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  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, DeLauro, Scott, Baldwin Call on Department of Education to Immediately Cease Illegal Plan to Transfer Career and Technical Education Program Responsibilities to Labor Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    As McMahon and Trump attempt to illegally dismantle ED, top lawmakers call on McMahon to follow the explicit mandates in key authorizing and appropriations laws—ensuring essential educational programs are faithfully administered for students nationwide

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee; Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon calling out the Department’s illegal efforts to attempt to transfer responsibility over career and technical education (CTE) programs to the Department of Labor (DOL).

    “We write to express our deep opposition to attempts, including the Interagency Agreement (IAA) dated May 21st, to move the administration of any aspect of career and technical education (CTE) programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 or the adult education programs authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor,” write the lawmakers, noting that: “Perkins CTE and adult education are education programs whose purpose is to expand educational opportunities to youth and adults. Any attempt to move these programs to Labor would fundamentally alter the purposes of those programs and risk turning them into short-term job training programs, no different than those that are funded under WIOA. Most importantly, it would upend decades of work that took place at the state and local level to embed CTE programs into secondary and postsecondary offerings and improve the quality of CTE and adult education.”

    The lawmakers noted that in addition to being illegal, ED’s attempt to transfer administration of grant funding for CTE programs to DOL while maintaining some policy functions at ED would actually create more inefficiency and trouble for everyone who depends on the programs: “This likely would mean states, institutions of higher education, and school districts would have to work with two federal agencies in the administration of these programs, leading to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration. This will likely lead to increased inefficiency in the administration of these important programs.”

    “We have a simple demand: to follow our nation’s education and appropriations laws as Congress wrote them. Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs, and Congress annually appropriates funding to the Department of Education to carry out these programs,” state the lawmakers. “Should the Trump Administration have ideas for changing which agency should administer the federal career and technical education program, then the administration needs to propose its ideas to Congress for full and fair consideration through the normal legislative process. In the meantime, we urge you to cease plans to implement this IAA immediately and implement CTE and adult education programs as specified in authorizing and annual appropriations laws.”

    The full letter is available HERE and below:

    The Honorable Linda McMahon

    Secretary

    U.S. Department of Education

    400 Maryland Avenue, SW

    Washington, DC  20202

    Dear Secretary McMahon:

    We write to express our deep opposition to attempts, including the Interagency Agreement (IAA) dated May 21st, to move the administration of any aspect of career and technical education (CTE) programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006[1] (Perkins) or the adult education programs authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)[2] from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor (Labor). Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out career and technical education programs, most recently with the bipartisan reauthorization of Perkins in 2018 and adult education programs in WIOA. Congress also appropriates funding annually, on a bipartisan basis, to the Department of Education to carry out career and technical education programs and adult education programs. You have also acknowledged in congressional testimony, that only Congress is responsible for determining whether to dismantle the Department of Education and its programs. We write to remind you that it is not within your authority to move the administration of these programs to any other agency. Perkins CTE and adult education are education programs whose purpose is to expand educational opportunities to youth and adults. Any attempt to move these programs to Labor would fundamentally alter the purposes of those programs and risk turning them into short-term job training programs, no different than those that are funded under WIOA. Most importantly, it would upend decades of work that took place at the state and local level to embed CTE programs into secondary and postsecondary offerings and improve the quality of CTE and adult education. 

    Congress passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in 2018 to reauthorize Perkins and clearly vested responsibility for administering the law to the Department of Education.[3] The law also vests the Secretary of Education with various responsibilities, including: allotting funds to States;[4] rulemaking under the law;[5] assisting States in establishing State-determined levels of performance required under the law;[6] carrying out numerous reporting requirements;[7] making grants to outlying areas;[8] making grants to Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations;[9] reviewing and approving State plans;[10] working with States to implement improvement activities;[11] withholding a portion of an eligible agency’s allotment if the agency is not properly implementing improvement activities;[12] waiving distribution rules for Perkins formula dollars under certain circumstances;[13] and enforcing maintenance of effort requirements;[14] among other activities. But the law does not contain any provisions that would permit you to offload your responsibilities to another agency.

    Additionally, Congress authorized the Secretary of Education to carry out adult education programs in Title II of WIOA. As part of that title, Congress directed the Secretary to undertake various responsibilities in administering the adult education programs, including awarding grants to eligible agencies;[15] determining allotments for formula disbursements;[16] awarding grants to outlying areas;[17] carrying out fiscal management provisions;[18] enforcing supplement not supplant and maintenance of effort provisions;[19] carrying out national leadership activities;[20] awarding grants to state for integrated literacy and civics education;[21] and carrying out certain reporting requirements.[22] WIOA Title II does not contain any provisions that would permit you to offload your responsibilities to another agency.

    Congress also passes annual, bipartisan appropriations that provide funding to the Department of Education to carry out the Perkins career and technical education programs and the WIOA Title II adult education programs. As part of that annual appropriations process, Congress does not provide affirmative authority to the Department of Education to transfer career and technical education funding or adult education funding to Labor. In fact, the only transfer authority provided to the Department of Education by the annual appropriations bill is the authority to transfer one percent of discretionary funds between education appropriations accounts, so long as no such appropriation is increased by more than three percent by any such transfer.[23] Such a limited transfer within the Department of Education is not what you are contemplating here.[24] Moreover, transfers of any other type, including the type contemplated by the Department’s May 21st  IAA with the Department of Labor, are prohibited by section 512 of Division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (and maintained by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025), which states, “None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriation Act.”[25] As with the authorizing statutes, the annual appropriations process clearly requires the Department of Education to carry out both Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs.

    In testimony to Congress, you have stated that you will follow the law.[26] In May, before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, you testified that only Congress can abolish the Department of Education and end its functions, stating about you and President Trump, “We both know and understand that the Department of Education cannot be closed unless Congress votes to do that.”[27] But, troublingly, you also said about the Department that, “It is actually a pass-through mechanism for funding that is appropriated by Congress. And whether the channels of that funding are through HHS or whether they’re funneled through the DOJ, or whether they’re funneled through Treasury or SBA or other departments, the work is going to continue to get done.”[28]

    Respectfully, federal agencies are not interchangeable entities that simply hand out money to states and localities. Instead, each agency provides its own specific expertise in the administration of federal programs, in this case education programs. The Department of Education has the expertise in working with state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and local school districts in the administration of these programs. Schools in local communities and state educational agencies rely on the guidance and technical expertise from the educational experts at the Department of Education to carry out these programs. Congress recognizes the expertise that specific agencies provide and very deliberately decides which agency to vest authority with when passing laws. Congress was similarly clear in 2018, when it vested the Department of Education with the authority to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and did not provide any mechanism in the law for the Department to transfer that authority to another agency.

    The May 21 IAA flies in the face of laws enacted by Congress, annual appropriations requirements, and practice in states. The IAA also seems to purport to transfer the administration of grant funding for CTE and adult education programs to the Department of Labor, while maintaining some policy functions for CTE and adult education programs at your Department. This likely would mean states, institutions of higher education, and school districts would have to work with two federal agencies in the administration of these programs, leading to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration.  This will likely lead to increased inefficiency in the administration of these important programs.

    We have a simple demand – to follow our nation’s education and appropriations laws as Congress wrote them. Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs and Congress annually appropriates funding to the Department of Education to carry out these programs. Relying on interagency agreements drafted behind closed doors with no notice to the lawmakers who are responsible for the authorization and appropriations for these programs  cannot be considered “working with Congress” as one of your staff recently claimed you were doing on this matter.[29] Should the Trump Administration have ideas for changing which agency should administer the federal career and technical education program, then the administration needs to propose its ideas to Congress for full and fair consideration through the normal legislative process. In the meantime, we urge you to cease plans to implement this IAA immediately and implement CTE and adult education programs as specified in authorizing and annual appropriations laws. If you continue to flout the very clear reading of the law in this case, it will affirm deep concerns we have about how you will faithfully execute all laws you are tasked with carrying out as the Secretary of Education. 

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s desertification control efforts embrace high-tech solutions

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

    From employing biotechnological techniques to deploying a range of AI-powered automated machines, China has actively embraced innovations to replace strenuous manual labor in its efforts to build ecological barriers against desertification.

    Tuesday marked World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Often described as the “cancer of the earth,” desertification is a global challenge affecting more than 100 countries and regions. China, one of the countries most severely impacted, has made significant strides in halting desert expansion through its decades-long afforestation campaign.

    This aerial drone file photo taken on Sept. 6, 2023 shows the border area between the Tengger Desert and a sand-controlling forest belt in Zhongwei, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

    Winding through towering sand dunes along the edge of the Tengger Desert, China’s fourth-largest, the Lanzhou-Baotou Railway, built in 1958, has not only remained well-maintained and free from encroaching sand over the decades but has also helped transform the barren landscape. Its shelter belts have fostered the growth of biocrust, bringing new life to the once-desolate land.

    The green belt protecting this vital transport artery stands as a near-miracle in the arid landscape. Over the past 60 years, massive human efforts have been mobilized in Zhongwei City, in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to create “straw checkerboard,” a dune stabilization technique where straw is laid out in a checkerboard pattern on the desert surface. These grids have provided a foundation for vegetation to take root and gradually transform the sand into green.

    Nicknamed the “Chinese Rubik’s Cube,” the technique is now widely adopted both across China and internationally to increase soil surface roughness, effectively reducing wind erosion in sandy areas.

    Workers build straw checkerboards in the Tengger Desert, in Zhongwei of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

    Within the checkerboards, the sand surface gradually forms a soil crust that helps prevent wind-driven movement. To speed up this process, Chinese researchers have developed lab-cultured cyanobacteria that accelerate the formation of biological soil crusts.

    “Under natural conditions, the formation of biological soil crusts takes 10 to 20 years. With the application of cyanobacteria, that process can be shortened to just one year,” said Zhao Yang, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    Zhao added that the technology has already been applied across more than 267 hectares in Ningxia, with plans to further expand its coverage in the coming years.

    By spraying cyanobacterial liquid onto the sand surface and combining it with the straw checkerboard technique, stable artificial biological soil crusts can form within 10 to 16 months. In treated areas, wind erosion has been reduced by over 95 percent, the survival rate of sand-fixing shrubs has increased by 10 to 15 percent, and the need for seedling replacement has dropped by nearly 40 percent, significantly cutting the overall cost of sand control, Zhao explained.

    Tang Ximing, chief engineer at the Zhongwei state-owned forestry farm, recalled that with summer ground temperatures as high as 70 degrees Celsius, survival rates of saplings planted in decades ago were just over 40 percent. But the planting efforts have never been baffled.

    Tang Ximing, a senior engineer at a state-owned forestry farm in Zhongwei, demonstrates an upgraded electric seedling planter invented by himself in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

    In 2023, Tang developed an electric drilling device that allows workers to plant saplings into a 50-centimeter-deep layer of moist sand within the checkerboards in under 10 seconds. Previously, even skilled forestry workers needed three to four minutes to dig a single tree pit manually.

    Technology is accelerating China’s desertification control efforts, which are shifting from labor-intensive planting methods to innovative strategies powered by advanced technologies and intelligent machine fleets.

    Ordos City in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has introduced an integrated smart system that combines remote-controlled desertification monitoring with real-time data from satellite imagery, drone surveys, and ground sensors. This system enables precise tracking of dynamic indicators such as vegetation coverage and soil moisture levels of afforested areas.

    Meanwhile, in the green belt surrounding the Hunshandake Sandland — the nearest desert threat to Beijing — planting machines continuously shuttle back and forth, laying checkerboards and sowing grass seeds, making desert afforestation as efficient as plowing farmland.

    “Creating straw barriers and sowing grass seeds were once two separate manual steps in sand-fixing planting. Now, the new machine combines both processes,” said Wang Lei, director of the intelligent equipment research institute of the Inner Mongolia-based M-Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd.

    This photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows a chamber for accelerated seed breeding at M-Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd. in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Bei He)

    He added that these intelligent devices outperform manual labor by more than 20 times in terms of work efficiency.

    China initiated the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program in 1978 to combat desertification across the northwest, north and northeast of the country. The world’s largest afforestation project is still undergoing.

    Currently, 53 percent of China’s treatable sandy land has been effectively managed through afforestation. The country is not only the first in the world to achieve “zero growth” in land degradation and a “double reduction” in desertified and sandy land areas, but has also transformed its role from a recipient of international desertification control aid to a key contributor to global ecological governance.

    Tang said the forestry farm receives many foreign visitors each year, eager to learn sand prevention and control techniques. He recently demonstrated how to create straw checkerboards and use his electric drilling tool to plant saplings for a group of guests from Mongolia.

    China has actively fulfilled its commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification by establishing the International Knowledge Management Center on Combating Desertification in Ningxia in December 2019. The center aims to share China’s expertise and experience in desertification control with countries worldwide.

    During a visit to Mongolia, Tang saw that the country lacks seedling nurseries. However, it has leveraged its geographical proximity to China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to support seedling cultivation.

    In 2024, Inner Mongolia exported a total of 2.8 million saplings to Mongolia, with exports expected to soar to 10 million this year for the green building in Mongolia.

    Zhang Tianliang, a seedling exporter based in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, noted that his company recently exported species such as larch, spruce and golden-leaf elm. These trees are highly adaptable to dry, poor soils and severe cold, making them well-suited for cultivation in Mongolia, Zhang explained. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to discuss the Department of Defense’s (DOD) budget for Fiscal Year 2026. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed utilizing AI for military modernization and improving standards for military personnel. Additionally, Senator Tuberville and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General J. Daniel Caine, discussed the future of war fighting.

    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON LIBERATING LOS ANGELES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL QUALITY OF LIFE

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for being here today. Mr. Secretary, thanks for looking out for the law enforcement and the millions of people in California that still love this country and want this country to survive and not the radicals that wave non-American flags, that protest in the streets, tear things down. It is ridiculous and thank you for doing what you’re doing, you and President Trump. It’s getting out of hand.”

    [I’m] chairman of the [Senate Armed Services] Personnel [sub]committee. Thanks for your recruiting. You’re doing great. Keep looking out after the quality of life [of our troops]. Please do that. We’ve done research after research. We did give a raise. We wanna continue to give raises. These first-year staffers in this building make tens of thousands [of] dollars more than first-year military personnel. That’s not right. We need to change that. It’s an all-volunteer army and thank you for working towards that.” 

    ON MILITARY STANDARDS

    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Secretary, your opening remarks mentioned the force-wide review of military standards. What’s the status of that review?”

    HEGSETH: “It is ongoing and very close to fruition. We’ve reviewed standards, specifically on Combat MOSs first to ensure that we haven’t seen a reduction in pursuit of quotas or any other agendas. So, standards are being moved back to where they were at their highest level, gender neutral. And then we’re looking at overall fitness standards, overall grooming standards, overall basic standards across our formations that we believe have slipped certainly under the previous administration, but over decades. But we’re being very careful about it too. We don’t wanna make big changes that are wide-sweeping that have unintended consequences. So, we’re looking service by service, but also trying to simplify and clarify as much as possible. High standards, clear standards that set us apart.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for your help on putting me on the Air Force Board of Visitors […] and I look forward to going out soon, it is very important. We understand we do have problems in the Air Force Academy, and we’re going to get those straightened out, one way or another. So, thanks for you and President Trump for putting me on the board of visitors.”

    ON THE FUTURE OF WARFIGHTING

    TUBERVILLE: “General Caine, over the last few years, we’ve seen major efforts to refocus our services for future fights, Marine Corps force design, and the Army’s Transformation Initiative—[these] are major changes to the Joint Force. Can you describe the Joint Staff’s level of involvement in these efforts?”

    CAINE: “Sure. Thanks for the question. As the services carefully consider what they need to look like, one of my primary jobs is a global integrator. And so, I look at all of these capabilities as well as capacities. And then through a series of formal products that we deliver to the secretary have a chance to give the secretary my views on this. I appreciate the leadership of both of those services, all of the services, and the combatant commanders to identify what the fight of the future looks like and what the force mix of the future needs to look like. So, we’re deeply involved in all that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    ON MILITARY SERVICE AND SPORTS

    TUBERVILLE: “This is right up my alley here. One important aspect of recruiting is how our services are represented in elite sports. We have made progress here, but we still have to work and work some things out. But West Point this year had a young man that was drafted to play baseball. In the past time when President Trump was in [office], he allowed them to go, do their thing, and [play] baseball, then come back and fulfill their service, but we are disallowing a young man at West Point to go to Major League Baseball. Could you look into that Mr. Secretary?”

    HEGSETH: “Coach, we will review that. Yes.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to discuss the Department of Defense’s (DOD) budget for Fiscal Year 2026. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed utilizing AI for military modernization and improving standards for military personnel. Additionally, Senator Tuberville and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General J. Daniel Caine, discussed the future of war fighting.

    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON LIBERATING LOS ANGELES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL QUALITY OF LIFE

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for being here today. Mr. Secretary, thanks for looking out for the law enforcement and the millions of people in California that still love this country and want this country to survive and not the radicals that wave non-American flags, that protest in the streets, tear things down. It is ridiculous and thank you for doing what you’re doing, you and President Trump. It’s getting out of hand.”

    [I’m] chairman of the [Senate Armed Services] Personnel [sub]committee. Thanks for your recruiting. You’re doing great. Keep looking out after the quality of life [of our troops]. Please do that. We’ve done research after research. We did give a raise. We wanna continue to give raises. These first-year staffers in this building make tens of thousands [of] dollars more than first-year military personnel. That’s not right. We need to change that. It’s an all-volunteer army and thank you for working towards that.” 

    ON MILITARY STANDARDS

    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Secretary, your opening remarks mentioned the force-wide review of military standards. What’s the status of that review?”

    HEGSETH: “It is ongoing and very close to fruition. We’ve reviewed standards, specifically on Combat MOSs first to ensure that we haven’t seen a reduction in pursuit of quotas or any other agendas. So, standards are being moved back to where they were at their highest level, gender neutral. And then we’re looking at overall fitness standards, overall grooming standards, overall basic standards across our formations that we believe have slipped certainly under the previous administration, but over decades. But we’re being very careful about it too. We don’t wanna make big changes that are wide-sweeping that have unintended consequences. So, we’re looking service by service, but also trying to simplify and clarify as much as possible. High standards, clear standards that set us apart.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for your help on putting me on the Air Force Board of Visitors […] and I look forward to going out soon, it is very important. We understand we do have problems in the Air Force Academy, and we’re going to get those straightened out, one way or another. So, thanks for you and President Trump for putting me on the board of visitors.”

    ON THE FUTURE OF WARFIGHTING

    TUBERVILLE: “General Caine, over the last few years, we’ve seen major efforts to refocus our services for future fights, Marine Corps force design, and the Army’s Transformation Initiative—[these] are major changes to the Joint Force. Can you describe the Joint Staff’s level of involvement in these efforts?”

    CAINE: “Sure. Thanks for the question. As the services carefully consider what they need to look like, one of my primary jobs is a global integrator. And so, I look at all of these capabilities as well as capacities. And then through a series of formal products that we deliver to the secretary have a chance to give the secretary my views on this. I appreciate the leadership of both of those services, all of the services, and the combatant commanders to identify what the fight of the future looks like and what the force mix of the future needs to look like. So, we’re deeply involved in all that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    ON MILITARY SERVICE AND SPORTS

    TUBERVILLE: “This is right up my alley here. One important aspect of recruiting is how our services are represented in elite sports. We have made progress here, but we still have to work and work some things out. But West Point this year had a young man that was drafted to play baseball. In the past time when President Trump was in [office], he allowed them to go, do their thing, and [play] baseball, then come back and fulfill their service, but we are disallowing a young man at West Point to go to Major League Baseball. Could you look into that Mr. Secretary?”

    HEGSETH: “Coach, we will review that. Yes.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Diversity of Ownership in Broadcast Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry by encouraging investment in women and minority-owned stations. 

    “Millions of Americans get their news everyday through TV and radio. When broadcasters reflect the people they serve, it helps elevate different perspectives and stories that may not yet have been told,” said Senator Peters. “That’s why I am proud to again lead the Broadcast VOICES Act to encourage more investment in minority-owned stations and boost diversity in American television and radio.”

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act would: 

    • Reestablish a Minority Tax Certificate Program to incentivize capital investment in women and minority-owned stations, as well as investment in the sale of stations to women and minority purchasers, throughout the broadcast industry. 
    • Establish a tax credit for broadcast owners who donate their stations to train individuals in the management and operation of broadcast stations.
    • Require annual reports from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on ways to increase diversity in the industry.

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    First established in 1978, the Minority Tax Certificate Program provided a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to individuals with diverse backgrounds. From 1978 to 1995, the program was highly effective in leveling the playing field for underrepresented broadcasters, increasing diverse ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent. Despite this success, Congress repealed the program in 1995.

    However, a 2023 report found that among the approximately 1,760 full-power commercial broadcast television stations in the United States, only 5 percent were owned by women and less than 4 percent by minorities. Further, it found that women owned only 10 percent of FM broadcast radio stations, and minorities owned less than 3 percent of those stations. 

    By reinstating this historically effective tax certificate, the Broadcast VOICES Act would help bring more women and people of color into station ownership while also assisting with access to capital. Peters has consistently led this legislation. 

    The Broadcast VOICES Act is supported by the National Urban League, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Hispanic Federation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Diversity of Ownership in Broadcast Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry by encouraging investment in women and minority-owned stations. 

    “Millions of Americans get their news everyday through TV and radio. When broadcasters reflect the people they serve, it helps elevate different perspectives and stories that may not yet have been told,” said Senator Peters. “That’s why I am proud to again lead the Broadcast VOICES Act to encourage more investment in minority-owned stations and boost diversity in American television and radio.”

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act would: 

    • Reestablish a Minority Tax Certificate Program to incentivize capital investment in women and minority-owned stations, as well as investment in the sale of stations to women and minority purchasers, throughout the broadcast industry. 
    • Establish a tax credit for broadcast owners who donate their stations to train individuals in the management and operation of broadcast stations.
    • Require annual reports from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on ways to increase diversity in the industry.

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    First established in 1978, the Minority Tax Certificate Program provided a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to individuals with diverse backgrounds. From 1978 to 1995, the program was highly effective in leveling the playing field for underrepresented broadcasters, increasing diverse ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent. Despite this success, Congress repealed the program in 1995.

    However, a 2023 report found that among the approximately 1,760 full-power commercial broadcast television stations in the United States, only 5 percent were owned by women and less than 4 percent by minorities. Further, it found that women owned only 10 percent of FM broadcast radio stations, and minorities owned less than 3 percent of those stations. 

    By reinstating this historically effective tax certificate, the Broadcast VOICES Act would help bring more women and people of color into station ownership while also assisting with access to capital. Peters has consistently led this legislation. 

    The Broadcast VOICES Act is supported by the National Urban League, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Hispanic Federation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Questions Witnesses on Potential Crimes in Biden Health Cover-up

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) co-chaired entitled, “Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution,” he discussed with witness Theodore Wold, Visiting Fellow for Law and Technology Policy at the Heritage Foundation, the crimes potentially committed by Joe Biden’s Cabinet members and senior aides in their attempts to conceal the former President’s cognitive decline while in office, along with his use of an autopen. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

    On the President’s Use of an Autopen:

    CORNYN: “When talking about the autopen, there are really two issues: One is the mechanical use of an autopen in lieu of an actual signature by the President, but it seems to me that we’re confronted with the more important, or more fundamental issues is, did the President know that the autopen was being used for that purpose?”

    “What we’re confronted with here is really the capacity of the President of the United States to understand what he was supposed to be doing.”

    On Potential Crimes Committed During the Cover-up:

    CORNYN: “Some have suggested that there may be potential crimes committed by members of the Cabinet for failing to act, basically suborning perjury, forging government documents, impersonating a Federal officer, making false statements, conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, wire or mail fraud – those are all statutes, criminal statutes, that are on the books.”

    “Do you think there’s any application of any of those criminal statutes to the circumstances of the Biden presidency and his incapacity, and the failure of those persons, only persons, authorized to question that incapacity under the 25th Amendment – the failure on their part to act?”

    WOLD: “I will say, the 25th Amendment, it’s a modern contrivance, but it still is consistent with American constitutional tradition, which it assumes that officers of the United States will act virtuously and morally.”

    “And the idea that members of the Cabinet would go to the length of avoiding the Oval Office so as to abdicate their responsibility to verify the appropriateness of the President’s acuity or the ability to authenticate actions taken by the President – if that’s not a constitutional scandal, honestly, I don’t know what would constitute such.”

    “There could be the potential for crimes, but moreover, the 25th Amendment can only function in its procedural mechanisms if people are actually willing to call a spade a spade.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Representatives Will Remain Available in Kahului and Lahaina

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the availability of SBA  Recovery Centers on Maui to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by wildfires occurring Aug. 9-Sept. 30, 2023.

    FEMA has announced an end to in-person staffing at the two public-facing recovery centers on June 18. SBA customer service representatives will remain on hand at the Recovery Centers in Kahului and Lahaina to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The following locations are open and continue to serve survivors:

    MAUI COUNTY
    Council for Native Hawaiian
     Advancement (CNHA)
    70 E. Kaahumanu Ave., Unit D-1
    Kahului, HI  96732

    Mondays – Fridays, 
    9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    MAUI COUNTY
    Maui Office of Recovery West
    Lahaina Gateway, Unit 102-B
    (Near Ace Hardware)
    325 Keawe St.
    Lahaina, HI  96761

    Mondays –Fridays, 
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face‑to‑face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    SBA representatives will also provide help to business owners and residents at disaster recovery centers when they opened in the impacted area.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 2.37% for nonprofits, and 2.50% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Amnesty International – Urgent need to protect civilians amid unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran

    Source: Amnesty International
    As more and more civilians bear the cruel toll of the terrifying military escalation in Iran and Israel since 13 June 2025, and amid threats of further escalation in the conflict, Amnesty International is urging the Israeli and Iranian authorities to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.
    On 16 June, an Iranian government spokesperson reported that Israeli attacks had killed at least 224 people, including 74 women and children, without specifying how many of them were civilians. The health ministry also stated 1,800 people have been injured.
    In Israel, the Israeli Military Home Front reported that Iranian attacks had killed at least 24 people, including women and children, stating that they were all civilians, with nearly 600 injured.
    “As the number of deaths and injuries continue to rise, Amnesty International is urging both parties to comply with their obligations and ensure that civilians in both countries do not further pay the price of reckless military action,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
    “Further escalation of these hostilities risks unleashing devastating and far-reaching consequences for civilians across the region and beyond.
    “Statements by the US and the G7 so far have failed to recognise the catastrophic impact this escalation will have on civilians in both countries.
    “Instead of cheering on one party to the conflict over another as if civilian suffering is a mere sideshow, states must ensure the protection of civilians. Preventing further suffering must be the priority – not the pursuit of military or geopolitical goals.
    “Both Israeli and Iranian authorities have time and again demonstrated their utter disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law, committing grave international crimes with impunity.
    “The world must not allow Israel to use this military escalation to divert attention away from its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, its illegal occupation of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and its system of apartheid against Palestinians.
    “Likewise, the international community must not ignore the suffering that decades of crimes under international law by the Iranian authorities have inflicted upon people inside Iran, that is now being compounded by relentless bombardment.”
    Under international humanitarian law, all parties must take all feasible precautions to spare civilians and minimize their suffering and casualties. International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks directed at civilians and civilian objects, as well as attacks which do not distinguish between military targets and civilians or civilian infrastructure.
    For this reason, weapons that are extremely inaccurate and have large warheads that produce large area effects, such as ballistic missiles, should never be used in areas with large populations of civilians. Attacks on military objectives that are likely to result in disproportionate civilian casualties or destruction of civilian objects are also prohibited.
    In the deadliest incident in Israel, eight people including three children, were killed in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, on 15 June.
    In Iran, at least 12 people including children and a pregnant woman were killed in one attack in Tajrish square in Tehran on 15 June.
    In the shadow of this latest escalation, Israeli authorities continue to forcibly displace and starve Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip as part of their ongoing genocide. They have imposed a full closure on the West Bank, where state-backed settler violence continues to rise, further entrenching Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid system.
    Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have responded to Israel’s latest military attacks by imposing internet restrictions, arresting journalists and dissidents within the country. They have also restricted prisoners’ communication with the outside world, including those in prisons near sites of the bombings. On 16 June, the Iranian authorities executed a man for alleged espionage for Israel, raising concerns about the fate of others on death row for similar charges. The Iranian authorities must release all human rights defenders and others arbitrarily detained and should relocate other prisoners away from locations at risk of being attacked by Israel.
    Sinister and fear-inducing ‘ warnings’
    Over the past three days, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defence Israel Katz, and Persian-language spokesperson of the Israeli army Kamal Pinchasi have issued alarming threats and overly broad, ineffective evacuation warnings to millions of civilians in Tehran a major city with a population of around 10 million people, located in Tehran province which is home to around 19 million people. In some cases, warnings were issued in the middle of the night when residents were asleep or did not clarify if they referred to the city or the province of Tehran.
    On 16 June, Israel Katz, Israel’s Minister of Defense threatened on X that “the residents of Tehran will be forced to pay the price” for the actions of the Iranian authorities. Hours later, the Israeli military’s Persian-language spokesperson warned civilians to evacuate Tehran’s District Three – an area of approximately 30 square km and home to over 350,000 people- via a video showing unclear danger zones. The video included a map indicating danger zones for civilians but did not clearly specify targeted locations or areas of blast and fragmentation hazard, leaving residents uncertain about which areas to avoid. Iranian civil society activists later republished the map with cleared boundaries and locations named.
    Prior to the “evacuation” warnings on 16 June, the Israeli army had issued another overly broad warning in Persian, instructing people across the country to “immediately leave areas … [housing] military weapons manufacturing facilities and their support institutions”. The statement sowed panic and confusion among people, as the locations of military facilities are not known to the general public, and no clear guidance was provided on where civilians should or should not go to ensure their safety.
    Evacuation warnings, even if detailed and effective, do not release Israel from its other obligations under international humanitarian law. They must not treat as open-fire zones areas for which they have issued warnings. Millions of people in Tehran cannot leave, either because they have no alternative residences outside the city or due to limited mobility, disability, blocked roads, fuel shortages or other constraints. Israel has an obligation to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to these civilians.
    Early morning Tehran time on 17 June, US President Donald Trump caused further panic with a Truth Social post stating: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the White House amplified the message on X, amid media reports that the United States may join Israel in striking Iran.
    In reaction to the Israeli warnings, Iranian state media reported on 15 June that the Iranian armed forces had issued warnings urging residents of Tel Aviv to evacuate. In a video aired on state media, Reza Sayed, spokesperson of the Communication Center of the General Staff of the Armed Forces stated: “Leave the occupied territories [referring to Israel and the OPT], as they will undoubtedly become uninhabitable for you in the future … Do not allow the criminal regime to use you as human shields. Avoid residing or moving near the aforementioned locations and know that even underground shelters will not provide you with safety.”
    In Israel, these Iranian warnings have not triggered the same level of chaos and mass evacuation, largely due to the presence of the Iron Dome defense system and available shelters. However, there have been cases where civilians, particularly Palestinian citizens of Israel and Bedouin communities, who do not have access to underground shelters, such as the Khatib family in the Palestinian town of Tamra, were killed as a result of an Iranian missile strike. Israeli civil society groups are calling on the government to urgently address the chronic lack of protected space for non-Jewish Israeli citizens
    Parties to armed conflicts are prohibited from issuing threats of violence which are designed to spread terror among the civilian population. They cannot hide behind overly general warnings to claim that they have met their obligations under international law. To constitute effective warnings under international humanitarian law, parties must provide civilians with clear and practical instructions on moving away from military objectives that will be targeted rather than unlawfully calling for the mass exodus of millions – an approach that appears designed more to incite panic and terror among civilians than to ensure their protection.
    Internet shutdowns and media censorship
    In Iran, the authorities have disrupted access to the Internet and instant messaging applications, preventing millions of people caught up in the conflict from accessing essential information and communicating with loved ones both inside and outside the country and thereby exacerbating their suffering.
    “Access to the Internet is essential to protect human rights, especially in times of armed conflict where communications blackouts would prevent people from finding safe routes, accessing life-saving resources, and staying informed. The Iranian authorities must immediately ensure full restoration of internet and communication services in all of Iran,” said Agnès Callamard.
    The Israeli authorities are also using vague security pretexts to target people over social media posts or sharing videos deemed to breach strict censorship rules.
    “Israeli authorities must refrain from using military escalations, as they have done in the past, as a further pretext to crack down on freedom of expression, disproportionately targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel, including through arbitrary detention over unsubstantiated allegations of incitement,” said Agnès Callamard.
    Background
    On 13 June 2025, Israeli authorities launched air and drone strikes against Iranian territory. Shortly afterwards, Israeli officials announced that they launched the operation to target Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and decapitate Iran’s military leadership. The Israeli strikes began as Iran and the US were in the process of negotiating a new deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program and enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
    Iranian authorities have retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones against Israeli territory.
    Israeli attacks have struck cities in multiple provinces across Iran, including the provinces of Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Esfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, Hamedan, Lorestan, Ilam, Markazi, Qom, Tehran, West Azerbaijan and Khorasan Razavi.
    Iranian attacks have struck several urban areas in Israel, such as Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Tamra, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, Haifa, Herzliya.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nirmala Naidoo to the annual conference of the National Campus and Community Radio Association

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Nanaimo, British Columbia
    June 18, 2025

    Nirmala Naidoo, Commissioner for Alberta and the Northwest Territories
    Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Check against delivery

    Thank you for the invitation to speak today and for that warm welcome. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations. I thank them and pay respect to their Elders.

    Let me begin by saying: it’s great to be among my fellow broadcasters. In my short time with you today so far, I can see the excitement and exuberance for community broadcasting and news that so many of you have. It’s wonderful to be around that energy once again.

    My background is in the other side of broadcasting, of course, in television. But as a former journalist and anchor, and current CRTC Commissioner for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, I share your passion. Across my career I have seen firsthand how broadcasting connects people and how trusted sources of news can help inform public debate.

    And community and campus radio, as you all know, is all about connecting people. From its beginnings at Queen’s University amongst some student hobbyists in the 1920s, community and campus radio has blossomed into a vibrant community. There are stations across our country, from CHLY-FM here in Nanaimo to CJBI-FM broadcasting from Bell Island in Newfoundland and Labrador, and everywhere in between. Each of them plays a vital role in connecting Canadians in their communities to new opportunities, new artists, and the local news and information that matters to them.

    Campus and community stations continue to be a great entry point into radio for so many Canadians. I will give you a personal example from my own time at the University of Alberta to illustrate what I mean. For myself and so many of my fellow students, our campus radio station at the University of Alberta, CJSR, was our gateway into the world of local broadcasting. At CJSR we created content tailored specifically to our audience – our fellow students and the surrounding community.

    It was staffed and supported by the community it served. It was a place of hands-on learning, where students gained the real-world experience that would later become a career for some. It might have been only a few steps from our classrooms, but our time there prepared us better than any textbook could have.

    For some, campus and community radio provided the first step to a career in broadcast journalism or radio production. For others, community and campus radio provided a launching pad to stardom: Bob Cole, the longtime Hockey Night in Canada announcer started his career as a volunteer at CHFM in St. John’s; Tom Green hosted an overnight program in Ottawa on CHUO-FM; and back at the University of Alberta, I was lucky enough to witness k.d. lang’s rise from precocious talent to international star. Though lang would have certainly risen to the top regardless, I like to think CJSR played a small role in her emergence as we continually wore out recordings of her local band k.d. and the Reclines long before the artist’s Grammy wins and appearances on David Letterman.

    Connecting Canadians through broadcasting

    These are the types of Canadian success stories we love to see. And currently at the CRTC, we are focused on modernizing our broadcasting framework so we can ensure those same opportunities are still there for Canada’s next generation of radio producers, broadcast journalists, and yes, hockey announcers, comedians, and country western virtuosos.

    But before I get to the details of some of our ongoing proceedings, I’d like to give you one more example from my experiences, this one from earlier this year. I want to show you how the goals of NCRA members and those of the CRTC are often aligned and, importantly, how you can help us reach our goals together.

    Earlier this year I had the privilege of being on a panel that was considering two applications for a new radio licence to serve the community of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. The CRTC is still considering the applications and the public record, and we expect to issue our decision in the coming weeks.

    But I bring up that hearing not to discuss the decision, but to relate the incredible levels of engagement we saw in Yellowknife concerning local radio. Over two days in Yellowknife we convened in front of a packed and engaged audience, many of whom lined up first thing in the morning to ensure a seat. And in February, that meant braving temperatures of minus forty – you would have thought k.d. lang herself was going to be there.

    We heard from local and Indigenous residents, musicians, journalists, business owners and more. We heard, and could clearly see, how important local radio was to this community. How they depended on local news from trusted local sources. How evacuees and first responders relied on local radio for vital information during last year’s devastating wildfires. And we heard how important it was for those stations to be staffed and run by people in their communities who know their markets.

    I imagine for many of you that is starting to sound familiar, and well it should. Local radio is grounded in the communities they serve, whether they are broadcasting in remote areas or for localized communities living in our largest cities. And at the CRTC, we are working to ensure the conditions are favourable for radio stations to be part of the future of Canadian broadcasting.

    But to do that, we need your help. The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest and makes decisions based on the public record. And that last point is key. All of our decisions are based on the interventions, submissions, and contributions of anyone who wants to provide input on our proceedings – from the largest broadcasters to members of the public.

    So when it comes to shaping the future of Canadian broadcasting, everyone has a role to play. You know your communities better than anyone else – we need your input to help us understand the needs of your stations and the communities you serve.

    Public participation is critical to CRTC proceedings. It’s how we ensure that the decisions we make are in the public interest, and how we ensure Canadians have access to the media, entertainment, and news that they enjoy and need.

    There are so many ways you can engage with the CRTC: by submitting a formal intervention, chatting with me here today, or simply giving us a call with your questions. Some of my colleagues are here with me today. They would be happy to answer your questions, and we have brought some cards in case you need to contact us in the future.

    When you take part in our proceedings, you are giving your stations and the communities you serve a voice in the regulatory process. So I encourage you to do so, either as part of the NCRA, your individual station, or simply as someone who listens and watches to content on radio, television or online.

    I would like to take the rest of my time today to turn to the broadcasting modernization process, our environment, and a few of our ongoing proceedings.

    Modernizing the broadcasting industry and ongoing radio policy proceedings

    We started the modernization process soon after Parliament adopted the Online Streaming Act, which amended the Broadcasting Act. While we have been moving quickly, this is the first major overhaul of Canada’s broadcasting frameworks since 1993 – it’s a big job.

    And as we have been working, we have been watching alongside all of you as the world in which we operate has become more unstable and uncertain. We know that the broadcasting industry is not immune to those currents of change.

    So it has made our job doubly difficult: we must do what we can to address the current challenges facing the broadcasting industry while also ensuring the frameworks we create will sustain a successful broadcasting system years into the future.

    We are taking into account both of these goals in all of our proceedings. There are two ongoing in particular concerning audio broadcasting that I would like to touch on.

    The first is our proceeding focused on reducing the regulatory burden on radio stations operating in Canada. By streamlining requirements, our goal is to help radio stations remain dynamic and competitive while still ensuring their programming serves the public interest.

    I know the NCRA submitted an intervention in this proceeding, and we thank you for it. We will continue to review all the information submitted on the public record, and will make a decision on this key issue as quickly as possible.

    Secondly, there is a review of the definition of Canadian content for audio services. In line with our efforts on the audio-visual side, we need to modernize our approach to radio and audio regulatory policy. So earlier this year, we sought comments on the definition for audio services, and received comments from a wide range of groups, communities, and industry members. Everything submitted to us will help us update the definition of Canadian content for audio services.

    This included French-speaking, Indigenous and official language-minority communities – many of which I know your members serve. If we are going to ensure our broadcasting system supports our homegrown musicians, we need to ensure the definition of Canadian content captures the full breadth of our country.

    The updated definition will be used to support the creation, distribution, and discoverability of Canadian and Indigenous audio content across radio and online audio streaming platforms.

    Ultimately, we want to ensure our system gives Canadians access to the audio and music content they want, and our aim is to help ensure that content can be easily discovered and enjoyed.

    And the timing for this update is fortuitous – we can see that perhaps at no other time in Canadian history has there been such an appetite for Canadian talent and a desire across the country to see Canadians succeed. We want to help ensure our broadcasting frameworks are creating the conditions for Canadian musicians, artists, and performers to excel. 

    Supporting local news

    At the same time, we are focused on ensuring local news is part of the Canadian broadcasting system and widely available. Given the instability I mentioned before and the growing prevalence of natural disasters like the wildfires currently affecting the Prairies, ensuring local news and information is widely available is more critical than it has ever been.

    Just as we heard in Yellowknife, we know this includes community radio stations. That’s why we decided the Community Radio Fund of Canada would receive additional funding as part of last year’s decision on base contributions that online services must make to support the Canadian broadcasting system. Community, campus and Indigenous stations can benefit through the Local Journalism Initiative administered by the Fund.

    And we are also currently looking at how to help support local news produced by commercial radio stations. Late last year we held a consultation on this, and we are exploring how we can best support local stations in rural and remote communities. We are currently considering an application submitted by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters to run this fund, as well as all submissions made to us as part of this proceeding. We hope to have a decision ready in the coming weeks.

    Additionally, as part of our implementation of the Online News Act, we have established a framework which aims to ensure the largest online platforms fairly compensate Canadian news organizations when their content appears on those services. Google has secured an exemption from the mandatory bargaining under the Act and has committed $100 million annually for five years to support Canadian news organizations. Google’s initial contribution is being disbursed by the Canadian Journalism Collective, and news organizations across Canada are now receiving funding as a result of the Act. 

    Finally, I want to mention a decision we made just last week to modify the Independent Local News Fund, or ILNF. The decision was made after a consultation last fall reviewing the ILNF and its support for local news. We wanted to make sure that local, independent television stations across the country were supported as they produced news. We also wanted to address how any additional funding coming into the audio-visual broadcasting system should be allocated.

    The decision is an important step in supporting local news and information, and confirms that high-quality and diverse local news are an integral part of the Canadian broadcasting system. It also ensures that Canadians have access to local news and information in whatever medium they prefer: all recipients of ILNF funding are now required to make their local news and information available online.

    Although this recent decision supports television broadcasters, I mention it to point out how seriously we are taking the importance of local news and content. It remains a central part of Canadian broadcasting, and impartial news and information is something to be protected and preserved for years into the future.

    Conclusion

    The decisions and proceedings I have detailed today are key pieces of our ongoing work, but they are just a part of our overall modernizing of Canada’s broadcasting frameworks.

    And the message I want to leave you with today is that taken together, all of our proceedings, whether we are talking about removing regulatory burden or revising Canadian content definitions, are about connecting people.

    These are goals the CRTC and NCRA members share.

    We want to connect Canadians to the music and content they enjoy.

    We want to connect artists to new opportunities and new audiences.

    And we want to connect all Canadians to the local news and information they need, when they need it.

    These goals shape our decisions in the same way they guide the work you do each and every day at your local station.

    So, as I mentioned before, work with us. Contribute to our proceedings. Help give your communities and your stations a voice.

    Let’s work together to set up the next generation of Canadian broadcasting to succeed, to excel, and to thrive.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Demanding Meaningful Stablecoin Guardrails, Reed Votes Against So-Called “GENIUS Act”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Citing a lack of consumer and taxpayer protections and serious crypto corruption and national security concerns, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) voted against the so-called GENIUS Act (S.1582), which passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 68-30.

    The controversial bill places a government stamp of approval on “stablecoins,” which are crypto dollars that could be minted by big retailers, big tech companies, foreign companies, and even President Trump’s family. In a similar way that banks allow customers to send and receive money, stablecoins claim to do the same in a faster and cheaper way.

    Exposing taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to high levels of risk, the GENIUS Act says that stablecoin companies would not need to comply with dozens of the same consumer protection laws that apply to similar firms and that help prevent scams and fraud.

    This legislation repeats some of the same mistakes that led to the 2008 financial crisis, fostered by the mistaken belief that stablecoin issuers are simple and safe companies that are unlikely to get into trouble and do not need significant regulation to protect customer funds.

    Rather than provide meaningful protections for consumers, the legislation weakens existing state laws on cryptocurrency to make it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital, meaning that companies could be unable to weather a financial crisis.  This leaves U.S. taxpayers exposed to bailouts if crypto markets crash.

    Furthermore, the bill makes it possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an independent audit and makes it virtually impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter, even if the company engages in fraudulent activity. And if a stablecoin company goes bankrupt, consumers must get in line to get their money back and hope that they will make a full recovery.

    The bill coincides with the launch of the Trump family’s own stablecoin venture called “USD1,” which has already been used by a foreign government to funnel at least $2 billion to the President.  The bill actually includes an express provision greenlighting the ability to name a stablecoin “USD,” as President Trump has done.

    Another beneficiary of this bill is Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin that is based in El Salvador and is used by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, drug cartels, and many other criminal organizations.  Russia, Iran, and North Korea will continue to have venues to use dollar alternatives to bypass U.S. sanctions.

    The GENIUS Act allows Tether to operate freely in the United States with minimal oversight and without providing sufficient tools for the government to stop its abuse for weapons proliferation, war, human trafficking, scams, and other illegal activity.

    Senator Reed says that Congress should be fostering innovation while protecting consumers and national security, however unless these issues are fixed, the GENIUS Act would not balance these two important goals.

    “The so-called GENIUS Act is deeply flawed and doesn’t do enough to protect consumers, national security, and U.S. taxpayers.  Instead of strengthening consumer protections and building clear guardrails that prevent America’s adversaries from using stablecoins to their advantage, this bill greenlights President Trump using his office to line his own pockets while looking the other way at North Korea’s crypto abuses,” said Senator Reed.  “As the popularity of stablecoins continues to grow, we need to provide real guardrails and authorities for regulators.  Nevertheless, Senate Republicans have prioritized the wants of President Trump over the needs of American consumers.”

    Senator Reed has taken to the Senate floor twice recently to outline his concerns with the GENIUS Act, including in a speech Monday night. In remarks on the Senate floor last Thursday, Senator Reed called on Republicans to work across the aisle to better serve American consumers and strengthen crypto guardrails.

    The full transcript of those remarks follows:

    Mr. President, I rise today to discuss S. 1582, the so-called GENIUS Act.

    Several weeks ago, when the Majority Leader said we would have votes on amendments, I took him seriously and was one of the first to file. 

    We could have been voting on my amendments and those of my colleagues at any time in the last few weeks, but that hasn’t happened.  That is regrettable, because the GENIUS Act, as it is currently drafted, is fundamentally flawed. 

    The GENIUS Act exposes taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to unacceptable risk.  And it creates venues for criminals, terrorists, and rogue governments to finance their illicit activities.  

    Among other things, this bill places the U.S. government’s stamp of approval on Tether—the world’s largest stablecoin, which is based in El Salvador and favored by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, the drug cartels, and so many other criminal organizations. 

    It takes already weak state laws, makes them weaker, and applies them nationwide…making it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital and unable to weather a financial crisis.  It’s possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an audit.  It’s impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter—even if it turns out to be a Ponzi scheme or if an executive dips into customer funds.

    The GENIUS Act buys into the belief that the billionaires running the industry know what they’re doing and that the marriage of complex financial products and complex technology simply can’t fail.  The one thing the billionaires know how to do is protect their interests. 

    Not surprisingly this bill leaves open the door to bailouts, which we have seen time and time again for other lightly regulated nonbanks that got into trouble, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG, and Bear Stearns. 

    When there is a run on a stablecoin…and there will be a run one day…the industry will run to the American taxpayer for a bailout, and the GENIUS Act paves the way for that to happen with no limits on the Federal Reserve’s authority to prop up the industry.

    Finally, this bill perpetuates Donald Trump’s naked corruption.  It actually greenlights the name of Trump’s stablecoin—USD1—and allows Trump’s hand-picked regulators to write the rules of the road governing his most recent business venture. 

    Mr. President, we need to provide real guardrails for financial regulators to protect consumers, real tools for national security agencies to address this new technology, and real authority for the government to intervene before a crisis gets out of hand. 

    Real guardrails and real tools . . .  not words on a page that give only the “aura” of regulation and protection with no teeth. 

    My amendments and those offered by colleagues on the both sides of the aisle would help provide these tools and authorities.  However, it appears that we won’t have the opportunity to consider a single one of them and fix this bill.

    I urge my colleagues to oppose this highly flawed bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s vision for deeper financial opening-up highlighted at Shanghai Lujiazui Forum

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

    China’s vision for deeper financial opening-up highlighted at Shanghai Lujiazui Forum

    SHANGHAI, June 18 — Multiple government officials have delivered speeches at the annual Lujiazui Forum being held in east China’s Shanghai, pledging efforts to promote high-standard financial opening-up despite mounting global geopolitical uncertainty.

    Among the most high-profile measures being discussed at the forum is a plan to establish an international operations center for the digital RMB, which was unveiled by Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). The move aims to promote the internationalization of the digital currency, as well as the development of financial market services, while supporting innovation in the field of digital finance.

    The center’s establishment is one of eight new measures set to be piloted in Shanghai, Pan said. Others include the development of free trade offshore bonds to expand financing channels for companies, and the optimization of the free trade account system to facilitate cross-border trade and investment for enterprises.

    Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the PBOC and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said that to advance the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, policies will be implemented nationwide to encourage foreign investment in research institutions and ease cross-border financing for technology-based enterprises.

    The policy of integrating funding pools for multinational companies in both domestic and foreign currencies will be promoted nationwide to facilitate the utilization of funds within multinational corporate groups, according to Zhu.

    A package of innovative foreign exchange policies will be implemented in China’s pilot free trade zones, including policies to optimize new international trade settlements and expand the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) pilot program, Zhu said.

    On Wednesday, SAFE unveiled a notice to solicit public advice on deepening reforms of the foreign exchange management of cross-border investment and financing, with the notice also pledging to facilitate cross-border financing further.

    China will exempt foreign-invested enterprises from registration requirements for domestic reinvestment, and this pilot policy will be expanded nationwide.

    On the capital market, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, emphasized the role that foreign funds and institutions play in China’s capital market, calling for the promotion of the broad opening-up of markets, products and institutions.

    Following Wu’s speech, the securities regulator announced that it would allow qualified foreign investors to participate in on-exchange exchange-traded fund (ETF) options trading from Oct. 9 this year for hedging purposes only.

    China has made steady progress in financial liberalization in recent years. According to Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the country has optimized its model of “pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list for foreign investment,” while most restrictions on foreign access to China’s banking and insurance sectors have now been removed.

    Looking ahead, the country plans to continue improving its business environment for foreign investors, aiming to foster a more welcoming, inclusive atmosphere in which foreign institutions can leverage their strengths and grow sustainably, Li added.

    Initiated in 2008, the Lujiazui Forum has become a platform for dialogue among policymakers, financial experts and business leaders from around the world. This year’s forum, themed “Financial opening-up and cooperation for high-quality development in a changing global economy,” runs from Wednesday to Thursday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Reliance Global Group Announces Up To $6.75 Million Private Placement Priced At-The-Market Under Nasdaq Rules

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAKEWOOD, NJ, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: RELI) (“Reliance,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”), today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 1,488,096 shares of its common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and short-term warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,976,192 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $1.68 per share (or per pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) and accompanying short-term warrants in a private placement priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. The short-term warrants will be exercisable immediately upon issuance at an exercise price of $1.43 per share and will expire two years from the effective date of the Resale Registration Statement (as defined below). The offering is expected to close on or about June 20, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. 

    H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. 

    The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the private placement is expected to be approximately $2.5 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The potential additional gross proceeds to the Company from the short-term warrants, if fully-exercised on a cash basis, will be approximately $4.25 million. No assurance can be given that any of such short-term warrants will be exercised. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

    The shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants and short-term warrants described above were offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants and short-term warrants, have not been registered under the Act or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the shares of common stock, the pre-funded warrants, the short-term warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants and short-term warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The securities were offered only to accredited investors. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement, the Company has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the SEC covering the resale of the shares of common stock and the shares issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants and warrants (the “Resale Registration Statement”).

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Reliance Global Group, Inc.

    Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, whilst reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance.  In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” and similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding:

    • the expected closing of the private placement and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions;
    • the Company’s intended use of proceeds from the offering;
    • the potential additional gross proceeds from the exercise of the short-term warrants;
    • the effectiveness of the Resale Registration Statement;
    • and the Company’s growth strategy and expectations regarding its operations, platforms, and market positioning,

    are forward-looking statements and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties.

    These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including, among others: that the offering will close on the anticipated timeline; that market and economic conditions will remain stable; that the Company will be able to deploy the net proceeds effectively; and that investors will exercise the short-term warrants in full or in part. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove correct.

    There are numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These include, among others: the risk that the offering may not close as expected or at all; the risk that the Company may not receive the anticipated proceeds from the short-term warrants; risks associated with the Company’s ability to use the proceeds effectively; general business, economic, competitive, regulatory and market factors; the impact of adverse capital and credit market conditions; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, and in other reports filed or to be filed by the Company with the SEC.

    You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: RELI@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Narda-MITEQ Awarded Prototype to Optimize Power Dividers in Growler Aircrafts for DoN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Program Manager Air (PMA)–265 and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), in partnership with NSTXL through the S²MARTS OTA, have announced a prototype award to optimize Power Dividers for the EA–18G aircraft. NAVAIR is qualifying a new design and source of supply for the Power Dividers, which are utilized in the ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Jamming Subsystem Receiver (TJSR). The prototyping and qualification will be awarded to Narda-MITEQ.

    Prior to the award, NAVAIR participated in an event in which organizations interested in submitting could engage with NAVAIR and ask questions about the opportunity, as well as clarify government needs. The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), the agreement vehicle for the opportunity, hosted the event as well as an industry networking event to encourage teaming. OTAs are a modern, efficient prototyping vehicle suitable for opportunities like Power Dividers that need to move quickly.

    The S2MARTS OTA is managed by National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). NSTXL is a consortium manager focused on revolutionizing government innovation. With accelerated prototyping processes through OTAs, DoD can make leading technologies like power dividers available to the Warfighter faster than ever.

    About S2MARTS
    The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT agreement vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.

    For media inquiries contact:
    NSTXL Press
    press@nstxl.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Narda-MITEQ Awarded Prototype to Optimize Power Dividers in Growler Aircrafts for DoN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Program Manager Air (PMA)–265 and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), in partnership with NSTXL through the S²MARTS OTA, have announced a prototype award to optimize Power Dividers for the EA–18G aircraft. NAVAIR is qualifying a new design and source of supply for the Power Dividers, which are utilized in the ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Jamming Subsystem Receiver (TJSR). The prototyping and qualification will be awarded to Narda-MITEQ.

    Prior to the award, NAVAIR participated in an event in which organizations interested in submitting could engage with NAVAIR and ask questions about the opportunity, as well as clarify government needs. The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), the agreement vehicle for the opportunity, hosted the event as well as an industry networking event to encourage teaming. OTAs are a modern, efficient prototyping vehicle suitable for opportunities like Power Dividers that need to move quickly.

    The S2MARTS OTA is managed by National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). NSTXL is a consortium manager focused on revolutionizing government innovation. With accelerated prototyping processes through OTAs, DoD can make leading technologies like power dividers available to the Warfighter faster than ever.

    About S2MARTS
    The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT agreement vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.

    For media inquiries contact:
    NSTXL Press
    press@nstxl.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Review: BRICS Cooperation Space Constantly Expands – SPIEF Participants

    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

    St. Petersburg, June 18 (Xinhua) — The cooperation space between the BRICS countries is constantly expanding, especially after the expansion of the association began in 2024. This was stated on Wednesday by participants of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the session “BRICS and Partners: Creating a Joint Business Future.”

    Director of the Beijing-Moscow International Trade and Economic Center Ma Shuang noted that China has a long-term strategy for building relations with the BRICS countries. Among the areas that have the greatest potential for joint investment and opening up new markets, she named information technology and the Internet.

    Vice President of the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce Lebohan Zulu stressed that the main barrier to increasing cooperation among BRICS countries is the legacy of the unipolar world system, which is expressed in the dominance of one currency in the world market, and the insufficient development of international transport and logistics networks. In her opinion, work in these areas, as well as the development of e-commerce platforms, can open up a huge number of prospects and opportunities for BRICS members and partners.

    According to Anna Nesterova, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Global Rus Trade and Chairperson of the Russian Part of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, the expansion of the association has demonstrated broad interest in it among countries around the world. She believes that education and the involvement of more and more women in entrepreneurial activity are relevant areas for the development of cooperation in BRICS. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby Visits Black Sea Technologies in Baltimore, Observes Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle Operations and Advanced Manufacturing Facility

    Source: United States Navy

    Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby visited the BlackSea Technologies (BlackSea) headquarters and production facilities in Baltimore, June 18, to see first-hand how BlackSea supports the U.S. Navy’s Small Unmanned Surface Vehicles (sUSV) program and how it plans to continue to expand its capabilities to support fleet operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Embassy Bancorp, Inc. Announces Annual Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Embassy Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: EMYB) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared an annual cash dividend of $0.48 per share, payable on July 15, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 27, 2025. This represents an over 14% increase over last year’s dividend and our 16th consecutive year of paying a dividend.

    “I’m proud to share our annual dividend and the continued strength of our performance,” said David M. Lobach, Jr., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “Our consistent dividend payments reflect not only our financial stability but also our unwavering commitment to delivering long-term value to our shareholders.

    Over the past year, we’ve been honored with several prestigious recognitions. For the 10th consecutive year, we were named Reader’s Choice Best Bank by The Morning Call, serving the Lehigh Valley. We were also recognized as Best Bank and Best Mortgage Company in Lehigh Valley Style Magazine’s Who’s Who in Business. Additionally, we earned a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial and were ranked 45th among the top 100 publicly traded community banks with assets under $2 billion by American Banker Magazine, based on a three-year average return on equity.

    These accolades are a testament to our deep-rooted focus on customer service, community engagement, and the dedication of our exceptional team. As an independent, community-focused bank, we remain committed to our founding vision: to serve the Lehigh Valley with integrity, responsiveness, and a long-term perspective. We believe this positions us well for continued growth and success for all our stakeholders.”

    About Embassy Bancorp, Inc.

    With over $1.7 billion in assets, Embassy Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Embassy Bank For the Lehigh Valley, a full-service community bank operating ten branch offices in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. As of June 30, 2024, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Summary of Deposits indicates that the Bank holds the 4th spot in deposit market share in Lehigh and Northampton Counties combined. For more information, visit www.embassybank.com.

    Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

    This document may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: ineffectiveness of the company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; the effects of competition, and of changes in laws and regulations, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products and services; interest rate movements; changes in credit quality; difficulties in integrating distinct business operations, including information technology difficulties; volatilities in the securities markets; and deteriorating economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Embassy Bancorp, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The statements are valid only as of the date hereof and Embassy Bancorp, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update this information.

    Contact: Lynne M. Neel (610) 882-8800

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Mauritius

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 18, 2025

    • The Mauritian economy continues to exhibit resilience with growth at 4.7 percent in 2024 and contained inflation. The growth outlook remains favorable, though risks are to the downside.
    • Mauritius needs to recalibrate the macroeconomic policy mix to rebuild fiscal space. The monetary policy framework needs to be strengthened while continued monitoring of macro-financial risks is essential to maintain financial stability.
    • Advancing key reforms to foster external competitiveness and private sector-led growth while enhancing climate resilience will reduce external imbalances.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for Mauritius.[1]

    Mauritius’ economy remains resilient. Real GDP grew by 4.7 percent in 2024, from 5.0 percent in 2023, driven by services, construction, and tourism. Headline inflation (12-month average) declined to
    2.5 percent in March 2025 from 7.0 percent in 2023, helped by easing international food and energy prices and lower fuel excise duties. The external current account deficit widened in 2024 to
    6.5 percent of GDP, mostly reflecting higher imports and freight costs. Gross foreign reserves increased to US$8.5 billion by end-2024, covering almost 12 months of imports. Looking ahead, the country needs to address fiscal and structural challenges, notably the high public debt, significant public investment needs, low productivity, and an ageing society.

    The outlook for growth is favorable. Real GDP growth is projected to soften to 3.0 percent in 2025 due to weakening external demand, easing tourism activity, and the drought. Over the medium term, growth is expected at around 3.4 percent, reflecting demographic headwinds and labor shortages. Inflation is projected to average 3.6 percent in 2025 and remain within BOM’s target range over the medium term. The external current account deficit is projected to reduce to 4.7 percent of GDP in 2025—reflecting lower oil prices, as exports grow modestly amid the slowdown in global demand—and to increase in 2026 due to subdued exports, but gradually decline thereafter. The primary fiscal deficit (excluding grants) for FY24/25 is projected to worsen by 3.4 ppt of GDP relative to FY23/24, to 6.5 percent of GDP, mostly driven by higher compensation of employees, social benefits, and grants and transfers. The stock of public sector debt is projected at around 88 percent of GDP at end-June 2025, and to gradually decline in the medium term.

    Risks to the outlook are on the downside, including from global uncertainty, tariff wars, higher-than-anticipated fuel and food prices, and extreme climate shocks.

     

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    The economy has recovered solidly from the pandemic and the outlook is favorable, but fiscal and structural challenges remain. The recovery has been driven by services, construction, and tourism. The medium-term outlook is favorable but held back by demographic headwinds and labor shortages. Mauritius is facing fiscal and structural challenges from high public debt, significant public investment needs for climate, low productivity, and an ageing society. Risks to the outlook are on the downside including from high global uncertainty, highlighting the importance of addressing fiscal and external imbalances to increase the resilience of the economy.

    Fiscal policy should pursue frontloaded growth-friendly consolidation to shore up fiscal credibility, helping rebuild fiscal space while protecting the most vulnerable. Tax revenue should be increased and current and ESFs’ spending contained while safeguarding critical social spending and growth-enhancing capital spending. Pension system reform remains key to support fiscal sustainability, especially given the ageing of Mauritius’ population. Strengthening public financial management, including by streamlining ESFs, will support fiscal consolidation, transparency, and good governance.

    BOM should start to gradually phase out its ownership of MIC and strengthen the implementation of the monetary policy framework by resuming uncapped issuance of 7-Day BOM bills (at the key policy rate). BOM should stand ready to tighten the monetary policy stance should inflationary pressures reemerge. BOM should adopt amendments to the BOM Act, including to ensure fiscal backing, to protect central bank independence. Ministry of Finance and BOM are encouraged to strengthen the commitment on their mutual agreement for BOM independence. Mauritius should continue to rely on exchange rate flexibility and FX purchases when opportunities arise, and in line with the monetary policy framework, to help further build foreign reserves buffers to ensure ability to respond to large external shocks. 

    Mauritius’ external position at end-2024 is assessed as weaker than the level implied by fundamentals and desirable policies, and structural reforms to foster external competitiveness are needed to reduce external imbalances. Steady progress in strengthening the AML/CFT framework is welcome and should be sustained, including provisions related to non-resident and cross-border activity. Financial sector risks should continue to be closely monitored including of the real estate sector. Ongoing efforts to improve external sector statistics, including measurement of the GBCs sector, should be sustained. Statistical gaps and discrepancies should be addressed to improve the quality and credibility of macroeconomic statistics.

    Mauritius should advance structural reforms that boost investment and innovation to secure longer-term private sector-led growth. Priorities include strengthening workers’ skills through better education and narrowing gender gaps as well as advancing climate adaptation efforts to support economic resilience.

     

    Mauritius: Selected Economic Indicators
     
     

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    		  
           

    Est.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    		  
     
                               
     

    (Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

    		    

    National income, prices and employment

    		                          

    Real GDP

    		  

    -14.5

    3.4

    8.7

    5.0

    4.7

    3.0

    3.4

    3.4

    3.4

    3.4

    3.4

    		  

    Real GDP per capita

    		  

    -14.6

    3.6

    8.9

    5.1

    4.9

    3.2

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    3.7

    3.8

    		  

    GDP per capita (in U.S. dollars)

    		  

    9,011

    9,087

    10,235

    11,188

    11,883

    12,448

    13,287

    14,183

    15,128

    16,131

    17,190

    		  

    GDP deflator

    		  

    2.6

    3.2

    9.6

    6.6

    3.8

    3.8

    3.7

    3.7

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    		  

    Consumer prices inflation (period average)

    		  

    2.5

    4.0

    10.8

    7.0

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    3.5

    3.5

    3.5

    3.5

    		  

    Consumer prices inflation (end of period)

    		  

    2.7

    6.8

    12.2

    3.9

    2.9

    3.9

    3.5

    3.5

    3.5

    3.5

    3.5

    		  

    Unemployment rate (percent)

    		  

    9.2

    9.1

    6.8

    6.1

    5.8

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    		  
                               
       

    (Annual percent change)

    		    

    External sector

    		                          

    Exports of goods and services, f.o.b.

    		  

    -23.8

    5.2

    45.7

    4.0

    3.0

    1.7

    2.3

    7.1

    6.2

    6.5

    7.4

    		  

    Of which: tourism receipts

    		  

    -73.8

    -23.8

    313.1

    29.7

    6.0

    -4.6

    5.3

    7.7

    8.6

    8.1

    7.7

    		  

    Imports of goods and services, f.o.b.

    		  

    -29.1

    16.0

    32.9

    -0.3

    6.4

    0.7

    4.7

    5.3

    4.9

    4.3

    5.3

    		  

    Nominal effective exchange rate (annual average)

    		  

    -8.0

    -8.0

    3.6

    0.5

    -1.4

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    		  

    Real effective exchange rate (annual average)

    		  

    -7.6

    -7.5

    6.2

    1.7

    -0.6

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    		  

    Terms of trade

    		  

    5.1

    -12.0

    -5.1

    8.3

    0.0

    2.3

    2.0

    0.7

    0.5

    0.5

    0.4

    		  
                               
             

    Money and credit

    		                          

    Net foreign assets

    		  

    16.4

    18.6

    -3.6

    -0.3

    18.3

    1.5

    2.7

    2.5

    2.1

    2.2

    3.0

    		  

    Domestic credit

    		  

    7.9

    15.6

    13.1

    9.7

    13.7

    7.2

    6.5

    6.3

    6.1

    6.0

    5.9

    		  

    Net claims on government

    		  

    8.8

    34.8

    24.6

    26.1

    31.3

    13.2

    7.7

    6.0

    5.3

    4.5

    3.7

    		  

    Credit to non-government sector

    		  

    2.7

    0.4

    -0.6

    8.0

    8.3

    6.0

    6.9

    7.2

    7.1

    7.1

    7.1

    		  

    Broad money

    		  

    17.7

    8.6

    4.1

    7.8

    12.9

    6.4

    7.6

    8.5

    8.4

    8.4

    7.9

    		  

    Income velocity of broad money (M2)

    		  

    0.8

    0.8

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    		  
                               
       

    (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    		    

    Central government finances 1

    		                          

    Overall borrowing requirement 2

    		  

    -22.1

    -5.5

    -4.7

    -6.1

    -10.4

    -5.4

    -3.7

    -3.4

    -2.9

    -2.4

    -2.0

    		  

    Primary balance (excluding grants) 

    		  

    -16.5

    -4.9

    -2.7

    -3.1

    -6.5

    -3.0

    -1.3

    -0.3

    0.1

    0.4

    0.5

    		  

    Revenues (incl. grants)

    		  

    21.6

    24.2

    24.5

    24.0

    25.7

    27.0

    27.3

    27.5

    27.5

    27.5

    27.4

    		  

    Expenditure, excl. net lending

    		  

    40.4

    31.1

    29.4

    29.7

    35.2

    32.3

    31.2

    30.3

    29.9

    29.4

    28.9

    		  

    Domestic debt of central government

    		  

    67.5

    61.9

    57.3

    58.7

    64.4

    65.8

    65.7

    65.3

    64.5

    64.0

    63.7

    		  

    External debt of central government

    		  

    15.8

    14.0

    13.8

    12.7

    14.8

    14.9

    14.8

    14.7

    14.6

    14.3

    13.9

    		  
                               

    Investment and saving 4

    		                          

    Gross domestic investment

    		  

    18.2

    19.8

    19.8

    20.2

    21.0

    22.0

    22.4

    22.5

    22.5

    22.5

    22.5

    		  

    Public

    		  

    4.1

    4.1

    3.9

    3.9

    3.8

    4.1

    4.2

    4.3

    4.3

    4.3

    4.3

    		  

    Private 3

    		  

    14.1

    15.7

    15.8

    16.3

    17.2

    17.9

    18.2

    18.2

    18.2

    18.2

    18.2

    		  

    Gross national savings

    		  

    11.6

    12.6

    17.1

    22.4

    23.4

    23.8

    25.0

    26.1

    26.5

    26.2

    26.4

    		  

    Public

    		  

    -7.9

    -5.6

    -2.0

    -2.4

    -4.5

    -4.0

    -1.7

    -0.7

    -0.1

    0.4

    0.8

    		  

    Private

    		  

    19.5

    18.2

    19.2

    24.8

    28.0

    27.8

    26.7

    26.8

    26.6

    25.9

    25.6

    		  

    External sector

    		                          

    Balance of goods and services

    		  

    -10.7

    -16.1

    -14.8

    -11.7

    -13.2

    -12.3

    -13.0

    -12.2

    -11.6

    -10.5

    -9.6

    		  

    Exports of goods and services, f.o.b.

    		  

    35.1

    36.7

    47.6

    45.3

    43.9

    42.7

    41.0

    41.2

    41.1

    41.2

    41.7

    		  

    Imports of goods and services, f.o.b.

    		  

    -45.8

    -52.7

    -62.4

    -56.9

    -57.2

    -55.0

    -54.0

    -53.4

    -52.7

    -51.7

    -51.2

    		  

    Current account balance

    		  

    -8.9

    -13.1

    -11.1

    -5.1

    -6.5

    -4.7

    -6.1

    -5.0

    -4.3

    -3.7

    -3.0

    		  

    Capital and financial account

    		  

    3.3

    23.3

    13.4

    -0.9

    14.5

    6.1

    9.1

    6.7

    5.9

    5.2

    4.6

    		  

    Overall balance

    		  

    -4.4

    10.2

    2.8

    -5.5

    7.3

    1.4

    2.9

    1.8

    1.6

    1.5

    1.6

    		  

    Total external debt

    		  

    110.7

    134.0

    132.2

    131.6

    139.2

    128.9

    119.3

    110.8

    102.2

    94.1

    87.1

    		  

    Gross international reserves (millions of U.S. dollars)

    		  

    7,242

    7,805

    7,740

    7,254

    8,510

    8,675

    9,163

    9,475

    9,781

    10,083

    10,420

    		  

    Months of imports of goods and services, f.o.b.

    		  

    14.3

    11.6

    11.6

    10.2

    11.8

    11.6

    11.6

    11.4

    11.3

    11.2

    11.1

    		  
                               

    Memorandum items:

    		                          

    GDP at current market prices (billions of Mauritian rupees)

    		  

    448.9

    478.8

    570.3

    638.3

    694.0

    742.3

    796.0

    853.3

    914.0

    979.0

    1,048.7

    		  

    GDP at current market prices (millions of U.S. dollars)

    		  

    11,408

    11,484

    12,908

    14,101

    14,953

    15,641

    16,662

    17,748

    18,890

    20,082

    21,326

    		  

    Public sector debt, fiscal year (percent of GDP)4

    		  

    91.9

    86.1

    81.8

    81.5

    88.3

    89.1

    88.1

    86.9

    85.3

    83.9

    82.7

    		  
                               

    Foreign and local currency long-term debt rating (Moody’s)

    		  

    Baa1

    Baa2

    Baa3

    Baa3

    Baa3

    Baa3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    		  
                             

    Sources:  Country authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    		                          

    1GFSM 2001 concept of net lending/net borrowing, includes special and other extrabudgetary funds. Fiscal data reported for fiscal years (e.g, 2019=2019/20).

    		      

    2 Following the GFSM 2014, Sections 5.111.5.116, the transfers from the BOM to the

    Central Government are considered as financing.

    		            

    3  Excludes changes in inventories in 2022 and outer years.

    		                                                                                              

    4 The public debt series has been reclassified starting in the 2024 AIV Mission to allow

    consolidation of central government securities held by non-financial
    public corporations

    		                                                                    
                                                                                                                 

     

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when the Board agrees that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/18/pr-25204-mauritius-imf-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This weekend kicks off the summer camping season at Oregon State Parks

    Source: US State of Oregon

    ALEM, Oregon— This weekend kicks off the official summer camping season, but the work to prepare Oregon’s more than 250 state parks and campgrounds has been going all year long.

    Behind the scenes, park rangers have moved mountains of sand, cleared thousands of downed trees and repaired roofs, bridges and trails around the state to keep parks well maintained and ready for visitors.

    Visitors might think that parks stay pristine because they look just like they left them, but maintaining beautiful landscapes in some of Oregon’s harshest climates takes some work:

    • Cape Lookout State Park cleared more than 1.5 million pounds of sand after winter winds buried one camp loop in six-inch drifts. The park is not alone. Many coastal parks must dig out campsites, sidewalks and parking lots after the winter season.
    • Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area removed a dump truck load of slime, algae, branches, leaves and trash, which coated the campground when the lake receded. The lake floods every year, and rangers clean up the muck left behind.
    • In the Mountain Region and other areas where it freezes, rangers reinstall plumbing components and restart the plumbing to the campgrounds, buildings and picnic shelters, which includes restarting water to thousands of campsite spigots.
    • At Fall Creek State Recreation Area east of Eugene, rangers cleared eight dump truck loads of fir needles, cones, branches and debris to make the roads passable at Winberry Park when it reopened this spring.
    • Nehalem Bay State Park cleared nearly 180 downed trees in one winter storm alone. Parks across the state repaired winter storm damage, including clearing downed trees, repairing roads, fixing roofs and mending bridges.
    • In the Columbia River Gorge, parks cleared thousands of pounds of woody debris from paved trails and created wood chips to spread around trees and shrubs.

    Overall, Oregon State Parks rangers spend nearly 800,000 hours a year cleaning bathrooms, building and repairing trails and bridges, fixing old and new pipes and wiring, keeping parks safe, preserving Oregon’s history and natural resources and sharing knowledge on everything from mushrooms to the night sky.

    “Rangers work tirelessly to keep these landscapes beautiful and accessible for the approximately 56 million visits each year at Oregon State Parks. We’re thankful for the work they do every day,” said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.

    Oregon State Parks welcome as many as 17,000 guests on the busiest nights, which means moving a city roughly the size of Canby in and out of campgrounds on almost a daily basis statewide.

    “Oregon State Parks are like small cities. They run sewer, water and electrical systems; maintain roads and structures, all while managing campgrounds. When one system goes down, our staff manage the necessary emergency repairs to keep parks open. I’m proud of the work they do to keep parks safe, welcoming and ready for everyone to enjoy,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Sumption.

    Help rangers this season by following all safety signs and barriers; staying on trail and checking campfire restrictions in advance at stateparks.oregon.gov. Interested in what rangers do? Check out the Oregon State Parks episode of “Odd Jobs” by SAIF Corporation at https://youtu.be/NUqCmEe38Uw?feature=shared

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED: Cortez Masto’s Bill to Create Jobs at Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    FTP for TV stations of her remarks is available here.

    “This legislation cuts through unnecessary government obstacles and allows our businesses to grow at a sustainable pace. It is essential to ensure businesses can efficiently continue to build and expand in Nevada, including at the Apex Industrial Park, [which] will bring new jobs to North Las Vegas and will continue to strengthen our economy.”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) passed her Apex Area Technical Corrections Act, legislation to create thousands of new jobs at North Las Vegas’ Apex Industrial Park. Under the legislation, new and existing businesses at Apex would be allowed to expand their operations without going through an outdated and burdensome permitting process for basic utilities and infrastructure. The legislation, also introduced by Congressman Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. This bill now goes to the President’s desk for signature.

    Senator Cortez Masto introduced her Apex legislation to help the industrial park grow and create jobs in the Las Vegas Valley and has toured the site, speaking to workers there. She has also worked across the board to strengthen and diversify Nevada’s economy and create new jobs by passing legislation to upgrade American infrastructure, support Nevada’s manufacturing industry, and invest in Nevada’s booming clean-energy economy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 437

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL7

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 437
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    450 PM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Southeast Indiana
    Northern Kentucky
    Southwest Ohio

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 450 PM
    until 1000 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible
    Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
    A tornado or two possible

    SUMMARY…A fast moving line of thunderstorms over Indiana will
    track eastward this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds along the
    leading edge of the storms is the primary risk.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
    statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles northwest of
    Columbus OH to 45 miles south of Cincinnati OH. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 432…WW 433…WW
    434…WW 435…WW 436…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 65 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
    26035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW7
    WW 437 SEVERE TSTM IN KY OH 182050Z – 190200Z
    AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    55NW CMH/COLUMBUS OH/ – 45S LUK/CINCINNATI OH/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM E/W /25NE ROD – 37SSE CVG/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..65 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26035.

    LAT…LON 40558229 38438313 38438571 40558495

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU7.

    Watch 437 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (5%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (30%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (30%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Energy Secretary Wright Testifies Before Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on FY2026 Budget Request

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.

    Earlier this month, Secretary Wright testified before the U.S. House Energy Subcommittee to outline the department’s FY2026 request. He also appeared last month before both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development to outline department priorities and provide a comprehensive overview of the budget.

    The FY2026 Budget delivers on President Trump’s directive to restore American energy dominance, unleash every American energy advantage, and bring commonsense back to Washington. It returns non-defense discretionary spending to the most disciplined levels since 2017 and redirects over $15 billion away from the Green New Scam— a reckless Biden-era agenda that drives up costs, weakens reliability, and undermines U.S. energy strength. The department remains committed to being responsible stewards of American taxpayer dollars while protecting the affordable, abundant, and reliable energy our nation depends on. For more details, view the budget toplines here.

    Secretary Wright’s opening remarks:

    Thank you, Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and Members of the Committee, it is an honor to appear before you today as Secretary of Energy to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget request for the Department of Energy.

    Under President Trump’s leadership, our priorities for the Department are clear—to achieve American energy dominance, bolster our national security, meet our Cold War legacy cleanup commitments and unleash historic innovation, including AI, for our nation and world.

    We are driven by a bedrock conviction that an affordable, reliable, secure energy supply is the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation. When America leads in energy, we lead in prosperity, security and human flourishing.

    We are committed to advancing our critical missions while cutting red tape, increasing efficiency, and ensuring we are better stewards of taxpayer dollars.

    The President’s FY26 budget will ensure taxpayer resources are allocated appropriately and cost-effectively. We will invest DOE’s resources in technologies and sources that support affordable, reliable, and secure energy and provide a return on investment for the American taxpayers. DOE has several tools at its disposal that can advance these emerging energy technologies, and I thank the committee for their leadership in establishing a new “Energy Dominance Financing Program” for DOE’s Loan Program Office as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This will enable DOE to return to its core mission of supporting projects that are most critical to America’s energy security while maintaining responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars—something DOE failed to do in the previous administration.

    It is deeply concerning how many billions of dollars were rushed out the door without proper due diligence in the final days of the Biden administration. DOE is undertaking a thorough review of financial assistance that identifies waste of taxpayer dollars, protects America’s national security and advances President Trump’s commitment to unleash American energy dominance. As a result, we recently announced the termination of 24 projects totaling over $3.7 billion in taxpayer-funded financial assistance. These projects failed to meet the economic, national security or energy security standards necessary to sustain DOE’s investment, and the taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize them.

    Instead, we are advancing a policy of energy addition—fully leveraging affordable, reliable and secure resources that have powered our country for generations. The United States is blessed with an abundance of coal, oil, and natural gas, and our Administration is committed to using them to meet growing energy needs of the American people.

    Every one of these resources was unleashed through the world-changing power of American innovation. Our National Labs are the engine that drives research and development to expand our energy dominance. We will prioritize research that supports true technological breakthroughs and maintains America’s global competitiveness.

    America must play a leading role commercialization of reliable, safe and secure nuclear energy, and we are taking steps to accelerate innovation in this sector. DOE is working to advance the rapid deployment of next-generation nuclear technology, including small modular reactors.

    I am proud to report that we have officially ended the previous administration’s reckless pause on LNG export permits and have returned to regular order for reviewing and approving new permits. DOE will also work to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve—a national asset that protects our security in times of crisis—and I want to thank this committee for prioritizing funding to refill the SPR in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    We are advancing President Trump’s pledge to lower the cost of living and expand choice by rightsizing DOE’s approach to home efficiency standards and regulations. Under the President’s direction, we’ve begun slashing more than 47 regulations as part of the largest deregulatory effort in history. These actions are projected to save the American people approximately $11 billion while restoring consumer freedom and lowering costs.

    The responsible stewardship and modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons systems is paramount for this Administration. DOE is focused on addressing critical upgrades for the U.S. nuclear stockpile and maintaining our engine powerhouses for submarines and aircraft carriers. Both tasks will become even more crucial in the next few years.

    Our nuclear innovation as a nation began with the Manhattan Project, and the next Manhattan Project is clearly AI. DOE has a significant role to play in driving AI innovation for scientific discovery and national security. Our agency has world-class high-performance computing capabilities, including four of the world’s top ten supercomputers.

    Harnessing our energy potential to power global AI leadership while meeting growing demand will be the challenge of our time. But America doesn’t back down from big challenges or big builds.

    As Secretary of Energy, I am honored by the responsibility to help meet the American people’s growing energy needs and lead the world in energy development. I appreciated the opportunity to work with many of you on this committee to unlock America’s full energy potential and drive down costs for families with the One Big Beautiful Bill, and I look forward to continuing to work together to achieve President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.

    Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the committee today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial, Inc. Awarded “Best in Show” at RIA Edge for “Fyn”, the First Agentic AI Powered Assistant for Financial Advisors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Greenwich, CT, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial, Inc. were jointly awarded Best in Show at Wealth Management EDGE 2025 in Boca Raton, FL for Fyn, an agentic AI powered assistant for financial advisors.

    Fyn, launched this month in a JV between AI Risk and Fynancial simplifies day-to-day advisor workflows by combining firm data, client activity, and platform integrations into one intelligent command center. 

    Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc., a firm specializing in AI governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity (GRCC), partnered with Fynancial to build out the AI agents for Fyn and operate within a robust safety framework that includes permission-based access, hallucination filtering, agent testing, and role-based control over sensitive data. AI Risk has a patent pending on AI GRCC – a governance, risk, compliance and cybersecurity platform specifically for Gen AI.

    Reflecting on the award, Alec Crawford, CEO and Co-Founder of Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc., notes, “I am so proud of the team effort between Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial. Winning shows not just the power of our agentic AI platform to help financial advisors, but also the necessity of having AI governance, risk, compliance, and cyber security at the heart of enterprise AI. That’s what we do.”

    Learn more about Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc.

    About Artificial Intelligence Risk 
    Artificial Intelligence Risk (AI Risk, Inc.) is the leader in AI governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity (AI GRCC) software, offering the first comprehensive advanced platform for generative-AI safety, security, and regulatory compliance. Founded in 2023 by Alec Crawford, Frank Fitzgerald and Joe McMann, AI Risk’s team has decades of experience in artificial intelligence, financial services, risk management, and compliance. The company focuses on rapid (one hour) private cloud deployment and strict data confidentiality, enabling secure and regulatory-compliant use of AI and generative-AI technologies for high-risk organizations across the globe. For more information, please visit aicrisk.com. 

    About Fynancial 
    Fynancial is a mobile-first digital experience platform that redefines how advisors and clients connect. Fully white-labeled and integrated across an RIA’s existing tech stack, Fynancial enables secure messaging, real-time meeting scheduling, document sharing, and personalized push notifications, all through a firm-branded app. By centralizing communication and integrating with platforms like Orion, Tamarac, Addepar, and Black Diamond, Fynancial delivers a seamless, high-engagement experience that helps advisors scale trust, drive referrals, and modernize client service.

    Contact: 

    Alec Crawford, CEO 

    aleccrawford@aicrisk.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial, Inc. Awarded “Best in Show” at RIA Edge for “Fyn”, the First Agentic AI Powered Assistant for Financial Advisors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Greenwich, CT, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial, Inc. were jointly awarded Best in Show at Wealth Management EDGE 2025 in Boca Raton, FL for Fyn, an agentic AI powered assistant for financial advisors.

    Fyn, launched this month in a JV between AI Risk and Fynancial simplifies day-to-day advisor workflows by combining firm data, client activity, and platform integrations into one intelligent command center. 

    Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc., a firm specializing in AI governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity (GRCC), partnered with Fynancial to build out the AI agents for Fyn and operate within a robust safety framework that includes permission-based access, hallucination filtering, agent testing, and role-based control over sensitive data. AI Risk has a patent pending on AI GRCC – a governance, risk, compliance and cybersecurity platform specifically for Gen AI.

    Reflecting on the award, Alec Crawford, CEO and Co-Founder of Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc., notes, “I am so proud of the team effort between Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. and Fynancial. Winning shows not just the power of our agentic AI platform to help financial advisors, but also the necessity of having AI governance, risk, compliance, and cyber security at the heart of enterprise AI. That’s what we do.”

    Learn more about Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc.

    About Artificial Intelligence Risk 
    Artificial Intelligence Risk (AI Risk, Inc.) is the leader in AI governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity (AI GRCC) software, offering the first comprehensive advanced platform for generative-AI safety, security, and regulatory compliance. Founded in 2023 by Alec Crawford, Frank Fitzgerald and Joe McMann, AI Risk’s team has decades of experience in artificial intelligence, financial services, risk management, and compliance. The company focuses on rapid (one hour) private cloud deployment and strict data confidentiality, enabling secure and regulatory-compliant use of AI and generative-AI technologies for high-risk organizations across the globe. For more information, please visit aicrisk.com. 

    About Fynancial 
    Fynancial is a mobile-first digital experience platform that redefines how advisors and clients connect. Fully white-labeled and integrated across an RIA’s existing tech stack, Fynancial enables secure messaging, real-time meeting scheduling, document sharing, and personalized push notifications, all through a firm-branded app. By centralizing communication and integrating with platforms like Orion, Tamarac, Addepar, and Black Diamond, Fynancial delivers a seamless, high-engagement experience that helps advisors scale trust, drive referrals, and modernize client service.

    Contact: 

    Alec Crawford, CEO 

    aleccrawford@aicrisk.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewellyn Spink, AI Corporate Governance Lead, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney

    The Conversation, CC BY-NC

    Australia’s productivity is flatlining, posting the worst vitals we’ve seen in 60 years.

    Politicians and chief executives are prescribing artificial intelligence (AI) like it’s the new penicillin – a wonder drug with almost magical healing powers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the Productivity Commission all see AI as a key part of the plan to cure Australia’s productivity ills, with estimates that automation and AI could add A$600 billion to Australia’s annual economy.

    Unfortunately, AI is no panacea. It’s more like physiotherapy after major surgery: it only delivers if you put in the effort, follow the program and work with experts who know which muscles to strengthen and when.

    AI projects have high fail rates

    AI is a broad suite of tools and techniques, of which generative AI such as ChatGPT is just the latest iteration. When implemented well, AI can undoubtedly lift productivity across a wide variety of applications. Unilever’s legal team reports generative AI tools save its lawyers 30 minutes daily on document review and contract analysis.

    Other AI applications can deliver life-saving results at even greater efficiency. In a German study, AI-supported mammography screening reduced radiologists’ reading time by 43% for examinations tagged as normal, while improving cancer detection rates.

    The federal government is focused on improving productivity. In this five-part series, we’ve asked leading experts what that means for the economy, what’s holding us back and their best ideas for reform.

    But the hard truth is that AI-driven productivity gains like these depend on both smart implementation and trusted adoption. Organisations that skip the tough part – such as staff engagement, training and good governance – often find the promised benefits never materialise.

    The numbers back this up: some 80% of AI projects end up failing, twice the rate of traditional IT projects. Only one in four executives in a global survey report meaningful returns on their AI investments.

    We shouldn’t really be surprised. Other general-purpose technologies, such as electricity and earlier digital technologies followed a similar path. US economist Robert Solow famously said: “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.”

    Workers don’t trust the technology

    Like the early days of the internet in the 1990s, the success of AI relies on adoption and trust. Without trust, uptake stalls and the benefits evaporate.

    That’s a big challenge in Australia, where public trust and optimism in AI remains comparatively low. Why? Australians also report lower levels of AI use, training and confidence. And people are less likely to trust what they don’t understand.

    Closing that trust gap means involving workers from the start. By listening to worker concerns and identifying existing pain points in processes, companies can deploy AI systems that help, rather than sideline employees.

    Conversely, when workers aren’t meaningfully involved, things don’t go well.

    Take Klarna. The Swedish fintech volunteered to be the generative AI platform OpenAI’s “favourite guinea pig”. It slashed jobs and claimed to have automated the equivalent of 700 employees. But
    CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski now admits the shift to AI hurt customer service, forcing the company to rehire humans.

    Similarly, Duolingo recently faced a user backlash when it replaced 10% of contractors with AI.

    Workers need to be closely involved in developing AI processes.
    Summit Art Creations/Shutterstock

    Regrets? Bosses have a few

    These aren’t isolated cases. Some 55% of UK executives who replaced workers with AI later regretted it. In the rush to automate, workers are often seen as expendable.

    This attitude to AI leads to what US economists Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepro call “so-so automation”, where technology displaces workers without delivering meaningful productivity gains.

    Rather than trying to replace staff with AI, organisations should be deeply engaging with them. Engaging workers can dramatically boost the AI’s return on investment.

    Like other general-purpose technologies, getting the most out of AI means transforming the way we work. And the data show companies that engage workers in organisational transformations are nine times more likely to succeed.

    The companies that are unlocking the benefit of AI understand it works best when it amplifies human capability, rather than replacing it. Workers still know things that algorithms don’t. They deeply understand the practical realities of their jobs, which is crucial for designing AI systems that actually get things done.

    Designing better solutions

    Our own research confirms this. Australian workers feel AI is being imposed on them without adequate consultation or training. This not only creates resistance to adoption but also means organisations are missing the experience of the people who actually do the work.

    Our most recent report shows worker engagement strengthens competitive advantage and profitability, and leads to better AI solutions rooted in workers’ problems and needs. When workers are involved in deciding how AI is used, the solutions are better designed, more effective and more widely adopted.

    Australia’s new Industry and Innovation Minister, Tim Ayres, recognises this. In a recent speech he emphasised the need to work “cooperatively with workers and their unions” on tech adoption.

    It’s a promising place to start. If AI is going to be an effective treatment for Australia’s productivity challenge, then workers must be an essential part of the recovery team.

    Llewellyn Spink receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation as part of the Human Technology Institute’s AI Corporate Governance Program. HTI is funded by a wide variety of academic, corporate and philanthropic partners.

    Nicholas Davis receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation as part of the Human Technology Institute’s AI Corporate Governance Program. HTI is funded by a wide variety of academic, corporate and philanthropic partners.

    – ref. Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process – https://theconversation.com/companies-are-betting-on-ai-to-help-lift-productivity-workers-need-to-be-part-of-the-process-258396

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewellyn Spink, AI Corporate Governance Lead, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney

    The Conversation, CC BY-NC

    Australia’s productivity is flatlining, posting the worst vitals we’ve seen in 60 years.

    Politicians and chief executives are prescribing artificial intelligence (AI) like it’s the new penicillin – a wonder drug with almost magical healing powers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the Productivity Commission all see AI as a key part of the plan to cure Australia’s productivity ills, with estimates that automation and AI could add A$600 billion to Australia’s annual economy.

    Unfortunately, AI is no panacea. It’s more like physiotherapy after major surgery: it only delivers if you put in the effort, follow the program and work with experts who know which muscles to strengthen and when.

    AI projects have high fail rates

    AI is a broad suite of tools and techniques, of which generative AI such as ChatGPT is just the latest iteration. When implemented well, AI can undoubtedly lift productivity across a wide variety of applications. Unilever’s legal team reports generative AI tools save its lawyers 30 minutes daily on document review and contract analysis.

    Other AI applications can deliver life-saving results at even greater efficiency. In a German study, AI-supported mammography screening reduced radiologists’ reading time by 43% for examinations tagged as normal, while improving cancer detection rates.

    The federal government is focused on improving productivity. In this five-part series, we’ve asked leading experts what that means for the economy, what’s holding us back and their best ideas for reform.

    But the hard truth is that AI-driven productivity gains like these depend on both smart implementation and trusted adoption. Organisations that skip the tough part – such as staff engagement, training and good governance – often find the promised benefits never materialise.

    The numbers back this up: some 80% of AI projects end up failing, twice the rate of traditional IT projects. Only one in four executives in a global survey report meaningful returns on their AI investments.

    We shouldn’t really be surprised. Other general-purpose technologies, such as electricity and earlier digital technologies followed a similar path. US economist Robert Solow famously said: “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.”

    Workers don’t trust the technology

    Like the early days of the internet in the 1990s, the success of AI relies on adoption and trust. Without trust, uptake stalls and the benefits evaporate.

    That’s a big challenge in Australia, where public trust and optimism in AI remains comparatively low. Why? Australians also report lower levels of AI use, training and confidence. And people are less likely to trust what they don’t understand.

    Closing that trust gap means involving workers from the start. By listening to worker concerns and identifying existing pain points in processes, companies can deploy AI systems that help, rather than sideline employees.

    Conversely, when workers aren’t meaningfully involved, things don’t go well.

    Take Klarna. The Swedish fintech volunteered to be the generative AI platform OpenAI’s “favourite guinea pig”. It slashed jobs and claimed to have automated the equivalent of 700 employees. But
    CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski now admits the shift to AI hurt customer service, forcing the company to rehire humans.

    Similarly, Duolingo recently faced a user backlash when it replaced 10% of contractors with AI.

    Workers need to be closely involved in developing AI processes.
    Summit Art Creations/Shutterstock

    Regrets? Bosses have a few

    These aren’t isolated cases. Some 55% of UK executives who replaced workers with AI later regretted it. In the rush to automate, workers are often seen as expendable.

    This attitude to AI leads to what US economists Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepro call “so-so automation”, where technology displaces workers without delivering meaningful productivity gains.

    Rather than trying to replace staff with AI, organisations should be deeply engaging with them. Engaging workers can dramatically boost the AI’s return on investment.

    Like other general-purpose technologies, getting the most out of AI means transforming the way we work. And the data show companies that engage workers in organisational transformations are nine times more likely to succeed.

    The companies that are unlocking the benefit of AI understand it works best when it amplifies human capability, rather than replacing it. Workers still know things that algorithms don’t. They deeply understand the practical realities of their jobs, which is crucial for designing AI systems that actually get things done.

    Designing better solutions

    Our own research confirms this. Australian workers feel AI is being imposed on them without adequate consultation or training. This not only creates resistance to adoption but also means organisations are missing the experience of the people who actually do the work.

    Our most recent report shows worker engagement strengthens competitive advantage and profitability, and leads to better AI solutions rooted in workers’ problems and needs. When workers are involved in deciding how AI is used, the solutions are better designed, more effective and more widely adopted.

    Australia’s new Industry and Innovation Minister, Tim Ayres, recognises this. In a recent speech he emphasised the need to work “cooperatively with workers and their unions” on tech adoption.

    It’s a promising place to start. If AI is going to be an effective treatment for Australia’s productivity challenge, then workers must be an essential part of the recovery team.

    Llewellyn Spink receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation as part of the Human Technology Institute’s AI Corporate Governance Program. HTI is funded by a wide variety of academic, corporate and philanthropic partners.

    Nicholas Davis receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation as part of the Human Technology Institute’s AI Corporate Governance Program. HTI is funded by a wide variety of academic, corporate and philanthropic partners.

    – ref. Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process – https://theconversation.com/companies-are-betting-on-ai-to-help-lift-productivity-workers-need-to-be-part-of-the-process-258396

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University

    Dan Kenyon/ Getty Images

    Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do.

    Research shows school playgrounds are one of the main locations where bullying occurs.

    The federal government is doing a rapid review into what works and what else needs to be done to stop bullying in schools. School playgrounds can sometimes be overlooked when considering anti-bullying approaches.

    What is the relationship between playgrounds and bullying? And how can we better set up playgrounds to help prevent this damaging behaviour?

    Why do play spaces matter?

    The reasons for bullying are complex and stem from a range of factors.

    But research suggests bullying is more common in confined or contested spaces – for example, when students are mixing with other year levels.

    This research also suggests some students are more likely to bully other students, lash out and break rules when they are bored and frustrated in school play spaces.

    A new report from not-for-profit group Play Australia estimates just 2% of all Australian schools are using innovative, research-informed strategies that best encourage and support healthy play behaviours.

    An example of ‘loose parts’ play for children. Well established in early childhood, yet innovative in primary schools.

    What happens in Australia?

    School play spaces are not regulated in the way playgrounds are for younger children. For example, there are no minimum space requirements per student in high schools. There are some emerging primary school space guidelines, but these are not always followed.

    The lack of regulation for playground space has also seen classroom buildings taking over play areas and rules stopping students from moving in some areas (for example, no running or ball games).

    Many primary schools still rely on fixed play equipment installed in the 1980s. But primary school students report they get bored of playing on the same equipment over and over again.

    In public high schools, playgrounds tend to be large open spaces with ovals, hard-surfaced courts and picnic tables or benches.

    Not only is this not particularly stimulating or inviting, the design can lead to some (typically male) students dominating the open spaces with games.

    This can exclude other students from the playground. Research suggests if students lack a sense of community and belonging to their school, they are more likely to bully others.

    What should primary schools do?

    A growing body of research based on interviews with teachers and student observations suggests positive behaviours can be encouraged if primary students have more options and fewer restrictions on how they engage in play.

    Resources that can be moved, adapted and selected by students (with varying colours, shapes, sizes, quantities and types) can help develop problem-solving and teamwork skills and reduce bullying because children are busy and engaged.

    Examples of resources include both natural (rocks and twigs), loose sports equipment (small hurdles, bats and frisbees, balls) and other manufactured items (blocks, boxes, pipes, planks and crates).

    Research also suggests teachers’ engagement with students in the playground can help reduce bullying and antisocial behaviour.

    The “active supervision” method is recognised as one of the most effective ways to to do this, as it can improve students’ sense of belonging and safety.

    The method includes adults using positive language, showing an interest in supporting play and modelling positive play behaviours, which increase students’ participation and cooperation.

    What about high schools?

    Research with school architects suggests high school spaces with well maintained, diverse features can help promote a more positive social culture.

    It also suggests multiple spaces for students – as opposed to a single dominant space in a playground – can support students to feel as though there is space for them, and they belong at school.

    It is important for high school students to be consulted about what they want – they are the main users and have evolving needs as they progress through school.

    A 2025 Australian study found high school students want opportunities to retreat and be themselves.

    Examples include maintained gardens and courtyards to help relax after the stresses of classroom rules and routines. Students suggested trees, rocks and gardens could break up open spaces. Providing sufficient shade can also ensure students have more accessible space to engage with each other throughout a school year.

    What next?

    Improving playgrounds to better address student needs will require more resources from governments.

    But addressing bullying is complex and we know physical settings can impact social dynamics. So we need to look more closely at school playgrounds as a key place where bullying occurs and the role they play in this behaviour.

    Brendon Hyndman’s work on school play is mentioned in the Play Australia report referenced in this article.

    – ref. School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it? – https://theconversation.com/school-playgrounds-are-one-of-the-main-locations-for-bullying-how-can-they-be-set-up-to-stop-it-258566

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University

    Dan Kenyon/ Getty Images

    Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do.

    Research shows school playgrounds are one of the main locations where bullying occurs.

    The federal government is doing a rapid review into what works and what else needs to be done to stop bullying in schools. School playgrounds can sometimes be overlooked when considering anti-bullying approaches.

    What is the relationship between playgrounds and bullying? And how can we better set up playgrounds to help prevent this damaging behaviour?

    Why do play spaces matter?

    The reasons for bullying are complex and stem from a range of factors.

    But research suggests bullying is more common in confined or contested spaces – for example, when students are mixing with other year levels.

    This research also suggests some students are more likely to bully other students, lash out and break rules when they are bored and frustrated in school play spaces.

    A new report from not-for-profit group Play Australia estimates just 2% of all Australian schools are using innovative, research-informed strategies that best encourage and support healthy play behaviours.

    An example of ‘loose parts’ play for children. Well established in early childhood, yet innovative in primary schools.

    What happens in Australia?

    School play spaces are not regulated in the way playgrounds are for younger children. For example, there are no minimum space requirements per student in high schools. There are some emerging primary school space guidelines, but these are not always followed.

    The lack of regulation for playground space has also seen classroom buildings taking over play areas and rules stopping students from moving in some areas (for example, no running or ball games).

    Many primary schools still rely on fixed play equipment installed in the 1980s. But primary school students report they get bored of playing on the same equipment over and over again.

    In public high schools, playgrounds tend to be large open spaces with ovals, hard-surfaced courts and picnic tables or benches.

    Not only is this not particularly stimulating or inviting, the design can lead to some (typically male) students dominating the open spaces with games.

    This can exclude other students from the playground. Research suggests if students lack a sense of community and belonging to their school, they are more likely to bully others.

    What should primary schools do?

    A growing body of research based on interviews with teachers and student observations suggests positive behaviours can be encouraged if primary students have more options and fewer restrictions on how they engage in play.

    Resources that can be moved, adapted and selected by students (with varying colours, shapes, sizes, quantities and types) can help develop problem-solving and teamwork skills and reduce bullying because children are busy and engaged.

    Examples of resources include both natural (rocks and twigs), loose sports equipment (small hurdles, bats and frisbees, balls) and other manufactured items (blocks, boxes, pipes, planks and crates).

    Research also suggests teachers’ engagement with students in the playground can help reduce bullying and antisocial behaviour.

    The “active supervision” method is recognised as one of the most effective ways to to do this, as it can improve students’ sense of belonging and safety.

    The method includes adults using positive language, showing an interest in supporting play and modelling positive play behaviours, which increase students’ participation and cooperation.

    What about high schools?

    Research with school architects suggests high school spaces with well maintained, diverse features can help promote a more positive social culture.

    It also suggests multiple spaces for students – as opposed to a single dominant space in a playground – can support students to feel as though there is space for them, and they belong at school.

    It is important for high school students to be consulted about what they want – they are the main users and have evolving needs as they progress through school.

    A 2025 Australian study found high school students want opportunities to retreat and be themselves.

    Examples include maintained gardens and courtyards to help relax after the stresses of classroom rules and routines. Students suggested trees, rocks and gardens could break up open spaces. Providing sufficient shade can also ensure students have more accessible space to engage with each other throughout a school year.

    What next?

    Improving playgrounds to better address student needs will require more resources from governments.

    But addressing bullying is complex and we know physical settings can impact social dynamics. So we need to look more closely at school playgrounds as a key place where bullying occurs and the role they play in this behaviour.

    Brendon Hyndman’s work on school play is mentioned in the Play Australia report referenced in this article.

    – ref. School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it? – https://theconversation.com/school-playgrounds-are-one-of-the-main-locations-for-bullying-how-can-they-be-set-up-to-stop-it-258566

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam D Hines, Research Fellow, Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology

    A hexapod robot navigating outdoors. Adam Hines

    Robots are increasingly becoming a part of our lives – from warehouse automation to robotic vacuum cleaners. And just like humans, robots need to know where they are to reliably navigate from A to B.

    How far, and for how long, a robot can navigate depends on how much power it consumes over time. Robot navigation systems are especially energy hungry.

    But what if power consumption was no longer a concern?

    Our research on “brain-inspired” computing, published today in Science Robotics, could make navigational robots of the future more energy efficient than previously imagined.

    This could potentially extend and expand what’s possible for battery-powered systems working in challenging environments such as disaster zones, underwater, and even in space.

    How do robots ‘see’ the world?

    The battery going flat on your smartphone is usually just a minor inconvenience. For a robot, running out of power can mean the difference between life and death – including for the people it might be helping.

    Robots such as search and rescue drones, underwater robots monitoring the Great Barrier Reef, and space rovers all need to navigate while running on limited power supplies.

    Robots that navigate challenging environments need a lot of battery power for their cameras and other sensors.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

    Many of these robots can’t rely on GPS for navigation. They keep track of where they are using a process called visual place recognition. Visual place recognition lets a robot estimate where it’s located in the world using just what it “sees” through its camera.

    But this method uses a lot of energy. Robotic vision systems alone can use up to a third of the energy from a typical lithium ion battery found onboard a robot.

    This is because modern robotic vision, including visual place recognition, typically relies on power-hungry machine learning models, similar to the ones used in AI like ChatGPT.

    By comparison, our brains require just enough power to turn on a light bulb, while allowing us to see things and navigate the world with remarkable precision.

    Robotics engineers often look to biology for inspiration. In our new study, we turned to the human brain to help us create a new, energy-efficient visual place recognition system.

    Mimicking the brain

    Our system uses a brain-inspired technology called neuromorphic computing. As the name suggests, neuromorphic computers take principles from neuroscience to design computer chips and software that can learn and process information like human brains do.

    An important feature of neuromorphic computers is that they are highly energy-efficient. A regular computer can use up to 100 times more power than a neuromorphic chip.

    Neuromorphic computing is not limited to just computer chips, however. It can be paired with bio-inspired cameras that capture the world more like the human eye does. These are called dynamic vision sensors, and they work like motion detectors for each pixel. They only “wake up” and send information when something changes in the scene, rather than constantly streaming data like a regular camera.

    What a regular camera sees (left) compared to a bio-inspired camera (right).
    Adam Hines

    These bio-inspired cameras are also highly energy efficient, using less than 1% of the power of normal cameras.

    So if brain-inspired computers and bio-inspired cameras are so wonderful, why aren’t robots using them everywhere? Well, there are a range of challenges to overcome, which was the focus of our recent research.

    A new kind of LENS

    The unique properties of a dynamic vision sensor are, ironically, a limiting factor in many visual place recognition systems.

    Standard visual place recognition models are built on the foundation of static images, like the ones taken by your smartphone. Since a neuromorphic sensor doesn’t produce static images but senses the world in a constantly changing way, we need a brain-inspired computer to process what it “sees”.

    Our research overcomes this challenge by combining neuromorphic chips and sensors for robots that use visual place recognition. We call this system Locational Encoding with Neuromorphic Systems, or LENS for short.

    LENS uses the continuous information stream from a dynamic vision sensor directly on a neuromorphic chip. The system uses a machine learning method known as spiking neural networks. These process information like human brains do.

    By combining all these neuromorphic components, we reduced the power needed for visual place recognition by over 90%. Since nearly a third of the energy needed for a robot is vision related, this is a significant reduction.

    To achieve this, we used an off-the-shelf product called SynSense Speck, which combines a neuromorphic chip and a dynamic vision sensor all in one compact package.

    The entire system only required 180 kilobytes of memory to map an area of Brisbane eight kilometres in length. That’s a tiny fraction of what would be needed in a standard visual place recognition system.

    Hexapod robots have six legs and can walk on different surfaces both indoors and outdoors.

    A robot in the wild

    For testing, we placed our LENS system on a hexapod robot. Hexapods are multi-terrain robots that can navigate both indoors and outdoors.

    In our tests, the LENS performed as well as a typical visual place recognition system, but used much less energy.

    Our work comes at a time when AI development is trending towards creating bigger, more power-hungry solutions for improved performance. The energy needed to train and use systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT is notoriously demanding, with concerns that modern AI represents unsustainable growth in energy demands.

    For robots that need to navigate, developing more compact, energy-efficient AI using neuromorphic computing could be key for being able to go farther and for longer periods of time. There are still challenges to solve, but we are closer to making it a reality.

    Michael Milford receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Economic Accelerator, the Queensland Government, Amazon, Ford Motor Company, iMOVE CRC, the DAAD Australia-Germany Co-operation Scheme and DSTG. He is affiliated with the Motor Trades Association of Queensland as a non-executive board member.

    Tobias Fischer receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the DAAD Australia-Germany Co-operation Scheme, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation via the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

    Adam D Hines 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. Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain? – https://theconversation.com/robot-eyes-are-power-hungry-what-if-we-gave-them-tools-inspired-by-the-human-brain-257978

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –