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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration to Reverse Decision to End Policy on Emergency Reproductive Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    The Trump Administration’s Decision To End Guidance That Reaffirmed Access To Abortion Care In Emergency Situations Will Put Women’s Lives In Jeopardy
    WASHINGTON, DC – Following the three-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined a group of Senators in a letter demanding the Trump Administration to overturn its recent decision to end guidance that reaffirmed hospitals’ responsibility to provide medically-necessary emergency abortions. In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) to require Medicare-participating hospitals to provide necessary life-saving treatment for any individual—including pregnant women—experiencing emergency medical conditions. However, since the conservative majority on the Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision, more than twenty states have passed laws to ban or severely restrict access to abortion, disrupting decades of certainty for hospitals regarding their legal obligation to provide necessary emergency abortion care under federal law.
    “While EMTALA remains binding federal law, the rescission will create further confusion for hospitals and providers, especially in states with abortion bans, and will result in medically-necessary care being withheld from pregnant patients in crisis,” wrote the lawmakers. “When doctors are forced to navigate the complex legal interplay of state abortion bans and federal EMTALA protections, pregnant people experience care delays and may receive substandard care.”
    “This abrupt decision will further the chaos and confusion that hospitals, physicians, and patients have experienced since the Dobbs decision and will result in negative and deadly consequences for women and families across the United States,” the lawmakers concluded.
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a fighter for women’s reproductive rights, taking action to safeguard access to essential health care for women. This week, she helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe protections in federal law and restore women’s reproductive freedom. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, aimed at federally guaranteeing the right to obtain and use contraceptives and shielding providers who prescribe and offer them. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Calls on DOJ, FTC to Investigate ISS and Glass Lewis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—This week, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee and head of the committee’s working group on proxy advisors, sent a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, urging them to investigate ISS and Glass Lewis for antitrust violations.
    “The dominant proxy advisory firms, [ISS] and [Glass Lewis], control more than 90% of the U.S. market for proxy advisory services,” Hagerty wrote. “These foreign-owned firms exploit their market power to suppress competition, hijack corporate governance, impose ideological agendas, drive companies’ capital allocation decisions, influence U.S. public policy on important matters, and undermine the welfare of American investors and consumers. Accordingly, I urge the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate these firms for violations of federal antitrust law.”
    Hagerty’s letter builds on his ongoing efforts to address abuses in the proxy advisory market. Previously, Hagerty demanded answers and documents from ISS after the firm publicly acknowledged that it may support proposals even though they are “not linked to long-term shareholder value.” He also sponsored the Putting Investors First Act, legislation to expand the SEC’s authority over proxy advisory firms.
    A copy of the letter can be found here and below.
    Dear Attorney General Bondi and Chairman Ferguson,
    The dominant proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and Glass, Lewis & Co. (Glass Lewis), control more than 90% of the U.S. market for proxy advisory services. These foreign-owned firms exploit their market power to suppress competition, hijack corporate governance, impose ideological agendas, drive companies’ capital allocation decisions, influence U.S. public policy on important matters, and undermine the welfare of American investors and consumers. Accordingly, I urge the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate these firms for violations of federal antitrust law.
    The market power of ISS and Glass Lewis grants them enormous sway over public companies. A study of 175 institutional investors—managing more than $5 trillion in assets— revealed that the institutions followed proxy advisor recommendations more than 95% of the time. The influence of the proxy advisors enables them to dictate public companies’ governance standards, executive compensation practices, and corporate policies. Through the power of vote recommendations adverse to determinations of independent boards of directors as well as negative recommendations against board members themselves, the firms effectively force compliance even when these standards or practices are ideologically motivated, irrelevant, and/or destructive to shareholder value. In so doing, the proxy advisors have also been successfully pressuring companies to engineer social change outside the democratic process and shaping U.S. public policy on a wide range of issues, from energy to sensitive social policies. It is evident that ISS and Glass Lewis exercise de facto regulatory power over public companies, but without any of the accountability or transparency ordinarily demanded of such a role.
    The firms leverage their market power by offering consulting services on the same or substantially similar items as those on which they provide proxy advisory services—a conflict of interest that raises significant anticompetitive concerns. ISS, for example, offers proxy advisory services to institutional investors with respect to companies’ say-on-pay proposals while also selling corporate consulting services to companies regarding the executive compensation programs subject to a say-on-pay vote. Similarly, ISS offers consulting services to companies with respect to equity compensation plans, while also providing recommendations to institutional investors as to how to vote on those same plans. This dynamic results in a coercive pay-to-play setup, where public companies are pressured to purchase consulting services to avoid or remedy negative proxy recommendations or assure the support of the proxy advisors, as the case may be. Indeed, many companies report being approached by the consulting arm of ISS during the same year in which they receive a negative vote recommendation from the firm. ISS also provides its institutional clients with corporate governance ratings on issuers, while also offering consulting services to corporate clients so that those issuers can improve their governance scores. This dual role—both rating companies and advising them—further enhances the proxy advisors’ power and drives important corporate practices and policies. While Glass Lewis has claimed that it does not offer consulting services, like ISS it offers equity plan advisory services to public companies. It also advises activists on influencing companies through shareholder proposals and other campaigns. The firm engages in these practices even though it has openly acknowledged that “the provision of consulting services to corporate issuers, directors, dissident shareholders and/or shareholder proposal proponents, creates a problematic conflict of interest.”
    The link between consulting services and favorable ratings benefit both ISS and Glass Lewis by foreclosing competition. Revenues generated from consulting may permit the firms to cross-subsidize their proxy advisory services, enabling them to further expand and cement their market share. Such self-dealing practices are inherently anticompetitive and demand scrutiny.
    ISS and Glass Lewis also appear to coordinate their voting guidelines and governance standards in ways that suppress competition and reduce the ideological and analytical diversity of services available in the market. The House Judiciary Committee has found evidence that the firms collaborated with organizations such as Climate Action 100+ to jointly issue nearly identical recommendations—effectively steering institutional investors toward predetermined outcomes guided by partisan ideology, not shareholder value. This parallelism is reinforced by the firms’ control of proprietary voting platforms—ISS’s ProxyExchange and Glass Lewis’s Viewpoint—which encourage institutional clients to automatically vote in alignment with the firms’ recommendations. Known as “robovoting,” this practice discourages independent fiduciary analysis and only deepens investors’ dependence on the firms, as some major investment managers do not even have personnel responsible for verifying that robovotes are correctly cast. While the firms often point critics to their “benchmark” reports, they continue to offer comparatively more extreme and politically contentious robovoting options through their insufficiently scrutinized “specialty” reports, often referred to as their “shadow” reports.
    The market power and anticompetitive business practices of ISS and Glass Lewis inflict harm across the U.S. economy: potential competitors are foreclosed from entering or expanding within the proxy advisory market; capital formation is diminished as companies are deterred from going public; the cost of capital for certain industries, such as coal and oil and gas, is higher; the competitiveness of the US capital markets is impacted; boards and management lose control over their own corporate policies and practices; investors suffer the financial consequences of ideologically driven and economically unsound corporate decisions; finally, consumers pay higher prices due to operational inefficiencies and increased costs.
    For these reasons, I urge the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate ISS and Glass Lewis and take all necessary steps to promote competition in the proxy advisory market.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement Following Arraignment of Rep. LaMonica McIver

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    Newark, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:
    “I am disappointed that the Department of Justice is wasting resources pursuing these unfounded charges against Representative LaMonica McIver, needlessly straining our already overburdened federal judiciary. Representative McIver was exercising her authority as a member of Congress to conduct constitutional oversight of a detention center that receives millions of taxpayer dollars. Representative McIver’s actions were so unremarkable and inoffensive that federal officials invited her into the facility later that same afternoon. This case undermines public safety and the public trust in federal law enforcement, and while its purpose is to intimidate public officials, it won’t. The Department of Justice must drop this case immediately.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SASC Chairman Roger Wicker Releases Updated Text of Defense Reconciliation Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON –?U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today unveiled updated legislative text of the defense reconciliation bill.
    The House and Senate Armed Services Committees developed this legislation in close coordination with the White House and Department of Defense to modernize America’s military, secure the border, and strengthen national security.
    Chairman Wicker released the following statement after the release of the updated bill text:
    “This bill is a crucial down payment to modernize our military and enhance defense capabilities amid rising global threats. It provides significant funding for key areas including Golden Dome, unmanned technology, and shipbuilding,” said Chairman Wicker. “Alongside important reforms in the NDAA process, this bill will help transform the Pentagon and strengthen our military.”
    Changes Made Since 6/3 Text Release:
    Increases the amount of funding available for critical minerals supply chains to $5 billion
    Increases the amount of funding available for defense industrial base efforts to $3.3 billion
    Decreases the amount of funding available for the National Defense Stockpile to $2 billion
    Decreases the amount of funding available for military border support operations to $1 billion
    Removes all references to classified material
    Makes a handful of non-substantive changes for execution purposes
    The full text is available here
     
    A redline from the last publicly released text is here
     
    A legislative overview is available here
     
    Legislation Highlights
    Sec. 20001: $9 billion for Servicemember Quality of Life. Funds increases in allowances and special pays, as well as improvements to housing, healthcare, childcare, and education.
    Sec. 20002: $29 billion for Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base. Expands the size and enhances the capability of our naval fleet. Invests in autonomous surface and subsurface technology.  Builds capacity and improves infrastructure in the maritime industrial base.
    Sec. 20003: $25 billion for Golden Dome for America. Supports President Trump’s vision for layered missile defense shield for America. Develops space-based assets support the system and rapidly accelerates missile defense against threats to the homeland and deployed troops.  
    Sec. 20004: $25 billion for Munitions. Accelerates purchases of most important munitions. America’s arsenal of munitions. Expands capacity in the industrial base to support higher levels of munitions production. Ramps up production of and critical minerals to execute President Trump’s EO. Expands production of missile defense interceptors and counter drone capabilities. 
    Sec. 20005: $16 billion to Expedite Innovation to the Warfighter. Expands DoD initiatives to scale production of game-changing new technology and expedite delivery of low-cost, attritable weapons systems and artificial intelligence needed to ensure success on future battlefields.
    Sec. 20006: $400 million for Fiscal Responsibility and a Clean Audit. Requires audits of funds provided to DoD by this Act. Invests in the IT infrastructure, business systems, and new AI/automation capabilities needed to ensure the DoD fully passes an audit.
    Sec. 20007: $9 billion for Air Superiority. Reverses declines in fighter force posture. Accelerates delivery of next generation aircraft and autonomous systems.
    Sec. 20008: $15 billion for Nuclear Deterrence. Accelerates modernization of the triad. Improves readiness of our current nuclear deterrent. Invests in infrastructure needed to restore America’s ability to manufacture nuclear weapons.
    Sec. 20009: $12 billion for Pacific Deterrence. Expands military exercises and improves readiness of Indo-Pacific forces. Acquires capability and builds infrastructure needed to defend forces and conduct military operations in the Western Pacific.
    Sec. 20010: $16 billion to Enhance Military Readiness. Expands stocks of spares. Improves infrastructure at military depots and shipyards. Enhances the capability of Special Forces.
    Sec. 20011: $1 billion for Border Security.  Funds DoD personnel and logistics support to help carry out President Trump’s border, immigration, and counterdrug enforcement agenda.
    Sec. 20012: $10M for DOD IG to conduct specific oversight on appropriations in this title.
    Sec. 20013: Authorization of military construction projects in this title.
    Sec. 20014: Reductions in appropriation contingent upon spend plan.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Restore and Protect Americans’ Right to Abortion Nationwide As We Mark 3rd Anniversary of Supreme Court Overturning Roe V. Wade

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined his colleagues in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion across the country and restore the right to reproductive health care for millions of Americans. The bill was introduced on the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court repealing Roe v. Wade, a decision that stripped Americans’ access to vital health care and denied many women the freedom to make their own, private health care decisions. 
    “Three years ago, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court took away the constitutional right to abortion, stripping access to reproductive health care from millions of Americans and putting countless women’s lives in danger,” said Senator Peters. “It’s unacceptable that women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers did. The Women’s Health Protection Act would restore the fundamental right to choose, and ensure that women in every state can make private, personal health care decisions, without interference from politicians and judges.” 
    As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, millions of Americans are being denied or delayed access to necessary and potentially life-saving treatment, including for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriage management, because of new legal risks to patients and providers. The harms caused by these abortion restrictions fall heaviest on populations that already experience inequities, including people with low incomes, people of color, immigrants, young people, people with disabilities, and those living in rural and other medically underserved areas. Since the Dobbs decision, 19 [SB1] [FB2] states have banned abortion or severely restricted women from being able to access the procedure, leaving one in three[SB3] [FB4]  American women without access to safe, legal abortion care. [FB5] 
    While Michiganders voted in November 2022 to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state’s constitution, the Women’s Health Protection Act would establish federal rights for patients and providers to protect access to an abortion and create protections against medically unnecessary restrictions that undermine Americans’ access to health care.
    Specifically, the Women’s Health Protection Act would:
    Prohibit states from imposing restrictions that jeopardize access to abortion earlier in pregnancy, including many of the state-level restrictions in place prior to Dobbs, such as arbitrary waiting periods, medically unnecessary mandatory ultrasounds, or requirements to provide medically inaccurate information.
    Ensure that later in pregnancy, states cannot limit access to abortion if it would jeopardize the life or health of the mother.
    Protect the ability to travel out of state for an abortion, which has become increasingly common in recent years.
    Peters has been a strong advocate for protecting access to essential reproductive health care and the right of all Americans to make health care decisions privately with their doctors and family. Last year, Peters spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support the Access to Family Building Act, legislation Peters cosponsored that would protect IVF treatment. Peters also spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Right to Contraception Act, legislation Peters cosponsored that would guarantee the right to access contraceptives. Peters also joined his colleagues last Congress in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commerce Committee Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Improve Commercial Space Policy, Strengthen Industry Competitiveness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 06.25.2025
    Bill Now Advances to Full Senate

    WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed U.S. Senator Gary Peters’(MI) bipartisan bill to strengthen commercial space policy and promote industry competitiveness. Peters’ bipartisan legislation – which he reintroduced with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) – would establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee within the Office of Space Commerce. The bill would enable the advisory committee, made up of representatives with extensive experience in the commercial space industry from a variety of fields including space policy, engineering, and research, to share important insights into non-governmental space activity to help inform and shape federal policy and programs. The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
    “The importance of the commercial space sector will only continue to grow as it plays a larger role in shaping the future of space exploration,” said Senator Peters. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to provide space industry leaders in Michigan and across the U.S. with a chance to shape federal space policy and provide insight into how to stay competitive on a global scale. I’m going to continue working with my colleagues to see it pass the Senate.” 
    The Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee would be comprised of 15 members who make recommendations on various priorities, including: 
    Identifying challenges relating to international obligations and export controls that affect the commercial space sector. 
    Addressing the need to access adequate, predictable, and reliable radio frequency spectrum. 
    Reviewing best practices for U.S. entities to avoid harmful environmental impacts to both earth and space. 
    Providing recommendations on matters related to space sector development and other activities the advisory committee considers necessary. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Russell Fry’s Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act Passes in the House

    Source:

    Rep. Russell Fry’s Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act Passes in the House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Russell Fry’s (SC-07) Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act passed in the House of Representatives. This legislation will allow current and retired law enforcement officers to purchase their retired firearms.

    Under current law, federal agencies are required to destroy retired firearms. This process costs the federal government millions of dollars and trickles down to American taxpayers.

    Allowing current and retired federal law enforcement officers in good standing to purchase retired firearms is a common sense, cost-saving measure that benefits both law enforcement and American taxpayers.

    “I’m thrilled to see the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act pass in the House,” said Congressman Fry. “Not only will it save taxpayer dollars, it also creates a system in which law enforcement officers in good standing can exercise their Second Amendment rights by purchasing their retired service weapons. It is common sense legislation that recognizes the service of our federal officers while also encouraging responsible use of government resources.”

    Full text of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act can be found here.

    Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens vote to scrap and replace SQA, ending ‘era of hostility to teachers and students’

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Jun 2025 Education

    Green MSPs vote to pass the Education Bill in Holyrood

    More in Education

    The Scottish Parliament has voted to scrap and replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) by 69 votes to 47. The Scottish Greens voted in favour of creating a new organisation in its place, Qualifications Scotland. This new body will put the voices of teachers and students at its heart. 

    Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has campaigned for a radical overhaul of the exams body for many years, with calls for a rethink predating the pandemic but significantly increasing after the 2020 ‘postcode lottery’ grading scandal. Following that scandal, Green MSPs negotiated with the Scottish Government to restore 124,565 young people’s grades, which had been unfairly moderated down by the SQA’s postcode-based temporary replacement for exams.

    The Scottish Greens, teachers’ unions and organisations including the Scottish Youth Parliament have long pointed to a culture at the top of the SQA which is hostile to feedback and uninterested in listening to those directly affected by its decisions.

    To avoid a repeat of the SQA’s failures, Scottish Greens education spokesperson has passed dozens of amendments to the bill, including splitting the role of Chief Executive into a Chief Executive, Chief Accreditation Officer and Chief Examiner, with a requirement that the Examiner must be an experienced educator e.g a teacher or college lecturer.

    Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP said:

    “Having campaigned for an overhaul of the SQA for years, I’m pleased MSPs have voted for this fresh start in Scottish education. Senior leadership at the SQA was given the opportunity to change over many years, but refused to do so. Replacing the organisation with one legally required to listen to teachers and students will end this constant cycle of scandals. Now we can begin rebuilding the trust which was so completely destroyed over the last decade and put the focus back on supporting students.

    “The Scottish Greens made dozens of changes to the Government’s original proposals, including giving a bigger role to teachers and students themselves. Time and again the SQA could have avoided making catastrophic mistakes if they had simply listened to the experts in Scottish education, those in our schools and colleges. Having made those changes, Green MSPs were proud to vote for this bill and replace the SQA with an organisation ready to meet the needs of Scotland’s students and teachers.

    “This reform must be followed up with urgent work to reduce the workload of teachers and a dramatic shakeup of our outdated exams system. We need to move away from the Victorian-era end of term exam model and towards systems of ongoing assessment which judge a pupil’s knowledge and abilities with far more accuracy.”

    Greer added:

    “Labour’s vote to protect the scandal-plagued and unaccountable SQA is bizarre.

    “How can anyone look at the mistakes of recent years and think it can continue? We need real change for students and teachers, which this bill will deliver.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK seeks views on further trade protections for steel

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK seeks views on further trade protections for steel

    The UK has launched a six-week Call for Evidence, inviting views from across the steel supply chain to help shape new, future-ready trade measures.

    • Government invites businesses to shape future steel trade protections and strengthen the UK’s critical supply chains.
    • Key step in ensuring continued protection for the UK steel industry—building on the recent deal with the US to lift steel tariffs.
    • Follows a series of government actions under the Plan for Change to defend UK steel, protect jobs and secure major sites like Port Talbot and Scunthorpe.

    Steel producers, consumers, and unions will shape the UK’s future trade approach for steel, as Ministers seek robust long-term protections for the industry.

    Safeguard measures are put in place temporarily to address sudden import surges and help industry adapt to new trading environments, however the challenges now facing the steel industry demand longer-term solutions.

    The current UK steel safeguard measure ends in June 2026 and cannot be extended. The views from industry will help shape new future-ready trade measures that will protect UK businesses and jobs right across the country. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    We know this is a tough time for steel producers which is why this Government is using every tool available to ensure the long-term success of our vital steel industry, protect jobs and deliver on our Plan for Change.

    Thanks to our deal with the United States, all Section 232 tariffs on UK steel will be removed—while producers in other countries still face tariffs of up to 50%. But we’re not stopping there.

    We will not sit by idly while cheap imports threaten to undercut UK industry, so we are inviting industry to shape the next phase of our trade defences so we can provide robust support and ensure a fair and competitive market.

    The six-week Call for Evidence comes in addition to further government action to support industry amid global challenges. This includes securing a trade deal with the US to remove tariffs on steel products and protect jobs. It also includes announcing the upcoming steel strategy, which will establish a long-term vision for the sector and help build resilient supply chains. These efforts follow the launch of both the Trade and Industrial Strategy, which set out broader plans to support key industries, including steel.

    This Call for Evidence is a key step in the Government’s wider commitment to rebuilding the steel sector, alongside decisive interventions such as the £500 million grant securing the transformation of Port Talbot steelworks, the £2.5 billion investment pledged to rebuild the sector, the action taken to safeguard British Steel’s blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, and the forthcoming Steel Strategy.

    UK Steel Director General Gareth Stace said:

    It is welcome news that the Government is developing a new steel trade defence mechanism.

    With growing global steel overcapacity and rising trade diversion, Government must deliver a new trade defence system to provide industry certainty before steel safeguards expire in June 2026.

    UK Steel looks forward to working with Government to design an effective framework that will help to level the playing field on international trade and provide the market stability needed to draw investment in the UK steel sector.

    Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:

    Trade protections are a vital bastion for our steel industry in the face of global overcapacity, rising protectionism and unfair trade. They provide essential security, and safeguard thousands of jobs across the UK steel industry and its extensive supply chains.

    We welcome the UK Government’s early engagement with the sector to shape our future steel protections and ensure that a cliff-edge scenario next year is prevented.

    This government has demonstrated its steadfast support for our steel industry, and we will continue to work with them to secure the long-term future of the sector.

    Notes to editors

    • The Call for Evidence opens today and will run for six weeks, inviting stakeholders across the UK steel supply chain to submit feedback that will shape future trade measures.
    • For more details and to submit evidence, visit GOV.UK.
    • The UK’s steel safeguard measure is set to expire in June 2026 because it’s a temporary measure providing domestic industries with time to adjust to changing market conditions. These measures are meant to be in place for a limited time to allow industries to adapt to the influx of imports. WTO rules don’t allow for indefinite extensions of safeguard measures.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Trade Strategy to protect and boost British business

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New Trade Strategy to protect and boost British business

    The strategy will make the UK the most connected nation in the world while protecting vital industries from global threats and backing businesses to thrive.

    New Trade Strategy to protect and boost British business 

    • Trade Strategy sets out how UK will unlock £5 billion for businesses and expand UKEF capacity to £80 billion, delivering growth as part of the Plan for Change  

    • Trade defence toughened up with new and improved tools to better protect our vital industries from global threats  

    • UK sets its sights on quicker deals that firms can benefit from sooner, with a strong focus on services and high growth sectors 

    British Businesses will be given greater access to global markets more quickly as the UK tomorrow [Thursday 26 June] publishes its first Trade Strategy since leaving the EU. 

    The Strategy will make the UK the most connected nation in the world and secure billions worth of opportunities for businesses, helping deliver the economic growth needed to put money in people’s pockets, strengthen local economies, create jobs, and raise living standards.  

    It takes a more agile and targeted approach than the previous government’s, focusing on quicker, more practical deals that deliver faster benefits to UK businesses. It strengthens trade defences, expands export finance – especially for smaller firms – and aligns trade policy with national priorities like green growth and services. It’s a smarter, more responsive plan for a changing global economy. 

    The Trade Strategy:  

    • Unlocks £5 billion worth of opportunities for UK exporters through the new Ricardo Fund, which will tackle complex regulatory issues, shape global standards, and remove obstacles for UK businesses selling abroad.  

    • Expands UK Export Finance (UKEF)’s capacity by £20 billion to a total of £80 billion, announces a new Small Export Builder to give smaller firms better access to export protection insurance, and introduces improvements to help overseas buyers finance repeat orders from trusted UK suppliers in a more streamlined way.   

    • Vows to bolster our trade defence toolkit and make our trade remedies system more agile, assertive, and accountable to guard British businesses against global turbulence and the growing threat of unfair trading practices.   

    • Targets more mutual recognition of qualifications to boost the UK’s status as a services superpower – the 2nd biggest exporter of services in the world.  

    • Builds on existing clean energy and green sector agreements with partners including Norway, Japan and South Korea and explores new, deeper cooperation with markets such as Brazil, the Philippines and Mexico.    

    • Announces the UK will join the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), a temporary arbitration arrangement for resolving appeals to WTO trade disputes, demonstrating our commitment to an effective rules-based international trading system 

    The Trade Strategy comes amid a backdrop of turbulent economic waters, resurgent protectionism and unfair trading practices creating significant challenges for businesses and industries across the whole of the UK. Together with our modern Industrial Strategy – a plan to grow the UK’s growth-driving sectors – we are strengthening businesses at home and setting clear direction to ensure success abroad and create high-paid, secure jobs in every part of this country.  

    It follows three significant trade deals agreed last month with huge benefits for UK businesses, jobs and consumers. Not only does our deal with India add £4.8 billion to the economy and £2.2 billion to wages each year, its reduced and liberalised tariffs means more whisky and gin is likely to be sold to Indian consumers and British shoppers could see cheaper prices on things like clothes, footwear and food products.  

    Our landmark deal with the US, the only one they have agreed with any country, protects hundreds of thousands of British jobs from automotive workers in the West Midlands, to aeroplane builders in Wales, to steelmakers in Scunthorpe. It shows the government delivering on its promise to champion British businesses and put jobs and livelihoods first. 

    The EU agreement, meanwhile, cuts red tape and improves access to our biggest trading partner. It means Scottish salmon farmers can sell their fish more easily to the EU, Welsh sausages and lamb mince exports will no longer be blocked, and British pets can join their owners on holiday with less headache.   

    Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: 

    What works for business, works for Britain. It means more jobs, more opportunities, and more money in people’s pockets. 

    That’s why I’ve backed British industry through global headwinds – securing major trade deals with the US, India and the EU that protect jobs and drive growth right across the country. 

    Today’s Trade Strategy is a promise to British business: helping firms sell more, grow faster, and compete globally. It’s about delivering growth as part of our Plan for Change—and making sure working people feel the benefits.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:  

    The UK is an open trading nation but we must reconcile this with a new geopolitical reality and work in our own national interest  

    Our Trade Strategy will sharpen our trade defence so we can ensure British businesses are protected from harm, while also relentlessly pursuing every opportunity to sell to more markets under better terms than before.  

    Broad and complex trade deals like we secured with India will bring billions to our economy every year but to deliver the Plan for Change we will strike more agile, targeted deals that exploit the sectors which drive the most growth for our economy.

    It comes as the government works in partnership with industry to shape future steel trade measures which will prevent cheap imports from undercutting UK businesses, following the expiry of the current UK steel safeguard measure in June 2026. Collaboration with steel producers, consumers and unions will help ensure the new phase of our trade defences continue to protect UK businesses and jobs, while providing a fair and competitive market.  

    UKEF measures included in the Strategy accompanies news this week that up to £13 billion of direct lending will be used to help boost exports across key industrial sectors, marking a £3 billion uplift in UKEF’s facility.  

    Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said:  

    This new hard-headed, data driven, and agile approach to trade policy is guided by our pragmatic patriotism. In this changed and challenging world, we will promote what we can and protect what we must to advance the UK’s national interest.  

    Through our Trade Strategy, we are supporting our businesses to expand and export with a wider range of trade tools that harness our high-growth industries of the future to deliver this government’s Plan for Change.  

    As we target these agreements, we will take every step necessary to safeguard British businesses from the increasingly protectionist mood in much of the world by sharpening our defensive toolkit.

    To complement the Trade Strategy, we have also today published the Global Trade Outlook 2025 which explores the long-term trends that may shape the global economy and international trade in the coming decades.

    Shevaun Haviland, Director General at the BCC, said: 

    The Trade Strategy sets out a clear, evidence-based approach to raising the UK’s export game. It rightly targets our strength in services, and vital high-growth goods sectors while identifying key markets in the Indo-Pacific, Americas and European neighbourhood.

    A focus on sectoral and digital trade deals is also welcome, alongside a commitment to a functioning rules-based global trading system. 

    Place matters in trade. This strategy can generate economic growth in every nation and region of the UK, lowering tariffs and removing trade barriers. Our Chamber Network stands ready to build, invest and deliver on international trade as a partner of government and an engine for economic growth.

    Rain Newton-Smith, CEO, CBI said:

    Businesses are clear that positioning the UK as an outward looking nation is a show of strength in this increasingly fragmented world. Backing free trade is critical to facing the great global challenges and opportunities of our time.

    The UK must be bold and ambitious to be a key player in the global race for growth. Today’s Strategy offers a dynamic vision which will help the UK to position itself as one of the world’s leading locations for investment and trade. Leaning into that openness, our international commitments, and partnerships with like-minded allies will be integral to our success.

    We now need government and business to work together to turn this ambition into action and ensure that the UK seizes on the opportunities available within the global economy.

    Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK:  

    I welcome today’s announcement of the Trade Strategy. It provides a vital blueprint to ensure the UK’s continued role as a great trading nation and leading services exporter, with a focus on the sectors that will drive growth in the decades to come.  

    It also rightly recognises the challenges many exporters face at a time of heightened global uncertainty. This is a necessary first step in giving businesses the tools they need to thrive on the world stage. HSBC looks forward to supporting businesses to take advantage of the strategy and unlock the full benefits of international trade.

    Jon Holt, Group Chief Executive and UK Senior Partner, KPMG, said:    

    Our professional and business services industry is an international success story with our expertise in demand around the world. As a high-growth sector, we have long called for a Trade Strategy that enables UK businesses to take advantage of new global opportunities and expand into emerging markets.  

    Today we have a clear plan. From removing barriers to overseas markets, to making it easier for our highly skilled people to travel and work across borders, this approach will strengthen our connectivity, boost inward investment and make sure our sector remains globally competitive.

    The strategy’s success will depend on a strong partnership between business and Government.

    Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said:

    Industry will welcome the Trade Strategy which, for the first time, aligns hard on the heels of the Industrial Strategy and is a perfect example of joined up thinking across Government which has long been missing.

    In particular, as well as a focus on new markets, it will help optimise market access and signposting for companies, especially SMEs, to take advantage of current trade deals with a new focus on strategic economic partnerships with key trading partners.

    At the same time, as well as helping boost exports, it will strengthen trade defences against the threat of dumping and support UK firms in reporting possible trade discrepancies to the Trade Remedies Authority.

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:  

    UK Automotive is a trade powerhouse, generating imports and exports worth £108 billion a year and typically Britain’s biggest exporter of manufactured goods. Free and fair trade is fundamental to our success and recent agreements with India, the US and, particularly, the EU signal that intention.

    Today’s trade strategy, aligned to the industrial strategy announced earlier this week, provides confidence to help our sector navigate the many headwinds we face and sets a foundation for future success.

    Balanced trading relationships that break down tariffs and regulatory barriers to trade will enable automotive companies to grow and get great British products into the hands of consumers all over the world, boosting jobs, business and prosperity at home.

    Heathrow’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Nigel Milton, said:   

    We welcome this Trade Strategy, which is set to provide greater support for exporters and champion the importance of free trade.   

    As the UK’s hub airport and largest port by value, we know firsthand how trade can serve as a powerful engine for economic growth.   

    With our unrivalled access to global markets Heathrow is the UK’s gateway to growth and we stand ready to support the Government and exporters from across the country with the rollout of the new strategy.

    Paul Nowak, TUC General Secretary, said:

    This is an important step forward to a trade agenda with workers’ rights and good jobs at its heart.

    It’s right that the government is focusing on removing barriers to trade with our largest trading partner – the EU – on which thousands of quality jobs depend, and it’s vital that the government continues to show ambition in its trading reset with the bloc.

    Standing up for good jobs in sectors such as steel is essential and hugely welcome, especially with global trade wars leading to countries undercutting British products with cheaper foreign imports.

    The government has set out a path towards a values-based approach to trade, which supports international labour standards and human rights globally. We look forward to seeing the full detail and working with them to deliver this.

    John Pattinson, Founder and Managing Director of Air Covers Ltd, and a DBT Export Champion, said:   

    The UK Government plays a vital role in enabling and accelerating the journey to export – a critical driver of economic growth. At Air Covers, we have benefited greatly from our close partnership with DBT Wales.  

    The support we’ve received from DBT Wales, as well as from UK embassies and High Commissions around the world, has been instrumental to our expansion and success in international markets.  

    We believe that the UK Government’s Trade Strategy will open new opportunities for growth, both in established regions and emerging markets. For UK exporters, free trade agreements and the simplification of cross-border regulations are essential to unlocking global potential and maintaining a competitive edge.

    Julian David, CEO of techUK, said:

    TechUK welcomes the launch of this trade strategy as a landmark moment. For the first time, we have a coherent, long-term plan that reflects the realities of current geopolitics and the UK’s unique strengths – particularly in services and high-growth, innovation-driven sectors like ours.

    It’s especially encouraging to see government pulling together the full suite of tools at its disposal – from digital trade agreements to commercial diplomacy and meaningful trade defence instruments. We look forward to working closely with government to turn this vision into impact and ensure the UK remains a leader in the global digital economy.

    Marco Forgione, Director General of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, said:

    Today’s new Trade Strategy is a welcome step forward that reflects many of the priorities we’ve been championing on behalf of our members, especially SMEs, who need targeted, accessible support to grow internationally.

    From the Small Exports Builder to enhanced UK Export Finance, these are practical tools designed to reduce friction and unlock potential for thousands of firms across the UK.

    We’ve worked closely with government to feed in the real-world experiences of our members, and it’s encouraging to see those insights reflected in today’s announcement.

    Launched alongside the Industrial Strategy, this sets a more joined-up direction for trade and growth. Now the focus must be on delivery, and we stand ready to help make it happen.

    Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said:

    Small firms know exporting is good for growth, so it’s good to see a clear strategy on trade. We welcome the government’s commitment to creating better digital tools, less red tape and putting stronger focus on practical support beyond just trade deals. 

    We also need to see more money and new funding programmes for SMEs wanting to trade internationally, as well as more bespoke support for the smallest firms, who do not qualify for one-to-one help.

    Small firms have been bogged down by unnecessary rules and costs for far too long, and today’s strategy is the first step to creating a better environment for exporters and importers.

    Notes to editor 

    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT) analysis of UNCTAD (2025) Global import data 2013-2023, mapped to industry sectors using sector definitions from DBT (2023) Global trade outlook.  

    • The GTO will be published at 0001 Thursday 26 June here 

    • The Trade Strategy will be published 0915 Thursday 26 June here 

    • More information on the UK Steel Trade Measures Call for Evidence will be issued separately, embargoed until 22.30 Thursday 25 June.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message at the Gavi High-Level Pledging Event – Global Summit: Health and Prosperity Through Immunization

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+4+Jun+25/3404655_MSG+SG+GLOBAL+SUMMIT+HEALTH+IMMUNISATION+04+JUN+25.mp4

    Excellencies,

    Distinguished guests,

    I thank the European Union, the Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for convening this crucial summit.

    Over the past fifty years, vaccines have saved over 150 million lives. 

    Every dollar invested yields 54 dollar in benefits.

    Gavi and its partners are the backbone of this success.

    But the work is far from done.

    Protecting 500 million more children by 2030 requires an urgent investment of at least nine billion dollars.

    Strong immunization programmes are our frontline defence against infectious diseases – and a foundation of resilient societies and economies.

    At a time when vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are spreading like wildfire, this investment is more crucial than ever.  Especially as other support is being rolled back.

    Today, I urge leaders across all sectors to act with generosity and resolve.

    Let’s invest in immunization for the health and prosperity of all.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on President Trump’s Unconstitutional Bombing of Three Sites in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement on the bombing of three sites in Iran.

    “President Trump’s bombing of 3 sites in Iran was unconstitutional; only Congress can declare war. 

    “I remain hopeful that Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been seriously weakened or destroyed. However, I’m concerned that Trump’s actions threaten to trap the U.S. in an escalating conflict. 

    “Recently both Democratic and Republican presidencies have felt comfortable in overstepping their article 2 constitutional authorities. This is a power grab.

    “Any further military action must first be voted on by Congress.”

    ###

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver Co-Sponsors War Powers Resolutions to Prohibit U.S. Involvement in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) co-sponsored two War Powers Resolutions to prohibit American involvement in Iran, following President Trump’s unilateral, unconstitutional, and dangerous decision to use U.S. Armed Forces to strike Iran directly. 

    The first resolution, introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), would prohibit the U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

    The second resolution, introduced by the Democratic Ranking Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, would order the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran absent a Congressional authorization, while preserving the ability for U.S. Armed Forces to defend the U.S. and its partners and allies from imminent attack.

    “For far too long and on a bipartisan basis, the Congress has ceded its Article I power to declare war, eliminating an essential check on the Executive Branch and giving one individual far too much power to drag the nation into protracted military conflicts,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we all agree that Iran can never be allowed to procure a nuclear weapon, it is also critical that Congress leave no doubt that the president is not allowed to unilaterally begin a war with Iran, or any other country, without the approval of the People’s representatives. Both of these resolutions make clear that the president does not have this authority and ensure that the U.S. will not enter yet another costly conflict in the Middle East unless granted explicit approval from Congress.”

     

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BNZ offers flexible business loans up to $50,000, approved in minutes

    Source: BNZ Statements

    Small businesses can now access unsecured finance of up to $50,000 with BNZ’s new Merchant Flexi Loan, with approval in as little as three minutes. It offers eligible businesses a simple way to manage cash flow and fuel growth, with no interest and just a one-off fee.

    Karna Luke, BNZ Executive for Customer Products and Services, says it delivers the speed and flexibility small businesses need to grow.

    “Our Flexi Loans give small businesses fast access to capital, without the need to provide paperwork like financial statements or business plans. Instead, we use actual card sales data from the past 12 months to determine loan eligibility and calculate a personalised loan offer.

    “Businesses can see their personalised offer, choose their preferred repayment rate and get a decision in minutes. Once accepted, funds are available within two business days.”
    Repayments are set at a rate chosen by the business, between 10% and 30% of daily card sales, and are automatically deducted.

    “This means repayments are higher when sales are strong and lower when business is quieter, helping owners stay focused on operations with cash flow under control,” Luke says.

    Christchurch institution Waffle Haus takes advantage to expand business

    The benefits of this flexible approach are already being realised BNZ customers like Jamie Stewart. He already had a successful Waffle Haus café in Akaroa when he expanded to Christchurch, opening on New Regent Street in December 2020. Now, with both locations thriving, he’s using BNZ’s Merchant Flexi Loan to fund expansion into a third branch, set to open next month at The Colombo shopping centre.

    “A lot of prep goes into opening a new location – it takes about a year to get everything in place,” says Jamie. “When the Merchant Flexi Loan became available, the timing was perfect because I was looking at a significant equipment investment for the new café and wanted to preserve working capital for other business needs.”

    For Jamie, whose capital is invested in growing his business rather than property assets that could be used as security, the merchant sales-based approach offers a compelling alternative to traditional secured lending. Instead of needing collateral, the loan is based on his proven sales performance.

    The flat fee structure also appealed to Jamie: “The fee worked out at about 2.5% of the loan amount, which is really good value and substantially cheaper than a traditional business loan.”
    With trading patterns that vary over time – busy evenings year-round, peak weekends and school holidays, plus seasonal fluctuations – Jamie appreciates having repayments that adjust accordingly.

    “The winter period is slightly quieter for us than the summer and school holiday peaks,” he says. “Having repayments that flex with our natural business rhythms makes financial planning much easier.”

    Fast funding when opportunities arise

    Karna Luke says timing is critical when business opportunities emerge, which is why the BNZ team has worked hard to make the process of applying for a Merchant Flexi Loan as fast and simple as possible.

    “Our customers tell us they need to move fast to stay competitive and grow, whether that’s securing new equipment, expanding their premises, or taking advantage of seasonal demand. By streamlining the application process and using data we already have, we can help them seize those opportunities without delay.

    “It’s about bringing together speed, simplicity and flexibility to make it easier to move quickly when opportunity knocks. We’re proud to be the first New Zealand bank to offer a lending solution like this.”

    To find out how Merchant Flexi Loan can help your business manage cash flow and growth, visit bnz.co.nz/business-banking/loans-and-finance/merchant-flexi-loans

    The post BNZ offers flexible business loans up to $50,000, approved in minutes appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police and Customs bag smuggling ring operating airside

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A joint investigation has unpacked a criminal syndicate’s operation, which allegedly facilitated the smuggling of class A drugs through Auckland Airport.

    Police and Customs terminated nearly two dozen search warrants on Wednesday across the Auckland region as part of Operation Matata.

    Eighteen arrests have been made, including nine baggage handlers and another staff member working at the country’s busiest airport.

    Those arrested are 17 men, aged between 20 and 42, and a 19-year-old woman. Those arrested were appearing in the Manukau District Court yesterday afternoon and today.

    It all began on 20 March 2025, when a man was arrested outside an East Tamaki address after 25 kilograms of methamphetamine was discovered in his vehicle.

    Now, detectives from the National Organised Crime Group and counterparts at Customs have uncovered a wider group organising and facilitating controlled drugs being smuggled through Auckland Airport.

    “Police will allege in court that this group imported controlled drugs through the airport on six occasions,” Detective Inspector Tom Gollan says.

    “As a result, approximately 64 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.4 kilograms of cocaine has been seized by Customs and Police.”

    This would have gone on to cause significant harm and cost to New Zealand communities.

    “Insider threats pose a threat to this country, and we are pleased to continue to work with Auckland Airport authorities, Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to stamp this out,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.

    Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams adds: “These individuals are alleged to have abused their trusted positions as airport workers to smuggle significant amounts of harmful drugs into New Zealand.

    “There is zero tolerance for this type of behaviour and this operation signals the action that law enforcement, with the support of industry partners, has taken against those who thought they could operate outside of the law and profit from their criminal activities.”

    During the 23 search warrants carried out, Police located a significant amount of cash along with quantities of cocaine and a sawn-off shotgun.

    Those arrested will face serious drugs charges, including importation, supply and possession for supply of the class A controlled drugs methamphetamine and cocaine.

    • Operation Matata – by the numbers:

    Around 64.5kg of methamphetamine equates to:
    – 3,225,000 doses
    – $22.5m – the approximate retail value of this methamphetamine
    – $71.5m – an approximate amount of social harm prevented

    Around 3.4kg of cocaine equates to:
    – 34,000 doses
    – $1.5m – the approximate retail value of this cocaine
    – $1m – the approximate amount of social harm prevented

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Review of Sediment Transport Across a Natural Tidal Salt Marsh in Northern San Francisco Bay

    Source: US Geological Survey

    A new monograph tackles these questions head-on, distilling years of scientific research at China Camp State Park in Marin County, California, into a clear, decision-relevant summary.  The synthesis is the product of a collaborative process involving resource managers, restoration practitioners, and scientists convened through a National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative project. The site, located on San Pablo Bay in the San Francisco Estuary, is one of the last remaining salt marshes in the region that has remained largely untouched by human development.

    The findings, drawn from a range of field studies, tell a complex and variable story of sediment movement. One major takeaway: shallow areas of the bay serve as an important—though inconsistent—source of sediment for the marsh. Sediment is delivered across the bay-marsh boundary primarily during flood tides and through wave action, in addition to transport through tidal creeks. In some cases, creeks may even export sediment instead of importing it. 

    The monograph also highlights the nuanced role of marsh vegetation. Plant species and seasonal growth cycles significantly affect how much sediment is trapped and retained. Denser vegetation in spring and summer, for instance, can slow water flow and promote sediment deposition—but this effect varies widely by plant type and inundation level.

    As sea-level rise and human alterations continue to reshape estuaries, these insights are particularly important for assessing tidal marsh resilience. Sediment management is a key factor in whether tidal marshes can survive future climate conditions. For land managers and restoration practitioners, the study offers actionable information for planning sediment interventions—such as enhancing natural sediment delivery or restoring marsh-edge processes.

    China Camp’s relatively unaltered condition makes it a valuable reference point, but researchers emphasize that broader studies across different marsh types are essential. Every estuary has its own sediment-flux dynamics; understanding that variability is crucial for protecting these ecosystems. 

    Read the study, Marsh Sediment in Translation: A Review of Sediment Transport Across a Natural Tidal Salt Marsh in Northern San Francisco Bay, in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Univest Securities, LLC Announces Closing of $1.2 Million Registered Direct Offering for its Client Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), a member of FINRA and SIPC, and a full-service investment bank and securities broker-dealer firm based in New York, today announced the closing of registered direct offering (the “Offering”), for its client Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA) (the “Company”), an independent oil and gas company.

    Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to an institutional investor (the “SPA”) for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 81,629 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $14.80 per share in a registered direct offering.

    The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of this offering were approximately $1.2 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds of approximately $1 million from the offering for general corporate purposes.

    Univest Securities, LLC acted as the sole placement agent.

    The registered direct offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282778) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 4, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering were filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at info@univest.us, or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying base prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    About Univest Securities, LLC

    Registered with FINRA since 1994, Univest Securities, LLC provides a wide variety of financial services to its institutional and retail clients globally including brokerage and execution services, sales and trading, market making, investment banking and advisory, wealth management. It strives to provide clients with value-add service and focuses on building long-term relationship with its clients. For more information, please visit: www.univest.us.

    About Houston American Energy Corp.

    Houston American Energy Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and condensate. Its principal properties are located primarily in the Texas Permian Basin, the South American country of Colombia, and the onshore Louisiana Gulf Coast region. The company is based in Houston, Texas.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. Univest Securities LLC and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    For more information, please contact:
    Univest Securities, LLC
    Edric Guo
    Chief Executive Officer
    75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C
    New York, NY 10019
    Phone: (212) 343-8888
    Email: info@univest.us

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Univest Securities, LLC Announces Closing of $1.2 Million Registered Direct Offering for its Client Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), a member of FINRA and SIPC, and a full-service investment bank and securities broker-dealer firm based in New York, today announced the closing of registered direct offering (the “Offering”), for its client Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA) (the “Company”), an independent oil and gas company.

    Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to an institutional investor (the “SPA”) for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 81,629 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $14.80 per share in a registered direct offering.

    The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of this offering were approximately $1.2 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds of approximately $1 million from the offering for general corporate purposes.

    Univest Securities, LLC acted as the sole placement agent.

    The registered direct offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282778) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 4, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering were filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at info@univest.us, or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying base prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    About Univest Securities, LLC

    Registered with FINRA since 1994, Univest Securities, LLC provides a wide variety of financial services to its institutional and retail clients globally including brokerage and execution services, sales and trading, market making, investment banking and advisory, wealth management. It strives to provide clients with value-add service and focuses on building long-term relationship with its clients. For more information, please visit: www.univest.us.

    About Houston American Energy Corp.

    Houston American Energy Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and condensate. Its principal properties are located primarily in the Texas Permian Basin, the South American country of Colombia, and the onshore Louisiana Gulf Coast region. The company is based in Houston, Texas.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. Univest Securities LLC and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    For more information, please contact:
    Univest Securities, LLC
    Edric Guo
    Chief Executive Officer
    75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C
    New York, NY 10019
    Phone: (212) 343-8888
    Email: info@univest.us

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Names Celia Yan as Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Celia Yan has joined the firm as a Partner and Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Yan will lead the expansion of Apollo’s hybrid platform across the region, building on the firm’s momentum in delivering flexible, tailored capital solutions across private markets.

    Apollo’s hybrid business focuses on delivering creative, partnership-driven solutions that sit between traditional debt and equity. We provide solutions that help companies fund growth initiatives, generate liquidity and deleverage balance sheets, among other bespoke applications. In this newly created role, Yan will drive origination, execution and growth for Apollo’s hybrid strategies in Asia Pacific.

    Yan brings over 20 years of industry experience and extensive private investment expertise across Asia Pacific, most recently serving as Head of APAC Private Credit at BlackRock. Previously, she held senior investment roles at ADM Capital, National Australia Bank and Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

    “Celia’s experience across private markets investing, managing cross-border teams and growing business verticals makes her a key addition as we grow our hybrid business in Asia Pacific,” said Matthew Michelini, Partner and Head of Asia Pacific at Apollo. “As companies and investors increasingly seek structured and creative solutions, Celia will help us deliver for clients across the region.”

    Chris Lahoud, Partner at Apollo, said: “As capital markets evolve, we see an attractive opportunity for hybrid growth in the region, providing partnership-oriented, flexible capital to companies and projects.”

    “Apollo’s integrated platform and global reach, paired with a strong local presence, position the firm to deliver hybrid capital at scale,” said Celia Yan. “Across Asia Pacific, businesses and sponsors are looking for non-dilutive, customized solutions that can address real market inefficiencies—and hybrid is increasingly the answer. I’m excited to join the team and help accelerate this strategy across the region.”

    Yan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s in Applied Econometrics from Monash University.

    About Apollo

    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Apollo Contacts

    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Names Celia Yan as Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Celia Yan has joined the firm as a Partner and Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Yan will lead the expansion of Apollo’s hybrid platform across the region, building on the firm’s momentum in delivering flexible, tailored capital solutions across private markets.

    Apollo’s hybrid business focuses on delivering creative, partnership-driven solutions that sit between traditional debt and equity. We provide solutions that help companies fund growth initiatives, generate liquidity and deleverage balance sheets, among other bespoke applications. In this newly created role, Yan will drive origination, execution and growth for Apollo’s hybrid strategies in Asia Pacific.

    Yan brings over 20 years of industry experience and extensive private investment expertise across Asia Pacific, most recently serving as Head of APAC Private Credit at BlackRock. Previously, she held senior investment roles at ADM Capital, National Australia Bank and Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

    “Celia’s experience across private markets investing, managing cross-border teams and growing business verticals makes her a key addition as we grow our hybrid business in Asia Pacific,” said Matthew Michelini, Partner and Head of Asia Pacific at Apollo. “As companies and investors increasingly seek structured and creative solutions, Celia will help us deliver for clients across the region.”

    Chris Lahoud, Partner at Apollo, said: “As capital markets evolve, we see an attractive opportunity for hybrid growth in the region, providing partnership-oriented, flexible capital to companies and projects.”

    “Apollo’s integrated platform and global reach, paired with a strong local presence, position the firm to deliver hybrid capital at scale,” said Celia Yan. “Across Asia Pacific, businesses and sponsors are looking for non-dilutive, customized solutions that can address real market inefficiencies—and hybrid is increasingly the answer. I’m excited to join the team and help accelerate this strategy across the region.”

    Yan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s in Applied Econometrics from Monash University.

    About Apollo

    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Apollo Contacts

    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sunrun Dispatches More Than 340 Megawatts of Power in Single Evening to Support the Grid from Coast to Coast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN) announced today that its fleet of home batteries enrolled in distributed power plants dispatched more than 340 megawatts of peak power on the evening of June 24 to support power grids in California, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico. These dispatch events come as grid operators scramble to prevent rotating blackouts amid a triple-digit heat wave sweeping the East Coast.

    The prolonged heat has caused congestion and overheating of transmission lines, leading to sharp increases in wholesale electricity prices. As soaring temperatures reduced the efficiency of traditional power plants, utilities struggled to meet skyrocketing demand for electricity.

    “This summer is proving challenging for grid operators, as extreme heat and rising demand again push our aging infrastructure to its limits,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell. “Home storage paired with solar is a reliable and controllable resource that can provide on-demand power to the grid to prevent blackouts and reduce energy prices for all households. We must fully embrace these technologies if we’re to achieve energy security for America.”

    On Tuesday evening, Sunrun answered urgent requests for emergency power by dispatching stored energy in home batteries to the grid during sweltering heat along the East Coast. The influx of power from thousands of Sunrun batteries helped fill the gap of energy reserves while reducing the need for expensive and polluting peaker power plants.

    In New York, Sunrun completed its fourth dispatch event within the last week, helping relieve stress on congested circuits identified by the utility partner. Three more power-sharing events in New York are scheduled for the coming week. In Puerto Rico, Sunrun activated more than 5,600 batteries in less than one hour to assist the island’s utility provider during power generation shortfalls.

    In California, Sunrun’s fleet of home batteries enrolled in a statewide distributed power plant dispatched 325 megawatts of peak power. The dispatched batteries acted in the same way as a traditional power plant and decisively knocked down the state’s evening peak demand for electricity from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—when families typically increase the use of appliances and air conditioning and after solar has stopped generating electricity.

    “Our distributed power plants are ready to help drive a more resilient and less expensive grid,” said Chris Rauscher, Vice President of Grid Services at Sunrun. “We are doing this at scale and creating real value right now. With an aging grid and demand growth occurring, it is clear that the need for this capacity will only grow exponentially.”

    With nearly a gigawatt of total battery capacity installed—the equivalent of a nuclear power plant’s worth of peak power—Sunrun is the largest distributed battery power plant provider and operator in the world. Unlike traditional power plants, Sunrun can deploy battery capacity that is equivalent to a utility scale battery or even a peaker power plant within months—an unrivaled speed. Sunrun’s subscription model is key to its ability to aggregate, manage, and dispatch hundreds of thousands of home batteries to improve grid reliability.

    About Sunrun
    Sunrun Inc. (Nasdaq: RUN) revolutionized the solar industry in 2007 by removing financial barriers and democratizing access to locally-generated, renewable energy. Today, Sunrun is the nation’s leading provider of clean energy as a subscription service, offering residential solar and storage with no upfront costs. Sunrun’s innovative products and solutions can connect homes to the cleanest energy on earth, providing them with energy security, predictability, and peace of mind. Sunrun also manages energy services that benefit communities, utilities, and the electric grid while enhancing customer value. Discover more at www.sunrun.com

    Media Contact
    Wyatt Semanek
    Director, Corporate Communications
    press@sunrun.com

    Investor & Analyst Contact
    Patrick Jobin
    SVP, Deputy CFO & Investor Relations Officer
    investors@sunrun.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Investments Announces Risk Rating Change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Investments Inc. (AGF Investments) today announced a risk rating change for the following fund effective today.

    Fund Name Previous Risk Rating Revised Risk Rating
    AGF North American Small-Mid Cap Fund Medium Medium-High
         

    The changes are based on the risk classification methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators to determine the risk level of mutual funds. No material changes have been made to the investment objective, strategy or management of the fund.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $53 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs.

    AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    AGF Investments Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Management Limited and conducts the management and advisory of mutual funds in Canada.

    This information is not intended to provide legal, accounting, tax, investment, financial, or other advice, and should not be relied upon for providing such advice. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    Media Contact

    Amanda Marchment
    Director, Corporate Communications
    416-865-4160
    amanda.marchment@agf.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Investments Announces Risk Rating Change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Investments Inc. (AGF Investments) today announced a risk rating change for the following fund effective today.

    Fund Name Previous Risk Rating Revised Risk Rating
    AGF North American Small-Mid Cap Fund Medium Medium-High
         

    The changes are based on the risk classification methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators to determine the risk level of mutual funds. No material changes have been made to the investment objective, strategy or management of the fund.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $53 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs.

    AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    AGF Investments Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Management Limited and conducts the management and advisory of mutual funds in Canada.

    This information is not intended to provide legal, accounting, tax, investment, financial, or other advice, and should not be relied upon for providing such advice. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    Media Contact

    Amanda Marchment
    Director, Corporate Communications
    416-865-4160
    amanda.marchment@agf.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CVB Financial Corp. Announces 143rd Consecutive Quarterly Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ontario, CA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CVBF) (the “Company”) announced a twenty cent ($0.20) per share cash dividend with respect to the second quarter of 2025. This dividend was approved at the Company’s regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting held on June 25, 2025. The quarterly dividend will be payable on or about July 24, 2025 to shareholders of record as of July 10, 2025.

    “We are pleased to announce our 143rd consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid to our shareholders,” said David A. Brager, President and Chief Executive Officer.

    Corporate Overview
    CVB Financial Corp. (“CVBF”) is the holding company for Citizens Business Bank. CVBF is one of the 10 largest bank holding companies headquartered in California with greater than $15 billion in total assets. Citizens Business Bank is consistently recognized as one of the top performing banks in the nation and offers a wide array of banking, lending and investing services with more than 60 banking centers and three trust office locations serving California.

    Shares of CVB Financial Corp. common stock are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CVBF”. For investor information on CVBF, visit our Citizens Business Bank website at www.cbbank.com and click on the “Investors” tab.

    Safe Harbor
    Certain matters set forth herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s current business plans and expectations, growth projections, and our future financial position and operating results. Words such as “will likely result, “aims”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “hopes”, “intends”, “may”, “plans”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should”, “will” and variations of these words and similar expressions help to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and/or achievements to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, all the risk factors set forth in the Company’s public reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and particularly the discussion of risk factors within that document. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law.

    Contact: David A. Brager
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (909) 980-4030

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CVB Financial Corp. Announces 143rd Consecutive Quarterly Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ontario, CA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CVBF) (the “Company”) announced a twenty cent ($0.20) per share cash dividend with respect to the second quarter of 2025. This dividend was approved at the Company’s regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting held on June 25, 2025. The quarterly dividend will be payable on or about July 24, 2025 to shareholders of record as of July 10, 2025.

    “We are pleased to announce our 143rd consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid to our shareholders,” said David A. Brager, President and Chief Executive Officer.

    Corporate Overview
    CVB Financial Corp. (“CVBF”) is the holding company for Citizens Business Bank. CVBF is one of the 10 largest bank holding companies headquartered in California with greater than $15 billion in total assets. Citizens Business Bank is consistently recognized as one of the top performing banks in the nation and offers a wide array of banking, lending and investing services with more than 60 banking centers and three trust office locations serving California.

    Shares of CVB Financial Corp. common stock are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CVBF”. For investor information on CVBF, visit our Citizens Business Bank website at www.cbbank.com and click on the “Investors” tab.

    Safe Harbor
    Certain matters set forth herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s current business plans and expectations, growth projections, and our future financial position and operating results. Words such as “will likely result, “aims”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “hopes”, “intends”, “may”, “plans”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should”, “will” and variations of these words and similar expressions help to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and/or achievements to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, all the risk factors set forth in the Company’s public reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and particularly the discussion of risk factors within that document. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law.

    Contact: David A. Brager
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (909) 980-4030

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sherrill and Harshbarger Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Prescription Information

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Prescription Information Modernization Act, legislation designed to update how prescribing information (PI) is distributed to pharmacists and physicians. This long-overdue reform would allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize a proposed rule permitting drug manufacturers to send prescribing information electronically instead of on printed paper — a change that would improve patient safety and reduce waste.

    “I’m focused on improving our healthcare system to ensure healthcare providers are able to provide the best possible care to patients,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Under outdated rules, providers are prohibited from receiving prescribing information for medications digitally. This legislation would finally modernize our system, allowing pharmacists to access real-time updates on prescription medications that will ensure they can dispense medicines to patients safely while reducing waste at the same time.” 

    “Pharmacists and physicians deserve timely, accurate data when making decisions that impact patient health, not pages of printed material that often arrive late and are immediately discarded,” said Rep. Harshbarger. “This bipartisan bill is a practical update that empowers healthcare professionals with real-time digital access, cuts waste, and ensures patients are receiving the most up-to-date information. Thank you to my colleague, Representative Sherrill for working with me to bring prescribing information into the 21st century.”

    Currently, prescribing information — detailed technical documents intended for healthcare providers, not patients — must be printed and distributed on paper. These documents average 45 pages per prescription and are often bulky, outdated, and discarded soon after arrival. This outdated system, established in 1962, creates significant waste and environmental harm, with roughly 90 billion sheets of paper printed annually to comply with the mandate.

    In 2014, the FDA proposed a rule to allow electronic distribution of prescribing information, but Congress has blocked the rule’s finalization through appropriations riders, forcing providers to continue receiving paper copies that are often outdated as it takes up to 8 to 12 months from printing to shipment of the information. This legislation would give providers the choice of how they receive prescribing information and allow them to opt for digital delivery that offers real-time updates — improving patient care and reducing environmental waste.

    This legislation has drawn support from leading pharmacy and healthcare advocacy organizations, including the Alliance to Modernize Prescribing Information (AMPI) and the following groups: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), Allergy & Asthma Network, American Pharmacists Association, AmGen, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Association for Accessible Medicines, Beyond Type 1, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, BioNJ, BioUtah, Boomer Esiason Foundation, Environmental Paper Network, Georgia Bio, Healthcare Distribution Alliance, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, LUNGevity Foundation, Lupin, Maryland Tech Council, MassBio, McKesson, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Consumers League, National Grange, NewYorkBIO, North Carolina Biosciences Organization, Texas Healthcare and Biosciences Institute, and Zero Cancer.

    Additional sponsors of this legislation include Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Don Davis (D-NC), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter to MIAX Futures Exchange, LLC

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Letter to MIAX Futures Exchange, LLC | CFTC

    /PressRoom/PressReleases/9090-25
    Skip to main content

    June 25, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Market Oversight today issued a no-action letter stating it will not recommend an enforcement action against MIAX Futures Exchange, LLC in connection with the temporary provision for the trading of Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat options on futures (HRSW Options) exclusively through block trades, subject to the conditions in the letter. 
    The no-action position is intended to enable market participants, including those who are not Eligible Contract Participants as defined in section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), to trade out of or offset open positions.
    MIAX sought the requested relief due to the upcoming unavailability of an electronic trading system for HRSW Options. The proposed relief was open to public comment from June 23-25, 2025. 
    The time-limited no-action position is effective from June 29 – August 29, 2025. 

    -CFTC-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nick Langworthy Announces FAA Grants for Cattaraugus County Olean Airport

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $313,813 to the Olean Airport for phase 2 of their rehabilitation project which consists of rehabilitating a parking lot and construction of a new lighting system. The FAA also awarded a second grant of $87,400 for improving an existing terminal.

     

    “Investing in our local airports is essential to strengthening our regional infrastructure and economy,”said Congressman Langworthy.“I’m proud to support these FAA grants, which will help the Olean Airport make needed upgrades that improve safety, access, and future growth opportunities for our communities.”

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nathaniel Moran Participates in Small Business Tax Roundtable with U.S. and Tyler Chambers

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    On Friday, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) participated in a Small Business Tax Roundtable hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, where local business leaders and small-business owners from across East Texas gathered to discuss the real-world impact of federal tax policy.

    Tyler, TX – On Friday, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) participated in a Small Business Tax Roundtable hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, where local business leaders and small-business owners from across East Texas gathered to discuss the real-world impact of federal tax policy. The conversation focused on the need to make permanent key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—such as 100% immediate expensing, the increased Qualified Business Income Deduction to 23%, and expanded Small Business and R&D incentives—all central components of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB).

    “I’m grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, local leaders, and business owners who joined us for this important discussion,” said Congressman Moran. “These conversations and their insight are exactly what we need to shape tax policy that actually works. When it comes to businesses, the One Big Beautiful Bill is about incentivizing innovation and investment, rewarding hard work, protecting small businesses from burdensome taxation and regulations, and making sure businesses in East Texas can grow, hire, and thrive without Washington getting in the way. These conversations remind us of who we’re fighting for—and why passing the OBBB matters.”

    Community and chamber leaders emphasized the importance of smart tax policy and shared firsthand how it affects their region:

    James Sheridan, Board Chair of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, reflected on the roundtable: “It was an honor to host today’s roundtable and highlight the importance of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Extending the 23% deduction for pass-through income—set to expire at the end of this year—will provide meaningful relief to local business owners. By lowering tax rates and expanding this deduction, the law gives entrepreneurs more breathing room to invest in their operations, hire new employees, and support their communities. From family-owned shops in Tyler to service providers across the region, East Texas businesses have thrived under a tax code that rewards hard work and encourages growth.”

    Mark Robinson, Board Chair of the East Texas Coalition, added: “On behalf of the East Texas Coalition, representing Kilgore, Lindale, Longview, Tyler, and Whitehouse Chambers of Commerce, we’re encouraged to see national momentum around key provisions that matter most to our region, particularly the reauthorization of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Senate’s recent adjustments to expand short-term Pell Grant eligibility. These provisions directly align with what our employers are asking for: more skilled workers, faster. We also support efforts to streamline federal permitting processes that will boost energy and infrastructure development. These are essential to driving investment, job creation, and long-term economic competitiveness in East Texas.”

    John Gonzales, Executive Director of the Southwest/South Central Region for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said: “The U.S. Chamber thanks Congressman Nathaniel Moran for his tireless work to ensure his East Texas small businesses and working families continue to benefit from the pro-growth policies enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The economic impact of lower rates has helped businesses of all sizes in the district. As a member of the Ways and Means committee, Congressman Moran is working hard to promote jobs and economic growth in the 1st District of Texas.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hamas says it is committed to working with mediators on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    GAZA, June 25 (Xinhua) — Palestinian movement Hamas on Wednesday said it remains actively involved in ongoing mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

    In its press release, Hamas said it was committed to engaging with mediators and responding constructively to any serious proposals that could lead to a comprehensive agreement and stop what the movement called “aggression and war of extermination” against the Palestinian people.

    Hamas stressed the need for a lasting ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, the beginning of the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and a prisoner exchange deal.

    The movement blamed the delay in reaching an agreement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the latter of “obstruction and delay” for the sake of “personal political goals” and “reinforcing the illusion of total victory” through military means.

    The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump announced “significant progress” on a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported without giving details. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –