTC drugs.


     “I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today and working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reauthorize this program on time and through regular order.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill to Reimburse Local Police and Fire Departments for Presidential Security Expenses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07) have introduced the Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act, a bipartisan bill to allow the Secret Service to reimburse local law enforcement and fire departments for the assistance they have provided protecting President Trump when he is at his residence in Palm Beach. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, the Town of Palm Beach Police Department, and the City of West Palm Beach Police Department anticipate a total of $45 million in expenses incurred by the end of 2025 for protection of President Trump at the direction of the U.S. Secret Service.

    “Protecting the President is a matter of national security and should be a federal responsibility to bear the costs,” said Rep. Frankel. “Diverting funds for presidential security can strain local governments’ ability to provide essential public services. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Kean, Jr., to ensure that local governments are fully reimbursed for these necessary costs.”

    “The Secret Service relies on strong collaboration with local law enforcement to fulfill its mission effectively,” said Rep. Kean. “Currently, much of that responsibility falls on small-town taxpayers and local budgets. We must ensure our local law enforcement has the resources they need to do their job successfully. That is why I am reintroducing this commonsense legislation—to ensure the necessary funding is readily available to support every security operation.”

    “At the request of the federal government, Palm Beach County has consistently stepped up to ensure that President Trump has the best security protection available anytime he is in residence in our community,” said Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Marino. “We consider it an honor to serve and protect our President; however, our tax paying community cannot continue to foot the bill for this very costly service. We need help and relief from this significant local financial impact that is projected to cost over $45 million by fiscal year end.”

    Full bill text can be found here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Frankel, Kean, Jr. Urge FAA to Reimburse Businesses Affected by Presidential Flight Restrictions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Washington, DC – This week, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07) urged Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau to provide reimbursement to airports and businesses affected by Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) during President Trump’s visits to his residences in Palm Beach, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey. Impacted facilities include Palm Beach County Park Airport (Lantana Airport) and airports in the Bedminster area.

    These recurring airspace restrictions significantly disrupt airport operations, resulting in major revenue losses for small, local businesses operating at these airports—such as flight schools, maintenance services, and propeller shops.

    “Protecting the President is a responsibility we all share, regardless of political affiliation,” said Rep. Frankel. “But it’s the federal government—not local businesses or airports—that should bear the cost of these necessary security measures.”

    “Protecting national security and supporting small businesses should not be mutually exclusive,” said Rep. Kean, Jr. “I am proud to represent a district with small, family-run airports that play a vital role in our community—and one that the President calls home part-time. While Temporary Flight Restrictions are critical for the President’s safety, they can also impose significant financial hardships on local airports and aviation businesses. That’s why Rep. Frankel and I are urging the FAA to use money that Congress has already provided to reimburse businesses for lost revenue and disrupted operations.”

    According to the Florida Aviation Economic Impact Study conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation, businesses at Lantana Airport employ more than 750 workers and contribute over $144 million annually to the local economy.

    For full text of the letter Reps. Frankel and Kean, Jr. sent, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for rape of two teenagers

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping two teenagers he met at a central London train station.

    Abdul-Majed Saif, 30 (13.11.94) of Great West Road, Hounslow was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 1 April – he was also ordered to serve a further six-and-a-half years on licence. Saif had been found guilty of nine counts of rape in relation to two 14-year-olds following the conclusion of a trial at the same court on 31 January.

    The court had heard how Saif had met the two teenagers in Victoria train station on 28 April 2024. He offered them cannabis and convinced them to go back to his house in Osterley where he raped them.

    After the teenagers reported the incident to police and identified Saif’s address, Saif was quickly arrested on 2 May 2024. He denied the offences and was released on bail while an investigation was undertaken. Forensic evidence, coupled with the testimonies of the two teenagers, built a compelling body of evidence and Saif was subsequently charged and convicted of multiple offences.

    Both teenagers were supported by specially trained officers throughout the investigation.

    Detective Constable Stephen Gayfer from the West Area Command Unit who led the investigation said: “I want to thank both survivors in this case for coming forward and helping to get a dangerous predator like Saif off the streets. The abuse he has put these children through is absolutely sickening and is something which will undoubtedly affect them for the rest of their lives.

    “I don’t underestimate the immense courage it took for them to come forward and speak to police and I’d like to commend them on their strength throughout our investigation.

    “It is possible that Saif has preyed on others and I’d encourage anyone who has been abused by this man to reach out and get in touch with us. You will be supported and you will be listened to.”

    Detective Superintendent Rebecca Reeves, Head of Public Protection at West Area, said: “Saif is a dangerous predator. The lengthy term of imprisonment he has been given reflects the very serious nature of the harm that he has caused to these young people. They have been incredibly courageous in coming forward.

    “Officers in our dedicated Rape and Serious Sexual Offences teams work tirelessly to pursue the offenders who target vulnerable children. We are determined to secure justice for child victims of sexual exploitation.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Luis de Guindos: Financial stability in uncertain times

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, at the International Federation of Accountants’ Chief Executives Forum

    Amsterdam, 3 April 2025

    Introduction

    It is a pleasure to be taking part in the International Federation of Accountants’ Chief Executives Forum today.[1] In line with the topic of the event, I will reflect on the risks and uncertainty that threaten financial stability and their implications for policymakers. I will be brief to allow enough time to take your questions.

    Conceptually, risk is associated with situations where the exact outcome is unknown but the possible outcomes can be identified and their probabilities can be estimated reasonably well.[2] For the ECB, financial stability is defined as a condition in which the financial system is capable of withstanding shocks and the unravelling of financial imbalances. So, when assessing financial stability, we evaluate the likelihood of shocks materialising and their potential impact. Uncertainty, by contrast, refers to scenarios where it is impossible to define and measure outcomes and probabilities, often owing to a lack of information. While risk is quantifiable, uncertainty can be proxied at best.

    The current environment

    Uncertainty in the macro-financial and credit environment is currently exceptionally high, in a world being reshaped by significant shifts in geopolitics, international cooperation, global trade policy, financial regulation and the role of crypto-assets. At the same time, the scale of the defence investment foreseen in the EU is unprecedented and adds another significant layer of uncertainty to the current environment.

    According to a news-based index[3], economic policy uncertainty in the euro area is currently more than three times the historical average.[4] Similarly, an index of trade policy uncertainty is more than eight times the historical average.[5] These levels are well above those seen during the pandemic.

    Amid all of this uncertainty, the ECB’s Governing Council decided to lower interest rates by another 25 basis points in March. The deposit facility rate is now at 2.5%, 150 basis points below its recent peak.

    The disinflation process is well on track, with inflation developing broadly as expected. Headline inflation decreased further from 2.3% in February to 2.2% in March. According to recent data and in line with our projections, wage growth is moderating, which is helping services inflation to gradually decline. Most measures of underlying inflation suggest that inflation will settle at around our 2% inflation target, on a sustained basis.

    But uncertainty surrounding the inflation outlook remains high, mainly on account of increasing friction in global trade. An escalation in trade tensions could see the euro depreciate and import costs rise, while much needed defence and infrastructure spending could raise inflation via aggregate demand. Geopolitical tensions could also lead to higher inflation owing to trade disruptions, rising commodity prices and energy costs. At the same time, lower demand for euro area exports and lower growth resulting from the impact of higher tariffs or geopolitical tensions could pose a threat to the economy, depress demand and push inflation down.

    Weak economic growth remains a challenge for the euro area, even without any further shocks. ECB staff have again revised down their growth projections – to 0.9% for 2025, 1.2% for 2026 and 1.3% for 2026. The downward revisions reflect lower exports and ongoing weakness in investment. High uncertainty, both at home and abroad, is holding back investment, while competitiveness challenges are weighing on exports. Addressing these challenges in order to improve growth prospects is clearly more demanding in the current context of exceptionally high uncertainty about trade and economic policy.

    Challenges when analysing financial stability

    Our macroeconomic projections are not the only area where we face great difficulties navigating this environment of heightened uncertainty. Analysing financial stability also requires us to adjust our frameworks and use state-of-the-art tools to assess the financial system’s capacity to withstand shocks under these conditions.

    Analysing multiple scenarios is a powerful way to deal with situations of high uncertainty. It allows us to test the resilience of the financial system against various possible manifestations of financial stress. Shocks cannot be predicted, but drawing on a diverse array of indicators and a range of sensitivity analyses is essential for us to understand the nuances of the current uncertainty. It is also crucial that our various approaches include ways to measure sources of risk amplification and non-linearities. By combining hard data indicators with survey results and analyses based on micro data, we can achieve a more granular, diverse and timely understanding of the economic landscape. Such a comprehensive approach can enhance our ability to anticipate and respond to emerging challenges.

    The main risks to financial stability in the euro area

    In the current economic environment, we are observing marked vulnerabilities in financial stability. While banks remain in good shape, with sound solvency and liquidity indicators that are well above regulatory minimums, there are weaknesses in several other areas. First, elevated valuations and concentrated risks make financial markets susceptible to adverse corrections. Non-bank financial intermediaries have remained resilient to recent bouts of market volatility, but they are still quite heavily exposed to risky assets. Broader market shocks could cause sudden investment fund outflows or trigger margin calls on derivative exposures, unsettling markets and leading to abrupt price corrections. Second, sovereign indebtedness is a cause for concern at a time when defence spending is emerging as a priority in Europe, with different countries having very different amounts of fiscal space to respond. Despite the likely increase in debt servicing costs, public finances need to be managed in a growth-friendly way and ultimately be sustainable. Third, the corporate sector has demonstrated resilience but faces competitiveness challenges and is subject to emerging credit risk concerns, especially in the case of firms that are more exposed to the export sector and geopolitical risks.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, an extraordinarily high level of uncertainty around economic and trade policy has been acting as a drag on markets and the economy alike. Financial intermediaries need to adapt their risk management tools in the face of new vulnerabilities and scenarios at a time when it is no longer possible to measure likely outcomes and probabilities. This environment calls for heightened vigilance, which is why we are exploring unconventional sources of risk and vulnerability and using a broader range of tools, such as sensitivity and scenario analyses, to assess the resilience of the financial system.

    In terms of monetary policy, this uncertainty means we need to be extremely prudent when determining the appropriate stance. While most indicators point to inflation moving in the right direction, the environment of exceptional uncertainty requires us to stick even more closely to our data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach.

    The European Union is at a crossroads. Defence policy requires a significant overhaul and challenges relating to trade and economic competitiveness need to be addressed. In addition to ramping up defence spending, we need to deepen and strengthen our Economic and Monetary Union with a true single market for goods and services that shores up our structural economic growth prospects, supported by a complete banking union and capital markets union.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Schoolchildren of St. Petersburg accepted the “Polytechnic Challenge”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Polytechnic University hosted the spring stage of the competition for high school students, “The Polytechnic Challenge.” The students participate in the festival as teams from educational institutions and solve research and scientific problems of various types, apply their knowledge in practice, and learn to find non-standard solutions.

    The Polytechnic Challenge was held in six directions. During the week, the participants had to find the best solution to the tasks from the organizers. The developers of the tasks were students and teachers of the university’s Department of Continuing Education.

    The classic game “What? Where? When?” attracted a record number of teams eager to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge, sharpness of mind and resourcefulness. And the “Physical Battles” direction required schoolchildren not only to be able to solve physical problems, but also to be able to convincingly argue their decision, defending their position in a dispute with their opponents.

    As part of the construction case, teams of schoolchildren created models of buildings and structures capable of withstanding seismic loads. It is important to note that the participants worked strictly within the parameters set by the organizers for height, width, and depth. Particular attention was drawn to projects that used original design solutions and unusual shapes. Defending their work, the schoolchildren talked about the development process and methods of connecting parts. The stability of the models was tested on a vibration table.

    At the case championship, schoolchildren had to develop a product or system that would reduce the negative effects of urbanization and overpopulation of cities. The key issues were transport problems, housing shortages, ecology and social inequality. Participants proposed a wide range of ideas, from improved transport systems to smart home projects. The jury especially noted the projects that had real prospects for implementation and were highly developed.

    One of the areas was a 3D case. Schoolchildren designed a manipulator capable of holding a load of a certain weight. The task included preparing 3D models, creating models for printing on 3D printers, and printing finished products. Contestants were tested on their knowledge of engineering basics and ability to use modern digital tools. The best projects demonstrated not only technical complexity, but also a creative approach to solving the task.

    The main task of the hackathon was to create translators of slang expressions that often cause misunderstandings between generations. Schoolchildren presented mobile applications, websites designed to simplify communication. The jury paid special attention to the convenience of interfaces and the effectiveness of solutions.

    The winners were teams from School No. 45, Gymnasium No. 406, Engineering and Technology School No. 777, Anichkov Lyceum, Academy of Digital Technologies, Kirov Gymnasium, Schools No. 345 and No. 246. The best teams received an important advantage for admission to the Polytechnic University – 5 additional points to their Unified State Exam results.

    The Polytechnic Challenge festival clearly demonstrated the high level of training of our schoolchildren and their desire to find solutions to current social and technical problems. The competitions provided the children with a unique opportunity to reveal themselves in various fields of knowledge. Such events play a key role in the development of engineering thinking and the formation of future professionals in the field of advanced technologies, – noted the leading specialist of the Center for work with applicants Egor Kruchinin.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Austin Scott Announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

    TIFTON, Ga.—U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced that his office is taking submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

    All high school students (9-12th grade) who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to participate.

    The winning entry will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country. Artwork submitted must be original in concept, design, and execution, no larger than 26” x 26” x 4”, and can be in the form of paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.), drawings (pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers), collage (must be two dimensional), prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints), mixed media, computer-generated art, or photography.

    All artwork must be framed when submitted. Artwork that is submitted on a canvas does not require framing; however, it must have hooks affixed for hanging.

    This year, all the entries from across the district will be displayed at the Syd Blackmarr Art Center in Tifton, Georgia, for an exhibit and awards ceremony on May 4, 2025, at 2:00pm.

    All artwork must be framed and submitted by April 18th at one of the following drop-off locations:

    Rep. Scott’s District Office in Warner Robins: 120 Byrd Way, Suite 100, Warner Robins, GA

    Rep. Scott’s District Office in Tifton: 127-B Central Ave N, Tifton, GA

    To learn more about the Congressional Art Competition, visit here.

    For more information or questions, please contact Charles White in the Tifton District Office at (229) 376-8061 or email charles.white@mail.house.gov.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Austin Scott, Sanford Bishop, Senators Jon Ossoff, and Rev. Warnock Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s First National Park & Preserve

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (GA-08) and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, reintroduced the bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act, which would establish the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas in Middle Georgia as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.

    “Establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve remains a top bipartisan initiative for all lawmakers and stakeholders involved,” said Rep. Austin Scott. “The Ocmulgee Mounds are of invaluable cultural, communal, and economic significance to our state, and I am committed to keeping this initiative moving forward.”

    “I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bipartisan bill. By establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, we are highlighting over 17,000 years of history and culture as well as welcoming people from across the country to enjoy Georgia’s natural beauty,” said Rep. Bishop. “Elevating the status of and expanding this site to a national park and preserve will raise awareness about it, increase public hunting and fishing grounds, encourage more visitors to our area, and boost the local economy.”

    “We made unprecedented progress last Congress toward creating Georgia’s first ever National Park,” Senator Ossoff said. “I look forward to working alongside Congressman Scott, Senator Reverend Warnock, Congressman Bishop, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and local leaders to successfully establish Georgia’s first national park.”

    “Ocmulgee Mounds is a living testament to our intertwined histories and a robust source of economic and cultural vitality, so I’m proud to continue supporting the bipartisan, bicameral efforts to establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I want to thank Congressmen Scott and Bishop for their yearslong efforts on this in the U.S. House, as well as Senator Ossoff for his leadership. Local leaders and everyday Georgians have been waiting for Congress to act and now is the time. Working together, we can prove what is possible when we put politics aside to serve the people of Georgia.”

    The House bill is cosponsored by 11 other members of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation: Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), Brian Jack (GA-03), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Rich McCormick (GA-07), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14).

    The area is the ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has been inhabited continuously by humans for over 12,000 years. American Indians first arrived in the area during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and Muskogean people constructed mounds for meeting, living, burial, agricultural, and other purposes, many of which remain today and would be encompassed in the new U.S. National Park and Preserve.

    “The Muscogee (Creek) Nation remains steadfast in our support of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Bill. The opportunity to make the historic Ocmulgee Mounds a national park is so important to us because we have been included, we have been shown the respect of collaboration, and because of that we can feel confident that the living history that will be told here is authentic and has the power to elevate Georgia forever. We are thrilled to continue offering our support for this legislation every step of the way,” said David Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

    “I cannot overstate the importance of this legislation to our region, state, and country. Tens of millions of private dollars have been leveraged to conserve the precious cultural and ecological resources of the Ocmulgee Corridor and this bipartisan legislation allows us to continue to grow the middle Georgia economy, protect our national security interests at Robin Air Force Base, expand hunting and fishing access, and authentically preserve some of the most culturally significant sites in the country,” said Seth Clark, Macon Mayor Pro Tempore and Executive Director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative. “We’re grateful for the continued bipartisan dedication of the Georgia delegation. And call for the swift passage of this legislation this year so that we can continue our stewardship of this landscape and our economy.” 


     “Preserving the undeveloped lands within the Ocmulgee River Corridor is critical to safeguarding Robins Air Force Base from incompatible land use, ensuring we can sustain our national security missions,” said Brig. Gen. John C. Kubinec, USAF (ret), President/CEO of 21st Century Partnership. “This park and preserve will also provide our military members and their families with valuable opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure, enhancing their quality of life while strengthening the economic vitality of Middle Georgia.”

    “Establishing Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve at Ocmulgee Mounds will serve as a robust form of economic development for Middle Georgia while conserving the site’s important series of ecological and cultural assets. Representatives Austin Scott and Sanford Bishop with their bipartisan leadership and admirable partnership with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have assembled a broad statewide coalition including chambers of commerce, hunters and anglers, and conservation organizations working to pass this legislation. The formal process of creating a National Monument out of the Ocmulgee Old Fields formally began in 1933, when the Macon Junior Chamber of Commerce purchased the sites and requested their protection. Today, through the leadership of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and other local leaders, we are one step closer to making that a reality. The Georgia Chamber is proud to support Representatives Scott and Bishop’s legislation to create Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, after almost a century of civic advocacy,” said Chris Clark, CCE, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber.
      
    “The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce has long seen the national and park and preserve designation as a top congressional priority. Getting this done this year is vital to the economic viability and stability of middle Georgia. Being home to Georgia’s first and only national park and preserve will create a better business climate, allow for lower taxes, and create thousands of good paying, sustainable jobs. Our members have marshaled tens of millions of dollars in preparing middle Georgia for the passage of this legislation and as we have for almost a century, we and the greater middle Georgia business community fully support and call for getting it done this year,”     said Jessica Walden, President and CEO of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Hank Johnson Celebrates Students of Georgia’s Fourth District at “Future of the Fourth” Event

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    LITHONIA, GA – On February 22, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) hosted his “Future of the Fourth” reception at the Lou Walker Senior Center to honor outstanding young leaders from Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District. The event recognized students who have excelled in technology, service, and leadership including winners of the district’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge and nominees for U.S. Service Academies. 

    “This event was about celebrating the bright future of our district,” said Congressman Johnson. “These young leaders are innovators, scholars, and dedicated individuals who will shape our community and our nation in the years to come.” 

    During the ceremony, students from Chamblee High School, Arabia Mountain High School, and Rockdale Magnet School were honored as winners of the Congressional App Challenge, highlighting their achievements in technology. The event also recognized students nominated by Congressman Johnson to our nation’s military academies including – the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Coast Guard Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.  

    The program featured a performance, special guests, and local leaders, creating a memorable event that underscored the importance of investing in the next generation.  

    Watch the event livestream HERE.  

    View event photos HERE. Photos available upon request.  

    About Congressman Hank Johnson: 
    Hank Johnson represents Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, where he is a staunch advocate for civil rights, public safety, and economic justice. Learn more at https://hankjohnson.house.gov/  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Johnson Holds Press Conference on GOP Healthcare, Medicaid Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    STONECREST, GA – On Thursday, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held a press conference at a senior care facility in South DeKalb to highlight the dangerous consequences of House Republicans’ Rip Off reconciliation budget legislation and its drastic cuts to Medicaid.

    WATCH HERE

    Joined by Nadine Johnson, Director of Care One Franchise, Inc. (COFI), residents and family members who receive care at COFI and Protect Our Care Georgia State Director, Joe Binns, the Congressman raised the alarm about the pending cuts to the social safety net for the poor and elderly.

    “President Trump and House Republicans promised they would lower costs for everyday Americans,” Rep. Johnson said. “They lied. Instead, they just announced a new push to cut Medicaid and take health care away from kids, parents, and seniors. The Trump-Musk-House Republican budget includes hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid and food assistance for kids, seniors, and veterans.”

    Nadine Johnson (no relation), whose residents depend on Medicaid to help receive her services, said cuts to Medicaid would deeply impact the community.

    “If we’re not able to access the supplemental funding from Medicaid that we receive now, we’d have to close our business,” she said. “And that would mean many more seniors and disabled individuals would be facing homelessness. It would wreak havoc in our communities.”

    “The consequences of cuts to Medicaid would touch nearly every household in America including people in this room today,” said Binns. “Medicaid provides health care to over 72 million people — six in 10 nursing home residents, 30 million children, 9 million adults with disabilities, and 14 million adults with mental illness. If they slash Medicaid, it will wreak havoc on state budgets and services. Rural Hospitals will close and the Americans who rely on them will be left behind. America’s skyrocketing mental health crisis will be exacerbated, and the nation’s maternal health crisis will get significantly worse.”

    From the Congressman’s full statement: 

    Co-President Trump and his MAGA Republican allies who control Congress have proposed another tax cut for Trump and his billionaire buddies. They propose $2-4 trillion in  permanent tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, and they plan to pay for it by cutting Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and SNAP benefits for women and their babies.

    This is straight up war on poor and regular working people, which  will raise the cost of everything — including healthcare and medicine. It will also drive nursing homes and personal care homes out of business. These are places and people who we depend on to take care of our elderly, many of whom are suffering from dementia. MAGA wants to gut vital programs like Medicaid that help people survive, so that they can give billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg another big fat tax cut.  

    With that, I’m pleased to be here with my constituents to highlight the human side of all these drastic cuts. It’s folks like Nadine, her residents and their families who will be impacted the most. With that, I’m pleased to introduce Nadine Johnson, the director of Care One Franchise, Inc., where we are today – Nadine.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Hank Johnson Honors ‘Trailblazers’ During Annual Women’s History Month Ceremony

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    STONECREST, GA– On Saturday, March 22, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) hosted his fifth annual Trailblazer Awards, recognizing 11 outstanding women who have made significant contributions in their respective professions and communities and have become pioneers in their careers.

    Held during Women’s History Month, the event honored leaders in business, education, public service, arts and entertainment, and beyond – those who have broken barriers, uplifted others, and paved the way for future generations.

    This year’s honorees include:

    o   Dr. Syreeta Ali McTier – Education, DeKalb County Schools
    o   Florence Battle Shafiq, MD – Healthcare & Community Advocacy, Retired Physician
    o   Mrs. Susan McGhee Crawford – Arts & Culture, Founder, Trendsetters Dance Company
    o   Mrs. Cynthia Dorsey Edwards – Higher Education & Leadership, Executive Director, Storehouse of Solutions, Inc.
    o   Ms. Jackie Davis – Arts & Entertainment, Founding Owner, UniverSoul Circus
    o   Mrs. Shelbia L. Jackson – Film & Entertainment, Director, DeKalb Entertainment Commission
    o   Mrs. Claudette Leak – Public Service, DeKalb County Government
    o   Ms. India Pullin – Nonprofit & Community Advocacy, Founder, Step Up in Georgia, Inc.
    o   Ms. Sandy Purkett – Public Service & Education Advocacy, Retired Federal Investigator
    o   Dr. Charlene Spurlock – Education, DeKalb County Schools
    o   Ms. Rachel R. Zeigler – Education, DeKalb County Schools

    Additional special guests included: GA-04 Poet Laureate Hank Stewart, nationally renowned trumpeter Melvin M. Miller, recording artist ARIA, and violinist Clarissa Walker.

    View the livestream HERE. Photos available upon request. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Catch up clinics offer vaccinations for secondary age children

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The following vaccinations will be available:

    • The Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccine, also known as the 3 in 1 teenage booster which is offered to children in Year 9 and above. This booster is the last routine dose that provides young people with long lasting protection into adulthood.
    • The Meningococcal (Men ACWY) vaccination for children in Year 9 and above which helps protect young people against 4 types of meningococcal disease which can cause both meningitis and septicaemia.
    • The MMR vaccination, to provide long lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella for all school aged children who have missed doses.

    Clinic will be held on Monday 14 April at Biz Space, Room 2, Planetary Road WV13 3SW from 10am to 2pm and on Saturday 26 April at Whitmore Reans Family Hub, Lansdowne Road WV1 4AL from 9.30am to 2pm. Appointments must be booked in advance by contacting Vaccination UK on 01902 200077.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “These vaccines offer the best protection for teenagers as they start their journey into adulthood and start mixing more widely – whether that’s going to college, starting work, travelling or going to festivals.

    “So, if your child has missed out on their vaccinations, maybe because they were off school or are home educated, please come along to one of the catch up clinics being delivered by Vaccination UK over the coming weeks.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens warn SNP against diluting or dropping crucial Heat in Buildings Bill

    Source: Scottish Greens

    03 Apr 2025 Climate

    Warmer, greener homes are crucial to cutting bills.

    More in Climate

    Any moves by the Scottish Government to further dilute, delay or drop the upcoming Heat in Buildings Bill would be an act of climate vandalism and a blow for household budgets, green jobs, and our environment, say the Scottish Greens.

    The comments from the party’s Co-Leader, Patrick Harvie, come ahead of a Ministerial statement today that is widely expected to see plans weakened and pushed back 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.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “It is crucial that we move away from fossil fuels and invest in clean, green energy so that we can have warmer homes and start to cut the bills that are plunging even more families into poverty.

    “Keeping people stuck on gas is not only bad for our planet, it is also punishing people all across our country and forcing them to fork out, while the fossil fuel companies post record profits. We are already way behind where we need to be in terms of tackling fuel poverty and our transition away from fossil fuels.

    “Scotland is also losing out on good quality green jobs. Heat pump manufacturing is seeing global growth, but Scotland has seen investment go elsewhere.

    “The measures in this Bill could play a crucial role in supporting households to make the shift, and giving the industry the clarity it needs to invest. I am very concerned by the increasing speculation that it will be diluted, delayed or dropped. To do so would be an act of environmental vandalism and a blow for household budgets, our economy and our environment.

    “The failure to hit previous climate targets should have been a wake-up call, but the Scottish Government is not showing anywhere near the political will that is required.

    “Cutting home energy bills, boosting high quality green jobs, and cutting our emissions are all possible, but they can only happen if the Government is prepared to take the action and make the investment that it needs to.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to break into cinema: director Alexander Zhigalkin gave advice to the younger generation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 2, a meeting of students with the famous Russian director Alexander Zhigalkin was held at the State University of Management as part of the VI All-Russian Festival of Student Short Films “Kinosfera”.

    Aleksandr Zhigalkin is a theater, film and dubbing actor, TV presenter, screenwriter, producer, director of such humorous projects as “6 frames” and “Thank God, you came!”, as well as the well-known television sitcoms “Daddy’s Daughters”, “Daddy’s Daughters. New” and “Voronins”. Winner of the Russian national television award “TEFI-2011” in the nomination “Director of a television program” for the sketch show “6 frames”.

    At the beginning of the conversation, Alexander noted that calling him “outstanding” is not entirely correct.

    “An outstanding director is Eldar Ryazanov, Andrei Tarkovsky, Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni and a huge number of great masters. I only have an outstanding nose. So I ask you to talk to me like a normal person. I just do my job well, so everything works out great,” the guest noted.

    The meeting was held in a question-and-answer format and provoked a lively discussion and response from students.

    The first thing we did was ask the director what inspires him to create and how he started his career.

    Alexander noted with regret that the films that inspired him as a child are not known to the modern generation, and this is sad, because being well-watched is an important quality for a director.

    “In the 2nd grade, I watched the film “Truffaldino from Bergamo” – a funny, wild comedy based on the play by Carlo Goldoni “The Servant of Two Masters”. I was shocked by how incredibly Konstantin Raikin played there: he danced, made faces, but did not sing himself, the songs were performed by Mikhail Boyarsky. I especially remember how the main character jumped and fell with plates, and I began to repeat this at home. After I broke several plates, my parents gave me plastic ones and approved of my hobby. In the 5th-6th grade, I began to attend classes at the ZIL People’s Theater and there I developed an incredible love for theater. After school, I went to a theater institute, I did not think about another profession. I failed the first time, but after serving in the army I tried again and entered,” the speaker shared.

    He also spoke about his first attempts at acting, the difficulties of life in the 90s, his first troupe and his first staged performance. Alexander Alexandrovich also noted why he ultimately chose cinema over theater, and why the profession of a director is better for him than acting.

    “I didn’t want to go to the theater as an actor, because at that time it seemed like theater was a bondage. I sincerely adore the theater, but only as a spectator. In the theater, a lot of things weigh on an actor: the director, the producer, the artistic director, etc. And for me, the lack of opportunity to freely engage in creativity is death. The director is freer, his creative life is longer. In addition, as an actor, I always have the opportunity to play a small role in a film, because the director approves me without auditions.”

    Alexander also told a funny story about how in the 90s a friend from Moscow State University helped him go to Germany as a student of the landscape science faculty for a paid internship.

    “I didn’t understand anything about this area, but I had a diploma as an actor from the B. Shchukin Theatre School, so I coped brilliantly with the role of a student. I came to the office at 8 a.m., colored cards, sometimes went out for practice. But after a month I ran away from there to earn money by tap dancing with a musical group from Hongover.”

    The guest emphasized that an important role in the formation of his life priorities was played by a meeting with the German Ferdinand, who was involved in cars.

    “It turned out that in his youth he taught physical education to Konstantin Raikin in Leningrad. And, apparently, something clicked in him when he met me, because I am also an actor, and he showed me the first Mercedes in my life, which I saw up close. When we got in, he showed me what incredible functions it had, that the car was like alive. And he said an important phrase: “A car should be either this or nothing. So wait for the opportunity to get exactly what you want.” Then I realized that since there are no roles like what I want, and I don’t want to play others, I need to do something else.”

    When asked how to understand that a script is worth taking on, Alexander answered simply: “You have to take what grabs you.” The director also emphasized that his goal is “to make films and TV series that give people the opportunity to lift their spirits, become kinder and brighter, and disconnect from the problems that are plentiful in real life. At the same time, the quality of humor is important; jokes should be subtle and ironic, and not stoop below the belt.”

    Since the meeting was attended mainly by students from the Department of Management in the Sphere of Culture, Cinema, Television and Entertainment Industry of the Institute of Management and Budgetary Culture, they took advantage of the opportunity to clarify how they could get onto the set and join the director’s team.

    “It is quite possible to watch the filming process, I think we can organize it. As for the team, everything is more complicated here. Today there is a shortage of specialists in all areas of the filming process. I am a tough guy on the set, a tyrant and a despot. My filming pace is fast, so I try to assemble a group so that everything works like clockwork. I always say before filming: guys, we came so that the actors in the frame feel as comfortable as possible. We will be letters in the credits, and they will carry everything we wanted to say to the viewers.”

    Of course, the guys asked how the director felt about the reboot of the project “Daddy’s Daughters”, which he directed from 2007 to 2011.

    “I would like to remind you that “Daddy’s Daughters” is our first sitcom that was created on Russian script soil, and not adapted from a foreign version. I was a guest director and took part in the development. It’s like sculpting, where you are not alone, but your hands are present on the clay. As for the new seasons, I only filmed the first of them. It is an excellent successful project, wonderful actresses whom I selected and with whom we communicate. But for me, after those 5 years when we were just starting out, that feeling of the team, the atmosphere, the children and the intonations that were there, something didn’t work out in the new seasons. It’s too decent, too bright, the apartment is too rich. In my opinion, it should be a family from the next door, with ordinary problems familiar to everyone. The new seasons are talented, interesting, but not for me.”

    Alexander also talked about how “Voronins” was filmed and what he considers to be the secret to the long life and popular love of this project.

    “It was the happiest time of incredible happiness, we were one family, spent a lot of time together. The viability of this sitcom is due to the fact that we all did not quarrel, did not break up, but lived in happiness and friendship for all these ten years. There is a channel “Voronins”. Sometimes I turn it on and think “My God, how good this is!”, although it is no longer a trend today, but there is so much sincerity and truth in relation to the viewer. On the set, we were disciplined and united by Boris Klyuev, who is no longer alive. I remember how courageously he acted until the last, when he was already battling cancer, but never asked for indulgences or anything like that. You can see all this on the screen and it became the life of families. If we talk about the reboot of the series called “Kostya-Vera”, then I watched two episodes and did not do more. Without Boris, it makes no sense to do this, he was the nail that held everything together.”

    When asked what advice the renowned master could give to young directors, Alexander gave advice that applies to many creative professions.

    “You definitely shouldn’t get depressed, be afraid, or be embarrassed by your expressions. You should definitely read literature, it provides a huge amount of plot material for work, for new stories, for building character relationships. You need to understand and accept that everything has already been filmed and written. Times change, but people, their problems, and relationships are essentially the same. Chekhov, Tolstoy, Gogol have already written all this. You need to read thoughtfully, it’s so funny, deep, and sometimes scary. If you think you’ve come up with something yourself, then put that idea aside, study historical experience, and you’ll understand that it definitely happened. It’s all about talented interpretation, so you need to learn from the greats.”

    There was also a question about how young talents can break into cinema. The guest’s answer is simple in essence, but difficult to execute, and can be framed for absolutely everyone and not to forget about it.

    “The first thing you need to understand is that in order to break through, you need to break through. 90% of success is work. My teacher Yuri Avsharov used to say: “If it doesn’t work out, don’t sit in the kitchen and complain. Open a book and read, go to people, they will see you and hear you.” If a person is creative, then they will find their place. It is important to always keep yourself in working tone, then everything will work out.”

    At the end of the meeting, there were photo and autograph sessions, and representatives of the student editorial board of the State University of Management SUM Times took a short interview from Alexander, which will soon be published in the Vkontakte group and on the Rutube channel.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/03/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Markey Introduce Legislation to Protect Clean Water and Wastewater Utilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Bill (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and introduced the Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act, legislation that would provide funding for clean water and wastewater utilities to become members of the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC). The WaterISAC is a critical source of information and best practices for water systems to protect against, mitigate, and respond to threats. 

    “Every person should have access to clean water to meet their basic needs. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase and cyber security threats against our infrastructure emerge, we must work together to protect our nation’s water systems,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to join Senator Ed Markey in reintroducing the Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act. This bill will help assist local water systems in gaining access to the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC), a non-profit clearinghouse for information regarding threats to water safety. This kind of information sharing is critical to ensuring the health and safety of communities’ drinking water across the country.”

    “The essential water systems that provide us with water to drink, cook, and clean are increasingly facing threats from extreme weather, cyber attacks, and even terrorism,” said Senator Ed Markey. “The Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act will secure and protect our water systems against these threats by expanding access to the critical Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which helps water utilities of all sizes share information, best practices, and response techniques. I thank Congresswoman Schakowsky for her partnership on this important legislation.”

    The Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act is endorsed by American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, and Water Environment Federation.

    “In recent years, our nation’s drinking water and wastewater utilities have faced mounting threats from cyber attacks and infrastructure vulnerabilities that pose national security concerns and public health hazards,” said Tom Dobbins, CEO of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. “The Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act will enable more utilities to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to dangerous security threats by facilitating access to WaterISAC’s critical resources. AMWA is proud to support this legislation.”

    “WaterISAC is a vital resource for public clean water utilities seeking to strengthen their preparedness and resilience against natural hazards, physical and cyber security threats,” said Adam Krantz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. “The Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber (Water ISAC) Threat Protection Act will expand utility participation in WaterISAC, ensuring water systems of all sizes have access to its essential tools and resources.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Warren, Lawmakers Press Trump on Illegal FTC Firings, Demand Commissioners be Reinstated

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    “These purported firings threaten the FTC’s existence as an independent enforcement agency and pave the way for you to use the FTC as a tool for partisan retribution.”

    Full Text of Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with lawmakers Kathy Castor (FL-14); Yvette Clarke (NY-09); Debbie Dingell (MI-06); Robin Kelly (IL-02); Doris Matsui (CA-07); Robert Menendez (NJ-08); Kevin Mullin (CA-15); Lori Trahan (MA-03); Marc Veasey (TX-33); Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Cory Booker (D-NJ); Bernie Sanders (I-VT.); and Ron Wyden (D-OR), sent a letter to President Donald Trump strongly opposing his illegal attempt to fire Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, two members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These firings could impede the FTC’s ongoing work, including efforts to lower food prices, tackle health care costs, and combat illegal business practices across the economy. 

    “This appears to be yet another decision that you have made to help Elon Musk and other billionaire supporters – and leaves middle-class families stuck with the costs,” wrote the lawmakers.

    Congress created the agency in 1914 as a bipartisan, independent commission, mandating that FTC commissioners could only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The Supreme Court has upheld this decision for nearly one hundred years. 

    “The illegal attempt to fire Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter is just the latest in your ongoing campaign to hobble independent agencies and watchdogs to shield you and your billionaire donors, including Elon Musk, from accountability to the law,” wrote the lawmakers.

    The lawmakers raised concerns about numerous of the FTC actions investigations that Trump’s illegal firings could put be at risk based on these decisions, including: by challenging grocery retailer and food manufacturer mergers that raise prices for households struggling to make ends meet; suing to stop agriculture equipment and pesticide monopolists from taking advantage of American farmers; returning over $1.5 billion over four years to Americans ripped off by bad actors ranging from tax preparation companies to corporate landlords; lowering costs for inhalers from $500 to $35 and lowering the cost of insulin; and returning millions in refunds to defrauded servicemembers and veterans, among other actions.

    The lawmakers urge Trump to act quickly to reinstate Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter to ensure that pending FTC actions, particularly those that help American workers and families, will not be impacted, cancelled, or otherwise affected by the attempted firings.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Davis and Fitzpatrick Push for Long-Needed Update to Supplemental Security Income Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act to reform the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which has not been updated in 40 years. Currently, the program unfairly punishes lower-income seniors and people with disabilities for saving responsibly for emergencies or their futures. A companion to this bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), alongside Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR). 

    Right now, individuals with a disability or those aged 65 and older are only eligible for Supplemental Security Income if they have under $2,000 in assets. SSI’s marriage penalty restricts married couples to a total of $3,000 in financial resources to remain eligible. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would update SSI’s asset limits for the first time since the 1980s to allow millions of Americans with disabilities to marry, work, earn, and save money without putting the benefits they rely on to live at risk.

    “I am honored to join with my colleagues to champion the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act that would improve the lives of lower-income seniors and people with disabilities,” said Rep. Davis.  “This bipartisan, bicameral bill would reform one of the most regressive, anti-savings measures in federal law by updating the outdated asset limits of the Supplemental Security Income program for the first time in almost 40 years.  The necessity of this legislation is reflected in its support by over 200 businesses, faith-based groups, and organizations from across the political spectrum.” 

    “Raising the SSI asset limits is a smart, long-overdue reform that updates a critical program to reflect today’s economic realities. For over forty years, outdated restrictions have discouraged work and penalized those who try to save for their future. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act modernizes these limits, ties them to inflation, and ensures that seniors and individuals with disabilities are not forced to choose between earning a paycheck and keeping the benefits they depend on. This bipartisan legislation promotes financial independence and strengthens the integrity of our safety net,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA-1). 

    “A $2,000 rainy-day fund doesn’t go as far as it did in 1989, but that’s all the savings that people who rely on SSI benefits are allowed,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “We shouldn’t punish people who are working hard, saving their money, and planning for the future. Congress must raise the SSI asset limit to help our seniors and Americans with disabilities.”

    “Outdated rules are making disabled Americans pick between a better job and losing their safety net. That’s wrong,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Instead, let’s encourage work, help people save, and lift them out of poverty.”

    “Every year, SSI’s outdated rules prevent Americans from being able to work, save, or marry the one they love,” said Senator Wyden. “This bipartisan bill gives Americans who are trying to make ends meet the chance to live independently without fear of being forced to forfeit an economic lifeline. As the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, I am committed to making sure SSI is no longer stuck in yesteryear so every American can live with dignity and respect.”

    A study by JPMorganChase suggests that current asset and income limits on federal benefits for people with disabilities make it harder for them to work a part-time job or save money for an emergency. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would raise the SSI asset limits, which have not been changed since 1984, to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples, and index them to inflation moving forward.

    Additional cosponsors include Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Steven Horsford (D-NV) as well as Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Lankford (R-OK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Rick Scott (R-FL).

    The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act has the support of more than 200 businesses, faith-based groups, and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, including: the AARP, the Autism Society of America, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, the Jewish Federations of North America, Microsoft, the National Council on Aging, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Down Syndrome Congress, Justice in Aging, the Arc of the United States, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action, the National Association of Evangelicals, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

    Read the bill summary here.

    “SSI’s $2,000 asset limit has been frozen in time since 1989. In today’s economy, that means SSI beneficiaries can’t save for necessary expenses like a security deposit or car repairs without the risk of losing their benefits. There’s also an outdated and unjust marriage penalty baked into the SSI asset limit that cuts the amount of money beneficiaries are allowed to save by 25% if they marry the person they love. We strongly endorse the bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act because it will give Americans with disabilities more freedom to build the futures they want and deserve,” said Darcy Milburn, Director of Social Security and Healthcare Policy, The Arc of the United States.

    “Disabled people want to save their own money, but burdensome restrictions such as a $2,000 asset cap prevent them from achieving financial independence. With the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, Congress has an opportunity to financially empower disabled people across the country by raising asset limits that have not been increased since the Reagan administration,” said Karen Tamley, CEO/President of Access Living.

    “Supplemental Security Income’s asset rules have been frozen since the 1980s and prevent disabled Americans from participating in everyday life, whether it be tying the knot to a long-term partner or putting a financial nest egg away. Raising the program’s resource limits will help eliminate work and marriage penalties and limit accidental overpayments. The Niskanen Center supports this pro-savings, pro-family legislative effort by Senators Cortez Masto, Cassidy, and their colleagues,” said Will Raderman, Employment Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center.

    “JPMorganChase, like many companies, wants to attract and retain the very best qualified people of all abilities. We applaud the bipartisan reintroduction of the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would make common sense updates to the outdated rules for SSI benefits to reflect current economic conditions and keep pace with inflation,” said Bryan Gill, Global Head of the Office of Disability Affairs, JPMorganChase.

    “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Senators Cortez Masto and Cassidy and Representatives Davis and Fitzpatrick for their leadership in reintroducing the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would help employers fill many open jobs with older, experienced American workers who wish to stay in the workforce by raising the current asset limits for Supplemental Security Income program eligibility,” said Chantel Sheaks, Vice President of Retirement Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

    “SSI’s outdated asset limits have prevented older Americans and those with disabilities from being able to save even a small amount for an emergency or to have a modicum of economic security as they age, without the risk of losing vital benefits. Americans should not be prevented from saving a few dollars for unforeseen circumstances, and SSI beneficiaries are no exception. It is long-past time for Congress to update SSI’s asset limits, which have become overly restrictive and prevent the accumulation of even a small amount of personal savings. AARP therefore urges Congress to pass your SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act as soon as possible,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President, AARP Government Affairs.

    “Current policy imposes a difficult choice on Americans living with disabilities: spend their money now or lose access to essential support. This is nonsensical and denies some people the ability to save for future needs and opportunities. The SSI savings limit is long overdue for reform. A big thank you to the senators and representatives who are leading the way to a more humane policy,” said Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals.

    “The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act will update asset limits for Supplemental Security Income and remove outdated barriers that restrict economic opportunity and hinder workforce participation. We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Cassidy and Representatives Davis and Fitzpatrick, for championing this bipartisan legislation that will help broaden America’s workforce, bolster supply chains, and support disabled workers,” said Rylin Rodgers, Disability Policy Director, Microsoft.

    “BPC Action commends this effort by Sens. Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Cassidy (R-LA) and Representatives Davis (D-IL) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA)  and urges Congress to act on long-overdue bipartisan measures to empower seniors and Americans with disabilities enrolled in Supplemental Security Income to increase their household savings,” said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

    “A core component of the nation’s Social Security system, SSI is nothing short of a lifeline for more than 7 million of the nation’s poorest seniors and disabled people, including more than one million disabled children. But because it’s been left to wither on the vine for decades, with key eligibility criteria never updated even for inflation, outdated savings limits now trap millions in poverty — even though SSI was established to offer a pathway out. Senators Cortez Masto, Cassidy, and Wyden and Reps. Davis and Fitzpatrick are to be commended for their bipartisan leadership on the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act — important legislation that would bring long overdue reform to one of the most regressive anti-savings policies on the books today. Even at a time of historic polarization, updating SSI’s asset limits is one issue Americans across the political spectrum can agree on — and the time is now to act,” said Rebecca Vallas, CEO, National Academy of Social Insurance. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Unemployment Fraud Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

    Last night, the House passed H.R. 1156 – the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act – by a vote of 295-127, with 83 Democrats joining all Republicans voting in favor of the bill. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates $100 to $135 billion in stolen unemployment insurance (UI) benefits with only $5 billion recovered so far. The legislation extends the statute of limitations for combatting and prosecuting the theft of COVID-era unemployment benefits, giving more time for law enforcement to complete current cases, open new ones and recoup billions of taxpayer dollars. Before the House passed the bill, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) spoke in support of the legislation.

    “We know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans benefited from unemployment insurance,” said Rep. Estes. “But fraudsters took advantage of an overwhelmed system, resulting in more than $100 billion in sham UI payments, including $466 million in UI fraud in my home state of Kansas. But the statute of limitations is fast approaching on March 27, and if Congress doesn’t act, these scammers are off the hook.”

    View video of Rep. Estes’ remarks Thank you, Chairman Smith, for yielding, and I want to thank you for introducing this common sense legislation.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act.

    But before I get into my planned remarks, I want to fact-check some of the colleagues on the other side of the aisle attacking President Trump, claiming that laid-off federal workers are being prevented from receiving unemployment. We’ve been in touch with the Department of Labor, and they’ve published documented guidelines describing filing and eligibility requirements that make it clear federal workers are eligible for unemployment.

    The biggest risk to federal workers is not being able to claim their benefits at all because fraudsters got there first.

    There have been multiple data breaches at agencies across the government, including the Office of Personnel Management, exposing the personal information of millions of federal workers.

    Democrats should be supporting this bill to catch fraudsters that are still out there using stolen identities to file illegitimate claims.

    My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have insisted that, despite their pushback on the Trump administration’s actions, they want to cut waste, fraud and abuse. Well today, they can prove it.

    The bill we’re debating is really pretty simple. We know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans benefited from unemployment insurance. But fraudsters took advantage of an overwhelmed system, resulting in more than $100 billion in sham UI payments, including $466 million in UI fraud in my home state of Kansas. But the statute of limitations is fast approaching on March 27, and if Congress doesn’t act, these scammers are off the hook.

    Our legislation today extends the statute of limitations from 5 to 10 years. With nearly 1,700 open cases, this bill gives the Labor and Justice departments the tools they need to go after the criminals. This should be an easy yes for everyone in this chamber. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Klobuchar & Warner Issue Statement Following Passage of Their Bill to Undo Trump’s Canada Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after the Senate passed their bill in a 51-48 vote to undo President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on goods imported from one of America’s top trading partners and closest allies. The tariffs are part of a broader tariff strategy that the White House has admitted will extort $6 trillion in revenue from the American people, which would be the largest tax hike in U.S. history:
    “Working Americans want costs to go down, not a tax hike in the form of nonsensical tariffs. We sent a powerful message with this vote: we will not stand idly by while President Trump launches a needless trade war with Canada that will raise costs for families, hurt American businesses, and damage our relationship with one of our closest trading partners and allies. We thank our colleagues on both sides of the aisle who voted against Trump’s deranged mission to bypass Congress to enact these new taxes, and will do all that we can to build pressure on our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to take up this legislation.”
    The legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Rand Paul (R-KY), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).
    The legislation was endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the United Steelworkers (USW), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the National Retail Federation (NRF), the North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and Advancing American Freedom.
    Senator Kaine would like to thank his Economic Policy Legislative Assistant Paul Lapointe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher, Digital Literacy and Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University

    UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer met with Adolescence writer Jack Thorne to discuss adolescent safety at Downing Street on Monday. Jack Taylor/ GettyImages

    Netflix’s Adolescence has ignited global debate.

    The series traces the disturbing journey of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, whose exposure to misogynistic online communities may have contributed to him to killing a female classmate. Its graphic portrayal has captivated audiences, with more than 66 million views.

    This week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wants to see it shown in high schools, framing it as a cautionary educational tool against the toxic “manosphere”.

    His office said showing Adolescence would

    help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalisation and the importance of healthy relationships.

    Should parents be watching the series with their kids?

    Before you turn on the TV, remember Adolescence is not a documentary. It is a drama series. And the issues it raises require care and nuance.



    Read more:
    A child killer, parenting struggles and ‘innies’ running wild: what to stream in April

    What is the manosphere?

    The manosphere is a collection of digital spaces such as forums, influencers and content creators, that promote extremist sexist views under the guise of male empowerment.

    While initially focused on fathers’ rights, controversial content creators like Andrew Tate have shifted its focus toward pushing extremist beliefs to boys and young men. Core beliefs include:

    • men and women have strict and opposing roles they must follow

    • women manipulate men through sex and their appearance

    • men are either winners (dominant and attractive), or losers (weak failures), pressuring boys to obsess over power or resign themselves to failure.

    A growing body of research is showing some young people are being influenced by these views.



    Read more:
    We research online ‘misogynist radicalisation’. Here’s what parents of boys should know

    We need to make sure we include boys

    So it is hugely important to address misogyny and gender-based violence in our community. But we need to approach young people with care.

    Many boys are now growing up in a culture where masculinity itself can be framed as toxic.

    Adolescence fits into this framing, dramatising an extreme case of a boy radicalised into violence. But presenting it without nuance risks implying all males are innately aggressors.

    This could alienate alienate young men who might already be hesitant to discuss their struggles.

    We already know young men find it hard to get help

    Research shows boys often avoid seeking help for depression or anxiety because it makes them seem vulnerable and not masculine. They can be taught from an early age crying or admitting fear risks ridicule.

    So this presents a challenge. We need to be able to confront harmful behaviours without making boys feel “inherently broken”.

    We also need to be careful not reinforcing any feelings of shame that might prevent boys from seeking help.

    A growing body of research is showing how young boys and men can be influenced by the manosphere.
    Perfect Wave/ Shutterstock



    Read more:
    ‘I don’t really wanna consume his content’: what do young Australian men think of Andrew Tate?

    Social media is a ‘super peer’

    Meanwhile, we need to understand the power of online worlds and social media. Adolescence (ages 10–14) is a time of vulnerability. As puberty reshapes their bodies and brains, teens become hyper-sensitive to social judgement and peer approval. For insecure teens, social media can function as a “super peer” – shaping attitudes and behaviours, much like a big brother or sister.

    Extremist content preys on insecurity by offering dangerously simplistic answers to complex questions about who they are and how they should behave:

    • simplistic rules (“This is how you should act”)

    • belonging (“We understand you”)

    • scapegoats (“Your pain is their fault”).

    Platforms like Instagram and TikTok also use algorithms which promote the content that triggers strong reactions. We see this in manosphere content, and content that focuses on other ares of vulnerability, such as physical appearance, relationships and life goals.

    So teens need help to navigate this digital landscape in an informed and balanced way.

    How can you watch Adolescence with your child?

    Adolescence can serve as one potential starting point for crucial discussions about gender, identity and online influences.

    As a dramatic series rather than a documentary, it’s value lies in its ability to provoke questions and start conversations, rather than provide answers.

    If you are watching it with your child you could talk about:

    • why certain ideas about masculinity and femininity appeal to them and to others

    • how social media shapes their sense of identity

    • what healthy self expression and relationships really look like

    • what voices are missing from the series (such as the perspective of the girl killed and her family)

    • what support teens would find meaningful from parents and teachers.

    The series succeeds if it makes viewers more thoughtful about the content they consume and the identities they choose to embrace, but we shouldn’t mistake it for a comprehensive solution.

    And if it’s not right for your child or household, Adolescence should not be seen as mandatory viewing. The most important thing is to create spaces where adults and teens can critically examine how they use social media, identity and relationships.

    Good discussions can start anywhere from a Netflix drama, to a news article or a student’s personal experience. What matters most is that we’re having them – and we keep having them as children and young people grow up.

    Joanne Orlando receives funding from NSW Department of Education and previously from Office of eSafety Commissioner.

    – ref. The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child? – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-wants-to-screen-netflixs-adolescence-in-schools-should-you-watch-it-with-your-child-253548

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Luján, Warnock Lead Group Demanding Reversal of Mass Firings of Head Start, ­Office of Child Care Employees

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Luján, Warnock Lead Group Demanding Reversal of Mass Firings of Head Start, ­Office of Child Care Employees

    Senators to Secretary Kennedy: “The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services…with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) led 25 Senators in condemning the Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal employees at the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) and demanding Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. immediately reinstate these employees. The sweeping firings of staff from these critical HHS offices will severely restrict access to child care for working-class families and limit the federal government’s ability to administer and conduct oversight of nearly $25 billion in federal investments in early childhood programs.
    The cuts included the closure and termination of all staff at five of the 10 regional offices in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Seattle. The Senators emphasized that these indiscriminate firings did not factor in employee performance and failed to plan for inevitable disruptions to children, families, child care providers, and Head Start programs.
    “This attack on employees at a time when children, families, child care providers, and early educators are relying on critical early childhood programs undermines the Department’s role in administering and conducting oversight of early childhood programs, including Head Start programs and child care assistance for working-class families across the country,” wrote the Senators. “We are deeply concerned by reports of a high number of employees at OHS and OCC who have been fired across the country who provide critical support to Head Start programs and help make child care safer and more affordable. The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services, including the lack of timely and transparent information, with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted.”
    The Head Start program currently serves nearly 800,000 children, providing comprehensive services to help children receive health care and insurance, while offering parents job training, education, housing support, and nutrition services. OCC administers the Child Care Development Fund, which includes the Child Care Development Block Grant that provides an average of over 1.3 million children from nearly 800,000 low-income families with child care subsidies each month. California’s Head Start program is the largest in the nation, serving over 82,300 California children in 2021 — accounting for 10 percent of all children served — and employing over 26,800 staff.
    The Senators stressed that these cuts are especially alarming as child care programs have become increasingly unaffordable and harder to access. According to a recent survey of more than 10,000 early childhood educators, 55 percent of programs were underenrolled compared to their preferred capacity, citing affordability and staffing challenges as the primary concerns as opposed to a lack of demand.
    “The Administration’s decision to reduce staff comes at a time when it is increasingly expensive to run child care and early learning programs, the cost of child care continues to be out of reach for many working-class families, and the demand for quality child care continues to far outpace the supply,” continued the Senators. “We are deeply concerned about the exacerbation of these issues for child care providers and children and families as a result of the Administration’s termination of a large portion of OHS and OCC staff, including the sudden closure of five of the ten Regional Offices and RIFs.”
    In addition to Senators Padilla, Luján, and Warnock, the letter was also signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The letter was endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Women’s Law Center, MomsRising, the Center for Law and Social Policy, Zero to Three, and Child Care For Every Family Network.
    Earlier this year, Senators Padilla, Luján, and Warnock joined Senator Kaine in expressing concerns about the threats to Head Start programs across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide funding freeze.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    We write to express our serious concern regarding the recent decision to fire federal employees at the Office of Head Start (OHS) and Office of Child Care (OCC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and we ask that you immediately reinstate these employees to full work status. Between the firing of probationary employees and the recent RIFs, these offices have been gutted and the ability for the federal government to support children and families and carefully oversee nearly $25 billion in federal investments in early childhood programs will be extremely hampered. It appears these firings occurred without regard to employee performance, input from career civil servants, or planning against disruptions to understand the impact on children, families, child care providers, and Head Start programs.
    This attack on employees at a time when children, families, child care providers, and early educators are relying on critical early childhood programs undermines the Department’s role in administering and conducting oversight of early childhood programs, including Head Start programs and child care assistance for working-class families across the country. We are deeply concerned by reports of a high number of employees at OHS and OCC who have been fired across the country who provide critical support to Head Start programs and help make child care safer and more affordable. The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services, including the lack of timely and transparent information, with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted.
    The federal Head Start program currently serves nearly 800,000 children across the nation with comprehensive services to ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, there has been broad, bipartisan support in Congress to recognize the longstanding program’s important work by providing increased appropriations. Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients deliver services in every state and territory, farm worker camps, and over 155 Tribal communities. OHS provides Head Start programs with federal policy guidance, training, and technical assistance and administers grants in accordance to the Head Start Act. These federal employees play an important role to ensure that programs use their grant funds efficiently and effectively. Terminating OHS and Regional Office employees reduces the capacity to support and allow Head Start programs to use permissible flexibilities to effectively use their federal grant to best serve children in their communities.
    Further, OCC administers the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), which includes the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) that provides an average of over 1.3 million children from nearly 800,000 families with low-income with child care subsidies monthly. The federal child care program is also central to states’ efforts to ensure the health, safety, and quality of nearly every child care program in the country. OCC staff across the country support states in ensuring federal funds are used effectively to improve affordability, quality, and supply of child care options for families. These drastic terminations will weaken the ability to support states and oversee federal law, transparent information for families, professional development, and the timeliness and consistency of payment for child care providers.
    The Administration’s decision to reduce staff comes at a time when it is increasingly expensive to run child care and early learning programs, the cost of child care continues to be out of reach for many working-class families, and the demand for quality child care continues to far outpace the supply. According to a recent survey of more than 10,000 early childhood educators by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, more than half of programs indicated they were unable to serve their preferred number of children relative to their preferred capacity, with affordability and staffing challenges cited as the top reasons, rather than a lack of demand. We are deeply concerned about the exacerbation of these issues for child care providers and children and families as a result of the Administration’s termination of a large portion of OHS and OCC staff, including the sudden closure of five of the ten Regional Offices and RIFs.
    We ask that you immediately reinstate these employees to full work status, and we request your responses to the following questions by April 11, 2025:
    To date, how many staff have been terminated within OHS and OCC, both in the Central office and in each Regional office? Please share the reasoning behind the closure of offices in regions 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10 (Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle), and what information and planning were used to decide which and how many of these offices would be closed?
    Who decided which probationary and non-probationary employees within OHS and OCC were to be terminated and under what cause?
    What assessment was done about the impact of the RIFs on children and families served by the programs? What are the steps being taken to minimize disruptions and continue the administration of Head Start programs and CCDF?
    Was a review conducted to determine the impact of terminating OHS and OCC staff on early childhood programs, the impact on health and safety in care settings, the stewardship of nearly $25 billion in taxpayer dollars, the ability to meet the purposes of the federal statutes, and the impact on children, families, and communities?
    Are there plans for additional staff terminations in the months ahead, and if so, how many and what offices? Regional office staff are the first point of contact for Head Start programs and State and Tribal child care agencies. Who are the new points of contact for programs? If this work has been reassigned to remaining regional offices, how will doubling their workloads create a system that is responsive to pressing program needs?
    What percent of the Office of Grants Management team responsible for Head Start and Child Care programs have been fired since January? Can you guarantee that once a grant is awarded that grant recipients can draw down their awards?
    Can the Secretary guarantee that funds will be awarded on time for Head Start grant recipients that are due to receive a new or continuing award on May 1st, and subsequent awards? If there are lapses in awarding grants, how long will they last and what communication will be done to support programs in the interim?
    Thank you for your attention to this critical issue, and we look forward to your response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump’s Tariffs for Increasing Prices for Working Families

    US Senate News:

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

    WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump’s Tariffs for Increasing Prices for Working Families

    WATCH: Padilla blasts President Trump for breaking promises to lower pricesWASHINGTON, D.C. — During an interview with MeidasTouch’s Ben Meiselas, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) sharply criticized President Trump’s chaotic, harmful tariffs that will raise prices for millions of working families and cost California farmers billions. Padilla highlighted Trump’s broken promise to lower costs and denounced the President’s recent comments that he “couldn’t care less” if his tariffs raise prices.
    MEISELAS: Let’s break down what’s going on, first in kind of California with the farming situation. We’ve got Senator Alex Padilla here, Senator from California. Senator, we’re seeing a lot of Trump voters now saying they regret this. This is absolute chaos. They didn’t vote for this. What are you hearing, Senator?
    PADILLA: Hearing a lot of the same fury, a lot of the same frustration, and people coming to the realization Donald Trump lied to them. His whole campaign, his platform, his promises were all a lie, and it’s coming home to roost.
    PADILLA: Because you’re right, whether it’s the tariffs — we know who’s going to pay the price ultimately. It’s not foreign countries as Donald claimed. It’s going to be working families here in the country when prices will go up. This is a President who said he was gonna tackle inflation and bring down prices on day one. The opposite has happened. Prices are up in all categories.
    PADILLA: The one thing he has said that’s truthful, just this last weekend, he says he doesn’t care. He “can care less,” specifically, is what he said, if prices go up. Because they’re going up on everything from cars to fruits and vegetables and everything in between.
    As President Trump and other Republicans have admitted that the tariffs will cause “short-term pain,” Padilla underscored that these tariffs will exacerbate the affordability crisis and cripple the stock market, depleting Americans’ pensions and retirement savings.
    PADILLA: It was a bait and switch. He promised to lower costs. Costs are going up. This short-term pain? Only now he’s realizing what it means, but the pain is real. So my colleagues on both sides of the aisle — there’s inconvenience and there’s pain. … Pain is being left homeless, which a lot of people will be when they lose their jobs or can’t afford to pay the rent because of Donald Trump’s policies.
    PADILLA: Another impact of his tariffs — on again, off again and on again, on again prices going up is what’s happening with the stock market. Now I don’t say this because I’m sympathetic to traders on Wall Street. I bring this up because so many people’s pensions, so many people’s 401(k), so many people’s retirement savings are tied to the economy. So when the stock market crashes, that’s literally dollars that you no longer have for retirement. It’s gone up in smoke. But once again, if you ask Donald Trump what he thinks of all this, he could care less.
    Padilla also blasted Trump for illogically and irresponsibly opening up dams and flooding the Central Valley, claiming to “turn on the water” to fight the Los Angeles fires after they had already been contained and using up resources farmers need in the dry summer months.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Proposes Resolution on the Floor to Limit the Use of Tariffs to Offset Republicans’ Tax Cuts

    US Senate News:

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

    WATCH: Padilla Proposes Resolution on the Floor to Limit the Use of Tariffs to Offset Republicans’ Tax Cuts

    WATCH: Padilla demands transparency from Republicans’ partisan budget planWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to propose a concurrent resolution to limit President Trump’s use of tariffs to offset $5.3 trillion in Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthy. The resolution would simply demand basic transparency by requiring that any tariff used to offset tax cuts for the wealthy be explicitly written into the Republicans’ partisan reconciliation bill. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) objected to the resolution, which required unanimous consent to pass.
    In his remarks, Padilla blasted President Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, which will raise costs across the board for millions of working-class families. He called out Trump’s comments last week that he “couldn’t care less” if tariffs raise prices for American consumers. Padilla also highlighted the staggering hypocrisy of Republicans’ cuts to critical services like Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and public education while trying to pass trillions in tax cuts for billionaires.
    Full text of Senator Padilla’s resolution is available here.
    Key Excerpts:
    We have finally made it to Donald Trump’s promised and self-proclaimed “Liberation Day.” But here’s what I also observe. The stock market is down since the beginning of the year. The cost of everything from groceries to housing continues to rise. Americans’ retirement funds have shrunk. And the chances of a recession is up. That sure doesn’t feel like a liberation to me.
    Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to “lower prices on day one” of his Administration. But he’s done the exact opposite. His policies and his rhetoric are raising the cost of living for hundreds of millions of Americans.
    Let’s be clear: a tariff is a tax on the American people — plain and simple. Trump’s tariffs equate to the biggest tax hike on Americans in decades.
    American companies will have to pay more to import goods. And in turn, the American people will have to pay more to buy those products. Donald Trump knows this. It’s not that he doesn’t know; it’s that he doesn’t care. And those aren’t my words — they’re his.
    If nothing else, the Republican party’s economic plan has been consistent. They want to bleed the working class to benefit the rich. And they’re gonna lie to our faces as they try to do it. That’s unacceptable.
    My resolution would simply require that they be transparent with the American people. It would require that any tariff used to offset tax cuts for the wealthy must be explicitly written into the text of the Republican reconciliation bill. If Republicans want to increase prices on hardworking Americans to give handouts to billionaires, then own it. You should not be allowed to hide behind President Trump as you do it.
    Be transparent. Be honest. Put these price increases into the bill. Tell the American people what you really stand for. Because when Americans ask why their grocery bills and their energy bills and all their other bills go up, they deserve to know why — and they deserve to know who caused it. And then we’ll see who’s really on the side of the working class.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Vote on Resolution to Undo Trump’s Taxes on Canadian Goods, Shaheen Highlights the Devastating Consequences for Small Businesses on Senate Floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – Following President Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) took to the Senate floor to highlight the devastating economic impacts that President Trump’s tariffs and trade war will have on American families and the economy. The speech came ahead of a vote on U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) joint resolution with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) to end Trump’s tariffs on Canada. Some estimates have shown that Trump’s tariffs could raise costs for the average American household by up to $2,000 per year. You can watch Senator Shaheen’s speech here. 

    Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:

    • “On Monday I visited a bakery in Derry, New Hampshire, that may have to go out of business due to what President Trump is proposing on tariffs on Canada. […] Mr. Chatila said to me, and I quote, ‘When I came, this was the American dream, which is why we built it. But now you see it in front of your eyes. It’s just melted like ice.’” 
    • “Imposing tariffs against Canada is not the way to fight fentanyl and other drugs. This kind of legislation, like the HALT Fentanyl Act, is something that is going to have much more of an impact.” 
       
    • “The message to the American people from this administration is increasingly clear: they do not care about you and what your needs are.”
    • “He is taxing all of the goods that people buy every day and what he doesn’t tell you is that the reason he’s doing this is so that he can give more money to provide tax cuts for the top 1% of the income earners in the country, so the billionaires.”

    You can read Shaheen’s remarks as delivered below:

    I came to the floor to join my colleagues because I am so concerned about the damaging impact of President Trump’s tariff taxes—and I call them taxes because that’s what they really are—about those tariffs particularly on Canada, although we heard today that he’s announced a number of others.

    On Monday, I’ve been hearing from a lot of small businesses in New Hampshire, but on Monday I visited a bakery in Derry, New Hampshire, that may have to go out of business due to what President Trump is proposing on tariffs on Canada. 

    Now, the owner of Chatila’s Bakery moved to the United States 36 years ago.

     He’s a cardiologist and with his brother, a PhD. Scientist, they’re from Lebanon. 

    He became a citizen.

    He raised his family and sent his daughter to college, and he and his brother got interested in sugar free desserts and candies because their mother was diabetic. 

    So he spent the last 36 years building his business, and now he might have to sell his factory because of the trade war that President Trump has started with Canada. 

    Chatila’s Bakery makes sugar free desserts.

    They get some of their ingredients from Canada. 

    All of those ingredients are now more expensive and while I was there, he showed me a fuel bill he had just gotten, that said that because of the tariffs, his fuel bill was going up. 

    But more important than that, 85% of his business comes from exporting to Canadian customers. 

    Most of his sales contracts in Canada were canceled after these tariffs went into effect last month.

    So he says he’s going to lose between $400,000 and $500,000 this year in the business. 

    Now, President Trump says he’s worried about trade imbalances and that he wants to support exporters.

     Well, here is an American small business and an exporter and because of what this president is doing with his reckless trade war, this small business owner might go out of business.

    So Mr. Chatila said to me, and I quote, “When I came, this was the American dream, which is why we built it. But now you see it in front of your eyes. It’s just melted like ice.”

    And I asked him what he would like to ask President Trump if he had the opportunity, and he said his question was to the president, “What do you want me to do? If you really care about your country, why don’t you support small businesses which are the backbone of every community?”

     I think that said it about as well as anybody I’ve heard. 

    And we know, sadly, that his business is not the only one. 

    Many of our small businesses in New Hampshire are reliant on travel and tourism. 

    I’ve heard from businesses across our state about Canadian tourists canceling plans already, about bookings that they rely on that are not going to come through.

    Last week, we saw that airline tickets for travelers coming from Canada this summer are down more than 70% from this time last year. 

    That represents lost business for my constituents and for businesses and communities across this country. 

    All of this will put their businesses at risk, and it will do so when they are also facing higher costs for inputs because of these tariff taxes.

    Two weeks ago, I visited a bus company, runs bus lines between the seacoast of New Hampshire and Boston and New York. 

    They’re facing $500,000 in added costs because of these tariffs and now, on top of that, he stands to lose business because fewer people are visiting the United States—He also goes between the seacoast and Logan Airport.

    All of that because the president has damaged the relationship we have with one of our closest allies.

    It doesn’t make sense to me. 

    What is the logic of antagonizing those allies and partners that we rely on? 

    And lest anyone forget, the president is claiming that the flow of fentanyl from Canada justifies all this.

    Well, fentanyl and other drugs are serious issues, and I’ve spent much of my time in the Senate doing what I can to help stop those drugs from entering the United States and to getting help for those who need it.

    Just last month, the Senate passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which is legislation that I co-sponsored along with a lot of my colleagues, which would permanently schedule fentanyl related substances. 

    Imposing tariffs against Canada is not the way to fight fentanyl and other drugs. 

    This kind of legislation, like the HALT Fentanyl Act, is something that is going to have much more of an impact.

    CBP statistics show that all the fentanyl seized along the northern border from the beginning of 2022 until now is 71 pounds. 

    Now, that’s a lot of fentanyl, and that could kill a lot of people, so I don’t endorse that by any means. 

    But you compare that with the 67,966 pounds that have been seized along the US-Mexico border for the same period of time.

    Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on where most of this fentanyl is coming from? 

    Instead of imposing tariffs, we should be working cooperatively with our allies and partners, and Canada has taken a number of steps to crack down and to stop drugs from coming into the United States. 

    The tariffs that are in place before today are likely to raise costs by nearly $2,000 for the average household.

    That’s money many families in New Hampshire and across this country can’t afford to pay when they’re trying to cover the cost of groceries, of housing, of child care, of energy, all of those things that President Trump, when he was running for president, said he was going to address.

    I’ve heard from many New Hampshire families about how these tariffs will raise prices for keeping their homes warm, for putting gas in their cars.

    And now the Trump administration has reportedly fired the entire staff of the LIHEAP program that helps families and seniors heat their homes when they can’t afford to pay. 

    The message to the American people from this administration is increasingly clear: they do not care about you and what your needs are. 

    So voting for Senator Kaine’s resolution presents an opportunity for Congress to help Americans who are worried about higher costs.

    I intend to vote for this resolution to end the tariffs on Canada, to lower costs for Americans and to help our small businesses and I hope all my colleagues will do the same. 

    Now, I just want to add that in the last hour, President Trump announced a new tax of 10% on everything Americans import with far higher taxes on many countries.

    Everything from the EU will now face a 20% tax. 

    Japan and South Korea 25%. 

    I mean, again, the rationale for why we are going after our allies and partners makes no sense. 

    And this is a tremendous tax increase on American business and families. 

    Likely the largest peacetime tax increase in U.S. history. 

    This new Trump tariff tax will add at least another $3,000 to the costs for an average household.

    And again, this president promised he was going to lower costs for families.

    This does nothing to do that. 

    He is taxing all of the goods that people buy every day and what he doesn’t tell you is that the reason he’s doing this is so that he can give more money to provide tax cuts for the top 1% of the income earners in the country, so the billionaires. 

    I don’t think this tax increase is going to help the small business owner I visited on Monday, or the families in my state and across this country who are trying to afford groceries, and I intend to vote to end those tariffs on Canada today when I have the opportunity. 

    I hope my colleagues will join me.

    Thank you.

    Senator Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump’s tariffs. Earlier today, Shaheen released a statement condemning President Trump’s announcement that he will impose 10 percent tariffs on all imported goods, with far higher taxes on many more countries at midnight. In January, Shaheen introduced the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act which would limit the president’s ability to leverage sweeping tariffs that increase costs for American consumers and families. Her effort to pass this bill by unanimous consent was blocked by Senate Republicans. In recent weeks, Shaheen has traveled across the Granite State to visit businesses including Chatila’s Bakery, C&J, DCI Furniture, Mount Cabot Maple and American Calan Inc. to hear directly from Granite Staters impacted by the looming tariffs.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Allies to build on momentum in efforts to enhance Ukraine’s security, uphold international law and protect human rights: UK Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    UK and Allies to build on momentum in efforts to enhance Ukraine’s security, uphold international law and protect human rights: UK Statement to the OSCE

    UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be provided if we step up and offer real and credible security assurances to deter Russia from further threatening European Security.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. The UK strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine. We are committed to providing extensive economic, humanitarian, and defensive military assistance to Ukraine. The UK remains steadfast in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, ensuring that Russia faces consequences for its actions. Ukraine has shown it is ready and willing to work towards peace. The ball is now in Russia’s court, and President Putin must prove he is serious about peace and sign up to a ceasefire with immediate effect. The Kremlin’s procrastination and game-playing with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, despite good faith participation from all sides, show Russian promises to be hollow.

    We welcome President Trump’s readiness to increase the pressure on Russia if President Putin does not agree to a ceasefire soon. The Institute for the Study of War and others assess that Russia is using the temporary ceasefire in the Black Sea as leverage to stall efforts toward a general ceasefire and extract additional concessions from the West. This is unacceptable.

    We must remain committed to the US and Ukraine’s proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. British, French, and Ukrainian military leaders are set to meet in the coming days to build on recent momentum in efforts to enhance Ukraine’s security. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the meeting aims to drive forward the next stage of detailed planning, following a call with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Last week in the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, Britain and France led over 200 planners from ‘a group of nations politically aligned to the defence, security and sovereignty of Ukraine’. These military planning meetings have focused on how we keep the skies, the seas and the border of Ukraine safe. To be clear, a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be provided if we step up and offer real and credible security assurances to deter Russia from further threatening European Security.

    And what is Russia’s contribution to peace and negotiations? We have seen no sign of Putin abandoning his war of aggression and his disregard of international law is being realised on the ground in Ukraine. Russian forces shelled a frontline settlement in Ukraine’s south-east Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in the death of a 66-year-old woman and injuries to five others. In the early hours of today, Russian attacks left 45,000 in Kherson without power, and this is despite Russia’s alleged agreement to a partial ceasefire on strikes against energy facilities following technical discussions in Riyadh in March.

    The Report of the independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine published on 11 March, highlighted a sharp increase in criminal cases concerning Russian troops executing wounded, captured or surrendering Ukrainian soldiers. In most situations, soldiers targeted ‘were in a vulnerable situation: unarmed, lying on the ground, kneeling, and some were partly naked’.

    On 26 March, Russia convicted 23 captured Ukrainians on terrorism charges in a trial widely denounced by the international community as a sham and a gross violation of international law. The defendants received sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years in maximum security forced labour camps. The trial’s proceedings were marred by numerous irregularities and violations of fair representation. Defendants were reportedly denied access to independent legal counsel and subjected to coerced confessions obtained under duress.

    Our position has not changed. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. President Putin must stop playing games and agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions. Only through a concerted and sustained effort can we hope to bring an end to this egregious campaign of violence and pave the way for a just and lasting peace. Efforts to support Ukraine and its pursuit of justice must be intensified to ensure our commitment to upholding international law and protecting human rights.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Applauds Hyundai Investment in Louisiana

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) to discuss the need for the Senate to move on budget reconciliation now that Republicans successfully kept the government open, despite Democrats’ efforts to shut it down. Additionally, Leader Scalise highlighted Hyundai’s multibillion-dollar investment in Louisiana thanks to President Trump’s leadership and pro-growth agenda.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
    On the unity of the Republican party: “While the Democrat Party continues to show the country that they’re a leaderless, rudderless ship, Republicans have been uniting to lead this country out of the doldrums from the Biden Administration. You can just look at the actions we’ve taken in the House, working with the Senate and with President Trump to start getting our country back on track. And that hard work is already paying off for American families. You’re seeing gas prices start to come down, egg prices are starting to come down.”On private investment moving to the United States under President Trump:“What’s really important for long-term growth – billions and now trillions of dollars of private investment are coming back home to America to create really good high-paying jobs for American workers. The Speaker and I were proud to attend a White House ceremony yesterday with our governor and other leaders, where Hyundai announced a multibillion-dollar plant that they’re building in the United States of America – going to create about 1,400 jobs in Louisiana. This is just one of many examples that we’re seeing that we call the Trump effect, where we’re seeing so many companies invest heavily in Louisiana and other states. In our state alone, we’ve had probably over $40 billion of private investment announced since President Trump took office again. And that’s not only really good jobs, it’s things like energy security, building more car manufacturing plants, and the resources that go along with it will no longer have to source those materials from other countries. Hostile countries, in many cases, will now be able to refine those materials here in the United States as well with American workers. That would not have happened without the leadership of President Trump. We’ve totaled up when you look at all the private investment that’s come into the United States just in the two months since Donald Trump has taken office, it’s nearly $4 trillion in new jobs and investment in the United States of America. That’s historic, it’s unprecedented, and we’re just getting started.”On Democrats voting to shut the government down:“We’ve been talking to President Trump. I talked to him twice over the weekend about budget reconciliation. Now that we got government funding out of the way, and the Speaker did a phenomenal job of uniting Republicans, imagine a CR to fund government passed exclusively by Republicans. One Democrat came along after we had the votes to pass it in the House, and then the Senate ultimately had to finally take that bill up and pass it themselves, which is what caused the Democrats to go into yet another tailspin because Democrats wanted to shut the government down. Almost every Democrat voted against that bill, which also, by the way, had a 40-year largest increase pay raise for our military. Our men and women in uniform who deserved that massive raise. Almost every Democrat voted no on that as well as trying to shut the government down. So, they still don’t want to be serious. They’re not going to be taken seriously by the American people. But we’re going to keep doing our job.”On budget reconciliation: “The next job is budget reconciliation. That is number one on President Trump’s priority list now to get Congress to work together with him to pass that one big, beautiful bill that we’ve been talking about – a bill that not only locks in tax rates, creates more investment in the United States, but also allows us to produce more energy in America, lowering costs for families, creates more border security for America, allows President Trump to continue the great work he’s done. We’ve seen over a 95% drop in illegal crossings. We need to build out the wall. We need to give more technology to our Border Patrol agents that President Trump has asked for, strengthening our national defense and bringing common sense back into the rule and regulatory process in Washington. These are just the first few months of what’s going to be a historic majority working for the American people, delivering results for the American people. “And the man who’s leading this cause and uniting Republicans, even with just a two-seat majority, hopefully not for much longer, we’re going to grow that number. But even with that, our Speaker has been keeping us together, moving our agenda.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Warren, Whitehouse Condemn Firings of Immigration Judges Across the Country

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Letter Text (PDF)

    Washington (April 2, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), today sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Executive Office for Immigration Review Acting Director Sirce E. Owen, condemning the unjust firings of more than 20 judges serving on immigration courts across the nation. The senators highlighted the enormous impact these terminations will have on the immigration system, including impairing critical due process protections.

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly fired more than 20 judges serving on immigration courts across the nation, including the Chelmsford Immigration Court in Massachusetts. These firings, which heavily impact New England, have terminated high-level officials—including the Chief Immigration Judge (IJ) of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)—supervisory immigration judges and an entire class of 13 newly hired IJs.

    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “The Trump administration has arbitrarily dismissed these hard-working public servants, without compelling reason, in blatant disregard for the fairness and efficiency of the immigration courts. These indefensible firings appear intended to impair the immigration system and to strip vulnerable immigrants of critical due process protections. We urge the Administration to reinstate these fired IJs, halt any further terminations, and provide information regarding EOIR’s plan for the immigration court system.”

    The lawmakers continued, “Experts warn that the Administration could be poised to politicize the immigration court system by replacing terminated court officials with far-right loyalists. And we are alarmed by news that the Administration is seeking to bypass the IJs altogether by invoking the Alien Enemies Act and expanding the use of ‘expedited removal,’ a fast-track deportation process. Individuals deemed ‘alien enemies’ under the Alien Enemies Act have been deported without any court hearing or other form of due process. Meanwhile, individuals placed in expedited removal are not entitled to a hearing before an IJ or to judicial review, with narrow exceptions for those who express fear of persecution or intent to apply for asylum. The designation of some noncitizens as ‘alien enemies’ and the possible expansion of expedited removal—coupled with the firings of IJs—signifies a concerted effort to deprive noncitizens of critical protections and due process rights. This approach could result in the erroneous deportation of individuals with a valid claim of asylum or fear of persecution and even citizens, lawful permanent residents, and visa-holders. These actions are not only cruel and inhumane, they may also contravene U.S. law and international obligations.”

    The lawmakers request answers by April 11, 2025 to the following questions:

    • How is the Trump administration deciding which immigration judges to terminate nationwide, and, specifically, in the Chelmsford and Boston immigration courts?
    • Why did the Administration fire 13 newly hired IJs and 7 Assistant Chief IJs (ACIJs) on February 14, 2025? Why has the Administration fired other IJs and ACIJs since February 14?
    • Why has the Trump administration terminated immigration judges who have served in their roles for longer than two years?
    • Is the Trump administration considering firing additional immigration judges in the Boston or Chelmsford immigration courts?
    • Does the Trump administration plan to re-hire any of the terminated immigration judges? Does the Trump administration plan to replace any of the terminated immigration judges by hiring new immigration judges, including for the Boston or Chelmsford immigration courts?
    • How does the Trump administration intend to address the backlog of roughly 160,000 removal cases in the Boston and Chelmsford immigration courts?
    • Is the Trump administration planning on taking other actions that would obviate the need for more immigration judges?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Joins Raskin, Colleagues to Demand Answers for Students, Families After Trump Shutters Department of Education Civil Rights Regional Offices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05) joined Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and 14 of their congressional colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon demanding answers about the Trump Administration’s decision to illegally shutter the Philadelphia Regional Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and six other OCR Regional Offices.

    OCR is charged with enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws so that every student has access to an equal education, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Until March 11, the employees at the Philadelphia OCR served students in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Delaware.

    “We believe that the 50 million elementary and secondary school students and 20 million college students in America today deserve to attend their classes without fear of discrimination, regardless of which state they call home,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “While the Department appears to be self-selecting cases that fit the current Administration’s political narrative, tens of thousands of actual pending complaints—spanning allegations of racial and sex-based discrimination, antisemitism, denial of services, and more—from parents and students remain in limbo,” the lawmakers continued.

    The letter requests detailed account of OCR’s work during the Trump Administration, its staffing levels and how ED plans to protect students’ federal civil rights after closing seven of its 12 regional offices.

    Every Democratic Representative serving the states previously overseen by the Philadelphia OCR Regional Office joined Representative Raskin’s letter, including: Reps. Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06),Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Sarah McBride (Del.-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05).

    Rep. Raskin’s letter was also endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, All4Ed, Education Reform Now, EdTrust, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and the National Education Association.

    “As of January 15, 2025, the state of Maryland had 140 disability discrimination related cases currently pending at the U.S. Department of Education, in addition to thousands of others across the country. There is no doubt that the Trump Administration’s recent reckless actions will hinder the Department’s ability to investigate disability discrimination swiftly and effectively. We commend Rep. Raskin for leading this letter detailing the impacts of the staff layoffs and seeking answers about how this Administration will uphold students’ civil rights,” said Nicole Fuller, Policy Manager at the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

    “Regional OCR offices are the frontline defenders of students’ civil rights. Their closure will leave families with nowhere to turn and further delay justice for tens of thousands of unresolved complaints. EdTrust applauds Congressman Raskin’s leadership in demanding a reversal of these harmful actions and urging the Department to do its job: protect students,” said Augustus Mays, Vice President for Partnerships and Engagement at EdTrust.

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –