Category: Politics

MIL-OSI United Nations: Armed groups install ‘parallel administration’ in DR Congo, Security Council hears

Source: United Nations 2

27 March 2025 Peace and Security

Armed groups affiliated with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have continued to expand their control in North and South Kivu – setting their sights on more territorial gains.

That’s according to the head of the UN stabilization mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, who briefed the Security Council in New York on Thursday over escalating violence and displacement in the country since M23 overran the key cities of Goma and Bukavu last month.

These armed groups are not only seizing territory, she explained, but also attempting to install “a parallel administration”, recently appointing a governor and two-vice governors in Bukavu as well as financial and mining officials in North Kivu.

The MONUSCO peacekeepers have been in DRC since 2010 with a mandate to protect civilians and strengthen the Congolese Government’s efforts to quell violence and insecurity at the hands of multiple armed groups in the east.

MONUSCO had proceeded, at DRC’s request, to withdraw its troops from South Kivu in June 2024 but Kinshasa reversed course, asking the Security Council to extend MONUSCO’s mandate through the end of 2025.

Despite best efforts, armed groups have made major recent gains, chiefly the March 23 Movement which defends the interests of Congolese Tutsi – many exiled from Rwanda – and benefits from the support of Rwandan forces, and the extremist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Rights violations

Ms. Keita described an alarming rise in human rights violations, including the summary execution of more than 100 civilians, forced child recruitment, abductions and cases of forced labour.

“Women and children remain the main victims,” she told the Council, noting a spike in sexual violence linked to mass displacement, conflict and the presence of escaped prisoners and new recruits in affected areas.

“Internally, displaced girls and boys are traumatised,” explained Charlotte Slente, from the Danish Refugee Council, also briefing Member States. “We have heard reports of girls engaging in survival sex,” she underscored.

Aid workers have documented rape cases involving girls as young as five, with nearly every child protection case involving sexual violence. From December 2024 to February 2025, 403 grave violations of children’s rights were verified.

In Ituri province – above North-Kivu – violence between CODECO and Zaïre armed groups has worsened, with civilians near mining zones and farmland bearing the brunt of the attacks.

Humanitarian aid hampered

The security situation has driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, with over 100,000 newly displaced since January in the city of Djugu in Ituri, alone.

However, humanitarian access remains severely constrained due to insecurity, roadblocks and the closure of key airports in Goma and Kavumu.

At the same time, the situation is being aggravated “in a global context of financial crisis”, Ms. Keita stressed. As of March, the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for the DR Congo was only 8.2 per cent funded.

Response and challenges

Despite these obstacles, MONUSCO continues to deliver on its mandate, she underlined, citing expanded patrols, civilian protection efforts and the facilitation of disarmament talks in Ituri.

These led to the surrender of over 2,200 fighters from the Zaïre group and the capture of weapons and ammunition.

Meanwhile, the deployment of a new Force Commander in North Kivu, has boosted coordination with Congolese forces. Still, MONUSCO faces movement restrictions imposed by M23 in and around Goma, including roadblocks and advance notice requirements.

Social cohesion at risk

Ms. Keita expressed deep concern over rising hate speech and ethnic targeting of Tutsi and Swahili-speaking Congolese, particularly as displaced populations move westward into DRC’s vast interior.

She called on the Government to adopt legislation to counter tribalism, racism and xenophobia, and reaffirm the nation’s diversity.

Regional diplomacy: fragile transitions

Efforts toward a ceasefire and political solution have so far stalled despite regional and international pressure – including resolution 2773 and mediation efforts led by Angola under the leadership of the African Union.

M23’s advance disrupted transition talks between MONUSCO and Congolese authorities, especially in South Kivu, where Bukavu is under rebel control.

Ms. Keita explained that the efforts to plan the mission’s disengagement from North Kivu and Ituri are “compromised”, with several planning assumptions now obsolete.

Nevertheless, she reiterated MONUSCO’s commitment to a coordinated withdrawal process when possible.

Call to action

In closing, the UN Special Representative called on the council to take “concrete measures” against those responsible for grave rights violations and to renew efforts to ensure a political resolution.

“We must direct all our efforts towards securing an unconditional ceasefire,” she said.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the General Assembly on the International Day of Zero Waste [as delivered]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Mr. President, Madame First Lady, Excellencies, Dear Friends,

The waste crisis is an issue that goes to the heart of how we produce, and how we consume.

And one that requires action at every level – local, national, and global.

This year’s International Day focuses on fashion and textiles.

And rightly so.

Unless we accelerate action, dressing to kill could kill the planet.

Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals – many of them harmful to people and the environment.

It devours resources like land and water – putting pressure on ecosystems.

And it belches out greenhouse gases – inflaming the climate crisis.

Clothes are being produced and discarded at a staggering rate – driven by business models that prioritize newness, speed, and disposability.

Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill.

Excellencies, Dear Friends,

Fashion is just the tip of a toxic iceberg.

Waste is an issue in every sector.

Every year, humanity produces over two billion tonnes of garbage.

If you pack all that into shipping containers stacked end to end, they would stretch to the moon and back.

Here on Earth, toxin-filled waste is seeping into our soil, our water, and our air. And ultimately into us.

As usual, the poorest pay the highest price.

More than one billion people live in slums and informal urban settlements, where waste management is non-existent and disease runs rampant.

The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastic and more.

Many nations do not have the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores.

As a result, materials that could be recycled are burned or sent to landfill.

And waste pickers are exposed to toxic chemicals as they sift through potentially hazardous materials, including broken electronics, in appalling conditions.

Excellencies, Dear Friends,

We need a different approach: one that delivers on the commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable production and consumption.

And there are signs of hope.

Change is possible. And it presents exciting opportunities.

In fashion, for example, designers are experimenting with recycled materials.

Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability.

In many countries, resale markets are booming.

And important initiatives are bringing together large and small businesses, industry associations, civil society and many others to drive sustainability across the sector.

They include the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and the Fashion Pact.

We must celebrate the power of these innovations to transform the industry.

But we need more.

And we need change in every sector.

I welcome the work of the Chair and the First Lady and members of the United Nations Advisory Board on Zero Waste to raise awareness, and help meet the SDGs.

The fight against waste requires us all.

Governments must act:

Through policies, regulations and subsidies:

That promote sustainability, and zero waste initiatives…

That encourage businesses to adopt positive practices…

That provide decent jobs…

And that empower everyone – not just the wealthy – to afford products that last.

The current negotiations for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution – due in August this year – are a key opportunity for governments to drive progress.

I urge them to take it…

And to translate any treaty into action to support consumers to make environmentally friendly choices, and into a clear roadmap across industries.

Addressing plastic pollution must be at the core of corporate responsibility.

There is no space for greenwashing.

Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction and resource efficiency across their supply chains.

We need accountability for corporate sustainability commitments.

We need transparency for customers.

And we need consumers to use their purchasing power to encourage change:

Reducing excessive consumption, valuing products that last, and embracing exchanges and resales.

And we need young people and civil society to keep using their voices and power to demand change through advocacy.

Excellencies, Dear Friends,

We must build on progress, to end the waste practices wasting our planet.

On this International Day, let us commit to do our part to clean up our act, and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all.

And I thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Croatia’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

Source: European Parliament

Croatia does not set its own national climate targets, but has emissions reduction obligations under EU law, and contributes to the EU-wide target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1). Croatia accounts for 0.62 % of the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and has reduced its net emissions by 19.5 % from 2005 to 2023, compared with an average EU reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. The country’s land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is a significant but declining carbon sink. Emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) were reduced by 51.6 %. For the effort-sharing sectors, Croatia remained within emissions allocations from 2013 to 2020. Although slightly exceeding allocations in 2022, and at the limit in 2023, the country projects that it will achieve its 2030 obligation. In August 2023, Croatia proposed to add a REPowerEU chapter to its recovery and resilience plan, comprising significant climate spending. Croatia submitted a draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) on 4 July 2023. The European Commission assessed it and made recommendations for Croatia’s final updated NECP, overdue since June 2024. In a 2023 survey, 42 % of Croatians, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (53 %) and national government (50 %) to tackle climate change, while 26 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Luxembourg’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

Source: European Parliament

Luxembourg is legally bound to reach climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1) and deliver a 55 % greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in the effort-sharing sectors by 2030 compared with 2005. Luxembourg accounts for 0.3 % of the EU’s net GHG emissions, and achieved a net emissions reduction of 35.7 % from 2005 to 2023, greater than the 30.5 % EU average reduction over the same period. Emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) dropped by more than two thirds (-69.5 %). The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector remains a carbon sink, albeit with fluctuations. For the effort-sharing sectors, Luxembourg managed to stay within its 2013 2020 allocations, and would overachieve its 2030 target based on the European Commission’s assessment of its draft national energy and climate plan (NECP). Luxembourg submitted its final updated NECP on 24 July 2024. In May 2024, Luxembourg added a REPowerEU chapter to its recovery and resilience plan, increasing its climate spending. In a 2023 survey, 57 % of Luxembourgers, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (76 %), business and industry (66 %) or national government (63 %) to tackle climate change, while 62 % find it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Portugal’s climate action strategy – 27-03-2025

Source: European Parliament

Portugal aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 (see trajectory in Figure 1). In 2023, Portugal accounted for 1.7 % of the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and achieved net emissions reductions of 43.9 % from 2005 to 2023, above the EU average reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. During that period, the country achieved a reduction of 66.2 % in emissions covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS). Portugal’s land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector has mostly performed as a carbon sink, except in 2017 on account of extensive forest fires. In May 2023, Portugal updated its national recovery and resilience plan and included a REPowerEU chapter. The plan dedicates 41.2 % of total funding to the climate transition. Portugal submitted a draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) in July 2023. The European Commission assessed it and made recommendations for the final updated NECP, which was submitted on 10 December 2024. The results from a 2023 Eurobarometer survey showed that 43 % of Portuguese, against an EU average of 46 %, find climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (52 %), national governments (47 %) and business and industry (41 %) to tackle climate change. Only 28 % find it to be a personal responsibility.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on energy-intensive industries – B10-0209/2025

Source: European Parliament

Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi
on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

B10‑0209/2025

European Parliament resolution on energy-intensive industries

(2025/2536(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the report of September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘On the future of European competitiveness’,

– having regard to the report of April 2024 by Enrico Letta entitled ‘Much more than a market’,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘Action Plan for Affordable Energy’ (COM(2025)0079),

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

A. whereas energy-intensive industries (EIIs) account for a significant share of the EU’s economy and play a key role in job creation, especially in areas and regions where they are concentrated; whereas EIIs are crucial for the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness, as well as for decarbonisation, taking into account their energy footprint;

B. whereas the transition to a decarbonised economy and a clean energy system must lead to reducing energy prices and must take into account all available technologies that contribute to reaching the EU’s net zero goal for 2050 in the most cost-efficient way, avoiding lock-in effects and taking into account the different energy mix across Member States, including with regard to renewables and nuclear;

C. whereas electrification is at the centre of the decarbonisation of EIIs; whereas EIIs include sectors that use fossil resources to meet temperature, pressure or reaction requirements, such as chemicals, steel, paper, plastics, mining, refineries, cement, lime, non-ferrous metals, glass, ceramics and fertilisers, for which greenhouse gas emissions are hard to reduce because they are intrinsic to the process or because of high capital or operating expenditure costs or low technological maturity;

D. whereas the energy price gap between the EU and the US and China undermines the competitiveness of the EU’s industries; whereas elevated and volatile fossil fuel prices heavily affect electricity prices and the affordable cost of renewable energy sources is not transferred to energy bills;

E. whereas an insufficiently integrated energy union poses further challenges to EIIs, in particular in relation to the lack of cross-border interconnections and the limited availability of clean energy, owing to lengthy permitting procedures or high capital or operating expenditures, as well as grid congestion;

F. whereas the emissions trading system (ETS) provided long-term investment signals and helped bring down the emissions of ETS sectors by 47 %; whereas the energy market has profoundly changed since the introduction of the ETS, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the shift from pipeline gas to liquid natural gas (LNG); whereas a lack of carbon market transparency risks hampering EIIs’ competitiveness; whereas ETS revenues are used unevenly across Member States, failing to adequately support EIIs’ decarbonisation;

G. whereas unnecessary regulatory burdens and lengthy permitting procedures undermine the business case for investing in decarbonisation in Europe; whereas the concept of overriding public interest is provided for in EU legislation; whereas complex and fragmented EU funding impedes timely investment in net-zero technologies and digitalisation, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

H. whereas the lack of necessary private investment risks hindering EIIs’ decarbonisation; whereas relying excessively on State aid can have the unwanted consequences of exacerbating disparities and distorting competition across the EU;

I. whereas the EU’s dependencies and limited access, both in quantity and quality, to primary and secondary raw materials pose significant challenges to EIIs; whereas circularity and efficiency can help reduce the annual investment needs in industry and in energy supply; whereas currently, ferrous metals exported to non-EU countries account for more than half of all EU waste exports, raising concerns about their sound treatment;

J. whereas unfair competition from non-EU countries, including subsidised overcapacity, poses a great challenge to EU companies; whereas many regions around the world do not currently have ambitious decarbonisation targets, thus increasing the risk of carbon leakage;

K. whereas a profound transformation of EIIs cannot succeed without the involvement of local and regional communities, workers and social partners, which are heavily affected by the transition;

1. Reiterates its commitment to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives and to stable and predictable climate and industrial policies;

2. Calls on the Member States to accelerate permitting and licensing processes for clean energy projects, ensuring administrative capacity, and to facilitate grid connections to enable clean, on-site energy generation, especially in remote areas; stresses that the growth of renewables and electrification will require massive investment in grids and in flexibility, storage and distribution networks; calls on the Commission to develop, beyond the concept of overriding public interest, solutions for speeding up decarbonisation projects;

3. Believes that further action is needed to implement the electricity market design (EMD) rules, especially to promote power purchase agreements (PPAs) and two-way contracts for difference (CfDs) to reduce volatility and energy costs for EIIs; calls on the Commission to propose urgent measures to address current barriers to the signing of long-term agreements, especially for SMEs, using risk reduction instruments and guarantees, including public guarantee such as by the European Investment Bank (EIB); suggests that additional ways to decouple fossil fuel prices from electricity prices be explored, in the framework of the EMD, including with the aim of boosting long-term contracts in line with the affordable energy action plan, and by advancing the analysis of short-term markets to 2025;

4. Calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of scaling up best practice for EIIs from Member States, such as Italy’s energy release; calls on the Commission to develop recommendations for reducing the exposure of consumers, and especially EIIs, to rising energy costs, such as by reducing taxes and levies and harmonising network charges, while ensuring public investment in grids;

5. Calls for the enhancement of energy system integration, in particular in relation to cross-border interconnections, to ensure clean and resilient energy supply; asks for increased investment in flexibility, such as storage, including pumped storage hydropower and heat and waste heat storage, and demand response, to optimise grid stability; recalls the importance of energy efficiency in bringing costs down;

6. Underlines the need to phase out natural gas as soon as possible; stresses that some sectors cannot rely substantially on electrification in the short to medium term; calls on the Member States – over the same time span and for these limited sectors – to develop measures to address gas price spikes in duly justified cases; calls on the Commission to develop tools to ensure gas supply at a mitigated cost, by enabling demand aggregation, building on AggregateEU, and joint gas purchasing, while keeping decarbonisation objectives; highlights the importance of encouraging stable contracts with gas suppliers, diversifying supply routes and improving market transparency and stability, in line with current legislation; calls for an impact assessment in the upcoming ETS review to analyse the relationship between the gas market and CO2 prices and the role of the market stability reserve and its parameters;

7. Calls on the Commission to support EIIs in adopting clean and net-zero technologies, including hydrogen, and energy-efficient production methods by strengthening funding mechanisms and ensuring that ETS revenue is used effectively by Member States; calls for EU-level support to be complemented by State aid that allows for targeted support to EIIs, while preserving a level playing field within the single market;

8. Calls for InvestEU to be topped up before the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and for leftover Resilience and Recovery Facility loans to support investment in EII decarbonisation; notes that the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform already allows for flexibility within current programmes but that this is insufficient; insists that the upcoming MFF increase funding to support EIIs, building on the Innovation Fund and the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy or through the competitiveness fund; stresses that the European Hydrogen Bank and the carbon contracts for difference programme need to be scaled up; calls on the Commission to build on the Net-Zero Industry Act [1] in the upcoming decarbonisation accelerator act, to streamline the processes for granting permits and strategic project status;

9. Stresses the need to simplify bureaucratic procedures to enhance the attractiveness of private investment and support EIIs’ transition; believes that both InvestEU and the EIB are pivotal in catalysing private financing, especially through de-risking measures;

10. Emphasises the need to secure access to critical raw materials; stresses that the upcoming circular economy act should improve resource efficiency, including through better waste management of products containing critical raw materials, as well as fostering the demand and availability of secondary raw materials; stresses the need to define those secondary raw materials that are strategic and that should be subject to export monitoring, such as steel and metal scrap, and to tackle any imbalance in their supply and demand, including by exploring export restrictions; insists on the effective enforcement of the Waste Shipment Regulation [2];

11. Calls on the Commission to make full and efficient use of trade defence instruments; calls on the Commission to find a permanent solution to address unfair competition and structural overcapacity, before the expiry of current steel safeguard measures in 2026; calls on the Commission to engage with the US in relation to the announced tariffs on EU imports and avoid any harmful escalation;

12. Stresses that an effective implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is essential to ensure a level playing field for EU industries and prevent carbon leakage, taking into account the impact of the parallel phasing out of the ETS free allowances and the risk of increased production costs; calls on the Commission to address the risks of resource shuffling and circumvention of the CBAM; asks, furthermore, for the implementation of an effective solution for EU exporters and an analysis of the possible extension to further sectors and downstream products, preceded by an impact assessment;

13. Calls for the creation of lead markets for clean and circular European products, via non-price criteria in EU public procurement, such as sustainability and resilience and a European preference for strategic sectors, as well as by creating voluntary labelling schemes and minimum EU content requirements in a cost-effective way;

14. Highlights the importance of a just transition to assist areas heavily reliant on EIIs, by keeping and creating quality jobs through upskilling and reskilling programmes for workers and through the effective use of regional support mechanisms, such as the Just Transition Fund and the Cohesion Fund; stresses that public support will be pivotal for the transition of EIIs and that this support should be tied to their commitment to safeguarding employment and working conditions and preventing off-shoring; welcomes the Union of Skills initiative to ensure a good match between skills and labour market demands;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – EMPL ICM on “Affordable Housing for All” – Wednesday, 9 April 2025, 14:30-17:30 – Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) will host an Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) titled “Affordable Housing for All – Policy Approaches and Best Practice Cases in the Member States.” The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels (Antall 6Q2) on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, from 14:30 to 17:30.

Organised in cooperation with the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS), the meeting will address the escalating housing crisis across Europe and explore policy solutions at both the EU and Member State levels. Discussions will focus on the social and economic impacts of rising housing costs, mass tourism, and short-term rentals, which have limited access to affordable housing and affected employment and social welfare. The event will bring together representatives from the European Parliament, national parliaments, EU institutions, and key NGOs to assess these challenges and align efforts with the European Affordable Housing Plan. Participants will also exchange successful strategies and best practices to identify effective, adaptable housing policies across the EU.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Intergenerational fairness from a climate policy perspective: Current trends and priorities for the EU – 27-03-2025

Source: European Parliament

Political decision-making frequently focuses on short-term impacts to satisfy current demands and ensure the electability of political representatives in office. Advocates of intergenerational fairness argue for a more balanced consideration of policy consequences, emphasising that long-term thinking is crucial to ensure that political choices made today do not negatively affect generations to come. There is a broad range of mechanisms that represent unborn future generations within contemporary spheres of influence such as courts, parliaments and citizen assemblies. Intergenerational fairness has recently secured itself a spot on the European Union’s (EU) executive agenda with the inauguration of the post of Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, assigned to Glenn Micallef as part of the von der Leyen II College. His tasks for the present legislative term include developing a strategy for intergenerational fairness, to be published at the start of 2026, and institutionalising youth dialogues. The Commission’s Joint Research Centre is presently organising stakeholder consultations on intergenerational fairness. Intergenerational fairness has risen to prominence in political discussions not only within the EU but also on an international scale. At the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024, delegates adopted a Declaration on the Rights of Future Generations. The phase-out of fossil fuels featured on the summit agenda, raising questions at the nexus of intergenerational fairness and climate change. Judicial institutions have addressed similar topics, with calls for intergenerational fairness being increasingly prominent in climate litigation. In light of these developments, this briefing will focus on mechanisms for implementing intergenerational fairness within the EU’s institutional framework in the context of climate change.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Introduces Pershing County Lands Bill to Support Economic Development, Increase Conservation

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act to expand protections for and improve the management of public lands in the County, and create new conservation and recreation opportunities, while ensuring the revenue from land sales stay in Pershing County.
This bill was drafted in collaboration with local officials and stakeholders in order to support long-term economic growth for Pershing County’s rural communities, while also prioritizing the protection and effective management of our public lands. The bill will also transfer land into trust for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe to support the expansion of their Tribal cemetery. This legislation has the support of county commissioners, ranchers, recreationists, conservationists, and private landowners.
“As Nevada continues to grow, we need to make sure that federal lands are being used in a way that fits the needs of our growing communities,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m working to support responsible economic development while also prioritizing the conservation of public lands. This bill will help boost Pershing County’s local economy and critical industries like mining, while also protecting more than 130,000 acres of public lands. I’ll keep working to ensure that this bill passes in the new Congress and becomes law.”
“The Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act is vital for the future of Pershing County and our citizens,” said Joe Crim Jr., Chairman of the Pershing County Commission. “Reconciling our checkerboard lands and protecting important Federal lands will ensure we have an ability to grow our economy in the future. We thank Senator Rosen for her support of this important legislation.”
“Friends of Nevada Wilderness is very grateful for Senator Rosen’s support for reintroducing the Pershing County bill,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “We have been active partners with stakeholders and local governments working to resolve public lands issues in Pershing County for a number of years. We are excited about the seven beautiful Wilderness areas and we are also excited for the opportunity to block up public and private lands to support appropriate development including green energy along with better conservation and management in the checkerboard area along the railroad and I-80 corridor.”
The Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act:

Designates over 130,000 acres of public lands as wilderness.
Resolves the checkerboard of alternating parcels of public and private land in Pershing County to allow for more effective land management, and creates new economic development and conservation opportunities.
Allows specific mining lands to be sold to support the mining industry in Pershing County, a key economic driver in the community, and funds new conservation and restoration activities.
Requires revenue from the land sales to stay in Pershing County to obtain, conserve, and protect environmentally sensitive areas and support outdoor recreation.
Transfers land into trust for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe to expand their Tribal cemetery.

Senator Rosen has been a champion for Nevada’s public lands. Earlier this year, she reintroduced the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act to expand economic development and affordable housing opportunities in Washoe County, support local Tribal communities, increase conservation, and protect public lands and outdoor recreation. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Rosen helped pass the modernization plan for the Fallon Range Training Complex at Naval Air Station Fallon, which was signed into law at the end of 2022. This compromise included Senator Rosen’s Lander County Land Management and Conservation Act, which transferred land to Lander County to improve airports, allow greater access to water infrastructure, increase recreation and outdoor tourism opportunities, and support economic development, while also designating over 14,000 acres of new wilderness.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Leads Colleagues in Demanding Senate Hearings on Trump Administration’s Reckless Mishandling of Classified Military Operations

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

According To New Reporting, Classified Military Operation Details Were Shared In Signal Chat By Secretary Of Defense
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led 15 of her Senate colleagues in a letter calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings to investigate why members of President Trump’s national security team were recklessly and illegally discussing classified military operations on unsecured devices. In the letter, the Senators also criticized the incompetence and carelessness of how these Trump officials mishandled the situation and inadvertently added a journalist to the group chat. New reporting details the classified military plans that were discussed in the commercial, unclassified messaging app.
In addition to Senator Rosen, this letter was signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). All of the Senators who signed are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“We write to you with grave concern regarding the recent revelations reported in The Atlantic about the Trump Administration’s reckless handling of classified information about U.S. military operations,” wrote the senators. “This gross mishandling of highly classified information has weakened our national security and could have put at risk American lives, particularly the men and women involved in the military strikes in Yemen.”
“For this reason, we are calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to hold joint or separate hearings to investigate this matter fully and get to the bottom of why members of the National Security Council were using unclassified, internet-connected smartphones and channels to discuss highly sensitive military information, when there are known ways to tamper with unclassified devices and when it is possible that dozens of foreign intelligence agencies are targeting the unclassified smartphones used by these senior U.S. government officials,” they continued. “Our national security demands that we act with urgency to uncover the full details of this severe security breach and implement measures to prevent such recklessness in the future.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has expressed deep concern over this violation of security protocols that put sensitive national security information and the lives of U.S. troops at risk. She released a statement strongly criticizing this inexcusable failure that could have endangered American lives, and called for Senate hearings and disciplinary action on the matter. Senator Rosen also joined a letter to President Trump demanding answers about this use of an unclassified, unsecured group chat for highly sensitive, high-level military planning in violation of our nation’s security protocols and the law.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Colleagues Request Removal of Burdensome Biden-Era Regulations on Broadband Program

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Chair of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, joined Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick ahead of his review of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

In their letter, the Senators request that Secretary Lutnick improve implementation of the BEAD program, which is aimed at expanding Internet access to Americans in rural areas and other unserved communities, by removing burdensome Biden-era regulations.

“As you may be aware, Republican senators have previously raised concerns with the Biden administration’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and its implementation of the BEAD program,” the Senators wrote. “Specifically, NTIA ignored congressional direction and acted inconsistently with its statutory authority in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), filling the program with onerous regulations that prevented the quick, efficient deployment of broadband and resulted in not a single household being connected to the internet.”

“Under your leadership, the BEAD program can finally fulfill its long overdue mission and ensure taxpayer dollars are not spent funding extraneous, burdensome regulations,” the Senators continued. “Eliminating these obstacles will empower states to work closely with broadband providers and accelerate deployment, maximize resources, and reach truly unserved and underserved communities without any more delay caused by unnecessary government interference.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Read the full letter

here or below:

Dear Secretary Lutnick:

We write to thank you for committing to a rigorous review of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. As you may be aware, Republican senators have previously raised concerns with the Biden administration’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and its implementation of the BEAD program. Specifically, NTIA ignored congressional direction and acted inconsistently with its statutory authority in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), filling the program with onerous regulations that prevented the quick, efficient deployment of broadband and resulted in not a single household being connected to the internet. Therefore, we urge you to remove the Biden-era extraneous regulations as you review the BEAD program to ensure the responsible and effective use of taxpayer dollars.

In particular, we encourage you to remove the BEAD program’s restrictive labor requirements that disadvantage rural communities, provisions favoring government-owned networks over private investment, and guidelines that prioritize certain technologies over others and clearly contradict congressional pursuit of tech-neutrality.

Furthermore, despite the IIJA’s explicit prohibition on broadband rate regulation, NTIA exceeded its statutory authority and attempted to enact rate regulations anyway. The inclusion of climate change mandates further diverted funds and focus away from the program’s primary objective of ensuring broadband access for unserved and underserved communities. These unnecessary bureaucratic barriers slow deployment, increase costs, and ultimately run contrary to the very purpose of the program and should also be removed. Even the former Director of the BEAD program recently admitted that many of these woke requirements were “inserted by the prior administration for messaging/political purposes” and “never central to the mission of the program.”

Under your leadership, the BEAD program can finally fulfill its long overdue mission and ensure taxpayer dollars are not spent funding extraneous, burdensome regulations. Eliminating these obstacles will empower states to work closely with broadband providers and accelerate deployment, maximize resources, and reach truly unserved and underserved communities without any more delay caused by unnecessary government interference.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. We appreciate your leadership in reviewing and addressing these concerns, and we look forward to working with you.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Schumer, Senators Demand Independent Watchdog Investigation into Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Attempts to Dismantle Department of Education

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

March 27, 2025

The Administration’s Actions Threaten to “Severely Restrict” Department’s Ability to Support Students, Parents, and Teachers Across the Country

“These actions likely contravene the law and will hurt students and families everywhere.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Acting Department of Education Inspector General (IG) René Rocque requesting that the IG conduct an investigation of the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) also joined the letter.

“Decimating the Department of Education’s abilities to administer financial aid, investigate civil rights violations, conduct research on educational outcomes, and oversee the use of federal education grants threatens to have disastrous consequences for American students, teachers, and families,” wrote the lawmakers.

Last week, the Trump Administration’s efforts to illegally dismantle the ED came to a head when President Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.”

A few weeks prior, ED initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50 percent of the Department’s staff. McMahon boasted, “When President Trump was inaugurated, the Department’s workforce stood at 4,133 workers. After today’s actions, the Department’s workforce will total roughly 2,183.”

“These cuts threaten to hurt the very groups that the Department aims to serve: the roughly 1,300 layoffs disproportionately target employees who served on teams that facilitate financial aid for tens of millions of families, enforce our civil rights laws, and ensure that every student has a place to learn in our K-12 public schools,” continued the lawmakers.

The day after President Trump signed his executive order attempting to abolish the Department of Education, the President also announced that he was “immediately” moving the handling of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and shifting programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Congress created the Department of Education to manage critical federal functions like distributing federal funding to public schools, administering federal financial aid, and defending the federal civil rights of students from marginalized backgrounds, including students with disabilities. Only Congress can choose to abolish the Department of Education—the President cannot shut down the Department by decree.

The senators requested that IG Rocque conduct an independent evaluation of the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education and examine how the efforts will undermine the federal government’s ability to support students, educators, and families across the country.

“Given the adverse impact that the Trump Administration’s actions may have on the Education Department’s ability to administer and improve education programs around the country, an evaluation by your office would be consistent with your goal to ‘drive continuous improvement in Federal education programs,’” concluded the lawmakers.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Demand Senate Hearings On Trump Administration’s Reckless Mishandling Of Classified Military Operations

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

March 27, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined 14 of their Senate colleagues in signing a letter calling on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings to investigate why members of President Trump’s national security team were recklessly and illegally discussing classified military operations on unsecured devices. The senators also criticized the incompetence and carelessness of how these Trump officials mishandled the situation and inadvertently added a journalist to the group chat. New reporting details the classified military plans that were discussed in the commercial, unclassified messaging app.

“We write to you with grave concern regarding the recent revelations reported in The Atlantic about the Trump Administration’s reckless handling of classified information about U.S. military operations,” the senators wrote. “This gross mishandling of highly classified information has weakened our national security and could have put at risk American lives, particularly the men and women involved in the military strikes in Yemen.”

“For this reason, we are calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to hold joint or separate hearings to investigate this matter fully and get to the bottom of why members of the National Security Council were using unclassified, internet-connected smartphones and channels to discuss highly sensitive military information, when there are known ways to tamper with unclassified devices and when it is possible that dozens of foreign intelligence agencies are targeting the unclassified smartphones used by these senior U.S. government officials,” they continued. “Our national security demands that we act with urgency to uncover the full details of this severe security breach and implement measures to prevent such recklessness in the future.”

U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) also signed the letter.

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Chairman Wicker, Chairman Cotton, and Chairman Risch:

We write to you with grave concern regarding the recent revelations reported in The Atlantic about the Trump Administration’s reckless handling of classified information about U.S. military operations. According to the reporting and the screenshots provided in the original story and a second piece published the following day, the Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Advisor, and other key national security officials discussed classified information about imminent U.S. military operations using internet-connected smartphones that were not approved for discussing classified information, via a commercial, unclassified messaging app called “Signal.” Planning military strikes using consumer-grade, internet-connected smartphones is reckless and illegal because they can be hacked by foreign governments. Additionally, due to their inexcusable carelessness, a reporter was added to this Signal chat and was provided access to incredibly sensitive information about future military operations that included planned air strikes on terrorist targets. This gross mishandling of highly classified information has weakened our national security and could have put at risk American lives, particularly the men and women involved in the military strikes in Yemen.

It is even more outrageous that members of the Trump Administration – from the President to Cabinet officials who were part of the Signal group – have tried to downplay, mislead, and excuse this reckless and likely illegal behavior. During a recent Senate oversight hearing featuring Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Senators and the American people were left with more questions than answers following the officials’ testimony and repeated evasions.

Since that initial hearing, and as a direct result of Administration officials’ attempts to downplay the severity of the breach and the importance of the information disclosed, additional reporting from the Atlantic has been published containing further details of what was actually discussed, which included strike planning and explicit operational details like specific timing, types of aircraft used, and sequencing of events related to the pending attack on the Houthi terrorists, any of which could have jeopardized the operation and endangered servicemembers if it had fallen into the hands of our adversaries in advance. This raises pressing questions regarding the possible spillage of classified information to an uncleared reporter and onto unclassified devices which can be hacked by foreign intelligence agencies, the irresponsibility of high-ranking Administration officials, and the increased risk this created for U.S. troops who carried out the strikes.

For this reason, we are calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to hold joint or separate hearings to investigate this matter fully and get to the bottom of why members of the National Security Council were using unclassified, internet-connected smartphones and channels to discuss highly sensitive military information, when there are known ways to tamper with unclassified devices and when it is possible that dozens of foreign intelligence agencies are targeting the unclassified smartphones used by these senior U.S. government officials. The American people deserve answers, and we need to know if there are any other such chat conversations using Signal or any other messaging app or other actions being taken by Trump Administration officials that are putting our national security and military personnel at risk. We urge your committees to use the Senate’s full oversight powers to compel the following individuals, who were part of the messaging group, to speak to the Senate in both open and closed hearings: Vice President JD Vance; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; National Security Advisor Michael Waltz; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; CIA Director John Ratcliffe; White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles: Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller; and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Our national security demands that we act with urgency to uncover the full details of this severe security breach and implement measures to prevent such recklessness in the future. We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter and stand ready to support the committees in any capacity necessary. We trust that you will give this matter the serious attention it requires.

Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Roya Rismankar Appointed IAM Canadian Research Analyst

Source: US GOIAM Union

IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Roya Rismankar as a Research Analyst in the Canadian Territory, effective March 10, 2025.

Rismankar will play a crucial role in providing members with accurate and timely information to support their success.

“With her experience and dedication, we are confident that Roya will make meaningful contributions to our research efforts and help set strategies to advance our goals,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand.

Rismankar graduated in 2021 and has gained four years of research experience, specializing in public policy. She has worked with the Government of Canada on an ongoing qualitative research project for the Privy Council Office, advising the Prime Minister on key issues such as housing, government benefits, and cost of living.

“As a Research Analyst, it is a foundational component of my role to provide our fellow members with timely and accurate information to set them up for success,” said Rismankar. “The collective IAM Union will continue to set the standards for workers’ rights at all stages, from employment wages and benefits to retirement and pensions. I am elated to start my journey with the IAM and contribute toward a meaningful cause to amplify workers’ voices all across Canada.”

In addition to her professional work, Rismankar is actively involved in several humanitarian organizations, volunteering her time to support various causes.

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Colleagues Press Energy Secretary on Firings and Suspensions in Nuclear Security Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Letter Text (PDF)
Washington (March 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) led his colleagues Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) in writing today to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright about the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) cancellation of two Department of Energy (DOE) lab programs that support efforts to stop nuclear proliferation, following firings from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and DOGE access to DOE information systems.
Today’s letter follows many of these lawmakers’ letter to Secretary Wright on February 20 regarding mass firings at the NNSA. The response from Teresa M. Robbins, Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator at the NNSA on February 21, failed to address concerns about the broader impact on U.S. nuclear security and nonproliferation. Since then, DOGE has continued to act with little regard for the consequences of its decisions, canceling two DOE lab programs critical to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Any one of these blunders would be alarming; taken together, they reflect a dangerous pattern of reckless behavior at the heart of America’s nuclear security enterprise.
Today’s letter to Secretary Wright urges DOE to restore the necessary staff and programs and ensure that nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation remain a top priority.
In the letter, the lawmakers write, “Regarding the cancelled lab programs, according to press, DOE suspended two programs (at national labs in Brookhaven, NY and Oak Ridge, TN) that provide U.S. financial aid to inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), undermining President Trump’s own goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his confirmation hearing in January that a nuclear-armed Iran ‘cannot be allowed under any circumstances.’ As a former director of the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico put it: ‘These are disastrous policies. They go against science and partnerships that lift a nation.’ We share these concerns and fear that the disruptions will scare away talented professionals from the field of nuclear nonproliferation and hinder the global fight against the spread of nuclear arms.”
The lawmakers continue, “As in the case of the NNSA terminations, it is unclear whether DOE and DOGE officials understand key facts — here, the depth of the relationship between the United States and the IAEA. U.S. financial support helps the IAEA train its inspectors, who can go where U.S. government experts may not be welcome. IAEA inspectors have exposed Iran’s nuclear progress and helped prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear material. Additionally, the assistance helps place U.S. citizens in staff positions at the IAEA. According to Laura Holgate, a former U.S. ambassador to the IAEA: ‘These programs enhance U.S. security. This is not charity. It’s in our self-interest.’ DOE and DOGE need to understand this.”
The lawmakers request answers by April 4, 2025, to questions including:
Why did you initially deny the NNSA’s request for a national security exemption from the mass firings at the agency?
Please explain the discrepancies in the number of fired NNSA employees, ranging from less than 50 to 177, to more than 300, and closer to 350. How many of the terminated NNSA employees declined to return? How has this impacted mission readiness?
Why did DOE immediately reverse 150 of its purported 177 firings?
We understand that approximately 30% of the NNSA employees initially terminated were from the Pantex Plant in Texas, the facility responsible for safely dismantling thousands of retired nuclear weapons. What measures were taken to assess the impact of these terminations on critical national security functions at this facility?
Why did DOE and DOGE suspend the two programs at Brookhaven and Oak Ridge national labs that provide U.S. financial assistance to inspectors at the IAEA? When these programs were suspended, did you realize that they supported nonproliferation efforts?
On February 20, Senators Markey, Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), wrote to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Wright about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) firing up to 350 staff members at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), jeopardizing the security of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, weakening our ability to detect and prevent threats to nuclear safety, and undermining U.S. nonproliferation commitments.
On February 12, 2025, Senator Markey and Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) wrote to Secretary Wright regarding their concerns that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to DOE, which oversees the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the nation’s most sensitive nuclear weapons secrets.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Australia: Massive boost to innovation in South East Queensland

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

Over $200 million in funding contributed by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments and industry partners will help South East Queensland become a leading innovator in health and biotech, through the South East Queensland Innovation Economy Fund.

The Fund has awarded eight successful projects $94 million in joint Government funding, with industry leaders across critical sectors co-contributing over $122 million. This partnership between governments and industry will unlock $217 million worth of investments across South East Queensland.

Successful projects include:

A $25 million grant to establish the Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC) at the Gold Coast will build on the region’s leadership in biomedicine, biotechnology and additive manufacturing.
Bringing together Griffith University, neighbouring hospitals and medical institutes, the project will leverage another $75 million from partners to expand the cutting-edge Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. It already employs more than 14,000 people, and is home to innovation such as the world’s first artificial rotary heart.
An Australian-first biomedical scale-up and manufacturing facility will be established at the Bogo Road Innovation Precinct, thanks to $3 million in funding. The new Hub will support start-ups to develop innovative medical products, manufacture them on site and undertake clinical trials, positioning Brisbane to become leaders in bio-manufacturing.
A $25 million grant awarded to the AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) to bring together start-ups and industry leaders to establish Australia’s first vertically-integrated biotechnological facility to support the rapid design, building and testing of new solutions for the agriculture sector.
The University of Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre will be upgraded with five new specialist innovation labs to boost jobs and accelerate the local economy, thanks to a nearly $3 million investment. It includes a new Digital Health Productivity Lab, which will harness technology to advance innovation in the aged care sector and improve patient experience.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Cities Jenny McAllister:

“The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future by backing Queensland innovation.

“By bringing together the expertise of universities, research institutes and industry, we can boost innovation, and create local jobs.

“It’s terrific to see investment in biotech that will not just improve health outcomes but also provide opportunities to build our economic future by leveraging world class research.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell:

“Queensland Government is dedicated to investing in a thriving innovation ecosystem in South East Queensland.

“Strategic investment in world-class innovation precincts will drive the creation of high value knowledge-intensive jobs that will propel South East Queensland into a new era of prosperity.

“These precincts are the incubators for solutions to the region’s most pressing social and economic challenges.”

Further information:

SEQ Innovation Economy Fund successful applicants:

Applicant	Location	Joint Commonwealth and Queensland Funding	Project description
Therapeutic Innovation Australia Limited	Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Brisbane	$3 million	Establishing the Bioproduction Hub (PM1) for multi modal therapeutics Phase 1 manufacturing at TRI. This Australian-first facility will enable production of biologics, vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals and mRNA therapeutics to support first-in-human clinical trials. The integration of specialist therapeutic manufacturing capability, quality control and regulatory expertise aims to streamline and fast-track the pathway from discovery science to clinical evaluation.
Translational Research Institute	Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Dutton Park	$6,807,251	This project will supercharge the Translational Manufacturing (TM@TRI) project and in turn supercharge the Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, accelerating the impact of this critical infrastructure.
Southern RNA	LNP-mRNA-Enable Project (LEAP): Driving LNP-mRNA Therapeutics to Clinical Trials	$2,777,667	The LNP-mRNA-Enable project aims to supercharge Queensland’s biomedical sector by building infrastructure and capacity that will unlock Queensland’s ability to locally translate and produce mRNA therapeutics. Led by Southern RNA and supported by research and industry partners in the field, the project will specifically develop capability around the development and manufacturing of Lipid Nanoparticle-mRNA, a vital step in the production and delivery of mRNA.
Witmack Industrial	AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC), Toowoomba	$25,000,000	The AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) is a groundbreaking $50m initiative to establish Australia’s first vertically integrated biotechnological facility for distribution, sales, logistics, R&D, and toll manufacturing. This “One Stop Shop” will integrate AI-driven research and world-class technology with best-practice manufacturing capabilities and global end-users to strengthen supply chain security, advance environmentally conscious practices like reducing synthetic chemical use, and boost economic growth and export opportunities.
University of Queensland	Queensland Animal Science Precinct, Lockyer Valley	$21,807,000	Queensland Animal Science Innovation Hub – a place animal producers, farmers and industry can test and trial, scale and commercialise new farming and biosecurity innovations which enhances food security and the supply of affordable and reliable meat and animal products to Queensland and the world.
University of the Sunshine Coast	Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast	$2,724,431	Future Skills Lab – five future skills specialist innovation labs, delivered in partnership with industry, and equipped with the latest tools and resources that accelerate the design, prototyping and testing of cutting-edge digital innovations.
Urban Utilities	Luggage Point Innovation Precinct, Brisbane	$7,670,811	Luggage Point Innovation Precinct Expansion: Pioneering Sustainable Water Solutions for Green Industries. Creating new spaces for pilot projects, sampling and research; and innovation-enabling infrastructure that will drive development and commercialisation of innovative water-related products and technologies including accelerating recycled water innovation; encouraging the adoption of recycled water; addressing persistent contaminants; and enabling hydrogen production to develop novel products from biogas, biosolids and organic waste.
Griffith University	Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Gold Coast	$25 million	Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC), a partnership between Griffith University (GU) and Economic Development Queensland is a new building that will significantly boost and synthesise the precinct’s capabilities, creating a seamless interface between university R&D and commercialisation with industry partners. Innovations enabled through HATRIC may include spinal injury repair, new vaccines, rehabilitation equipment, artificial ligaments, customised bionics for limb loss, quantum technologies for sportstech and circular economy technologies in recycling medical waste and lithium-ion batteries.

More information on the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund can be found at SEQ Innovation Economy Fund | Advance Queensland.

MIL OSI News –

March 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: Global Policy Advisors Releases Report on Rare Earths, U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, and the Expanding Role of the Development Finance Corporation
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Policy Advisors LLC (GPA), a recognized authority on sovereign wealth strategies and institutional investment frameworks, has released a new SWF 2050™ report titled “Strategic Metals, Rare Earths: The Role of Development Finance Corporation in a Resource-Backed U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund.”

The report examines how critical minerals and rare earths—highlighted in the March 20, 2025 Executive Order titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production”—may serve as funding anchors for a proposed U.S. sovereign wealth fund. While the Executive Order does not directly reference a SWF, GPA’s analysis identifies strong signals pointing toward the development of a resource-backed sovereign investment platform.

The study also outlines the emerging role of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), particularly the agency’s CEO, who has been tasked by the Executive Order to coordinate with the Departments of Energy, Defense, Interior, and State on critical mineral strategy—positioning the DFC as a likely institutional steward for sovereign capital deployment.

“As the policy environment evolves, we see the alignment of strategic metals, interagency investment coordination, and sovereign capital as more than coincidental—it’s directional,” said Global Policy Advisors president and sovereign wealth fund expert Salar Ghahramani. “The DFC is uniquely positioned to anchor a future U.S. sovereign wealth fund at the intersection of national interest and market access.”

Key topics covered in the report include:
- The Executive Order’s use of the Defense Production Act as a tool for industrial and financial policy
- Revenue models for a SWF based on mineral royalties and federal land leases
- Ukraine’s rare earth potential and its broader geopolitical investment context
- How the DFC could house a sovereign wealth fund and engage external managers
- Market implications for asset managers, private equity, and strategic supply chains
Read the summary of the report here:

https://www.globalpolicyadvisors.com/swf-2050trade/strategic-metals-rare-earths-the-role-of-development-finance-corporation-in-a-resource-backed-us-sovereign-wealth-fund

About Global Policy Advisors

Global Policy Advisors® LLC is a boutique sovereign wealth fund advisory to corporations, boards of directors, and institutional investors—including hedge funds, private equity firms, pension funds, and SWFs. GPA’s expertise is delivering actionable insights, strategy sessions, and executive briefings on the governance, operations, and investment strategies of sovereign wealth funds.

The MIL Network –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lunar microwave to purify water frozen in Moon’s soil wins UK Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Lunar microwave to purify water frozen in Moon’s soil wins UK Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge

A transformational technology that uses microwaves to defrost and ultrasound to break down contaminants in melted lunar ice to provide clean, drinkable water for astronauts has won the UK Space Agency-funded Aqualunar Challenge.
SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific. Credit: Max Alexander

The Aqualunar Challenge is an international prize for technologies to purify ice frozen in the Moon’s soil to make human habitation on the lunar surface possible.

SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific named winner for its innovative use of microwaves and ultrasound to generate millions of microbubbles in melted lunar ice, producing clean, drinkable water for astronauts.

FRANK by father-and-sons team RedSpace and AqualunarPure from a team from Queen Mary University named runners up.

The Aqualunar Challenge is a £1.2 million international prize funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund and delivered by Challenge Works – part of Nesta. It aims to drive the development of innovative technologies that make human habitation on the Moon viable by purifying water buried beneath the lunar surface.

The SonoChem System by Gloucestershire-based Naicker Scientific, led by Lolan Naicker, was named the winner by UK Space Agency’s Meganne Christian at a ceremony in Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square, where the team was awarded the £150,000 first prize.

Meganne Christian, European Member of the Astronaut Reserve, Commercial Exploration at the UK Space Agency and chair of the Aqualunar Challenge judging panel, said:

NASA has set the goal of establishing a permanent crewed base on the Moon by the end of the decade. The Artemis programme, as it is known, is supported by the UK Space Agency through its membership of the European Space Agency.

Astronauts will need a reliable supply of water for drinking and growing food, as well as oxygen for air and hydrogen for fuel. 5.6% of the soil (known as ‘regolith’) around the Moon’s south pole is estimated to be water frozen as ice. If it can be successfully extracted, separated from the soil and purified, it makes a crewed base viable.

The SonoChem System by Naicker Scientific. Credit: Max Alexander

The SonoChem System employs Naicker Scientific’s groundbreaking core technology to purify water derived from lunar ice. Harnessing powerful sound waves, it spontaneously forms millions of tiny bubbles in contaminated water. The extreme temperature and pressure created within each micro bubble generates free radicals (unstable atoms which are highly chemically reactive) which effectively removes contaminants.

Lolan Naicker, Technical Director, Naicker Scientific explained:

Imagine digging up the soil in your back garden in the middle of winter and trying to extract frozen water to drink. Now imagine doing it in an environment that is -200°C, a nearly perfect vacuum, under low gravity, and with very little electrical power. That’s what we will have to overcome on the Moon.

If we can make the SonoChem System work there, we can make it work anywhere, whether that’s on Mars’ glaciers, or here on Earth in regions where accessing clean water is still a challenge.

UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance said:

The Aqualunar Challenge was set up to overcome one of the most significant obstacles to humans surviving on the Moon or other planets – the availability of clean drinking water. By teaming up with our Canadian partners and harnessing the wealth of talent and creativity found across the UK, the challenge has uncovered a range of new ideas, including Naicker Scientific’s SonoChem system.

Many of these ideas could not only fuel future space exploration, but also help improve lives and solve water shortages here on Earth – mitigating the impacts of climate change as we work towards a net zero future, a key ambition in our Plan for Change.

Naicker Scientific was awarded the £150,000 first prize, with two runners up winning £100,000 and £50,000 respectively:

First runner up: FRANK – Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit – developed by father and sons team RedSpace Ltd, Aldershot. A three-stage approach designed to deliver a continuous flow of drinking-grade water in a lunar environment first heats the regolith sample in a sealed chamber to separate off volatile gases and leave a liquid of water, methanol and regolith fragments. The liquid is passed through a membrane to remove solid particles. The remaining liquid is distilled to separate the methanol from the water.

FRANK – Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit – by RedSpace Ltd. Credit: Max Alexander

Second runner up: AquaLunarPure: Supercritical Water Purification on the Moon – developed by Queen Mary University of London. A reactor melts lunar ice to separate the dust and rock particles, then heats it to more than 373°C at 220 bars of pressure to turn it into “supercritical water” – not a solid, a liquid or a gas, but a fourth state that appears like a thick vapour – in which oxidation will remove all the contaminants in one step.

AquaLunarPure by Queen Mary University of London. Credit: Max Alexander

10 finalist teams were each awarded £30,000 seed funding in July 2024 to develop their technologies in pursuit of the prize and provided with a comprehensive package of non-financial support, including expert mentoring and access to testing facilities.

The Aqualunar Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works – part of the UK’s innovation agency for social good, Nesta – and the UK Space Agency, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Impact Canada, with half the prize being awarded to UK-led teams, and half being awarded to Canadian-led teams.

Holly Jamieson, Executive Director, Challenge Works said:

Challenge prizes are open innovation competitions that level the playing field for innovators whether they are well-established in a sector or coming to it for the first time – rewarding ideas rather than reputations. The Aqualunar Challenge successfully attracted new entrants to work in the space sector – a sector that already generates £19 billion of income a year in the UK, but where there is great potential for growth.

Competing teams have reported back that participating in the prize has helped them secure investment and open up commercial conversations to grow their businesses. There may only be one first prize, but the Aqualunar Challenge has produced many winners.

To find out more about the Aqualunar Challenge in the UK and learn more about all ten competing teams, visit aqualunarchallenge.org.uk.

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Published 27 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers consent to raise Mt. Polley tailings dam four metres

Source: Government of Canada regional news

The ministers of Environment and Parks, Tamara Davidson, and Mining and Critical Minerals, Jagrup Brar, have issued a consent order to Mount Polley Mining Corp. to raise the tailings pond dam of the Mt. Polley Copper-Gold Mine by four metres.

The ministers’ decision was informed by an Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) review, conducted in collaboration with the Mining and Critical Minerals Major Mines Office, which also must make a decision whether to approve the increased height under the Mines Act.

The ministers agreed with the EAO’s conclusions that increasing the total height to 64 metres from the current 60 metres at the already-developed mine site is not likely to result in new or significant impacts compared to current approved operations. The ministers are satisfied that safety issues have been assessed thoroughly through technical reviews carried out by an external third-party geotechnical engineer and geotechnical engineering experts in the Major Mines Office.

On Aug. 4, 2014, a tailings pond dam breach caused mine waste, water and construction materials to flow into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake causing widespread and long-lasting environmental damage and serious impacts.

The Province subsequently implemented all recommendations from two separate investigations in 2015 by an independent expert engineering panel and the chief inspector of mines. These led to significant changes in 2016 to how tailings ponds are regulated under the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in B.C., which was further updated in 2024. The proposed dam height increase at the Mt. Polley Mine meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements in the current code.

The Major Mines Office led the technical review of the potential impacts and associated mitigation measures of the proposed increase in dam height, as an amendment to the Mines Act permit for the mine also is required. The Major Mines Office and the Environmental Assessment Office reviews both included consultation with Williams Lake First Nation and Xatśūll First Nation.

A decision by the Major Mines Office’s statutory decision-maker to approve the proposed Mines Act permit amendment to raise the dam by four metres was also issued on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Mount Polley Mining Corp. has applied to expand mining and make other changes at the site over the course of the next few years. Due to time constraints presented by impacts to mining operations and managing higher water volumes during the spring melt, the Environmental Assessment Office and Major Mines Office reviewed the interim four-metre height increase to continue existing approved operations separately from the expansion request. The proposed expansion to the mine is still being assessed by the EAO. No decisions have been made on whether or not to approve the expansion to allow the mine to continue operating past 2031.

The Mt. Polley mine was approved by the provincial government in 1992. Under its certificate, which remains in effect under the Environmental Assessment Act, the operator must obtain the written consent of the ministers prior to any material alterations to the Mt. Polley mine from what was previously approved.

The Mt. Polley Mine is located in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia, approximately 56 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake. It began operations in 1997. Operations were approved to resume under the Mines Act permit in 2016, after they had been paused due to the 2014 dam breach.

Learn More:

For ministers’ reasons for their decision, visit: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/67e5787dc102740022549973/download/ReasonsForDecision_Consent_Material_Alteration_TSFRaise_FINAL.pdf

EAO’s recommendation regarding consent for material alteration: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/67e578d7c10274002254997e/download/Report_Consent_Material_Alteration_TSFRaise_Final.pdf

MIL OSI Canada News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: International President Bryant Addresses MNPL Delegates

Source: US GOIAM Union

IAM members from coast to coast gathered in New Orleans for the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) National Planning Conference. MNPL relies on voluntary donations from IAM members to support candidates who support core IAM issues, such as fair trade and workers’ rights.

WATCH: MNPL We Fight for You

IAM Union Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin brought greetings to the MNPL delegates. GVP Martin encouraged the delegates with a welcome message that focused on labor’s history and let members know that labor was built during hard times due to the strength and solidarity of workers.

This year’s MNPL conference involved planning for the next election cycle and increasing IAM members’ participation.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant addressed the delegates with a strong message.

“The IAM and MNPL don’t advocate for a Republican or Democratic agenda – we fight for the IAM’s agenda,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “And in the face of everything we’re up against, we must double down. Right here and right now, we are committing to being more engaged than ever in the political process.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: English version: Roya Rismankar Appointed IAM Canadian Research Analyst

Source: US GOIAM Union

IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Roya Rismankar as a Research Analyst in the Canadian Territory, effective March 10, 2025.

Rismankar will play a crucial role in providing members with accurate and timely information to support their success.

“With her experience and dedication, we are confident that Roya will make meaningful contributions to our research efforts and help set strategies to advance our goals,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand.

Rismankar graduated in 2021 and has gained four years of research experience, specializing in public policy. She has worked with the Government of Canada on an ongoing qualitative research project for the Privy Council Office, advising the Prime Minister on key issues such as housing, government benefits, and cost of living.

“As a Research Analyst, it is a foundational component of my role to provide our fellow members with timely and accurate information to set them up for success,” said Rismankar. “The collective IAM Union will continue to set the standards for workers’ rights at all stages, from employment wages and benefits to retirement and pensions. I am elated to start my journey with the IAM and contribute toward a meaningful cause to amplify workers’ voices all across Canada.”

In addition to her professional work, Rismankar is actively involved in several humanitarian organizations, volunteering her time to support various causes.

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Isabel Schnabel: Financial literacy and monetary policy transmission

Source: European Central Bank

Speech by Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the 2025 Mais Lecture at Bayes Business School

London, 27 March 2025

According to our latest public opinion survey, more than 90% of respondents are aware of the European Central Bank.^[1]^[2] But when asked about our tasks, only 43% said they know that the ECB is responsible for maintaining price stability, despite inflation continuing to be the most important issue for European citizens.^[3]

These findings are part of a broader societal phenomenon: the widespread lack of financial literacy.

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and apply basic financial concepts. It empowers individuals to make informed financial choices, mitigate investment risks and make provisions for old age.

In my lecture today, I will argue that financial literacy also matters for the transmission of monetary policy. I will show that financially literate individuals react more strongly to interest rate changes, are more willing to take on risk and are more forward-looking when forming inflation expectations.

Together, these factors suggest that greater financial literacy tends to strengthen the transmission of central bank policies to the real economy. Therefore, it can make monetary policy more effective in achieving its objectives and lower the sacrifice ratio – that is, the cost of reducing inflation in terms of lost output or higher unemployment.

For this reason, central banks, including the ECB, have increased their efforts to foster financial literacy. Such initiatives strengthen trust in central banks and support broader policy goals, including progress on the European savings and investment union.

Financial literacy varies widely across socio-economic groups

In 2021 G20 finance ministers and central bank governors recognised financial literacy as an essential skill for empowering people and supporting individual and societal well-being.^[4] It is defined as the ability to understand and effectively use basic financial concepts to take personal financial decisions.

Such decisions are taken at various stages of life. People have to decide how much of their income they want to spend and to save, how to best invest their savings, how to finance big purchases like an apartment or a house, and how to make provisions for old age or emergencies. This requires an understanding of how interest rates and inflation affect the return on various financial products and the cost of borrowing.

The sharp economic fluctuations over the past few years have underscored how important financial literacy is for the well-being of households. The surge in inflation in the aftermath of the pandemic and the sharp rise in interest rates after a decade of low rates have highlighted the need for individuals to properly understand and react to a changing inflation and interest rate environment.

Economists Annamaria Lusardi and Olivia Mitchell developed the “Big Three” financial literacy questions, which have become a widely used measure of financial literacy (Slides 2 to 4).^[5]

These questions assess basic knowledge in three areas that are of key importance for households’ financial decision-making: the concept of compound interest, the importance of inflation for the purchasing power of savings, and the benefits of diversifying a portfolio across different assets.^[6] People are usually considered to be financially literate if they can answer all these three questions correctly.

Numerous surveys collect information about the level of financial literacy across various countries and socio-economic groups, and the ECB has contributed to this effort by including questions on financial literacy in its consumer expectations survey.

These surveys show that many people struggle to answer all three questions correctly. In the euro area, less than half of respondents, around 48%, managed to get all three questions right (Slide 5).

Moreover, financial literacy varies widely across socio-economic groups.

First, financial literacy is lower for younger people. Those aged below 50 display below-average financial literacy, which could negatively affect their ability to build up long-term wealth or their decisions about major purchases.^[7]

Second, women have on average significantly lower financial literacy than men. This could lead to a higher risk of financial hardship and could explain why women are more often at risk of old-age poverty.^[8]

Third, financial literacy increases with educational attainment and income, potentially reinforcing inequality as, on average, financially literate people take better financial decisions.^[9]

Finally, there is considerable variation across countries, also within the euro area. Financial literacy tends to be higher in northern European countries.

Financial literacy matters for monetary policy transmission

These differences have important implications for individuals, but they may also have an impact on the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies.

Monetary policy is a case in point. The effectiveness of monetary policy relies on the smooth transmission of policy decisions – especially changes to key policy rates – to financing conditions and, from there, to economic activity and inflation.

Today I will focus on three key channels through which financial literacy can influence the transmission of our monetary policy: the interest rate channel, the risk-taking channel and the inflation expectations channel.^[10]

Financially literate households react more strongly to interest rate changes

In standard macroeconomic models, monetary policy works mainly through the interest rate channel: an increase in interest rates shifts intertemporal trade-offs in the direction of higher savings and less consumption due to a substitution effect. Higher interest rates dissuade firms from investing and households from purchasing houses or durable goods.

Policymakers frequently use these models to derive policy prescriptions, thereby implicitly assuming that households react in an optimal way to changes in interest rates by adjusting their borrowing and saving.

However, a lack of financial literacy in part of society could be one reason that not all people behave in the way that models with rational expectations assume. Consequently, policymakers may make mistakes in predicting household behaviour, affecting the way monetary policy is transmitted to the real economy.^[11]

For example, survey evidence suggests that financially literate households are more responsive to changes in interest rates.

On the one hand, this reflects the fact that these households are more attentive to interest rate developments. Among financially literate households, 62% report paying “some”, “much” or “a great deal” of attention to the level of interest rates. For households with low financial literacy, this share is only 49% (Slide 6).^[12]

On the other hand, a financially literate person has a better understanding of how interest rate changes will affect their financial situation and how they should best respond.

The experience of recent years is a good example. When the ECB raised its policy rates in 2022 to fight inflation, financially literate individuals understood that this created more beneficial conditions for saving and less attractive conditions for borrowing, strengthening policy transmission. By contrast, less financially literate people reacted much less strongly to the dramatic change in the interest rate environment (Slide 7).

In other cases, the impact on transmission is less clear.

Households with high levels of financial literacy preferred fixed-rate loans when interest rates were low, but less so when interest rates were high (Slide 8). This behaviour tends to slow down policy transmission, as it insulates these households from changes in the interest rate environment. By contrast, less financially literate households did not significantly adjust their preferences when interest rates increased sharply.^[13]

The financial literacy of borrowers and depositors may also affect how swiftly and strongly banks pass through changes in policy rates to financing conditions. This is a key step in monetary policy transmission.

The more attentive households are to interest rates, the more likely they are to search for the best possible interest rate for both loans and deposits. Indeed, according to the consumer expectations survey, financially literate households are more likely to “shop around” for the best terms of debt products (Slide 9, left-hand side).

The same is true for deposits. During the recent hiking cycle, banks had to increase deposit rates to prevent a deposit flight as depositors shifted from low-yielding deposits to higher-yielding investments.^[14]

Such behaviour is likely linked to financial literacy. In fact, during the recent tightening cycle, cash accounts of corporates, which are managed by finance professionals, received higher interest rates for both overnight and term deposits than those of households (Slide 9, right-hand side).

Higher funding costs for banks then also translate into higher bank lending rates, strengthening the transmission of policy rates to financing conditions.

Financial literacy increases risk-taking and stock market participation

A second important transmission channel of monetary policy operates through investors’ risk appetite. This is the risk-taking channel.

Monetary policy influences people’s willingness to take risks, with looser monetary policy being associated with greater risk-taking, as investors have an incentive to switch from safe assets to higher‑yielding alternatives.^[15] Increased risk-taking, particularly through greater stock market participation, amplifies the aggregate effects of monetary policy adjustments.^[16]

Research indicates that financial literacy plays a crucial role in determining the extent to which households engage in risk-taking by investing in the stock market or other risk assets.^[17] Financially literate households are much more likely to invest in stocks or mutual funds, thereby strengthening monetary policy transmission (Slide 10, left-hand side).

Differences can also be found in the mortgage market.

A higher share of financially literate households take out mortgages and other loans than is the case for households with low financial literacy, although the difference is quantitatively much smaller than for stocks (Slide 10, right-hand side). Changes in aggregate consumption in response to interest rate adjustments are to a large extent driven by households with mortgages.^[18]

Higher risk-taking may also affect monetary policy indirectly by mobilising private capital for riskier and more productive investments. More risk capital should lead to higher productivity growth and hence a higher natural interest rate, r-star, giving central banks greater scope to stimulate the economy through lower interest rates due to a greater distance to the zero lower bound.^[19]

The effects of higher risk-taking can be self-reinforcing. If a larger share of the population rebalances their portfolios by switching from savings products or bonds to stocks in response to looser monetary policy, this may encourage firms to make additional investments. The increase in investment leads to higher aggregate income, in turn leading to more investment in the stock market.^[20] Through this channel, stock market participation can magnify the investment response to monetary policy shocks.^[21]

Wealth effects provide another amplifying channel, as looser monetary policy tends to go hand-in-hand with a better performance of riskier assets, increasing household wealth and fostering consumption, with important distributional consequences. However, as shown over the recent tightening cycle, asset prices may behave differently. Over this period, the dampening effect of higher rates on stock prices was more than offset by stronger risk sentiment, leading to a surge in stock prices. Such wealth effects weakened monetary policy transmission in the most recent hiking cycle.

Lastly, financially literate households have been shown to be more likely to build up precautionary savings, making them better able to cope with financial shocks and smooth their consumption.^[22] This may slow monetary transmission, as these households can initially draw on cash buffers when the cost of borrowing increases through policy tightening. Hence, the impact of financial literacy on risk-taking may also go in the opposite direction.

Financially literate households are more forward-looking when forming inflation expectations

A third key transmission channel of monetary policy is the inflation expectations channel.

Since consumption and investment decisions as well as price and wage-setting processes reflect expectations about the future pace of price changes, household inflation expectations shape inflation dynamics. A growing body of research suggests that consumers’ expectations matter greatly for the transmission of monetary policy, possibly more than those of financial market participants.^[23]

Research by the International Monetary Fund shows that, over the recent inflation episode, near-term inflation expectations became an increasingly important driver of inflation in advanced economies (Slide 11, left-hand side).^[24]

In turn, factors that can reduce the sensitivity of inflation expectations to actual inflation developments can contribute to bringing inflation down more quickly. And the lower the sensitivity, the lower the sacrifice ratio, allowing for swift disinflation without causing high unemployment or a deep recession.

It is therefore crucial that central banks understand how households form these expectations.

Research shows that policy tightening has a stronger dampening effect on near-term inflation expectations and inflation when a greater share of people in the economy are forward-looking (Slide 11, right-hand side).^[25]

Forward-looking households form their expectations on the basis of a broader set of information, including central bank policies and their expected impact on the economy, while backward-looking households base their expectations to a larger degree on past inflation experience.

Therefore, a higher share of backward-looking households means that the central bank must tighten monetary policy more to achieve the same drop in inflation.

The degree to which households are forward-looking likely depends on their level of financial literacy.

Survey evidence indicates that households with higher financial literacy pay more attention to inflation.

52% of financially literate households pay “much” or “a great deal” of attention to inflation. This share stands at just 45% for the less financially literate (Slide 12, left-hand side). Higher attention also implies that these people are easier to reach through central bank communication.^[26]

However, these data also suggest that even for financially literate people, almost one half do not pay much attention to inflation. This may explain why inflation perceptions are often very persistent, adapting slowly to actual inflation dynamics. While headline inflation in the euro area dropped by almost 8 percentage points from its peak in October 2022 until the end of 2023, inflation perceptions fell by much less (Slide 12, right-hand side).

Again, there is some difference of inflation perceptions across different levels of financial literacy: while the inflation perceptions of both groups were similar when inflation had reached its peak, those of financially literate people are now 1.6 percentage points lower than those of less financially literate people.

Inflation expectations paint a similar picture. The one-year ahead inflation expectations of financially literate households have dropped much more quickly than those of the less financially literate (Slide 13, left-hand side).

These two findings are linked and reflect the fact that individuals’ inflation perceptions have a substantial impact on their expectations of future inflation.^[27]

Overall, the share of consumers with inflation expectations broadly anchored around 2% – meaning that three-year inflation expectations are between 1.5% and 2.5% – has fluctuated around a level of only 17%, indicating a low degree of anchoring.

Again, there are notable differences in inflation expectations linked to financial literacy. The share of consumers with medium-term inflation expectations anchored around 2% is significantly higher for financially literate households. However, these households have also been more responsive to actual inflation developments, with the share of consumers with medium-term inflation expectations around 2% declining more sharply when inflation surged and rising more strongly when it came down (Slide 13, right-hand side).^[28]

The observed differences in the formation of inflation expectations translate into lower deviations of individual one-year ahead forecasts from inflation perceptions at that time for more financially literate people, implying a lower subjective forecast error (Slide 14). In other words, households with higher levels of financial literacy tend to have more accurate inflation expectations.^[29]

Financial literacy also affects household perceptions of real, i.e. inflation-adjusted, incomes, with implications for monetary policy transmission. Over the past three years, real private consumption has increased more slowly than real disposable income. This can be partly explained by household misperceptions of their real income developments.^[30]

While over 50% of households in the euro area experienced positive real income growth in 2024, only 11% perceived that their real income had increased (Slide 15, left-hand side). The net percentage of pessimistic households is highest for the bottom half of the income distribution, and it is also higher for households with low financial literacy (Slide 15, right-hand side).

This implies that lower inflation due to restrictive monetary policy generally had a weaker impact on consumption due to such misperceptions, dampening the recovery.

The need for enhanced financial education initiatives

The evidence presented explains why central banks have a keen interest in promoting financial literacy and improving financial knowledge.

In our 2021 monetary policy strategy review, we acknowledged that communication to broader audiences is key for monetary policy. That is why we have put more emphasis on explaining our monetary policy decisions to the general public in an accessible way.^[31]

Since President Lagarde took office, the Governing Council has made significant progress in making communication more accessible. For example, the introductory statement to the press conference after our monetary policy decisions has been replaced with the monetary policy statement, which offers a more concise and compelling narrative, while significantly reducing the textual complexity of monetary policy announcements, thereby increasing readability (Slide 16). To reach audiences beyond experts, the statement has been complemented by highly accessible, visualised statements, available in all EU languages.^[32]

When people understand how monetary policy works, they tend to trust central banks more.^[33] And people’s trust in the central bank and in its ability to maintain price stability has been shown to help anchor inflation expectations and increase the share of forward-looking people in the economy.^[34]

Knowledge about the ECB is linked to financial literacy. Financially literate households tend to be significantly more knowledgeable about the ECB and its inflation objective (Slide 17).

This has implications for the ECB’s credibility. In the most recent inflationary episode, the share of households with high financial literacy that trusted the ECB to maintain price stability over the next three years rose notably after the ECB had embarked on its hiking cycle and inflation had come down significantly (Slide 18).

By contrast, households with low financial literacy lost confidence in the ECB’s ability to maintain price stability as interest rates rose. Even when inflation had already come down significantly, the share of households that trusted the ECB’s ability to maintain price stability remained low. This is in line with recent evidence from the United States, where 60% of survey respondents believe that high interest rates cause high inflation.^[35]

Therefore, to maintain and improve their credibility, central banks should help people understand their policy actions and their economic effects through communication and enhance their efforts to improve financial literacy.^[36]

At the ECB, we are taking active steps to do this. We have expanded our communication efforts towards the general public by offering explainers on YouTube (through our “Espresso Economics” channel), by speaking more frequently on TV, by engaging on social media and by producing regular podcasts.

Earlier this month, on International Women’s Day, the ECB took another step in promoting financial literacy by committing to five joint actions with national central banks, also aimed at closing the gender gap in financial literacy.^[37]

These include raising awareness, establishing a central bank financial literacy network, collaborating with national authorities for consumer protection, developing a harmonised financial literacy dataset across Europe, and focusing communication efforts on key moments in life, such as early education, taking out a major loan or building a pension.

Of course, such efforts can only complement, not replace, much broader efforts needed from governments and the education system. And it requires a long-term effort, with progress likely to be incremental.

Financial literacy is also an important cornerstone of the savings and investment union, one of the European Commission’s flagship projects.^[38]

Under its first pillar, it aims to encourage citizens to invest in capital markets, which can contribute to financing part of the massive investments needed for the green and digital transitions.^[39] As I said before, financial literacy increases the willingness to make such investments. Therefore, an improvement in financial literacy is seen as essential to achieving the stated objectives. That is why the European Commission will adopt a financial literacy strategy, in line with the ECB’s efforts.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

Financial literacy is an essential life skill that not only empowers individuals to make informed financial decisions but can also make monetary policy more effective.

Financially literate individuals respond more strongly to interest rate changes, are more willing to take on risk and are more forward-looking when forming inflation expectations. This tends to strengthen the transmission of central bank policies to the real economy.

However, significant differences in financial literacy across socio-economic groups highlight the need for continued educational initiatives.

Fostering financial literacy can support policy effectiveness, enhance public trust in central banks and help people make better financial decisions, ultimately contributing to a stronger economy and individual well-being.

As Benjamin Franklin, who spent more than 16 years here in London, once said, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Thank you.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE removes Mexican fugitive wanted for family violence

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

NOGALES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Juan Jasso-Botello, a 44-year-old Mexican fugitive wanted in Mexico for family violence, March 25.

ICE transported Jasso-Botello from the Florence Detention Center to the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, where he was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities.

“The removal of Juan Jasso demonstrates the collaborative, whole of government approach that ICE supports in protecting the citizens of the U.S.,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu. “Our dedicated officers and partners in law enforcement have worked tirelessly to ensure that such individuals are brought to justice and then removed from the United States.”

Jasso-Botello illegally entered the United States Nov. 1, 2024, near Newfield and was arrested on Nov. 2, 2024.

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives, transnational gang members or other criminal aliens who are in the U.S. illegally are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

For more news and information on how ICE carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Arizona, follow us on X, @ERO__Phoenix.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Dominican Republic: A Global Benchmark for Investment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a global context marked by increasing economic uncertainty and market volatility, the Dominican Republic is consolidating itself as a global benchmark for foreign investment, especially for companies seeking new destinations from which to operate to reduce costs, mitigate risks, and strengthen the resilience of their supply chains.

With a GDP growth of 5.0% in 2024, the highest in all Latin America and the Caribbean, the country remains one of the most dynamic, outperforming larger economies. For the coming years, this impressive dynamism is expected to continue, with IMF growth projections of 4.5% and 5.1% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, driven by solid political and social stability, a robust financial system, and favorable economic policies for business development. This extraordinary performance has also strengthened the confidence of international investors, reflected in the improvement of the country’s credit rating by major rating agencies such as S&P Global and Fitch Ratings.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Thus, beyond its idyllic landscapes, the Dominican Republic has managed to establish itself as a key destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2024, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), FDI in the country increased by 7.1%, representing 41% of the capital flows captured by Central America.

The Dominican Republic Industrial Tech revolution is no longer a secret – it’s a movement. This dynamic shift is not only transforming the country’s industrial landscape but is also positioning the Dominican Republic as a central hub for technological innovation, creating exciting opportunities for growth and international partnerships.

Global companies continue to choose the Dominican Republic to relocate their operations in key sectors such as medical and pharmaceutical products, electrical and electronic devices, textile manufacturing, tobacco and its derivatives, jewelry, among others. Clearly, this outlook shows that nearshoring is not an emerging trend, but a reality in the country. We’ve seen how innovation, investment, and talent are transforming the nation into a powerhouse of technological advancement.

Free Zones in the Dominican Republic: Engine of Economic Diversification and Nearshoring

The growing interest in creating more resilient, sustainable, and closer supply chains to end consumer markets has made nearshoring a key competitive strategy for companies. In this context, the Dominican Republic, located just two hours by air and two days by sea from the United States, offers multiple competitive advantages:
- Geographic proximity to the world’s largest consumer markets.
- Legal security and clear, predictable rules of the game.
- Top-level connectivity and logistics infrastructure, with 8 international airports, 18 seaports, 5 logistics centers, and 33 logistics operator companies. This infrastructure includes ports that have positioned themselves as important terminal operators, playing a strategic role in the sustainability of global supply chains.
- Several Free Trade Agreements, including DR-CAFTA and EPA, which open the doors to more than 900 million potential consumers worldwide.
- Competitive operational costs.
These extraordinary advantages, combined with the attractive tax incentives offered by the Free Zones Regime, make the Dominican Republic an unbeatable investment destination for companies looking to relocate or expand their manufacturing operations.

Free Zones, which have been successfully implemented for over half a century without modifications, have played a crucial role in the industrial and social development of the country, attracting the attention of global companies, including those on the Fortune 500 list, and consolidating themselves as a key pillar of the economy. Their main benefits include:
- 100% tax exemptions on national and local taxes.
- Access to a skilled and competitive workforce, with experience in advanced manufacturing processes.
- Specialized training and development programs.
- Simplified customs processes that streamline export logistics.
- Competitive wage structures tailored to the Free Zones Regime.
- Parks Operators which offer business services and solutions to facilitate the operations of Free Zones companies.
Clearly, this is an exceptional regime for companies interested in developing operations with certainty and predictability, strengthening their supply chains, and successfully navigating disruptions and changes in the global environment.

About the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSME’s (MICM)
MICM is the government agency responsible for the formulation, adoption, monitoring, evaluation, and control of policies in the fields of industry, exports, foreign trade, free zones, special regimes, and SMEs.

Contact Information

Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSME’s (MICM)
Vice Ministry of Free Zones and Special Regimes
(1) 809-685-5171 ext. 1017
www.micm.gob.do

For more information, visit:
www.drfreezones.com

The MIL Network –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Rate Surpasses $65M in VA Loan Fee Waivers, Strengthening Commitment to Veterans
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, has reaffirmed its commitment to veterans by waiving over $65 million in VA loan lender fees since launching its initiative on May 1, 2018. This effort has helped over 47,000 veterans secure home financing without unnecessary costs, making Rate one of the few lenders in the country actively reducing barriers to homeownership for military families.

“This is what leadership looks like. While others talk about serving veterans, we’ve taken real action—waiving more than $65 million in fees to make homeownership more accessible for the people who’ve served our country. It’s not just about the number. It’s about doing what’s right every single day. We’re proud to lead the industry with transparency, fairness, and a commitment to the families who’ve given so much,” said Victor Ciardelli, CEO and President, Rate Companies.

“Many lenders claim to prioritize veterans, but some engage in misleading practices that drive up costs,” said Jennifer Beeston, EVP of Mortgage Lending at Rate. “We’re taking a stand by eliminating fees and ensuring veterans get the fair, affordable home financing they deserve.”

By the Numbers: Rate’s Impact on VA Lending
- $65,289,930 in lender and application fees waived (2018–2025).
- 47,617 VA loans closed with fees waived.
- $0.31 per second waived—every second of every day since the program began.
- Goal for 2025: Waive an additional $20 million in lender fees.
A Stark Contrast: Rate vs. Competitor Practices

Unlike lenders who charge veterans thousands in unnecessary fees, Rate has led with transparency, affordability, and education. The company’s ongoing efforts include:
- Public education to expose misleading VA loan claims.
- Direct savings of up to $1,640 per loan for veterans and their families.
- Continued momentum, with over $18M waived in 2023 and 2024 combined, and a goal of $20 million in 2025.
As VA lending remains a critical pathway to homeownership for service members, Rate is calling on the industry to do better. Jennifer Beeston is available to discuss veteran lending best practices, industry trends, and real-life examples of how Rate’s fee waivers are making a difference.

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

Media Contact
press@rate.com

Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York.

Guaranteed Rate, Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Subject to approval. Conditions may apply.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Refinancing your mortgage may increase costs over the term of your loan. Restrictions may apply.

Rate has no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other government agency.

The MIL Network –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Duncombe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, University of Nottingham

The End tells the story of a wealthy family who survived the collapse of the climate and civilisation in a bunker inside an abandoned mine. Before the collapse they were rich, and they continue to enjoy every luxury.

Mother (Tilda Swinton) hangs Renoirs in their private gallery. Mary (Danielle Ryan) cooks delicious cakes. Doctor (Lennie James) provides medication, with casual cruelty. Butler (Tim McInnerny) decorates their library. And Father (Michael Shannon) tells Son tales from his life as an oil executive.

Son (George MacKay), who was born in the bunker, spends his time making models of American history, including the Moon landings and the transcontinental railroad. The family live in an unreal world of fictions, from the paintings they hang, to the models they make, their artificial lights and their fake house within the bunker.

They tell themselves, and each other, that they are good people, that their life is worth living and they did what they had to to survive. The fact that this film is a musical only makes it feel more unreal.

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One day, Girl (Moses Ingram) stumbles into the bunker. Starving, weak and haunted by guilt, she tells the family of the terrible things she did get to safety. She challenges their response that “you had no choice”.

As she grows closer to Son, she points out uncomfortable truths, like the fact that thousands of immigrant workers died while building the transcontinental railroad. At first, Son repeats what his parents have told him. But he soon comes to cruelly and openly mock the stories his family have concocted, seeing how self-serving they are.

The trailer for The End.

As the film unfolds, we learn the guilt, lies and self-deceptions that allowed each person to survive, and the stories they cling to.

The End has more than one meaning. On the surface, the title refers to the end of civilisation. But “the end” can also mean the purpose of something, like the meaning of life. As one of the songs on the film asks, how can we make a “life worth living”?

Plato’s Cave

Some viewers have compared the film to Plato’s Cave. The allegory is described in The Republic, the ancient Greek philosopher’s exploration of justice, politics and the ideal society.

The allegory describes a group of prisoners who are chained in a cave. On the wall, various shadow-images are projected: animals, people, objects. Because they don’t know any better, the prisoners take these shadows to be reality, and spend their time predicting which shadows will come next.

One day, a prisoner escapes and makes their way to the surface. There they see the real things which correspond to the shadows. They even see the dazzling sun in real life. Upon returning to the cave, the prisoner tries to free the other prisoners from their delusions. But they refuse to be shaken from them, and kill him.

Many interpret this escaped prisoner as Plato’s mentor, Socrates, the philosopher who was executed after he challenged Athenian citizens on questions of the ethical life.

An animation of Plato’s cave analogy, narrated by Orson Welles.

One message from the cave analogy is that living in ignorance, even wilful ignorance is not living a good life. The prisoners in the cave are not living a good life but they aren’t unhappy. In fact, they’re so comfortable with their illusions that they’d rather kill the escaped prisoner than listen to him. But their lives are still empty, because they are built on lies.

The End is not Plato’s Cave: The Movie, but the similarities with the allegory are clear. It too focuses on a group of people who live in an underground, unreal world, where their activities are meaningless because they are disconnected from reality, and who actively deceive themselves and others. Someone with knowledge of the outside world enters the community and confronts them with the truth – that their lives are built on falsehoods.

Just like the prisoners in Plato’s Cave allegory, the lives of the family before the Girl arrives are fine. But the Girl forces them to see things differently. When she finds the wine bitter, Father admits that that the wine is bitter. Her guilt forces them to face their own. Her integrity, and refusal to deceive herself about the choices she made, forces them to confront their self-deceptions. The love that blooms between Girl and the Son forces Mother, Father and Butler to recognise their own isolation.

In a way Girl is like Socrates, forcing people to examine their lives. But unlike Socrates, she allows herself to be vulnerable. She causes the change in the others not through Socratic questioning of their beliefs, but simply by expressing her own feelings, and what she knows to be true.

Unlike Socrates, Girl does not declare that the unexamined life is not worth living. But she does cause the family to examine their lives, albeit briefly and incompletely.

When we sit in a cinema, we are a bit like Plato’s prisoners, watching images projected onto a wall. Mostly, movies let us escape reality. But The End doesn’t. It forces us to face real truths – the need for honesty and self-examination in the face of the immanent collapse of our climate. We have a choice – how to respond.

Matthew Duncombe receives funding from the British Academy, Loeb Classical Library Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Education.

– ref. The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave – https://theconversation.com/the-end-philosopher-explains-new-climate-collapse-musical-using-the-allegory-of-platos-cave-252315

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

Keir Starmer aboard one of the UK’s Vanguard class submarines. CC BY-NC-ND

Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently boarded one of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines for a photo call as part of his attempts to demonstrate the UK’s defence capabilities as tensions with Russia continue.

However, Starmer faces a problem. The submarine, and the rest of the UK’s nuclear fleet, is heavily reliant on the US as an operating partner. And at a time when the US becomes an increasingly unreliable partner under the leadership of an entirely transactional president, this is not ideal. The US can, if it chooses, effectively switch off the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

British and US nuclear history is irrevocably interwoven. The US and UK cooperated on the Manhattan project, under the 1943 Quebec agreements and the 1944 Hyde Park aide memoire. This work generated the world’s first nuclear weapons, which were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

It also led to the first rupture. In 1946, the US classified UK citizens as “foreign” and prevented them from engaging in secret nuclear work. Collaboration with the UK immediately ceased.

The UK decided to develop its own arsenal of nuclear weapons. The successful detonation of the “Grapple Y” hydrogen bomb in April 1958 cemented its position as a thermonuclear power.

In the meantime, however, Russia’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 had demonstrated the lethal reach of Soviet nuclear technology. This brought the US and UK back together as nuclear partners.

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Talks on how to counter the Russian threat became the foundation of an atomic partnership that endures to the present day. This mutual defence agreement, signed in 1958, has provided the UK with affordable access to the latest nuclear technology and a reliable western ally. The treaty has been amended and adapted over time to reflect changes in the US-UK working relationship and the two are now so entangled that it is very hard to leave the co-dependent relationship.

Both sides have benefited from security and protection, especially during the cold war. However, Trump’s new “special relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin has reconfigured the global order of geopolitics.

Serious concerns are now being raised about the UK’s nuclear capacity, given the unpredictability and potential unreliability of the new US administration. Trump could ignore or threaten to terminate the agreement in a show of power or contempt.

The UK’s nuclear subs

The UK’s Trident nuclear deterrence programme consists of four Vanguard nuclear-powered and armed submarines. The UK has some autonomy, as it is operationally independent and controls the decision to launch.

However, it remains dependent on the US because the nuclear technologies at the heart of the Trident system are US designed and leased by Lockheed Martin – and there is no suitable alternative. The Trident system therefore relies on the US for support and maintenance.

The UK is currently in the process of upgrading the current system. But its options seem limited. If the US were to renege on its commitments, the UK would either have to produce its own weapons domestically, collaborate with France or Europe or disarm. Each scenario creates new issues for the UK. Manufacturing nuclear weapons from scratch in the UK, for example, would be a costly and protracted activity.

Technical collaboration with France seems the most plausible back-up option at the moment. The two countries already have a nuclear collaboration treaty in place. France has taken a similar submarine-based approach to deterrence as the UK and French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested its deterrent could be used to protect other European countries. Another alternative would be to spread the cost across Europe and create a European deterrence – but both strategies just re-embed the UK’s current nuclear reliance.

The UK is reliant on others for its nuclear deterrent.
Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

While these weapons may deter a hostile nuclear strike, they have failed to prevent broader acts of aggression. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for 80 years. Perhaps it is time to completely and permanently unshackle the UK from nuclear deterrence, and consider alternative forms of defence.

The UK’s nuclear arsenal is expensive to maintain. The cost of replacing Trident is £205 billion. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence reported that the anticipated costs for supporting the nuclear deterrent would exceed its budget by £7.9 billion over the next ten years. This funding could be channelled into more pressing security threats, such as cybersecurity, terrorism or climate change.

Nuclear weapons will become strategically redundant if the UK cannot act independently. As Nato and the US dominate the global nuclear stage, the UK’s capacity to respond has become contested. The time has come to decide whether the US is really our friend – or a new foe.

Becky Alexis-Martin 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. The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-the-power-to-switch-off-the-uks-nuclear-subs-a-big-problem-as-donald-trump-becomes-an-unreliable-partner-252674

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why rapid at-home PSA tests for prostate cancer are fast, convenient – and unreliable

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

Microscopic image of a prostate gland biopsy showing cancer in a patient with elevated PSA. David A Litman/Shutterstock

A recent BBC investigation questioned the accuracy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) self-tests – rapid at-home tests for men worried about prostate cancer. The BBC analysed five of these tests using one blood sample and found varying results: one positive, three negative, and one unreadable.

PSA blood tests measures levels of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland. All men have some PSA in their blood but a raised level can suggest a problem with the prostate, including cancer.

In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

Unlike many other cancers, there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer and the NHS doesn’t offer routine PSA testing. But anyone who has a prostate and is over 50 years old – or over 45 and from a high-risk group – can request PSA testing on the NHS. A doctor may also request testing if they think a patient has prostate cancer symptoms or want to monitor a diagnosed prostate condition.

A faster and potentially more convenient alternative is self-testing. Currently, anyone over the age of 18 can buy a PSA self-testing kit for home use. With no proactive NHS screening programme, home testing is on the rise to catch prostate cancer early – even before there are any symptoms. By catching fast-growing cancers early, treatment can prevent them from spreading and causing serious problems.

As with COVID self-testing, the PSA home kits use test cassettes. You use a lancet (small needle) to prick your finger to get a few drops of blood, put the blood into a pipette and then drip this on to the test cassette along with a buffer solution. Depending on the test kit, a positive or negative result is displayed in five-to-ten minutes.

This might sound convenient, but some users find the detailed instructions for home PSA tests difficult to follow, which can lead to errors. A review found the information provided with self-tests is generally inadequate.

But as the BBC report showed, even when used correctly, PSA home tests can give varying results.

Not a cancer test

Positive tests or high PSA levels may cause men to worry unnecessarily. PSA tests are not blood tests for prostate cancer, and a PSA test can neither diagnose nor rule out prostate cancer. Rather, higher levels of PSA indicate a potential problem with the prostate.

In many men, this could be caused by a benign prostatic hyperplasia – an enlarged prostate. This is a non-cancerous condition affecting 8% of men in their fifties, where the prostate gland grows larger. It can cause urinary problems, such as difficulty in starting pee, a weak urine stream and frequent or urgent urination. The likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate increases with age.

An inflamed prostate (prostatitis) can also cause raised PSA, as can urine infections – and even vigorous exercise and sexual activity.

In some cases, rapid home tests can give a false negative result, offering false reassurance for users who should go on to have further tests for cancer.

Another drawback of home-testing kits is that there is no medical professional to refer a test user for further checks or to help interpret results. For example, a normal PSA level doesn’t mean the person testing is cancer-free: PSA levels can be normal even in someone with prostate cancer.

Tests are not a GP substitute

While rapid at-home PSA tests can be unreliable, other types of PSA self-testing kit allow you to collect the blood sample in a small tube, then send it to a laboratory for testing. Getting these results can take a few days but can offer a more detailed PSA value, compared with rapid at-home tests. But again, these lab tests can neither diagnose nor rule out prostate cancer.

Whatever the method of testing, high PSA levels should be followed up with a doctor who can order more tests and scans to check for cancer.

Many men might find the Prostate Cancer UK online risk checker useful. It asks three main questions about age, ethnicity and family history.

The older a man is, the higher their risk of prostate cancer. Men of black ethnic heritage have double the chance of developing prostate cancer, while those with a close relative – father or brother – who has had prostate cancer are also at increased risk.

The online risk checker also provides useful resources, information to take to the doctor, and contact details for specialist nurses.

If a man is experiencing any symptoms of prostate problems, falls into a higher risk group, has genetic risk factors, has a positive PSA home-test, or just has concerns about prostate cancer, it’s always best to check with the doctor – they can provide more support, information and further testing.

Dipa Kamdar 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. Why rapid at-home PSA tests for prostate cancer are fast, convenient – and unreliable – https://theconversation.com/why-rapid-at-home-psa-tests-for-prostate-cancer-are-fast-convenient-and-unreliable-252415

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Boulder, Colorado Named New Host of Sundance Film Festival Beginning in 2027

Source: US State of Colorado

Press conference to be held at 2 p.m. today in downtown Boulder

BOULDER — Today, the Sundance Institute named Boulder, Colorado as the new host of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. To celebrate the announcement, a press conference will be held at 2 p.m. today, March 27, in front of the Boulder Theater on the southwest corner of 14th and Spruce in downtown Boulder, Colorado. State officials, including Gov. Polis, Sundance Institute representatives, and Visit Boulder are all expected to speak. Members of the media who plan to attend should RSVP to Ally Sullivan at ally.sullivan@state.co.us.

“I’m beyond excited to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado starting in 2027. Powerful films tell our stories; who we were, who we are, and who we aspire to be. Here in Colorado we also celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture. Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants, and to help the festival achieve even greater success. Thank you to the Sundance Film Festival and all of the partners including the City of Boulder, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and I also want to thank the bipartisan legislators and leadership who have worked tirelessly to make this possible,” said Governor Jared Polis.

Today’s announcement follows the submission of a winning proposal by the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Boulder) with support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the Colorado Office of Film Television and Media (COFTM), OEDIT’s Business Funding & Incentives Division, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and a regional coalition of partners, including the City of Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the Stanley Film Center. The proposal to host the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder has also secured bipartisan support, including the sponsors of HB25-1005, which is still moving through the legislative process, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Rep. Brianna Titone, Sen. Judy Amabile and Sen. Mark Baisley.

“We’re beyond excited that Boulder has been chosen as the future home for the Sundance Film Festival. With its thriving creative spirit, stunning mountain backdrop, and welcoming community, Boulder offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience for filmmakers and attendees alike. This moment is a testament to what happens when a community comes together to champion art, culture, and connection. Congratulations, Boulder and all of Colorado — this is our moment to shine!” said Charlene Hoffman, CEO of Visit Boulder.

Through this historic opportunity, Colorado will honor the Festival’s roots in the mountain west, while supporting its ongoing growth and success and boosting the state’s creative economy. The Festival’s presence in Boulder will benefit the region and beyond, increasing tourism and boosting sales to restaurants and small businesses during a quiet time of year, while bolstering Colorado’s creative economy and generating new jobs for Coloradans.

“Colorado has long been known for its culture of collaboration, and that spirit was on full display throughout the proposal process. Recognizing the opportunity to strengthen our creative economy, create new jobs for Coloradans, boost tourism and elevate Colorado on the global stage, a diverse group of partners came together to showcase Colorado as the ideal next home for the Sundance Film Festival. The relationships we have built and strengthened, especially our partnership with the Sundance Institute, will ensure the Festival’s next act is a tremendous success,” said OEDIT Executive Director, Eve Lieberman.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado and work with our new partners at the Sundance Institute to ensure a smooth transition to Boulder in 2027. We can think of no better partner to elevate filmmaking and storytelling in Colorado and look forward to celebrating the many creative milestones that lie ahead,” said Colorado Film Commissioner, Donald Zuckerman. “With our world-renowned Rocky Mountain landscapes, well-established creative communities, strong hotel bed base, and robust domestic and international connectivity through Denver International Airport, Colorado is the perfect stage for the Sundance Film Festival’s next act. Congratulations to Boulder, and welcome to our new Festival partners!” said Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran.

“Hosting the Sundance Film Festival is an incredible win for the Boulder region and the state of Colorado. The 2024 festival generated $132 million in gross domestic product, created 1,730 jobs paying $69.7 million in wages, and attracted 24,000 out-of-state visitors who spent an average of $735 a day. We expect to see a similar impact for Coloradans and look forward to welcoming the Festival in 2027,” said Colorado Rep. Brianna Titone.

“The Tax Incentive for Film Festivals is advancing through the Colorado legislature with bipartisan support, paving the way for today’s historic announcement and demonstrating our state’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado. This exciting news will elevate our creative industries and create new jobs for Coloradans for years to come,” said Colorado Sen. Judy Amabile.

“Today’s announcement is a tremendous win for Colorado small businesses. We welcome the Sundance Film Festival making its new home in Boulder. This will boost sales at restaurants, retailers and other small businesses throughout the region that rely on tourism, bringing much needed revenue to Colorado communities during a quiet time of year,” said Colorado Sen. Mark Baisley.

About Visit Boulder

Visit Boulder, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1985, Visit Boulder strengthens the local economy by inspiring visitor connections to Boulder’s vibrant landscape and unique culture. (www.bouldercoloradousa.com)

About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.

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MIL OSI USA News –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Nearly $50M Available Through ConnectALL Municipal Program
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted the launch of Phase 4 of New York State’s Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP) Request for Applications, making nearly $50 million available to support broadband infrastructure projects across the state. MIP connects unserved and underserved communities to high-speed internet through open-access and publicly controlled broadband infrastructure. To date, ConnectALL has awarded over $240 million, enabling the construction of almost 2,400 miles of fiber and connecting nearly 100,000 locations statewide. The new Phase 4 Application expands the program to nearly $300 million, drawing on funds from the US Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund.

“Reliable, affordable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity for New Yorkers to fully participate in our modern economy and society,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the ConnectALL initiative, we are making historic investments to ensure every New Yorker has access to the digital tools they need to succeed. Phase 4 of the Municipal Infrastructure Program builds on our ongoing efforts to address broadband gaps in areas that have been overlooked and underserved by traditional internet service providers.”

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Municipal Infrastructure Program represents a transformative approach to broadband deployment that puts communities in the driver’s seat. By supporting public ownership of broadband infrastructure and open-access networks, we’re creating sustainable solutions that increase competition, lower costs, and ensure better service for New Yorkers.”

Senator Charles Schumer said, “Broadband is a necessity not a luxury, a utility as vital as electricity for success in our modern economy to ensure people have access to healthcare, jobs, business development and education. I’m proud to deliver nearly $50 million in federal funding directly from the American Rescue Plan I led to passage that municipalities across New York can apply for to help underserved rural communities install the broadband infrastructure needed to close the digital divide and connect more homes and businesses to high-speed internet. I thank Governor Hochul for putting these federal dollars to work bringing affordable, high-speed internet to families across New York.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Broadband infrastructure is a necessity of the American economy, driving digital literacy, expanding educational and professional opportunities, and fueling economic growth. The ConnectALL initiative is a transformative investment in this critical public infrastructure, equipping New York State with the resources needed to expand affordable broadband access to underserved communities and unlock new digital opportunities for its residents. I am proud to see federal funding being used for this project and fully support the implementation of Phase 4.”

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “The Municipal Infrastructure Program provides broadband access for so many of our communities that are underserved, isolated, and that need these connections. I want to thank the governor for being committed to expanding high-speed internet access and investing in our public infrastructure.”

Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “This nearly $50 million investment in municipal broadband infrastructure projects is great news for building on ConnectALL’s success in addressing gap areas in our broadband system. Governor Hochul has made New York a leader in addressing broadband gaps and addressing inequities that deprive areas of the high-speed technology access that every New Yorker deserves. The new funding will enable us to meet the needs of businesses, families, and all those needing connection to the digital world most take for granted.”

New York State Association of Counties President Benjamin Boykin II said, “This program has been an important tool for counties working to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all New Yorkers — regardless of where they live — have access to reliable, high-speed internet. This latest phase of funding is another important step toward closing connectivity gaps and will enable counties to continue investing in the critical broadband infrastructure that supports economic growth, education, and public safety. We commend Governor Hochul for her continued leadership in expanding broadband access across New York State.”

New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara J. Van Epps said, “The expansion of the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program is a tremendous opportunity for cities and villages across New York to invest in broadband infrastructure that directly serves their communities. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for economic growth, housing opportunities, workforce development, and access to government services. By supporting publicly controlled broadband projects, this funding empowers local governments to bridge the digital divide, particularly in unserved and underserved communities. We encourage our members to take advantage of this critical resource and apply for Phase 4 funding.”

New York Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle said, “NYAOT applauds the continued investment in broadband infrastructure through the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. Expanding this vital program to nearly $300 million underscores the state’s commitment to closing the digital divide in New York’s unserved and underserved communities. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for economic development, education, and public services — and empowering towns to make these connections ensures lasting benefits for all New Yorkers.”

Phase 4 of the Municipal Infrastructure Program will build on the Governor’s State of the State commitment to establish the Excelsior Broadband Network to build and connect a network of public broadband assets across the state. The first component of the Excelsior Broadband Network will be a new fiber line that runs the full length of the New York Thruway, which will improve high speed internet and reliable cell phone service across the state. The MIP grants will continue to prioritize unserved and underserved areas and increase opportunities for service providers to reach all corners of the state.

Applications open today, March 27, with a deadline of April 25. Interested parties must submit applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Portal here. Detailed information on eligibility and program requirements is available here.

Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative

Governor Hochul has made expanding broadband access a cornerstone of her administration’s efforts to create a more equitable New York. Through the ConnectALL initiative, New York State is investing $1 billion to transform the state’s digital infrastructure, enhance competition among providers, and ensure that every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.

To date, ConnectALL has overseen the successful launch and implementation of several programs to advance broadband access, including:
- The Digital Equity Program will invest $50 million, including a federal allocation of at least $37 million, to implement the New York State Digital Equity Plan to close the digital divide. ConnectALL closed the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant Request for Applications on March 24. ConnectALL will award approximately $15.5 million through this Request for Applications to entities and partnerships working to bridge the digital divide.
- The Affordable Housing Connectivity Program will provide up to $100 million in grants to bring new broadband infrastructure to homes in affordable and public housing leveraging funds from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund. The first awards under this program are securing $10 a month broadband service and $30 a month Gigabit service for over 14,000 low-income households in Buffalo, New York City and Rochester. The program continues to accept applications from internet service providers and expressions of interest from housing owners and public housing authorities.
- The ConnectALL Deployment Program will fund internet service providers to reach unserved and underserved locations, drawing on an allocation of $664.6 million in federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, as described in the ConnectALL Broadband Deployment Initial Proposal. For details on the active Request for Applications for this program, visit the ConnectALL website.
MIL OSI USA News –
March 28, 2025

Category: Politics

Rights violations

Humanitarian aid hampered

Response and challenges

Social cohesion at risk

Regional diplomacy: fragile transitions

Call to action

Lunar microwave to purify water frozen in Moon’s soil wins UK Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge

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Updates to this page

Speech by Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the 2025 Mais Lecture at Bayes Business School

Financial literacy varies widely across socio-economic groups

Financial literacy matters for monetary policy transmission

Financially literate households react more strongly to interest rate changes

Financial literacy increases risk-taking and stock market participation

Financially literate households are more forward-looking when forming inflation expectations

The need for enhanced financial education initiatives

Conclusion

Plato’s Cave

The UK’s nuclear subs

Not a cancer test

Tests are not a GP substitute