Category: KB

MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods in Chicago
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced an expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”)—a key component of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy—to include the economic centers in downtown Chicago and the entire rail system operated by the Chicago Transit Authority, including all train lines operating in every neighborhood from every part of the city.

The PSN program is a federally funded, nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. Until today, the PSN program was deployed in seven Chicago neighborhoods on the West and South sides of the city. The expansion announced today will implement the program in parts of three police districts in downtown financial zones that represent the economic engines of the city and region, as well as on the CTA trains that bring residents and visitors to those areas from every neighborhood of Chicago and from the city’s two international airports. Today’s announcement represents the first time anywhere in the country that the program will be deployed on mass transit.

The PSN expansion was announced by U.S. Attorney Boutros and members of the PSN Chicago Task Force, including the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance to the PSN program is provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

“Downtown Chicago is the capital of the region’s economy and the cultural and civic heart of the Midwest, where interstate commerce runs strong,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros, who was sworn in as the United States Attorney on April 7, 2025. “Many billions of dollars of revenue, taxes, and investments are anchored in our city’s financial districts, and when violence and criminal activity cause our residents, businesses, and tourists not to feel safe to live, invest, and shop in Chicago, everyone suffers, whether at the federal, state, or local level. By investing PSN resources in our urban economic centers and the public transit system that feeds into them, we will help foster a downtown that is both safe and friendly to economic vitality for everyone. This initiative could not happen without a deep collaboration and shared commitment between the Department of Justice and our PSN partners to dedicate the resources necessary to support the downtown economic zones and the many millions of people who annually visit them, as well as the scores of businesses both large and small who serve them.”

“Partnership and collaboration with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners are vital in reducing violence and making Chicago safer for all,” said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Project Safe Neighborhoods reflects this spirit of collaboration and serves as an important tool in addressing crime in one of the busiest areas of our city. The expansion of this program builds on the progress CPD is making in combating crime citywide.”

“This new investment of federal resources is critically needed to address the threat that crime—including organized retail theft, carjacking, and armed robberies—pose to the heart of Chicago’s economy and to the transportation systems that tens of thousands of Chicagoans use to travel to and from the downtown,” said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. “For years, my office has devoted significant resources to aggressively combat crime throughout downtown Chicago, the Magnificent Mile, and the surrounding areas, and we welcome the much-needed expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods to these areas.”

“ATF is proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners on the expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said ATF Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon. “By combining resources and expertise, we are proactively taking steps to disrupt violent crime in key transit and economic areas to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.”

“The FBI remains steadfast in our dogged pursuit of eliminating violent crime,” said FBI Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta. “We continue to be thankful for the powerful collaboration between our many law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in this fight. Our combined efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to ensure that anyone who seeks to endanger our community will be held accountable.”

Originally launched in 2001, PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders, and partners with local prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime. PSN follows four key design elements: focused and strategic enforcement; prevention and intervention; accountability; and community engagement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with its Chicago PSN Task Force partners to assist with applying for and obtaining federal PSN grants to support anti-violence strategies in Chicago. By designating the downtown economic centers and CTA trains as PSN Enforcement Zones, PSN funds can now be deployed in various ways to help reduce violent crime in those areas, including:
- Aggressively prosecuting violent offenders.
- Hiring law enforcement personnel.
- Paying certain overtime costs for law enforcement officers and others working downtown and aboard CTA trains.
- Purchasing equipment to assist with violent crime reduction efforts.
- Supporting multi-jurisdictional task forces.
- Providing training and technical assistance under the national PSN program.
- Expanding messaging to deter violence, including signage aboard CTA trains.
The enforcement efforts in the newly designated PSN Enforcement Zones will focus on the investigation and prosecution of individuals and organized groups who engage in illegal firearm possession, drug trafficking, robberies, carjackings, and other violent offenses. For violent offenders arrested downtown or aboard CTA trains, criminal prosecutors will bring appropriate charges to achieve maximum deterrence and will seek pretrial detention and substantial prison sentences for defendants who pose a danger to the community.

In addition to all of the CTA rail lines in every neighborhood in Chicago, the newly designated PSN Enforcement Zone, depicted on this map (reproduced below), extends from Division Street on the Near North Side, between Lake Michigan and La Salle Drive (e.g., Magnificent Mile and Oak Street shopping corridors, Navy Pier, Loop, and Millennium Park), to I-55 between Clark Street and Lake Michigan on the Near South Side (e.g., Museum Campus and McCormick Place), and extends west to Ogden and Ashland Avenues, between Grand Avenue and I-290 (e.g., Fulton Market and West Loop business corridors).

MIL Security OSI –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Asure Partners with PensionBee to Offer Retirement Account Rollover Services to Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asure Software (NASDAQ: ASUR), a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software and solutions, today announced its strategic partnership with PensionBee (LON: PBEE), a digital-first retirement provider specializing in simplifying retirement savings. This collaboration empowers employees of Asure’s payroll and HR customers to seamlessly roll over their disparate or forgotten 401(k) and IRA accounts into a single, easy-to-manage retirement savings plan with PensionBee.

Through this partnership, Asure continues its mission to deliver big-company benefits to small and mid-sized organizations, leveling the playing field with innovative solutions that simplify employee financial wellness. PensionBee’s user-friendly platform will allow employees of Asure’s payroll clients to consolidate their existing retirement accounts into one streamlined account, making it easier than ever to manage and grow their savings.

“At Asure, we’re committed to bringing the benefits of innovative HR and payroll solutions to small and mid-sized businesses,” said Pat Goepel, Asure Chairman & CEO. “Our marketplace partnership with PensionBee is a perfect example of how we are democratizing financial wellness by offering streamlined retirement savings solutions that are typically reserved for larger enterprises.”

Known for its straightforward, consumer-friendly services, PensionBee empowers employees to effortlessly enroll in, consolidate, and manage their retirement savings plans. The award-winning provider offers a robust selection of retirement accounts geared towards everyday savers.

“When individuals are starting or leaving jobs or navigating other significant life changes, retirement savings should be top of mind,” said Romi Savova, CEO of PensionBee. “Our partnership with Asure allows us to reach millions of Americans at precisely the right moment, connecting more employees with flexible and modern retirement solutions.”

PensionBee is the latest to join Asure’s Partner Marketplace, which gives Asure clients access to a variety of value-added software and services designed to enhance business operations and employee satisfaction.

About Asure
Asure (NASDAQ: ASUR) provides cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software solutions that assist organizations of all sizes in streamlining their HCM processes. Asure’s suite of HCM solutions includes HR, payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, payroll tax management, and talent management. The company’s approach to HR compliance services incorporates AI technology to enhance scalability and efficiency while prioritizing client interactions. For more information, please visit www.asuresoftware.com.

About PensionBee
PensionBee (LON: PBEE) is a leading online retirement provider, helping people easily consolidate, manage, and grow their retirement savings. The company manages approximately $8 billion in assets and serves over 275,000 customers globally, with a focus on simplicity, transparency, and accessibility.

Notes
The information provided in this announcement, including any projections for investment returns and future performance, is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. PensionBee is not liable for any losses or damages arising from the use of this information. Projections and forecasts are based on assumptions and current market conditions, which are subject to change.

Contact Information:
Patrick McKillop
Vice President, Investor Relations 
617-335-5058
patrick.mckillop@asuresoftware.com

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Capricorn Mutual Selects Duck Creek Technologies as Their New Core Insurance Delivery Technology Partner

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SYDNEY, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, the global provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has announced a new SaaS core insurance delivery technology partnership with Capricorn Mutual, the protection arm of one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest member-owned organizations, Capricorn.

Duck Creek’s full-suite, including Policy, Rating, Billing, Claims and Clarity (data and insights), served via the OnDemand cloud-delivery platform, will replace Capricorn Mutual’s incumbent legacy technology stack, empowering the business to deliver enhanced commercial and domestic coverage products and experiences to more of Capricorn’s 30,000 small and medium auto business members.

“As a member-based organisation, strengthening our members’ businesses by delivering high-quality service and value is our priority,” said Rod Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer of Risk Services. “We believe that Duck Creek provides the technology platform we need to deliver on this commitment, now and into the future.”

With their auto-trade members operating in a dynamic and high-risk environment, Capricorn Mutual needed a core delivery solution that supported their strategy of deepening relationships with members, uplifting processes to deliver best-in-class experiences, and continually improving products, services and risk management.

“We identified that technology should be a key enabler of our business strategy and objectives. Duck Creek enables us to enhance our automation capabilities, improve workflows and integrate our insurance system with our other member benefits solutions,” said Mr. Scanlon. “Duck Creek’s evergreen and modular SaaS solutions provide a clean and intuitive team and member experience and a powerful rating engine. The Duck Creek platform offered us all the functionality and capabilities we could need to achieve these strategies.”

Mr. Scanlon added, “The ease of implementation and extremely natural and intelligent user interface decreases our teams training time on the system, which allow us to deliver more value to members sooner, with lower associated delivery costs.”

Christian Erickson, General Manager APAC Duck Creek, said of the new partnership, “We’re thrilled to welcome Capricorn Mutual to the Duck Creek flock. Throughout the selection process, Capricorn Mutual rigorously reviewed and tested the range of solutions available in-market to ensure that their members would receive the best experiences and outcomes possible. Duck Creek is privileged to be recognized as the leading solution and we look forward to helping Capricorn Mutual build even deeper member relations.”

About Duck Creek Technologies  
Duck Creek Technologies is the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts:  
Marianne Dempsey/Tara Stred  
duckcreek@threeringsinc.com 

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Financial Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Record Services Revenues

WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) announced its financial results for its fiscal 2026 first quarter (Q1FY26). All financial results referenced are in United States (US) currency and, unless otherwise indicated, are determined in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

“Our first quarter of fiscal 2026 showed strong annual growth, consistent with our communicated plans,” said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes’ CEO. “This is a challenging and uncertain economic and trade environment for shippers, carriers and logistics services providers. They face challenges on how, when, or if, to react to changes in global trade relationships, tariffs, sanctions and economic forecasts. We continue to see strong interest in our domain expertise and our solutions to help companies navigate the complex trade landscape. We remain committed to growing our business with prudent investments and cost discipline to build the premier network and technology for logistics-intensive businesses.”

Q1FY26 Financial Results
As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Descartes’ Q1FY26 included:

Revenues of $168.7 million, up 12% from $151.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (Q1FY25) and up 1% from $167.5 million in the previous quarter (Q4FY25);
Revenues were comprised of services revenues of $156.6 million (93% of total revenues), professional services and other revenues of $11.8 million (7% of total revenues) and license revenues of $0.3 million (less than 1% of total revenues). Services revenues were up 14% from $137.8 million in Q1FY25 and consistent with $156.5 million in Q4FY25;
Cash provided by operating activities of $53.6 million, down from $63.7 million in Q1FY25 and down from $60.7 million in Q4FY25;
Income from operations of $46.2 million, up 9% from $42.4 million in Q1FY25 and down from $47.1 million in Q4FY25;
Net income of $36.2 million, up 4% from $34.7 million in Q1FY25 and down from $37.4 million in Q4FY25. Net income as a percentage of revenues was 21%, compared to 23% in Q1FY25 and 22% in Q4FY25;
Earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.41, up 2% from $0.40 in Q1FY25 and down from $0.43 in Q4FY25; and
Adjusted EBITDA of $75.1 million, up 12% from $67.0 million in Q1FY25 and consistent with $75.0 million in Q4FY25. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues was 45%, compared to 44% in Q1FY25 and 45% in Q4FY25.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). These items are considered by management to be outside Descartes’ ongoing operational results. We define Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues as the quotient, expressed as a percentage, from dividing Adjusted EBITDA for a period by revenues for the corresponding period. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income determined in accordance with GAAP is provided later in this release.

The following table summarizes Descartes’ results in the categories specified below over the past 5 fiscal quarters (unaudited; dollar amounts, other than per share amounts, in millions):

	Q1 FY26	Q4 FY25	Q3 FY25	Q2 FY25	Q1 FY25
Revenues	168.7	167.5	168.8	163.4	151.3
Services revenues	156.6	156.5	149.7	146.2	137.8
Gross margin	76%	76%	74%	75%	77%
Cash provided by operating activities	53.6	60.7	60.1	34.7	63.7
Income from operations	46.2	47.1	45.8	45.9	42.4
Net income	36.2	37.4	36.6	34.7	34.7
Net income as a % of revenues	21%	22%	22%	21%	23%
Earnings per diluted share	0.41	0.43	0.42	0.40	0.40
Adjusted EBITDA	75.1	75.0	72.1	70.6	67.0
Adjusted EBITDA as a % of revenues	45%	45%	43%	43%	44%

Cash Position
At April 30, 2025, Descartes had $176.4 million in cash. Cash decreased by $59.7 million in Q1FY26. The table set forth below provides a summary of cash flows for Q1FY26 in millions of dollars:

	Q1FY26
Cash provided by operating activities	53.6
Additions to property and equipment	(1.9)
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(112.3)
Issuances of common shares, net of issuance costs	3.6
Payment of withholding taxes on net share settlements	(6.5)
Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash	3.8
Net change in cash	(59.7)
Cash, beginning of period	236.1
Cash, end of period	176.4

Acquisition of 3GTMS
On March 24, 2025, Descartes acquired all of the shares of 3GTMS, a leading provider of transportation management solutions. The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $112.7 million, net of cash acquired, which was funded from cash on hand.

Cost Reduction Initiatives
Considering the economic and global trade uncertainty many Descartes customers are facing, Descartes has undertaken cost reduction initiatives designed to reduce its cost base. The plan is designed to reduce Descartes’ global workforce by approximately 7% and eliminate various other operating expenses. As a result, Descartes expects to incur restructuring charges of approximately $4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (Q2FY26), which will also impact cash generated from operations in Q2FY26. Once completed, Descartes anticipates annualized cost savings of approximately $15 million.

Management Update
Descartes is pleased to announce the appointment of William Green as Executive Vice President, Global Sales. Mr. Green has served as Descartes’ Senior Vice President for North American Sales since August 2020. Mr. Green has previously held senior commercial roles at Salesforce, PROLIFIQ and CDC Software (now Aptean). “We’re excited for Bill to extend his leadership of our growth successes in North America to our global commercial operations,” said Mr. Ryan.

Andrew Roszko, Descartes’ Chief Commercial Officer, will depart the company in Q2FY26 to pursue another opportunity. Mr. Roszko was appointed EVP Global Sales in February 2019 and appointed Chief Commercial Officer in June 2022. “Andrew has been a valuable contributor to Descartes’ commercial development. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Mr. Ryan.

Conference Call
Members of Descartes’ executive management team will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 4. Designated numbers are +1 289 514 5100 for North America and +1 800 717 1738 for international, using conference ID 26605.

The company will simultaneously conduct an audio webcast on the Descartes website at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations. Phone conference dial-in or webcast login is required approximately 10 minutes beforehand.

Replays of the conference call will be available until June 11, 2025, by dialing +1 289 819 1325 or Toll-Free for North America using +1 888 660 6264 with Playback Passcode: 26605#. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations.

About Descartes

Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

Descartes Investor Contact
Laurie McCauley
(519) 746-2969
investor@descartes.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) that relates to Descartes’ expectations concerning future revenues and earnings, and our projections for any future reductions in expenses or growth in margins and generation of cash; our assessment of the potential impact of geopolitical events, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine (the “Russia-Ukraine Conflict”), and between Israel and Hamas (“Israel-Hamas Conflict”), or other potentially catastrophic events, on our business, results of operations and financial condition; our assessment of the potential impact of tariffs, sanctions and other actions by individual countries on global trade and our business; continued growth and acquisitions including our assessment of any increased opportunity for our products and services as a result of trends in the logistics and supply chain industries; rate of profitable growth and Adjusted EBITDA margin operating range; demand for Descartes’ solutions; growth of Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (“GLN”); customer buying patterns; customer expectations of Descartes; development of the GLN and the benefits thereof to customers; and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions including the following: global shipment volumes continuing at levels generally consistent with those experienced historically; the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Israel-Hamas Conflict not having a material negative impact on shipment volumes or on the demand for the products and services of Descartes by its customers and the ability of those customers to continue to pay for those products and services; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional customs and security regulations relating to the provision of electronic information for imports and exports; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional trade restrictions and sanctioned party lists with respect to doing business with certain countries, organizations, entities and individuals; Descartes’ continued operation of a secure and reliable business network; the stability of general economic and market conditions, currency exchange rates, and interest rates; equity and debt markets continuing to provide Descartes with access to capital; Descartes’ continued ability to identify and source attractive and executable business combination opportunities; Descartes’ ability to develop solutions that keep pace with the continuing changes in technology, and our continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights. These assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Descartes, or developments in Descartes’ business or industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, Descartes’ ability to successfully identify and execute on acquisitions and to integrate acquired businesses and assets, and to predict expenses associated with and revenues from acquisitions; the impact of network failures, information security breaches or other cyber-security threats; disruptions in the movement of freight and a decline in shipment volumes including as a result of the impact of current and future trade barriers, including tariffs, further protectionist measures and reactive countermeasure or contagious illness outbreaks; a deterioration of general economic conditions or instability in the financial markets accompanied by a decrease in spending by our customers; the ability to attract and retain key personnel and the ability to manage the departure of key personnel and the transition of our executive management team; changes in trade or transportation regulations that currently require customers to use services such as those offered by Descartes; changes in customer behaviour and expectations; Descartes’ ability to successfully design and develop enhancements to our products and solutions; departures of key customers; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates; Descartes’ ability to retain or obtain sufficient capital in addition to its debt facility to execute on its business strategy, including its acquisition strategy; disruptions in the movement of freight; the potential for future goodwill or intangible asset impairment as a result of other-than-temporary decreases in Descartes’ market capitalization; and other factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada, including Descartes’ most recently filed Management’s Discussion and Analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures – Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues

We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in our company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, in making investment decisions about our company and measuring our operational results.

The term “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before certain charges that management considers to be non-operating expenses and which consist of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues divides Adjusted EBITDA for a period by the revenues for the corresponding period and expresses the quotient as a percentage.

Management considers these non-operating expenses to be outside the scope of Descartes’ ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues does have limitations. In particular, we have completed six acquisitions since the beginning of fiscal 2025 and may complete additional acquisitions in the future that will result in acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges. As these acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges may continue as we pursue our consolidation strategy, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring part of operations rather than expenses that are not part of operations.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income reported in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for Q1FY26, Q4FY25, Q3FY25, Q2FY25, and Q1FY25, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

	Q1FY26	Q4FY25	Q3FY25	Q2FY25	Q1FY25
Net income, as reported on Consolidated Statements of Operations	36.2	37.4	36.6	34.7	34.7
Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted EBITDA:
Interest expense	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3
Investment income	(1.9)	(1.9)	(2.9)	(2.7)	(4.1)
Income tax expense	11.7	11.4	11.9	13.6	11.5
Depreciation expense	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.4
Amortization of intangible assets	19.1	19.4	17.5	17.4	15.0
Stock-based compensation and related taxes	4.9	5.4	5.6	5.8	4.3
Other charges	3.4	1.6	1.8	0.2	3.9
Adjusted EBITDA	75.1	75.0	72.1	70.6	67.0

Revenues	168.7	167.5	168.8	163.4	151.3
Net income as % of revenues	21%	22%	22%	21%	23%
Adjusted EBITDA as % of revenues	45%	45%	43%	43%	44%

The Descartes Systems Group Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (US dollars in thousands; US GAAP; Unaudited)

	April 30,	January 31,
	2025	2025
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash	176,411	236,138
Accounts receivable (net)
Trade	60,456	53,953
Other	15,646	16,931
Prepaid expenses and other	43,100	45,544
	295,613	352,566
OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS	27,366	24,887
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	13,944	12,481
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS	7,721	7,623
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	4,867	3,802
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET	368,122	321,270
GOODWILL	992,257	924,755
	1,709,890	1,647,384
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	23,154	20,650
Accrued liabilities	73,151	79,656
Lease obligations	3,402	3,178
Income taxes payable	9,535	9,313
Deferred revenue	109,608	104,230
	218,850	217,027
LEASE OBLIGATIONS	4,533	4,718
DEFERRED REVENUE	2,196	978
INCOME TAXES PAYABLE	6,540	5,531
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	25,834	34,127
	257,953	262,381

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common shares – unlimited shares authorized; Shares issued and outstanding totaled 85,782,830 at April 30, 2025 (January 31, 2025 – 85,605,969)	574,816	568,339
Additional paid-in capital	498,092	503,133
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(21,243)	(50,497)
Retained earnings	400,272	364,028
	1,451,937	1,385,003
	1,709,890	1,647,384

The Descartes Systems Group Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (US dollars in thousands, except per share and weighted average share amounts; US GAAP; Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 30,	April 30,
	2025	2024

REVENUES	168,739	151,348
COST OF REVENUES (exclusive of amortization presented separately below)	39,747	35,413
GROSS MARGIN	128,992	115,935
EXPENSES
Sales and marketing	18,850	17,471
Research and development	25,069	22,191
General and administrative	16,312	14,948
Other charges	3,449	3,918
Amortization of intangible assets	19,114	15,024
	82,794	73,552
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	46,198	42,383
INTEREST EXPENSE	(236)	(273)
INVESTMENT INCOME	1,962	4,059
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	47,924	46,169
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (RECOVERY)
Current	12,251	12,318
Deferred	(571)	(816)
	11,680	11,502
NET INCOME	36,244	34,667
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic	0.42	0.41
Diluted	0.41	0.40
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (thousands)
Basic	85,677	85,274
Diluted	87,577	87,116

The Descartes Systems Group Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (US dollars in thousands; US GAAP; Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 30,	April 30,
	2025	2024
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	36,244	34,667
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	1,450	1,358
Amortization of intangible assets	19,114	15,024
Stock-based compensation expense	4,366	3,769
Other non-cash operating activities	(34)	96
Deferred tax recovery	(571)	(816)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(6,966)	9,643
Cash provided by operating activities	53,603	63,741
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property and equipment	(1,862)	(1,764)
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(112,327)	(139,973)
Cash used in investing activities	(114,189)	(141,737)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payment of debt issuance costs	(38)	(38)
Issuance of common shares for cash, net of issuance costs	3,558	4,231
Payment of withholding taxes on net share settlements	(6,487)	(6,745)
Cash used in financing activities	(2,967)	(2,552)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	3,826	(1,482)
Decrease in cash	(59,727)	(82,030)
Cash, beginning of period	236,138	320,952
Cash, end of period	176,411	238,922

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: AGF Reports May 2025 Assets Under Management and Fee-Earning Assets

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Management Limited reported total assets under management (AUM) and fee-earning assets¹ of $53.5 billion as at May 31, 2025.

AUM ($ billions)	May 31, 2025	April 30, 2025	% Change Month-Over-Month		May 31, 2024	% Change Year-Over-Year
Total Mutual Fund	$31.0	$29.3			$26.9
Exchange-traded funds + Separately managed accounts	$2.8	$2.8			$1.8
Segregated accounts and Sub-advisory	$6.4	$6.2			$6.4
AGF Private Wealth	$8.6	$8.3			$8.0
Subtotal (before AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets¹)	$48.8	$46.6			$43.1
AGF Capital Partners	$2.6	$2.6			$2.6
Total AUM	$51.4	$49.2	4.5	%	$45.7	12.5	%
AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets¹	$2.1	$2.1			$2.1
Total AUM and fee-earning assets¹	$53.5	$51.3	4.3	%	$47.8	11.9	%

Average Daily Mutual Fund AUM	$30.6	$28.6			$26.9

¹ Fee-earning assets represent assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.

Mutual Fund AUM by Category ($ billions)	May 31, 2025	April 30, 2025	May 31, 2024
Domestic Equity Funds	$4.5	$4.3	$4.2
U.S. and International Equity Funds	$19.5	$18.0	$15.9
Domestic Balanced Funds	$0.1	$0.1	$0.1
U.S. and International Balanced Funds	$1.4	$1.4	$1.5
Domestic Fixed Income Funds	$2.0	$2.0	$1.7
U.S. and International Fixed Income Funds	$3.2	$3.2	$3.2
Domestic Money Market	$0.3	$0.3	$0.3
Total Mutual Fund AUM	$31.0	$29.3	$26.9

AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets ($ billions)	May 31, 2025	April 30, 2025	May 31, 2024
AGF Capital Partners AUM	$2.6	$2.6	$2.6
AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets	$2.1	$2.1	$2.1
Total AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets	$4.7	$4.7	$4.7

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.

AGF Management Limited shareholders, analysts and media, please contact:

Nick Smerek
VP, Financial Planning & Analysis
416-865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: AGF Management Limited to Release Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on June 25, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Management Limited (TSX: AGF.B) will release its financial results for Q2 2025 on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET. AGF will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss these results at 11:00 a.m. ET.

The discussion will feature remarks by Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, and Ken Tsang, Chief Financial Officer. Judy G. Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, and Ash Lawrence, Head of AGF Capital Partners, will also be available for the question-and-answer period with investment analysts following the presentation.

The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/m4th2gij. Alternatively, the call can be accessed over the phone by registering here or in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com, to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.

A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.

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.

AGF MANAGEMENT LIMITED SHAREHOLDERS, ANALYSTS AND MEDIA, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nick Smerek
VP, Financial Planning & Analysis
(416) 865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Monroe Capital Corporation Announces Second Quarter Distribution of $0.25 Per Share

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monroe Capital Corporation (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MRCC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a distribution of $0.25 per share for the second quarter of 2025, payable on June 30, 2025 to stockholders of record as of June 16, 2025. In October 2012, the Company adopted a dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of distributions on behalf of its stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash prior to the record date. When the Company declares a cash distribution, stockholders who have not opted out of the dividend reinvestment plan prior to the record date will have their distribution automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Company’s capital stock. The specific tax characteristics of the distribution will be reported to stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year and in the Company’s periodic report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Monroe Capital Corporation

Monroe Capital Corporation is a publicly-traded specialty finance company that principally invests in senior, unitranche and junior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, unsecured debt and equity investments in middle-market companies. The Company’s investment objective is to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation. The Company’s investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Monroe Capital BDC Advisors, LLC, which is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and an affiliate of Monroe Capital LLC. To learn more about Monroe Capital Corporation, visit www.monroebdc.com.

About Monroe Capital LLC

Monroe Capital LLC (including its subsidiaries and affiliates, together “Monroe”) is a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit solutions, structured credit, real estate and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe’s platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality “alpha” returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has 11 locations throughout the United States, Asia and Australia.

Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2024 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, Americas and 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Decade; Inc.’s 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors List; Global M&A Network as the 2023 Lower Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, U.S.A.; DealCatalyst as the 2022 Best CLO Manager of the Year; Korean Economic Daily as the 2022 Best Performance in Private Debt – Mid Cap; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information and important disclaimers, please visit www.monroecap.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the Company’s control, and that the Company may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future.

SOURCE: Monroe Capital Corporation

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: RadarFirst’s 2025 Privacy Benchmarking Report Reveals Industry-Specific Risks and Response Gaps in Regulatory Preparedness
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PORTLAND, Ore., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RadarFirst, the leader in Regulatory Risk Management technology announces the release of the 2025 Privacy Incident Management Benchmarking Report, revealing how healthcare, finance, retail, and public sector organizations are navigating rising breach complexity and regulatory pressure.

As global privacy laws tighten and timelines compress, the report emphasizes that regulatory resilience depends on operational precision. The findings indicate a widening performance gap between organizations that utilize structured, automated incident response workflows and those that still rely on manual or reactive methods.

“Privacy incidents are no longer rare or isolated—they’re operational events,” said Lauren Wallace, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at RadarFirst.

“This year’s data shows that teams investing in automation and defensible risk assessment are achieving faster, more consistent, and more trusted outcomes.”

Key Industry Insights from the 2025 Report:

Healthcare
- 19.4% of external incidents in healthcare resulted in notifiable breaches—nearly double the rate of internal incidents.
- HIPAA’s 60-day window is creating pressure for accurate triage and documentation, especially when third-party vendors are involved.
Financial Services
- High volumes of electronic incidents and shorter breach notification windows are driving the urgency for automation.
- Radar Privacy users in finance achieved an 83.7% on-time notification rate, compared to manual processes that default to over-reporting.
Government & Public Sector
- Agencies are grappling with multi-jurisdictional compliance and limited internal resources.
- Smaller-scale but high-risk verbal and paper-based disclosures remain a significant compliance vulnerability.
Retail & Consumer Services
- Single-person, human-error incidents accounted for 81.7% of reported events across industries, heavily impacting customer-facing roles.
- Retail organizations are under increased pressure to ensure brand trust and avoid over-disclosure.
Cross-Industry Trends
- 91.3% of all incidents stemmed from non-malicious human error.
- Organizations leveraging Radar Privacy cut breach resolution time by 40%, from 24.3 to 14.6 days since 2018.
- Structured privacy teams using automated tools saved an average of 9.7 days between discovery and risk assessment.
Building upon the findings from the 2024 report, the latest data indicates a continued trend toward faster breach resolution among organizations utilizing RadarFirst’s solutions. In 2024, the median time to data breach resolution for RadarFirst customers was 21.5 days, down from previous years.

The full 2025 Privacy Incident Management Benchmarking Report is available now at https://www.radarfirst.com/resources/2025-privacy-incident-management-benchmarking-report

About RadarFirst

RadarFirst is the intelligent incident response platform that helps organizations simplify and automate breach decision-making. With patented workflows, real-time risk assessments, and industry-leading compliance intelligence, RadarFirst empowers organizations to reduce risk, improve defensibility, and protect trust.

Media Contact:

Alexis Kramer-Ainza
Marketing Manager
alexis.kramer@radarfirst.com
480-938-7358

The MIL Network –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Canoe EIT Income Fund Announces June 2025 Monthly Distribution

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canoe EIT Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX – EIT.UN) announces the June 2025 monthly distribution of $0.10 per unit. Unitholders of record on June 20, 2025, will receive distributions payable on July 15, 2025.

About Canoe EIT Income Fund
Canoe EIT Income Fund is one of Canada’s largest closed-end investment funds, designed to maximize monthly distributions and capital appreciation by investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of high quality securities. The Fund is listed on the TSX under the symbol EIT.UN, and is actively managed by Robert Taylor, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Canoe Financial.

About Canoe Financial
Canoe Financial is one of Canada’s fastest growing independent mutual fund companies managing approximately $20.0 billion in assets across a diversified range of award-winning investment solutions. Founded in 2008, Canoe Financial is an employee-owned investment management firm focused on building financial wealth for Canadians. Canoe Financial has a significant presence across Canada, including offices in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
1–877–434–2796
www.canoefinancial.com
info@canoefinancial.com

Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States of America.

The Fund makes monthly distributions of an amount comprised in whole or in part of Return of Capital (ROC) of the net asset value per unit. A ROC reduces the amount of your original investment and may result in the return to you of the entire amount of your original investment. ROC that is not reinvested will reduce the net asset value of the fund, which could reduce the fund’s ability to generate future income. You should not draw any conclusions about the fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment funds. Please read the information filed about the fund on www.sedar.com before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed and past performance may not be repeated.

This communication is not to be construed as a public offering to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Such an offer can only be made by way of a prospectus or other applicable offering document and should be read carefully before making any investment. This release is for information purposes only. Investors should consult their Investment Advisor for details and risk factors regarding specific strategies and various investment products.

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Taylor Swift now owns all the music she has ever made: a copyright expert breaks it down

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wellett Potter, Lecturer in Law, University of New England

On Friday, Taylor Swift announced she now owns all the music she has ever made. This reported US$360 million acquisition includes all the master recordings to her first six albums, music videos, concert films, album art, photos and unreleased material.

The purchase of this catalogue from private equity firm Shamrock Capital is a profoundly happy event for Swift. She has expressed how personal and difficult it was not to own these works.

In her announcement, Swift acknowledged that it was due to her fans purchasing her rerecorded music (known as “Taylor’s Version”) and the financial success of the record-breaking Eras Tour which enabled this purchase.

The story behind “Taylor’s Version” and why she didn’t own the catalogue to her original six albums is due to copyright, music industry practices and contractual terms. Let’s break it down.

What’s in a music catalogue?

When it comes to valuing a music catalogue, it largely comes down to two types of rights: master rights and publishing rights.

Master rights are rights pertaining to the ownership of the actual sound recordings – the final recorded version. These are called “masters” because they’re the original source from which all copies are made.

Under traditional music industry contracts, record labels usually hold ownership of masters and associated materials. This can be music videos, tour videos, unreleased works, photographs and album covers.

Through licensing, the label controls the use of this material and retains the majority of the royalties. In return, the label provides the artist with financial backing, recording resources and marketing.

Publishing rights, on the other hand, relate to the underlying composition – the music and lyrics. The rights to music publishing usually belong to the songwriter, regardless of who performs the song.

Publishing rights govern how a song can be used and who earns royalties from that use. For example, a song may be played on a streaming platform, covered in a live performance or licensed for a commercial or film.

Swift’s contracts

Swift was 15-years-old when she was signed to Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine record label.

The agreed contractual terms were typical of the music industry. In exchange for the financial support to make, record and promote her subsequent albums and tours, Big Machine held the rights to Swift’s master recordings and associated materials in her first six albums. Her relationship with the label lasted 13 years.

As a songwriter, Swift retained separate publishing rights to her songs (the music and lyrics) from her first six albums, which she licensed through Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

In 2018, Swift was reportedly offered to re-sign with Big Machine, in a deal which would involve her “earning” the rights to one original album for each new one she produced.

Swift did not renew her contract and moved to Republic Records (Universal Music Group), who allow her to own her masters. She also moved to Universal Music Publishing Group for her music publishing.

Subsequent sales

In June 2019, Big Machine’s catalogue was sold to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings, for a reported US$330 million, with US$140 million representing Swift’s catalogue.

Swift described this as her “worst case scenario”, as she had a tumultuous history of alleged bullying from Braun. She also alleged she found out about the acquisition at the time it was announced to the world, without being given the opportunity to purchase her catalogue.

Throughout 2019 and 2020 it was reported she attempted to regain ownership, but negotiations fell through.

In October 2020, Swift’s catalogue was sold to Shamrock Capital, a private equity firm, for an estimated US$300+ million. In recent years, private equity firms have been purchasing music catalogues as profitable long-term financial assets, rather than for artistic or cultural reasons.

These events led Swift to rerecord her first six albums, branding them “Taylor’s Version”. Four have been released.

Swift rerecorded her albums, branding them ‘Taylor’s Version’.
melissamn/Shutterstock

She was able to create new versions of her songs, with their own intellectual property rights attached.

As owner of these new masters, she has control over where these songs are used, and she receives a greater portion of the income from the streams, downloads and licensing.

The decision was enormously successful. Mobilising her fans’ support via social media, they prioritised purchasing “Taylor’s Version” over the original masters, diluting the value of the originals.

Successful futures

Swift has repeatedly emphasised the need for artists to retain control over their work and to receive fair compensation. In a 2020 interview she said she believes artists should always own their master records and licence them back to the label for a limited period.

This would mean the label could monetise, control and manage the recordings for a certain time, but the artist retains the ownership. They eventually gain back full control, rather than handing over permanent rights to the label.

Swift’s experience has sparked conversations within the industry, prompting emerging artists to approach record labels with caution and advocate for fairer deals and ownership rights. Olivia Rodrigo negotiated her contract with Swift’s saga as a cautionary tale.

Purchasing her catalogue and masters gives Swift autonomy about how the rights to all of her music is used. Her fans are likely to continue to support her and purchase both the originals and “Taylor’s Version”, so the value of her original albums may rise.

And, in the long-run, her new acquisition will likely make her much wealthier.

Wellett Potter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Taylor Swift now owns all the music she has ever made: a copyright expert breaks it down – https://theconversation.com/taylor-swift-now-owns-all-the-music-she-has-ever-made-a-copyright-expert-breaks-it-down-257965

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s charity sector is growing – but many smaller charities are doing it tough

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Faulkner, Senior Marketing Scientist, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, University of South Australia

Revenue for Australia’s charity and not-for-profit sector has reached record highs, and total donations have grown. But the story isn’t the same everywhere, and some smaller charities may be struggling.

That’s according to the latest edition of the Australian Charities Report from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), released this week.

The report shows that in the 2023 reporting year, revenue for Australia’s charity sector rose by 10.7% to a record A$222 billion. This was bigger than the growth in expenses, which rose by 8.4% to $212 billion.

Total donations and bequests also rose, to $18.9 billion. But the picture is nuanced. One single donation made to the Minderoo Foundation of $4.9 billion is included in this figure.

If this is left out, total donations rose by less than 0.4% across the sector. This suggests we should perhaps put any celebrations on hold and instead ask why donations might be flat-lining.

In 2023, the top 30 charities accounted for 40% of all donations and bequests to the sector. This was double the 20% share reported for the previous year.

Australia’s charity sector plays a vital role in society. For it to thrive, all of its elements must be healthy, including smaller charities.

Some big wins

The large donation was made to the Minderoo Foundation (in Fortescue shares) by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, as part of their commitment to the Giving Pledge. This further concentrated the share of donations received by the largest charities.

The Minderoo Foundation funds a wide range of philanthropic programs and research. For example, it works with Citizens of the Sea to collect marine life DNA as part of the 2025 Pacific Rally to monitor marine biodiversity.

In 2023, the Minderoo Foundation funded the creation of Uncloud as a peer-to-peer hub to show the true impact of vaping, a program that has been handed over to VicHealth.

Elsewhere, Clean Up Australia once again had the most volunteers of any organisation. In 2023, it increased its numbers by 120,000 volunteers to more than 1 million. This represented 44% of the entire growth in volunteer numbers across the sector.

These are both great examples of how large national charities can grow year-on-year. But what about the smaller ones?

Clean Up Australia now has more than a million volunteers.
MPIX/Shutterstock

Why smaller charities struggle

About 60% of Australia’s charities operate with revenue less than $500,000. And about half of these are classified as “extra small” – with revenue less than $50,000. These are the charities that will be doing it tough.

The report shows extra small charities had the highest increase in total expenses, up 21%. It also shows that they continue to bring in less revenue than they spend. Extra small charities had a net loss of $144 million in 2023 compared with a loss of $85 million the year before, a 69% increase.

At the University of South Australia’s Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, we are aware that small brands suffer twice.

The first problem is they have fewer customers (or in this case, donors). The second is that, on average, those who support them will display slightly less loyalty than supporters of the bigger brands. In marketing, this is known as “double jeopardy” for brands.

It is a statistical effect we can’t change, but one that is worth knowing when evaluating results and setting strategies for the sector.

Larger charities have some key advantages that make garnering support easier.

One is simply that they are more well-known. Those who only give infrequently are more likely to come across (and give to) larger charities.

Smaller charities, on the other hand, are more likely to be sharing their supporters with multiple charities, both small and large.

As a consequence, loyalty of smaller brands looks slightly lower than that shown to bigger brands.

How can we fix this?

One way of raising the profile of smaller charities is to encourage mergers and support other ways to grow. The report shows a number of charities categorised as extra small in 2022 moved into the small charity category in 2023.

Helping individual charities get bigger can have positive knock-on effects for employment in the sector and job security.

The report notes 45% of the staff of small charities were casual, compared with 23% of extra large charity staff. Extra large charities also reported adding the most employees, an increase of 60,480.

Working together

Another solution is the federated charities model, where charities with similar goals work together to provide a coherent brand identity that reduces wastage in marketing expenses. If they share resources, they can ensure everyone is consistent in how the brand is portrayed and they can optimise marketing expenditure.

Under this model, individual charities can tailor their messaging or choice of media outlet to suit their local context, while building a valuable brand all can use, making it as easy as possible for people to volunteer and donate money.

There are still some services in society that rely on very small charities that can’t easily grow or federate with others. While support is available to access other revenue streams, such as grant funding, this assumes the charity has people who can write grants, manage its expenditure and report back to the funding body.

That puts this potential revenue source out of reach for many. The operations of many of these smaller charities do not look sustainable in the current environment, and we need to come up with new solutions to show our support.

Margaret Faulkner’s PhD received funding from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Foundation (now known as The Hospital Research Foundation). As a member of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute she benefits from corporate sponsorship, but this does not influence the institute’s research or opinions. Until recently she was a director of a small non-profit organisation and has received funding for research projects from large non-profits within Australia and overseas.

– ref. Australia’s charity sector is growing – but many smaller charities are doing it tough – https://theconversation.com/australias-charity-sector-is-growing-but-many-smaller-charities-are-doing-it-tough-258073

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australian kids BYO lunches to school. There is a healthier way to feed students

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liesel Spencer, Associate Professor, School of Law, Western Sydney University

Getty Images/ courtneyk

Australian parents will be familiar with this school morning routine: hastily making sandwiches or squeezing leftovers into containers, grabbing a snack from the cupboard and a piece of fruit from the counter.

This would be unheard of in many other countries, including Finland, Sweden, Scotland, Wales, Brazil and India, which provide free daily school meals to every child.

Australia is one of the few high-income countries that does not provide children with a daily nutritious meal at school.

As families increasingly face food insecurity and a cost-of-living crisis, here’s how school lunches could help.

School lunches are important

During the week, children get a third of their daily food intake at school. What they eat during school hours has a significant impact on their health.

Australian children have much higher rates of obesity than children in countries with healthy lunch programs.

As children’s diets affect physical and cognitive development, and mental health, poor diet can also affect academic performance.

International research shows universal school meal programs – where all children are provided with a healthy meal at school each day – can improve both health and educational outcomes for students.

The problem with BYO lunchboxes

In Australia, children either bring a packed lunch or buy food at the school canteen. But the vast majority of these lunches don’t meet kids’ dietary needs.

As a 2022 Flinders University report notes, more than 80% of Australian primary school lunches are of poor nutritional quality. Half of students’ school-day food intake comes from junk food and fewer than one in ten students eat enough vegetables.

While these figures are based on 2011–2012 data, subsequent national survey data does not show significant improvements in children’s healthy diet indicators, including fruit and vegetable consumption. Time pressures on carers mean pre-packaged food can be a default lunchbox choice.

At the same time, many families with school students are not able to provide their children with healthy lunches. Food insecurity — not having regular access to enough safe, healthy and affordable food — affects an estimated 58% of Australian households with children, and 69% of single-parent households.

Hot weather also raises food safety concerns, as it’s hard to keep fresh food cool in schoolbags.

School meals programs in Australia

There are some historical examples of providing food to children at school in Australia. This includes the school milk program which ran from 1950s to 1970s. There were also wartime experiments in the 1940s. For example, the Oslo lunch (a cheese and salad sandwich on wholemeal bread, with milk and fruit) was provided at school to improve the health of children.

Today, there is a patchwork of school food programs run by not-for-profit organisations providing breakfast and/or lunch, and various schemes, including kitchen garden and school greenhouse programs.

There are also pilot schemes providing hot meals. For example, in Tasmania, the current pilot school lunch program feeds children in participating schools a hot lunch on some days of the week with state government support. Evaluation of the program showed strong benefits: healthier eating, calmer classrooms, better social connections from eating lunch together, and less food waste.

The 2023 parliamentary inquiry into food security recommended the federal government work with states and territories to consider the feasibility of a school meals program.

In May, the South Australian parliament opened an inquiry into programs in preschools and schools to ensure children and young people don’t go hungry during the day.

What would it take to introduce school meals?

Rolling out universal school meal programs across Australian schools would require cooperation between government and private sectors.

It could build on what already exists – including canteens, school gardens, food relief and breakfast clubs – to create a more consistent and inclusive system.

There’s a strong evidence base to guide this, both from Australian pilot programs and international examples.

Decisions would have to be made about regulation and funding – whether to opt for a federally-funded and regulated scheme with federal and state cooperation, or a state-by-state scheme.

Funding mechanisms from international models include fully government-funded, caregiver-paid (but with subsidies for disadvantaged families) and cost-sharing arrangements between government and families.

Costs per child per day are around A$10, factoring in economies of scale. Some pilot programs report lower costs of around $5, but involve volunteer labour.

More research is needed to determine parent and community attitudes and model these funding options, including preventative health benefits.

Delivery models may also vary depending on each school’s size, location and infrastructure. This could include onsite food preparation, central kitchens delivering pre-prepared meals, or partnerships with not-for-profit providers.

Ultimately, providing food at school could save parents valuable time and stress, and ensure all Australian students can access the health and education benefits of a nutritious school meal.

Liesel Spencer has undertaken volunteer work for the Federation of Canteens in Schools (Australia).

Miriam Williams has undertaken volunteer work for the Federation of Canteens in Schools (Australia).

Katherine Kent does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Australian kids BYO lunches to school. There is a healthier way to feed students – https://theconversation.com/australian-kids-byo-lunches-to-school-there-is-a-healthier-way-to-feed-students-257465

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Bowel cancer rates are declining in people over 50. But why are they going up in younger adults?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Mahady, Associate Professor, Gastroenterologist & Clinical Epidemiologist, Monash University

Thirdman/Pexels

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Australia, with more than 15,000 cases diagnosed annually. It’s also the second most common cause of cancer-related death.

Recently, headlines have warned of an uptick in cases among younger adults, noting bowel cancer cases in people under 50 in Australia are among the highest in the world.

While this is very worrying, it’s also important to note the rate of new cases of bowel cancer in Australia overall has actually been falling over the past 20 years or so. Most cases of bowel cancer still occur in adults over 50, and thanks to a national screening program in this age group, rates are declining.

So why are rates increasing in younger people, and what can we do to mitigate the risk?

National screening is working

Australia was one of the first countries to commence population-based screening for bowel cancer. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was introduced in 2006. A kit is sent in the mail every two years to adults aged 50–74.

This simple poo test detects microscopic amounts of blood that may indicate the presence of cancer or a precancerous lesion, leading to earlier detection and higher rates of survival.

Despite the effectiveness of the program, participation rates are less than optimal at around 40%. We could see even further declines in rates of bowel cancer if more people took part.

How about younger adults?

In contrast to the falling incidence of bowel cancer in older people, emerging data over the past few years paints a different picture for people under 50.

Research I did with colleagues showed an increase in both bowel and rectal cancer from 1982 to 2014 in Australia in people under 50.

A recent preprint (a study yet to be peer-reviewed) includes data up to 2020, and further supports this trend. It suggests people born in the 1990s have two to three times the risk of bowel cancer compared to those born in the 1950s.

Similar trends have been noted in many countries, however international data suggests the rates of young-onset bowel cancer in Australia are among the highest in the world.

What’s driving this increase?

At the moment the causes are unclear. Some studies have focused on diet and lifestyle, obesity, and consumption of red meat.

However, diet as a cause of any disease is notoriously difficult to study. This is because it requires long-term data on what people eat, and following them up for the development of the disease (called an observational study).

If there are positive findings in the observational study, researchers may then test their hypothesis in a randomised controlled trial where one group eats a certain food (such as red meat) and the other does not, and then compare rates of bowel cancer in each group over time.

Due to the near impossibility of conducting these types of trials – as participants would need to follow strict dietary guidelines for years – dietary causes are challenging to prove.

More recent research has focussed on the potential role of E. coli infection in childhood, proposing that infection with some strains may lead to early DNA changes and subsequent increased cancer risk. Other research is looking at the role of an altered gut microbiome. These hypotheses warrant further work.

Ultimately, we don’t know why bowel cancer rates have been increasing in younger adults.
Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

What can people do to reduce their risk?

It’s important to watch for any new or concerning symptoms. Any blood in your poo, particularly if it’s a new symptom, or a change in your regular bowel habits, are good reasons to promptly book a doctor’s appointment.

And while the bowel cancer screening kits are sent to adults from age 50 every two years, as of 2024 people aged 45–49 can request a kit to be sent to them.

Because the participation rate in the bowel cancer screening program is less than optimal, people over 50 who receive the kit in the mail are strongly encouraged to do the test as soon as possible. Increasing screening participation rates remains one of the most important ways we can reduce the burden of bowel cancer in Australia.

Suzanne Mahady does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Bowel cancer rates are declining in people over 50. But why are they going up in younger adults? – https://theconversation.com/bowel-cancer-rates-are-declining-in-people-over-50-but-why-are-they-going-up-in-younger-adults-257728

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, UNSW Sydney

Westend61/Getty Images

In June 2023, a record-breaking marine heatwave swept across the North Atlantic Ocean, smashing previous temperature records.

Soon after, deadly heatwaves broke out across large areas of Europe, and torrential rains and flash flooding devastated parts of Spain and Eastern Europe. That year Switzerland lost more than 4% of its total glacier volume, and severe bushfires broke out around the Mediterranean.

It wasn’t just Europe that was impacted. The coral reefs of the Caribbean were bleaching under severe heat stress. And hurricanes, fuelled by ocean heat, intensified into disasters. For example, Hurricane Idalia hit Florida in August 2023 – causing 12 deaths and an estimated US$3.6 billion in damages.

Today, in a paper published in Nature, we uncover what drove this unprecedented marine heatwave.

A strange discovery

In a strange twist to the global warming story, there is a region of the North Atlantic Ocean to the southeast of Greenland that has been cooling over the last 50 to 100 years.

This so-called “cold blob” or “warming hole” has been linked to the weakening of what’s known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation – a system of ocean currents that conveys warm water from the equator towards the poles.

During July 2023 we met as a team to analyse this cold blob – how deep it reaches and how robust it is as a measure of the strength of the Atlantic overturning circulation – when it became clear there was a strong reversal of the historical cooling trend. The cold blob had warmed to 2°C above average.

But was that a sign the overturning circulation had been reinvigorated? Or was something else going on?

A layered story

It soon became clear the anomalous warm temperatures southeast of Greenland were part of an unprecedented marine heatwave that had developed across much of the North Atlantic Ocean. By July, basin-averaged warming in the North Atlantic reached 1.4°C above normal, almost double the previous record set in 2010.

To uncover what was behind these record breaking temperatures, we combined estimates of the atmospheric conditions that prevailed during the heatwave, such as winds and cloud cover, with ocean observations and model simulations.

We were especially interested in understanding what was happening in the mixed upper layer of water of the ocean, which is strongly affected by the atmosphere.

Distinct from the deeper layer of cold water, the ocean’s surface mixed layer warms as it’s exposed to more sunlight during spring and summer. But the rate at which this warming happens depends on its thickness. If it’s thick, it will warm more gradually; if it’s thin, rapid warming can ensue.

During summer the thickness of this surface mixed layer is largely set by winds. Winds churn up the surface ocean and the stronger they are the deeper the mixing penetrates, so strong winds create a think upper layer and weak winds generate a shallower layer.

Sea surface temperature anomaly (°C) for the month of June 2023, relative to the 1991–2020 reference period.
Copernicus Climate Change Service/ECMWF

Thinning at the surface

Our new research indicates that the primary driver of the marine heatwave was record-breaking weak winds across much of the basin. The winds were at their weakest measured levels during June and July, possibly linked to a developing El Niño in the east Pacific Ocean.

This led to by far the shallowest upper layer on record. Data from the Argo Program – a global array of nearly 4,000 robotic floats that measure the temperature and salinity in the upper 2,000 metres of the ocean – showed in some areas this layer was only ten metres deep, compared to the usual 20 to 40 metres deep.

This caused the sun to heat the thin surface layer far more rapidly than usual.

In addition to these short term changes in 2023, previous research has shown long-term warming associated with anthropogenic climate change is reducing the ability of winds to mix the upper ocean, causing it to gradually thin.

We also identified a possible secondary driver of more localised warming during the 2023 marine heatwave: above-average solar radiation hitting the ocean. This could be linked in part with the introduction of new international rules in 2020 to reduce sulfate emissions from ships.

The aim of these rules was to reduce air pollution from ship’s exhaust systems. But sulfate aerosols also reflect solar radiation and can lead to cloud formation. The resultant clearer skies can then lead to more ocean warming.

Early warning signs

The extreme 2023 heatwave provides a preview of the future. Marine heatwaves are expected to worsen as Earth continues to warm due to greenhouse gas emissions, with devastating impacts on marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and fisheries. This also means more intense hurricanes – and more intense land-based heatwaves.

Right now, although the “cold blob” to the southeast of Greenland has returned, parts of the North Atlantic remain significantly warmer than the average. There is a particularly warm patch of water off the coast of the United Kingdom, with temperatures up to 4°C above normal. And this is likely priming Europe for extreme land-based heatwaves this summer.

Global ocean temperatures on June 2 2025. A patch of abnormally warm water is visible off the southern coast of the United Kingdom.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

To better understand, forecast and plan for the impacts of marine heatwaves, long-term ocean and atmospheric data and models, including those provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States, are crucial. In fact, without these data and models, our new study would not have been possible.

Despite this, NOAA faces an uncertain future. A proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year released by the White House last month could mean devastating funding cuts of more than US$1.5 billion – mostly targeting climate-based research and data collection.

This would be a disaster for monitoring our oceans and climate system, right at a time when change is severe, unprecedented, and proving very costly.

Matthew England receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Alex Sen Gupta receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Andrew Kiss receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Zhi Li receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

– ref. Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it – https://theconversation.com/unprecedented-heat-in-the-north-atlantic-ocean-kickstarted-europes-hellish-2023-summer-now-we-know-what-caused-it-258061

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SASC Chairman Roger Wicker Releases 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 legislative text of the reconciliation bill’s defense portion. 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 bill text:
“This bill is a landmark down payment toward the modernization of our military and our defense capabilities. It represents a generational upgrade for our national security with historic funding for Golden Dome, American manufacturing, innovative unmanned technology, and new shipbuilding efforts,” Chairman Wicker said. “It would not have been possible without the peace-through-strength leadership of President Trump, Chairman Rogers, and Secretary Hegseth. This is about building the future of American defense, and ultimately deterring war. In combination with significant legislative reforms through the NDAA process, this bill will fundamentally change the Pentagon and help us maintain peace and prosperity for Americans.”
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL.) released the following statement alongside Chairman Wicker:
“The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are committed to implementing President Trump’s Peace through Strength agenda with a generational investment in our national defense. Chairman Wicker and I have worked closely together to identify how we can best modernize our military, regrow our defense industrial base, and build a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force. Now that the Senate will soon take up the One Big, Beautiful Bill, I’m eager to continue our forward momentum and get this to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
The full text is available here.
A legislative overview is available here.
Legislation Highlights:
$9B to improve servicemember quality of life, including housing modernization, childcare and education improvements, and health care.
$29B for shipbuilding to expand the maritime industrial base, build 13 Battle Force ships, and rapidly grow an unmanned fleet.
$25B for Golden Dome to maintain space superiority, develop space-based missile intercept, and accelerate existing missile defense efforts.
$23B to re-stock crucial munitions, rebuid U.S. supply chains for critical minerals, and expand advanced manufacturing capacity.
$16B to scale production of innovative low-cost and next-gen weapons like drones, counter-drone tech, cheap munitions, and artificial intelligence.
$400M to accelerate the DOD audit through artificial intelligence and improve cybersecurity.
$9B to expand the fighter fleet and accelerate next-gen air superiority programs.
$15B to accelerate nuclear modernization programs and fix infrastructure.
$12B to equip INDOPACOM commander with necesary capabilities and rebuild our Pacific infrastructure.
$16B to improve readiness, including through modernization of depots, additional spare parts for aircraft, and expanded naval maintenance.
$3.3B to expand military border support mission through Trump term.
Background:
In December 2024, Chairman Wicker introduced the FORGED Act, a comprehensive legislative proposal to reform Pentagon efficiency. The bill is designed to fundamentally change the way the Pentagon does business by getting better weapons to our troops faster and maximizing taxpayer dollars.
Since taking the gavel as Chairman, Senator Wicker has laid out a significant defense investment plan aimed at rebuilding our military for generations to come. The plan encompasses several critical areas including rebuilding the arsenal of democracy, proliferating integrated air and missile defense, modernizing infrastructure, and more.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Agrees with Senator Warren: Scrap the Debt Limit

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
June 04, 2025
“If Republicans in Congress were serious about preventing that economic disaster, they would scrap the debt limit entirely like President Trump has called for – not increase it by $4 trillion dollars to finance tax cuts for billionaires and billionaire corporations.”
Washington, D.C. – In response to President Donald Trump’s post, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
“The independent non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed today that Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will rip away health care from millions of people and increase the debt by $2.4 trillion to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. That’s a disgusting abomination, as Elon Musk made clear.
“I’ve argued for years that a default on the national debt would be an economic catastrophe that must be avoided by getting rid of the debt limit permanently. If Republicans in Congress were serious about preventing that economic disaster, they would scrap the debt limit entirely like President Trump has called for – not increase it by $4 trillion dollars to finance tax cuts for billionaires and billionaire corporations.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Lutnick for Decimation of NOAA, Illegal Cancellation of Digital Equity Act Funding, More

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s Q&A with Sec. Lutnick***

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department. Senator Murray slammed what’s happening at the Department and President Trump’s thoughtless tariffs, and grilled Secretary Lutnick on the Department’s decision to completely eliminate the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund in the budget request, the Department’s failure to submit required budget justifications to the Committee, and the Trump administration’s decision to cancel billions of dollars of funding from Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

In opening comments, Vice Chair Murray said:

“You know, over the law few months, I am deeply concerned because we have seen: mass firings at NOAA that are really, seriously jeopardizing the weather forecasting that we all count on; funds have been frozen; grants and contracts have been abruptly cancelled; and agencies that were created by Congress in a bipartisan way have been shuttered unilaterally—really ignoring the law—and sweeping, thoughtless tariffs that are crunching small businesses and raising costs for families.

“And we have even seen President Trump illegally block some emergency funding House Republicans included in their yearlong CR which has cut off funding your Department counts on for trade fairness, export controls, NOAA satellites, and more.

“So, needless to say: I don’t think any of this helps advance the Department’s mission to spur economic growth and strengthen America’s competitiveness, and it does leaves me very seriously concerned about whether the Department is going to be able to carry out its job.

“Now, before I turn to my questions, I do want to quickly raise your decision to cancel $48 million in Tech Hub funding for the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center in Eastern Washington and Idaho—alongside several other hubs. We had a chance to talk about this yesterday, but I want you to know I have a lot more questions than I think you answered.

“This hub is really a partnership of industry, academia, the military, and governments at all levels. Cancelling that funding and further delaying progress at the tech hub really damages our defense industrial base and limits our ability to compete with China, as I told you yesterday. So, that is unacceptable, and I look forward to you resolving that as soon as possible.”

[TRUMP REQUESTS TO ELIMINATE SALMON RECOVERY PROGRAM]

Senator Murray began by explaining how important NOAA is to our nation’s fisheries and how important salmon are to Washington state’s way of life, calling out President Trump’s request to zero out funding for a key salmon program: “Now, I do want to ask you while you’re here, one of the agencies you oversee is NOAA. It is absolutely essential to supporting sustainable fisheries, protecting our natural resources, and making sure that we have accurate weather forecasts. Cutting away at NOAA—as you have been doing and as your budget proposes to do further—is going to do serious harm. Among other cuts, your budget would completely eliminate the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. That would be a catastrophic failure—it would abandon our communities, our Tribes, and our industries who rely on salmon. And across the Pacific Northwest, salmon are not just fish—they are a way of life, and they are foundational to our economy and our culture. So, I would like you to explain quickly why you proposed that cut, and I want to ask you, did you consult with our Tribes or fishing communities who count on it before making that decision?”

Secretary Lutnick replied, “The issues are that we do the same thing in multiple ways in NOAA. We have not cut any hydrologists, which are the people who study the water.”

“You eliminated the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. That is what I’m precisely asking you about. Did you talk to our tribes or fishermen before you did that?” Senator Murray pressed.

“Of course,” responded Secretary Lutnick.

Senator Murray said, “Well, I have spoken to the tribes, I’ve talked to the scientists, I’ve talked to the fishermen. No one—no one—in the Pacific Northwest supports those cuts. And I want everyone to know I will not vote for an appropriations bill that eliminates that funding.”

[LACK OF TRANSPARENCY]

Senator Murray then asked about the Department failure to present full budget justifications to Congress, “Now, staying on NOAA facilities like the Northwest Fishery Science Center, which is in Seattle, are really in dire need of investment. For this reason, this CJS Appropriations Subcommittee has long included language requiring the Secretary of Commerce to include the cost estimates for NOAA construction projects of more than $5 million, in the congressional budget justification materials, as well as the 5-year cost estimates for those projects. Are you aware of that requirement?”

“My understanding is we filed our budget according to the CR with exact precision,” Secretary Lutnick replied.

“Well, have you submitted the Department’s FY26 congressional budget justification? It did not include the list of projects, which it’s required to do,” asked Senator Murray.

Secretary Lutnick continued to dodge, “My understanding is the CR had certain obligations for us, and we followed them with precision. That’s my understanding.”

Senator Murray pushed back, “Well, the fact is that you are required by law to submit the NOAA PAC [Procurement, Acquisition and Construction] construction list to Congress with the budget. That wasn’t done. Can we get that list by Friday?”

“I’ll happily take a look at it. And if it’s required, of course, I will send it,” said Secretary Lutnick.

Senator Murray responded, “Okay. It is required.”

[ATTACKS ON DIGITAL EQUITY ACT]

Senator Murray turned her questions about President Trump’s recent announcement he is illegally planning to cancel Digital Equity Act grants, “Mr. Secretary, I wrote a law, it was called the Digital Equity Act, to help close the digital divide—and it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Now, the Administration has arbitrarily cancelled billions of dollars for the Digital Equity Act, claiming it’s unconstitutional. This is a program that every state, Democrat and Republican, has applied for—every single state in the country. It distributes laptops in Iowa. It helped people get back online after Hurricane Helene washed away computers and phones in western North Carolina. It’s a program in rural Alabama where they taught seniors—including some who have never used a computer—how to use the internet. I want to ask you, has the Supreme Court declared this bipartisan law unconstitutional? Has any judge?”

Secretary Lutnick sidestepped the question, “It will go through the courts and the courts will decide.”

“No one has declared this unconstitutional—no one. Your job, Mr. Secretary, is to carry out the law that Congress has passed. You don’t get to keep laptops from our kids, because the President doesn’t care about kids in rural communities. My advice to you here—it is a law, it is not unconstitutional, and I would urge you to get those digital equity dollars out the door and save everyone the legal fees, because the law is very clear,” emphasized Senator Murray.

[TRUMP’S THOUGHTLESS TRADE WAR]

Senator Murray concluded by saying, “I just have a few seconds left, and I before I finish, I do want to underscore my state, Washington state, is one of the most trade dependent states in the nation. 40% of our jobs are connected to international trade and President Trump and your Department continue to pursue this chaotic tariff policy that businesses in my state stand to lose billions of dollars. I have heard from businesses across my state, from manufacturers, from small retailers. They are struggling to absorb the cost increases on everything from napkins to car parts. And this uncertainty has really left them scrambling which has delayed investments and caused serious supply chain disruptions, especially at our ports. These actions, in addition, have really harmed our relationships with our key allies like Canada. I heard Senator Collins here earlier talking about Maine being their neighbor—it is our neighbor in Washington state. They are one of our biggest trading partners. And let me be clear, this is causing chaos, disruption, anger. And we have got to get this resolved because farmers, our people and our small businesses and our communities, are really hurting.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Israel’s new aid system is inhumane. Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

Israel’s new aid system is inhumane. Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the vote on the E10 draft UN Security Council resolution on Gaza.

The United Kingdom voted in favour of this resolution today because the intolerable situation in Gaza needs to end.

We are determined to see an end to this war, secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas and alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation for Palestinians in Gaza.

This Israeli Government’s decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict aid are unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive, and the UK completely opposes them.

The Israeli Government says it has opened up aid access with its new system.

But Palestinians, desperate to feed their families, have been killed as they try to reach the very few aid sites that have been permitted by Israel.

This is inhumane.

We support the UN’s call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: let the UN and humanitarians do their job to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity.

President, we regret that the Council was unable to reach consensus today, but we remain committed to the vision of this text.

We will continue to strongly support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

A ceasefire is the best way to secure the release of all remaining hostages and achieve a long-term political solution.

And we repeat our condemnation of the heinous attack by Hamas on 7th October and demand that it release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally. Hamas can have no role in the future governance of Gaza.

A two-state solution is the only way to bring the long-lasting peace, stability and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.

We welcome France and Saudi Arabia’s leadership in chairing an international conference later this month.

Updates to this page

Published 4 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome NATO participation in regional affairs – Chinese Foreign Ministry

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) — Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s involvement in the region, which certainly does not need an Asia-Pacific NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular briefing for journalists on Wednesday.

Lin Jian made the remarks in response to remarks made by a European leader at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, who linked the Taiwan issue to Ukraine, mentioned the so-called “Chinese threat” in the South China Sea, and hinted that NATO had reason to “be involved” in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said China firmly opposes the remarks, noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and that the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affairs.

He said that the Taiwan question and the Ukrainian crisis are incomparable, and that China firmly opposes any remarks or actions aimed at confusing or distorting the essence of the Taiwan question. He called on relevant parties to firmly adhere to the one-China principle through practical actions and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC.

“The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There is no problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with the law,” Lin Jian said.

He stressed that China has always advocated the proper resolution of maritime disputes and differences through negotiations and consultations with the countries directly concerned and on the basis of respect for historical facts.

“Countries outside the region should respect the efforts made by regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, instead of inciting differences and provoking conflicts,” Lin Jian added.

He recalled that NATO, as a regional defense organization, has no right to go beyond the geographical boundaries and mandate defined by its founding treaty. China firmly opposes NATO’s attempts to “move east” into the Asia-Pacific region, escalate tensions and create confrontation in it, and undermine peace and stability in the region and the world.

Stressing that Asia is the common home of China and other Asian countries, Lin Jian said it has maintained rapid growth in recent years and, through the joint efforts of countries in the region, has become an outpost of global growth and an oasis of peaceful development.

China has always been committed to the principles of goodwill, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its diplomacy towards neighboring countries, resolutely opposes bloc confrontation and has never sought the so-called “sphere of influence,” the Chinese diplomat said.

“Relevant parties should not make malicious guesses or sow discord among Asia-Pacific countries based on the Cold War mentality. Instead, they should do more to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: State Council Taiwan Affairs Office condemns slanderous remarks by Taiwan Chief Executive and DPP leadership

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) — State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian on Wednesday condemned recent remarks by Taiwan Chief Executive Lai Qingde and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership that denigrated the social system on the Chinese mainland.

In response to a question from the media, Zhu Fenglian said Lai Qingde and the DPP administration are maliciously slandering and attacking the Chinese mainland, trying to escalate the cross-shore confrontation and mislead international public opinion.

“Their intentions are extremely insidious and their methods are extremely unworthy,” Zhu Fenglian pointed out.

According to her, under the guise of slogans about “democracy,” they are trying to mislead the international community, in a vain attempt to challenge the international architecture based on the one-China principle.

Their actions completely violate the spirit of democracy, and the essence of their “fake democracy, real dictatorship” has long been visible to the world and condemned by Taiwanese compatriots, the official representative added. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Trump’s Tax Cut Bill Will Increase Deficit by $2.4 Trillion – Congressional Budget Office

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

NEW YORK, June 4 (Xinhua) — The U.S. Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency, on Wednesday released an analysis projecting that President Donald Trump’s tax cut bill will reduce tax revenues by $3.7 trillion, increasing the federal budget deficit by $2.4 trillion over the next decade.

The report, published on the agency’s website on June 4 but dated May 20, also projects that if the bill is passed, the number of people without health insurance would increase by 10.9 million, including 1.4 million people who are in the country without legal status and who use government-funded programs.

The document, which D. Trump and Republican lawmakers call a “big, beautiful” bill, was passed by the House of Representatives (lower chamber) of the US Congress with a narrow majority of votes and is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate (upper chamber). –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Castro Statement on DOJ Suing Texas Over In-State Tuition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

June 04, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice suing Texas over its law allowing undocumented students to receive in-state tuition:

“This lawsuit is meritless, cruel, and vindictive. Republicans in Texas created this program in 2001 to establish parity so all tax-paying folks, regardless of status, can receive the benefits they are owed. Legislation to strip in-state tuition in Texas also just died during the legislative session. Texans have made it clear where they stand on this. Attorney General Paxton must fully defend the laws of our state. This is a disappointing action from an administration that doesn’t care about anyone but billionaires.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Ruiz and Imperial Valley Leaders Discuss the Future of Lithium Valley in Washington

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

Washington, D.C. –Today, CongressmanRaul Ruiz (CA-25) attended Benchmarks Giga + USA. The two-day event explored the rise of USA’s lithium-ion battery gigafactory economy and the need to build secure, sustainable supply chains for lithium, nickel, graphite, cobalt, manganese, rare earths, and other critical raw materials.

Congressman Ruiz’s panel was titled, “Building a Vertically Integrated Lithium Ecosystem,” and he was joined by Jesus Eduardo Escobar, Supervisor, County of Imperial, Ryan Kelley, Supervisor, County of Imperial, and moderated by Bari Bean, Deputy CEO of Natural Resources and Lithium Ombudsman, County of Imperial.

“Today’s event is yet another indicator that we have an incredible opportunity with Lithium Valley. The area holds one of the largest known lithium reserves in the U.S., and we have the chance to extract it in a way that’s cleaner and more sustainable, using a closed-loop system that pulls lithium from geothermal brine with minimal environmental impact,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “The Department of Energy has found that this region could produce enough lithium to power millions of electric vehicles, which would help drive our transition to a clean energy economy and create good-paying jobs in the Imperial Valley.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on the California High-Speed Rail FRA Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the Secretary of Transportation’s announcement of a report from the Federal Railroad Administration on California High-Speed Rail:

“This announcement is a rejection of the future. California has been a leader in realizing the vision of high-speed rail to meet the needs of working families with respect for consumers, labor and the environment.

“It is unfortunate that the Secretary has misrepresented the facts and lacks understanding of how California High-Speed Rail promotes commerce, improves quality of life for Californians and creates good-paying jobs — while also lowering the cost of housing by shortening the distance to commute from home to work.

“With his statement, the Secretary is either looking to mislead or has been misled on this issue.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pressley Joins Warren, MA Delegation in Sounding Alarm on Trump Admin Attacks on International Students at Harvard and Nationwide
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Letter follows recent DHS attempts to terminate Harvard’s ability to enroll international students on F-1 and J-1 visas

Massachusetts hosts over 80,000 international students, who contribute almost $4 billion to state economy and support over 35,000 jobs in the state

“The Administration’s apparent hostility to international students contributes to an overall climate of fear on campuses. This trend creates a chilling effect that discourages the best and brightest students from around the world from coming to study in the United States…”

Text of Letter

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and the Massachusetts’ Congressional delegation in pressing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons on the Trump Administration’s attacks on international students, particularly last week’s attempt to terminate Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students on F-1 and J-1 visas.

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04).

“As members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, we are gravely concerned about the Trump Administration’s attacks on international students,” wrote the lawmakers. “This trend has been particularly damaging for Massachusetts, which is home to one of largest concentrations of higher education institutions and hosts over 80,000 international students, who contribute almost $4 billion to the state’s economy and support over 35,000 jobs in the state.”

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the system that allows the university to admit international students — not only blocking Harvard’s ability to enroll new international students, but also interfering with current international students’ ability to legally remain. In effect, this action would allow DHS to arrest, detain, and deport international students who remain at Harvard. Shortly thereafter, a federal judge temporarily enjoined DHS from enforcing the revocation.

“This attack on Harvard and its international students appears to be an attempt to punish the university for not agreeing to the Trump Administration’s April 2025 demands,” wrote the lawmakers.

This is the latest in the Trump Administration’s long pattern of attacks on international students nationwide. Starting in March, the Administration effectively terminated the legal status of over 4,700 international students across at least 48 states and 160 colleges. Often without notice to students or their universities, ICE terminated students’ records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) — records that are “functionally equivalent to having lawful student status” — which exposed students to the “risk of arrest, detention, or removal.” The State Department also revoked many visas, adding to widespread confusion about students’ legal status.

“While DHS and the State Department claimed to target those with a criminal history or history of engaging in campus protests, some of the impacted students had neither, and in many cases, there was ‘no obvious cause for the revocations,’” wrote the lawmakers.

International students in Massachusetts and nationwide continue to face serious threats, even beyond Harvard’s campus, including: ICE expanding its authority for terminating SEVIS records; not restoring — or re-terminating — students’ legal status; and leaving problematic gaps in records of students’ legal status. Some students who left the country after their visas or records were suspended face significant hurdles to returning. This week, the State Department reportedly ordered its overseas embassies and consulates to stop scheduling any international student visa interviews, causing serious delays.

“The Administration’s apparent hostility to international students contributes to an overall climate of fear on campuses. This trend creates a chilling effect that discourages the best and brightest students from around the world from coming to study in the United States — which harms not only current and prospective international students, but also American universities, U.S. citizen students on campuses, and, in the long term, the nation’s prosperity and economic growth,” concluded the lawmakers.

Text of the letter can be found here.

Rep. Pressley has been a vocal advocate for students attacked by Trump and his unlawful, anti-immigrant, and anti-free speech agenda – including her constituent, Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk, who was unlawfully abducted and detained by ICE in March. She has also repeatedly spoken out against Trump’s attacks on Harvard.
- On May 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the Massachusetts community welcomed Rümeysa Öztürk back to Massachusetts following her release from ICE detention in Louisiana.
- On May 8, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking more information on the detention conditions of immigrants held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC) and the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center (SLIPC) after an oversight trip to the facilities.
- On May 7, 2025, Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Rep. McGovern applauded the Second Circuit for ordering Rümeysa’s transfer from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont and rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with a lower court order to do so.
- On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt reinstatement of international student visas.
- On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Rep. McGovern published a New York Times op-ed on their meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.
- On April 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues visited Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil and conducted oversight at the ICE facilities in Louisiana in which they were detained.
- On April 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Sens. Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false.
- On April 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release.
- On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.
- On March 26, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rümeysa Öztürk.
- On March 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement following reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts
###

MIL OSI USA News –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Baird, Salinas Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Agricultural Research and Innovation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the NSF and USDA Interagency Research Act to strengthen a longstanding interagency research partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote cross-cutting and collaborative research and development to enhance agricultural sustainability through advanced technological solutions.

“As a farmer myself, our agriculture industry should have access to cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, to transform farming practices, improve severe weather predictions, better protect our crops, and grow crop yields,” said Congressman Baird. “Operating in a silo is never a good practice when it comes to research and development. By strengthening the partnership between the NSF and USDA, we can drive innovation, produce groundbreaking research, and tackle challenges facing our agricultural sector.”

“Our bill will empower the National Science Foundation and Department of Agriculture to collaborate on research, development, and educational activities related to agriculture,” said Representative Salinas. “It would support our rural communities by developing strong workforce pathways, and it would ensure local producers can take advantage of the latest technologies. As our climate changes, farmers increasingly face changing growing seasons, worsening wildfires, and more frequent extreme weather events. This affects consumers too, who pay for these disruptions in the form of higher grocery prices. I thank Rep. Baird for his partnership on this legislation to ensure rural communities and farmers have the tools they need to thrive.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fish & Game reforms to modernise organisation
Source: New Zealand Government

Reforms to modernise and strengthen Fish & Game New Zealand will improve the national management of hunting and fishing resources and advocacy, while maintaining local control over local fishing and hunting rules, Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager has announced.

“I want to make it as easy as possible for Kiwis to go hunting and fishing in New Zealand. This long overdue reform to Fish & Game will refocus the organisation on its core job of managing our sport fishing and game bird resources and implement a more professional approach to national decision making,” Mr Meager says.

“It is important to our economy that Fish & Game is a well-functioning, highly effective and efficient organisation. Licence holders are estimated to spend up to $138 million every year, and our hunting and fishing resources are the envy of the world, drawing in tourists from across the globe.

“Previous reviews have made clear current legislation is not fit for purpose, resulting in internal dysfunction, wasted revenue on duplicated activities and staff, variable governance practices, disconnect from licence holders and local advocacy which has overstepped the mark. These long-standing issues must be addressed.”

The reforms will make several key changes, including:
- Clarifying the roles and responsibilities so that regional Fish & Game councils focus on delivering hunting and fishing opportunities on the ground, with the New Zealand Council responsible for administrative tasks and policies.
- Shifting to a nationalised fee collection system to reduce double handling of licence fees and ensuring funding follows the demand on the resource.
- Making more licence holders eligible to vote and stand in Fish & Game elections and requiring councillors to comply with professional standards.
- Requiring Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making.
- Requiring a national policy around advocacy and restricting court proceedings to within that policy.
A stand-alone Fish & Game Act will be created, to better recognise the organisation’s contribution to helping New Zealanders hunt and fish.

“Sports fishing and game bird hunting are well-established traditions and important recreational pastimes for Kiwis. They have positive impacts on our regional economies and create wider benefits for tourism, wellbeing and our environment – making it even more crucial its regulator is modern and credible”, Mr Meager says.

Legislation will be introduced this year, and the Select Committee will provide an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the proposals.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –
June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard responds to vessel fire offshore Adak, Alaska

Source: United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/04/2025 05:00 PM EDT

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
Office: (907) 463-2065
After Hours: (907) 463-2065
17th District online newsroom

06/04/2025 04:39 PM EDT

KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel fire approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Wednesday. Watchstanders at the Seventeenth Coast Guard District command center received a distress alert Tuesday at approximately 3:15 p.m. reporting a fire aboard the cargo ship Morning Midas, a 600-foot U.K.-flagged cargo vessel with 22 crew members and reportedly carrying several thousand vehicles. Watchstanders immediately issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast requesting assistance from vessels in the vicinity of the Morning Midas. Three good Samaritan vessels responded to the incident. Watchstanders also diverted the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) to the area, directed the launch of a C-130J Super Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, and positioned an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew in Adak. All 22 crew members aboard the Morning Midas evacuated the ship aboard a life raft and were subsequently rescued by the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, one of the good Samaritan vessels on scene, with no reported injuries. The status of the fire is currently unknown, but smoke is still emanating from the vessel. “As the search and rescue portion of our response concludes, our crews are working closely with the vessel’s parent company, Zodiac Maritime, to determine the disposition of the vessel,” said Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District. “We are grateful for the selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted in the response and the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.” The Morning Midas is estimated to have approximately 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard. They are also reportedly carrying a total of 3,159 vehicles, with 65 being fully electric vehicles and 681 being partial hybrid electric vehicles. This is based on reports to the Coast Guard and is subject to change pending the development of any new information. The Coast Guard is working with the Morning Midas’s parent company Zodiac Maritime to coordinate recovery efforts of the vessel. Zodiac Maritime can be contacted via email at operations@navigateresponse.com or by phone at 44-20-7283-9915 or 65-6222-6375.

MIL Security OSI –

June 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Woodside’s North West Shelf approval is by no means a one-off. Here are 6 other giant gas projects to watch

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University

GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images

The federal government’s decision to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia has been condemned as a climate disaster.

The gas lobby claims more gas is needed to secure energy supplies, pointing to predicted gas shortages in parts of Australia in the short term. But given most proposed gas projects are directed at the export market, the problem is likely to persist.

And the science is clear: no fossil fuel projects can be opened if the world is to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Despite this, a slew of polluting gas projects are either poised to begin operating in Australia, or lie firmly in the sights of industry.

How Australia’s gas contributes to climate change

Gas production in Australia harms the climate in two ways.

The first is via “fugitive” emissions – leaks and unintentional releases that occur when gas is being extracted, processed and transported. These emissions are typically methane, which traps more heat in the atmosphere per molecule than carbon dioxide.

Fugitive emissions count towards Australia’s greenhouse gas accounts, comprising about 6% of our total emissions.

So, government approval for new gas projects undermines Australia’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions. Labor enshrined this goal in legislation in its previous term of government, and all states and territories have also adopted it.

The second climate harm occurs when Australia’s gas is burned for energy overseas. Those emissions do not count towards our national emissions accounts, but they substantially contribute to global warming.

Under national environment law, the federal government is not required to consider the potential harm a project might cause to the global climate. This loophole means fossil fuel developments can continue to win government backing.

Below, I outline six of the biggest gas projects Australia has in the pipeline.

1. Barossa Gas Project

This A$5.6 billion project by energy giant Santos is located in the Timor Sea, about 300km north of Darwin. The Australian government’s offshore energy regulator approved it in April this year.

The project will extract gas from the Barossa field and transport it to a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility in Darwin for processing and export.

The venture would reportedly be among the worst polluting oil and gas projects in the world. On one estimate, it would release about 380 million tonnes of climate pollution over its 25-year life.

2. Scarborough Pluto Train 2

Pluto Train 2 is an extension of Woodside’s existing Scarborough project, centred around a gas field about 375km off WA’s Pilbara coast. A 430-kilometre pipeline would connect that gas to a second LNG train at a facility near Karratha. “Train” refers to the unit in a plant that turns natural gas into liquid.

The project has federal and state approval. It is about 80% complete and scheduled to begin operating by next year. According to Climate Analytics, the expansion would create about 9.2 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent each year.

3. Surat Phase 2

This coal seam gas project in Gladstone, Queensland, would be operated by Arrow energy – a joint venture between Shell and PetroChina.

It involves substantially expanding existing gas fields by building up to 450 new production wells. The project is expected to supply 130 million cubic feet of gas each day at its peak, and has been opposed by environment groups.

4. Narrabri Gas Project

This $3.6 billion Santos project in northwest New South Wales involves drilling up to 850 coal seam gas wells over 95,000 hectares. The National Native Title Tribunal last month ruled leases for the project could be granted, leaving Santos only a few regulatory barriers to clear.

Environmental groups and Traditional Owners say the project threatens water resources, biodiversity and Indigenous sites. However, the tribunal found the project’s benefits to energy reliability outweighed those concerns.

5. Beetaloo Basin

The Beetaloo Basin is located 500km southeast of Darwin. It covers 28,000 kilometres and is estimated to contain up to 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. A number of companies are vying for the right to develop the huge resource.

It is predicted to emit up to 1.2 billion tonnes over 25 years. A CSIRO report says Beetaloo could be tapped without adding to Australia’s net emissions. However, experts say the report was too optimistic and relies far too heavily on carbon offsets.

6. Browse Basin

Browse Basin, 425 kilometres north of Broome off WA, is considered Australia’s biggest reserve of untapped conventional gas.

Woodside plans to develop the Browse gas fields, but the area is remote and difficult to access. According to the ABC, Woodside’s North West Shelf project is considered the last hope for extracting the valuable resource.

Environmental groups say the project, if approved, would emit 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution – three times Australia’s current annual emissions.

The basin is also located near the pristine Scott Reef, a significant coral reef ecosystem.

A major disconnect

The projects listed above, if they proceed, weaken Australia’s efforts to reach its emission reduction goals. And their overall climate impact is truly frightening.

The re-elected Labor government has pledged to revisit attempts to reform national environment laws. This presents a prime opportunity to ensure the climate harms of fossil fuel projects are key to environmental decision making.

Samantha Hepburn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Woodside’s North West Shelf approval is by no means a one-off. Here are 6 other giant gas projects to watch – https://theconversation.com/woodsides-north-west-shelf-approval-is-by-no-means-a-one-off-here-are-6-other-giant-gas-projects-to-watch-257899

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Main Street Financial Services Corp. Announces Officer Termination, Appointment

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WOOSTER, Ohio, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Main Street Financial Services Corp. (OTCQX:MSWV) (the “Company”) today announced that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) has terminated the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jay R. VanSickle II, effective June 3, 2025. In accordance with Mr. VanSickle’s employment contract, he was terminated without cause and is no longer a member of the Board. The Board has appointed Mark R. Witmer, currently a director and Executive Chair of the Company, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Witmer will also maintain his role as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Witmer has been a director and Executive Chair of the Company since 2024, following the merger of the Company and Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc., where he previously served on the board and as Executive Chair since 2021, and has approximately 30 years of community banking experience, including commercial lending, agricultural lending and mortgage banking experience. The Board thanks Mr. VanSickle II for his contributions and looks forward to Mr. Witmer’s leadership.

About MSWV: Main Street Financial Services Corp. is a $1.4 billion holding company headquartered in Wooster, Ohio. Its primary subsidiary, Main Street Bank Corp. was founded in 1899 and provides full-service banking, commercial lending, and mortgage services across its branch infrastructure. Today, Main Street Bank Corp operates 19 branch locations in Wooster, Ohio, Wheeling, West Virginia and other surrounding communities in Ohio and West Virginia.

Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts may be forward- looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. Factors which could result in material variations include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates which could affect net interest margins and net interest income, competitive factors which could affect net interest income and noninterest income, changes in demand for loans, deposits and other financial services in the Company’s market area; changes in asset quality, general economic conditions as well as other factors discussed in documents filed by the Company from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occurred after the date on which such statements were made.

Contact:

Main Street Financial Services Corp.
Mark R. Witmer
President and Chief Executive Officer
330-264-5767
mwitmer@mymainstreetbank.bank

The MIL Network –

June 5, 2025

Category: KB

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Successful futures

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Why smaller charities struggle

How can we fix this?

Working together

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The problem with BYO lunchboxes

School meals programs in Australia

What would it take to introduce school meals?

National screening is working

How about younger adults?

What’s driving this increase?

What can people do to reduce their risk?

A strange discovery

A layered story

Thinning at the surface

Early warning signs

Israel’s new aid system is inhumane. Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Updates to this page

How Australia’s gas contributes to climate change

1. Barossa Gas Project

2. Scarborough Pluto Train 2

3. Surat Phase 2

4. Narrabri Gas Project

5. Beetaloo Basin

6. Browse Basin

A major disconnect