NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Feeding families and children in need

    [. Since 2020, Alberta’s government has invested more than $31 million to help food banks and community organizations support Albertans in need. This funding has been crucial to meeting the challenge of food insecurity and helping put nutritious food on tables across the province. If passed, Budget 2025 would continue this important funding by providing an another $5 million in food security funding to help meet the needs of Alberta’s rapidly growing population.

    “No family should have to choose between buying groceries and paying their bills. Through the funding in Budget 2025, Alberta’s government will continue to support organizations across the province that provide nutritious food to Albertans every day.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    Food banks play a critical role by offering those in vulnerable situations the immediate support they need to feed their families. That’s why over the past five years, Alberta’s government has invested much of its food security funding into supporting the province’s food banks. Last year, Alberta’s government invested in a partnership with Food Banks Alberta to strengthen its existing programs to ensure the province’s network of food banks can respond to Albertans’ needs. This partnership ensured that food banks across the province could provide culturally appropriate food, established a program to support food banks during emergency situations, and assisted food banks with covering their core operating costs. Budget 2025 would meet the challenge of food insecurity by providing funding to further strengthen and continue to build on this recent progress.

    “We would like to extend our thanks to the Government of Alberta for its continued action in addressing the urgent issue of food insecurity within our province. Through collaboration and partnership such as this, we can make a difference for every Albertan in need.”

    Shawna Bissel, executive director, Food Banks Alberta

    It is critical that efforts to reduce hunger evolve to provide long-term solutions that meet the challenges facing Albertans in need. Looking to the future, this means offering those in vulnerable situations the immediate support they need to feed their families, while also providing long-term support by educating families and children on how to shop for, prepare and enjoy healthy food. The self-empowering model used by the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary is a great example of how to do exactly that. They help individuals and families eat healthier at a lower cost in the long-term by teaching them how to stretch their food budget further, lower their grocery bills and prepare cost-effective, nutritious meals. This emphasis on practical skills helps individuals and families gain more control over their food security in the long-term by teaching them how to create and maintain life-long healthy habits so they can feed themselves and their families. 

    “I would like to thank the Alberta government, Minister Nixon and Food Banks Alberta for their continued support of our collaborative efforts in making life better for Albertans living in poverty and food insecurity.” 

    Sundae Nordin, CEO, Community Kitchen Program of Calgary

    In addition to the $5 million in funding dedicated to food security, Budget 2025 would ensure that no kid has to go to school with an empty stomach by providing $20 million for Alberta’s school nutrition program if the budget passes. With this funding, school jurisdictions across the province provide about 58,000 students with a daily nutritious meal. Budget 2025 would also provide $105 million in funding this year for the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program, which supports local preventative services and programming across the province in partnership with local municipalities and Metis Settlements. Through the FCSS program, Alberta’s government provides community organizations, such as the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary, with funding so they can continue to improve the lives of Alberta’s families, children and communities.

    “Affordability and food security are deeply interconnected. More and more, Calgary Food Bank clients are individuals with full-time jobs who are unable to afford groceries for their families due to insufficient income. Our analysis shows that for every dollar invested in food security, there is a social return of $9.84, meaning taxpayer dollars have nearly a 10x impact when allocated to food banks. Direct support for food banks, coupled with policies that allow Calgarians to retain more of their hard-earned income, are initiatives that the Calgary Food Bank strongly supports.”

    Melissa From, president and CEO, Calgary Food Bank

    Alberta’s government remains focused on ensuring the province is the best place to live, work and raise a family. By providing dedicated food security funding, Alberta’s government is meeting the needs of the province’s rapidly growing population by providing Albertans – including families, seniors, and the vulnerable – with quality supports and services.

    “Edmonton’s Food Bank distributes food to more than 380 schools, shelters, food banks and community food programs. The last couple of years has placed tremendous stress on Edmonton’s Food Bank and food banks across Alberta. In October of 2024, we provided hampers to more than 47,000 individuals. We are seeing and serving record numbers of people. Moving forward, we are very concerned with world events and believe that we are entering a time of more uncertainty and increased community needs. Any financial support that we receive from the Government of Alberta through Food Banks Alberta will help us provide better services. Because of this support, we will be able to put food on the tables of our neighbors in need.”

    Marjorie Benz, executive director, Edmonton’s Food Bank

    “Strong communities are built on the foundation of well-being, and access to nutritious food is a key part of that. FCSS continues to witness the growing concern of household food insecurity in our communities and recognize the crucial role of food security in prevention and long-term stability. By investing in both immediate supports and preventive services, we can work together to create healthier, more resilient communities for all Albertans.”

    Kayla Blanchette, president, Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Since 2020, Alberta’s government has invested more than $31 million to support food security for Albertans in need.
    • Budget 2025 invests $5 million in food security funding, $105 million in funding for Family and Community Support Services, and $20 million in funding for Alberta’s school nutrition program.

    Related information

    • Food Banks Alberta
    • Community Kitchen Program of Calgary
    • Food security | Alberta.ca
    • School Nutrition Program | Alberta.ca
    • Family and Community Support Services | Alberta.ca

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Proceed with Caution, California: Attorney General Bonta Alerts Consumers to Ongoing Scam Activity

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians of three popular text-based scams. These scam texts claim Californians owe past-due charges and provide fraudulent links for consumers to “resolve” the charge — the links are often a vehicle by which scammers can steal consumers’ sensitive payment data. Scammers often use the threat of a “late fee” or use words like “urgent action required” to pressure consumers into clicking the links. The California Department of Justice asks Californians to slow down and proceed with caution when faced with these types of messages. 

    “California, these scammers are relentless. While text-based toll charge scams remain widespread, consumers across our state are also receiving texts claiming they owe a parking ticket charge,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Bad actors are getting more sophisticated and show little signs of slowing. I urge Californians to not click on links in texts appearing to alert consumers to overdue charges, visit only official websites, and talk to friends and family who may be unaware of these dangers.” 

    If You Receive a Possible Scam Text:

    • DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK. 
    • File a complaint. File a complaint with the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and our office. Be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text.
    • Delete any scam texts received. 
    • Check your account using a legitimate website. 
    • Secure your personal information and financial accounts. Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions, especially after suspecting a scam. Dispute any unfamiliar charges. 

    TOLL CHARGE SCAMS

    These texts claim consumers owe FasTrak express lane or toll charges, link to a website, and ask for online payment. This scam is designed to trick drivers into entering banking or credit card information into a website fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies.

    FasTrak is the electronic toll collection system used on tolled bridges, lanes, and roads in California. It allows drivers to pay tolls electronically without having to stop at toll booths. FasTrak does not request payment by text with a link to a website. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), operator of The Toll Roads in Orange County, advises account holders to verify a valid text notification by logging into their account at thetollroads.com or through The Toll Roads app. 

    For all other toll agencies, please use official webpages only — you can find a list of California toll webpages below:

    PARKING CHARGE SCAMS

    These messages aim to scare consumers into thinking something they’ve dreaded has happened: that they’ve earned a parking ticket and have forgotten to pay it. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), an agency that scammers have imitated, does not request payment by text with a link to a website. For more information on paying a SFMTA parking citation, please visit SFMTA.com/PayCitation.

    If you live or visit another city, please use the official website of that city or transportation agency.  

    PACKAGE DELIVERY SCAMS 

    These text messages often state that there’s an issue with your delivery and include a link to “resolve” the problem. Package delivery scams are more common over the gift giving season but can occur at any time. Delivery companies do not ask for payment to release a package or correct a delivery error — any such request is a scam. 

    Consider signing up for alerts from trusted carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS. These alerts will notify you of package updates directly from the source. 

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing consumer protections in the state of California and speaking out for consumer protections nationwide — this includes working to put a stop to illegal and annoying robocalls, which are often a vehicle for scams. Last year, Attorney General Bonta, as part of the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in sending a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic and issued a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: A Risk Communication Point at NHB

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    By Douglas H Stutz, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs officer — Risk communication skills were pointedly providing recently at Naval Hospital Bremerton.

    NHB staff members were emphatically directed on risk communication principles and practices in a recent workshop from Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command public health communication experts, including Sandy Martinez, Fulton Communication chief executive officer.

    Martinez actively engaged with a few staff in attendance, such as Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman John Buxton, a St. Louis native, on understanding the basic concepts of risk communication which requires skill in three [overlapping] arenas; Perception of risk, based on science, data, and facts; Agendas, which range from personal, economic, and political to cultural, social, historical and more; Emotions such as anger and fear.

    The workshop, specifically tailored for the healthcare environment of Navy Medicine and Defense Health Agency, covered topical concerns on how to prepare for difficult – and demanding – questions or statements in a healthcare crisis; non-verbal communication awareness, and how to craft messaging and talking points.

    There were also simulated interactive exercises designed to put staff under the spotlight glare of responding to a variety of queries from awkward to anxious to angry.

    Martinez, along with Paul Gillooly, Navy Public Health risk assessor and risk communicator, ensured active duty and civil service personnel received the “tools needed to successfully communicate with [internal and external] stakeholders in a variety of situation.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Blasts Trump’s Plans to Decimate the Department of Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray: “It does not take a former teacher to tell you how obliterating the Department of Education hurts students. I think even a preschooler could tell you this is a terrible, terrible idea.”
    Murray: “Trump and Musk don’t know what it’s like to count on their local public school having the resources to get their kids a great education. They don’t know why Pell Grants are so important. And they don’t care to learn why. They want to break the Department, break our government, and enrich themselves.”
    ICYMI: Ahead of Confirmation Vote, Senator Murray Blasts Linda McMahon’s Nomination: “We Cannot Have a Secretary of Education Who Doesn’t Believe in Having a Secretary of Education”
    ICYMI: Murray sends letter this morning demanding answers about Education Department’s reckless personnel plans
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democratic colleagues at a press conference to blast President Donald Trump’s expected Executive Order calling for the abolition of the Department of Education—and his plans to begin gutting the Department with mass firings.
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “Let’s be clear: We may not know when, but we absolutely do know Trump is preparing to ask the Department of Education to slam every door they can in the face of our students.
    “And let’s not pretend for one single second we think he is serious about doing so while following the law—because the very premise of his plan—shuttering the Department of Education—fundamentally goes against the bipartisan laws we’ve passed establishing and funding it.
    “And it goes against a very basic principle in this country that we put our kids first, that we do everything we can to set them up for success, and that our future depends on whether our kids get the support they need to grow and thrive.
    “It does not take a former teacher to tell you how obliterating the Department of Education hurts students. I think even a preschooler could tell you this is a terrible, terrible idea.
    “Trump and Elon Musk want to do to the Department of Education what they did to USAID.
    “They don’t care what they can legally do—they will act first and not care about the consequences.
    “Trump’s move to dismantle the Department of Education, fire the people who keep it running, and terminate funding will mean fewer teachers at public schools.
    “It will mean students stuck with outdated technology.
    “It will mean less access to special education for students with disabilities—and states and schools will have to pick up the costs.
    “It will mean no enforcement of basic education standards and no data helping us know what is working, and what is not.
    “It will also mean more barriers keeping students out of higher education, fewer career training opportunities, and fewer watchdogs protecting our students from predatory for-profit colleges, from predatory student lenders, and from discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault on campus.
    “That is all just the reality, and get ready for the disinformation now. Because you can bet when they realize how painful and unpopular this is: they are going to try and pretend everything is roses. They will say ‘oh this won’t go away’ and ‘oh we’ll just move this somewhere else.’ As if we haven’t already seen how they operate—with as much chaos, and pain, and damage as they can inflict.
    “We know that playbook. We are seeing it everywhere.
    “And as we saw from Trump last time, just because a program won’t disappear—that doesn’t mean it will still work! In Trump’s first term, he didn’t “abolish” Public Student Loan Forgiveness, it is also written in federal law, but he broke it as badly as he possibly could—to the point where 99 percent of applications were rejected—so how is that functionally any different?
    “And that’s what Trump, Musk, and McMahon are planning to do to the entire Department: break it up into pieces and then break the pieces.
    “Trump and Musk don’t know what it’s like to count on their local public school having the resources to get their kids a great education. They don’t know why Pell Grants are so important. And they don’t care to learn why. They want to break the Department, break our government, and enrich themselves.
    “However, we are not going to let the Department and the programs it supports for our kids go down without a fight.
    “I first got into politics many years ago to save an education program. I was told I couldn’t make a difference because I was just a mom in tennis shoes. But here is the thing: there are a lot of moms and dads in tennis shoes out there, and they do not play when it comes to their kids’ futures.
    “I saved that program back then by getting moms and dads to join with me, speak up, and say ‘wait, our kids come first.’
    “And we are going to fight for our students, teachers, and schools the same way by getting moms and dads—and, yes, students too—to speak up, by making clear: this is not some program you play politics with. This is about our kids. And we will not let anyone—not if they are the President, not if they are the richest man in the world—put our kids’ futures on the chopping block.”
    _______________________________________
    Senator Murray has been calling out the Trump administration’s devastating plans to worsen public education in America. She’s pressed the Trump administration on its plans to shutter the Department, blasted its dismantling of its research arm, and forcefully opposed Linda McMahon’s nomination and plans to execute Trump’s disastrous agenda. This morning, she sent a letter to the Department demanding answers about its reckless personnel plans that will hurt students, parents, and schools.
    Senator Murray has championed students and families at every stage of her career—fighting to help ensure every child in America can get a high-quality public education. Among other things, Senator Murray negotiated the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), landmark legislation that she got signed into law, replacing the broken No Child Left Behind Act. As a longtime appropriator, she has successfully fought to boost funding to support students and invest in our nation’s K-12 schools, and she has secured significant increases to the Pell Grant so that it goes further for students pursuing a higher education. Senator Murray also successfully negotiated the FAFSA Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the financial aid application process, simplify the FAFSA form for students and parents, and significantly expand eligibility for federal aid.
    In March 2020, Senator Murray introduced the Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act to support students as COVID-19 spread, and she proceeded to work across the aisle to deliver resources to schools to support students in the CARES Act in March 2020 and in December 2020 through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). In March 2021, Senator Murray helped secure critical resources for K-12 schools in the American Rescue Plan, which was passed without any Republican votes. She also worked to require a portion of the resources are specifically used to address learning loss—and has pushed to ensure the resources are being used effectively to help students get back on track. In the years since, Senator Murray has fought to renew federal investments in our schools, ensure resources are used effectively and consistent with federal laws, and successfully defeated House Republicans’ efforts to gut federal educational funding as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the 118th Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Should We Pick Up the Slack?: Remarks before the Investor Advisory Committee

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Thank you, Brian [Schorr], and good morning to you all at this first Investor Advisory Committee meeting of 2025. Thank you to all the panelists joining us today. Although the Commission’s make-up has changed and we are seeing Commission priorities shift, our shared desire to ensure vibrant capital markets and informed investors will continue to unite and guide us.

    Today’s first panel is set to discuss how public companies disclose the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence. I hope that one theme in the conversation will be the value of principles-based disclosure and the value of affording companies the discretion to make disclosures based on what is material to their particular circumstances. Principles-based disclosure rules do not prescribe corporate disclosure, but instead provide the framework within which companies make material disclosures to investors. Attempts to fill disclosure rulebooks with requirements specific to climate, artificial intelligence, or any other hot topic disserve investors in several ways. First, companies that do not have material things to say about these topics can be forced to spend company resources saying them. Second, even mere disclosure requirements can end up being an indirect way for a securities regulator to micromanage substantive company operations. Third, these disclosure requirements can distract corporate boards and managers from doing more important things. Fourth, corporate disclosures filled with answers to prescriptive disclosure frameworks drown out material information. Clear and comprehensive disclosure should be our goal, not homogenization for its own sake. I anticipate that the panel of experts Alvin has gathered will provide us with much to think about. 

    Today’s second panel will discuss retail investor fraud. Artificial intelligence will be part of the conversation here also. This technology, like any other, can improve lives, but in the hands of bad actors it can devastate lives. Our response to the now higher tech fraud menace will require creative thinking and a commitment to pursuing cross-agency coordination at all levels of government. The Commission has taken an important step in facilitating this effort through its Interagency Securities Council (“ISC”), led by Adam Anicich and Manuel Vazquez.[1] The ISC brings together financial regulators and law enforcement to discuss “emerging threats, hear from investigators conducting and supervising investigations, and explore case study examples of agencies employing innovative approaches to combat financial fraud.”[2] I look forward to hearing from Andrea and the other experts she has assembled.

    The Committee also will consider a Draft Recommendation aimed at ensuring “that investors retain their ability to bring claims under Section 11 following an initial offering by establishing a required lockup period.”[3] In other words, the Committee may be asking us—pardon the pun—to pick up the slack after the Supreme Court affirmed the tracing requirement in Section 11 of the Securities Act.[4] The Draft Recommendation notes that recent changes to the IPO process have diminished plaintiffs’ ability to pursue claims under Section 11 by “taint[ing] the pool of registered shares” and thus impeding traceability.[5] How widespread are these changes? For example, although the problem may be broader than direct listings, only 11 direct listings took place from 2021 through 2023.[6] Given that many companies going public want to raise capital, why should we expect that direct listings will increase in the future? Additionally, while early lock-up releases may be on the rise, they are often bespoke and in at least some instances might accord with the Draft Recommendation.[7] Would the Draft Recommendation, if implemented, even change behavior? Shouldn’t we protect underwriters’ ability to waive a lock-up in appropriate circumstances? How large of a problem would this recommendation solve, and should the Commission expend its limited resources to solve it? Does the availability of private rights of action under Section 10(b) mitigate this problem? Given the strict liability standard of Section 11, might attempts to expand its reach do more harm than good for investors given the costs and distraction companies will bear in Section 11 litigation?

    Let me conclude by thanking Brian Schorr and the other members of the Committee and today’s panelists for their dedication, as well as Cristina Martin Firvida, Marc Sharma, Andrew Sporkin, and Adam Moore for their hard work in putting together today’s meeting.

    [5] Draft Recommendation at 6.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Olympian Wanted for Running Transnational Drug Enterprise and Ordering Several Murders Added to FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    At present, Wedding is wanted for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking network that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations in the United States, and for orchestrating multiple murders and an attempted murder in furtherance of these drug crimes.

    Wedding’s placement on the top ten list marks the 535th addition to the FBI’s list of notorious fugitives. Wedding will replace Alexis Flores who is wanted by FBI Philadelphia. Although Flores is being removed from the list today, he will remain on the FBI’s website on its Most Wanted page.

    “Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger.”

    Additionally, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced that it is offering a $10-million-reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and/or conviction. The reward was authorized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP), which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice. This reward offering supplements the FBI’s current offering of $50,000 for information leading to Wedding’s apprehension, arrest, and extradition, and further, is jointly being offered with assistance from the Canadian and Mexican governments as part of a unified effort to bring Wedding to justice.

    In June 2024, Wedding and his second-in-command Andrew Clark, 34, also Canadian, were charged in an indictment out of the Central District of California with running a continuing criminal enterprise; committing murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and assorted drug crimes; and conspiring to possess, distribute, and export cocaine. Clark, who was arrested last October by Mexican authorities, was among the 29 fugitives whom Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced had arrived in the United States from Mexico last week.

    In September 2024, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a superseding indictment naming 14 additional defendants and including, among other counts, an attempted murder charge against Wedding and Clark. The superseding indictment alleges that Wedding, Clark, and others conspired to ship bulk quantities of cocaine – weighing hundreds of kilograms – from Southern California to Canada through a Canada-based drug transportation network run by Hardeep Ratte, 46, of Ontario, Canada, and Gurpreet Singh, 31, of Ontario, Canada, from approximately January 2024 to August 2024. The cocaine shipments were transported from Mexico to the Los Angeles area, where the cocaine trafficking organization’s operatives stored the cocaine in stash houses, before delivering it to the transportation network couriers for delivery to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks.

    “As alleged in the superseding indictment, defendant Ryan Wedding – a former Olympian – led a transnational criminal organization that murdered innocent people and put thousands of kilograms of narcotics on our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The reward offered today will help bring this defendant to justice in the United States. We urge anyone with information about Wedding to contact law enforcement and help us get Mr. Wedding into custody.”

    The superseding indictment also alleges that Wedding and Clark’s organization resorted to violence – including multiple murders – to achieve its aims. Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another member of that family survived the shooting but was left with serious physical injuries. Wedding and Clark allegedly also ordered the murder of another victim on May 18, 2024, over a drug debt. In addition, Clark and Malik Damion Cunningham, 23, a dual Canadian-American citizen, are charged with the April 1, 2024, murder of another victim in Ontario, Canada.

    “The RCMP is committed to working with our international partners in the fight against transnational criminals,” said Liam Price, Director General, Royal Canadian Mounted Police International program. “It’s imperative that Ryan Wedding faces justice for the charges against him. We will continue to stand with and support our US and Mexican partners in this and other investigations to protect the public.”

    If convicted, Wedding and Clark would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on their respective continuing criminal enterprise charge. The murder and attempted murder charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum penalties of 10 to 15 years in prison.

    “The former Canadian snowboarder unleashed an avalanche of death and destruction, here and abroad,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division. “He earned the name ‘El Jefe’, becoming boss of a violent transnational drug trafficking organization. Now, his face will be on ‘The Top 10 Most Wanted’ posters. He’s unremitting, callous and greed-driven. Today’s announcement beams an even brighter searchlight on him. We ask that you help us find him.”

    The FBI urges anyone with information as to Wedding’s whereabouts to call the FBI via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram at +1-424 495-0614. These are neither government-operated nor government-controlled platforms. Callers may also contact their local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Confidentiality will be granted to anyone who calls with information.

    Investigators believe that Wedding is residing in Mexico but have not ruled out his presence in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, or elsewhere. Wedding is further described as follows:

    Aliases: James Conrad King, Jesse King
    DOB: September 14, 1981
    Hair: Brown, may wear a beard and/or mustache
    Eyes: Blue
    Height: 6’3”
    Weight: 240 lbs. (may vary)
    Nationality: Canadian
    Place of Birth: Thunder Bay, Canada
    Monikers: “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “El Jefe”

    Photographs and reward information about Wedding will be posted on digital billboards in key locations, as well as on fbi.gov, and on the FBI’s social media platforms. Additional information about Wedding and other Top Ten Fugitives is available at this link: Top Ten Fugitives.

    The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since its inception, 535 fugitives have been placed on the list of “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives,” 496 of whom were apprehended or located; 163 were due to citizen cooperation.

    The FBI is investigating Wedding and Clark’s drug trafficking enterprise with the Los Angeles Police Department, DEA Los Angeles, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance has been provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations – Detroit, and United States Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, and Peel Regional Police; Mexican law enforcement partners; and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group (Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol, Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales).

    Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on taxpayer-funded NPR, PBS: “The audience for public radio and public television is declining”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained why taxpayer-funded news services, including National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), have declining audiences. Kennedy argued that the federal government should stop funding these programs through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in a speech on the Senate floor.
    Key excerpts of the speech are below: 
    “The audience for public radio and public television is declining. Let me say that again. The audience for public radio and public television, which your tax dollars pay for, is declining.
    “Why is that? There are a lot of reasons for it, but I will tell you one. People used to tune into PBS and NPR and Corporation for Public bias—Public Broadcasting, Freudian slip there—because those stations played it right straight down the middle, but they don’t anymore. They are very, very biased in their reporting. We all know that. I mean, all you have to do is listen to them.”
    . . .
    “I support the First Amendment, but they don’t have an inalienable right to report these things using opinion journalism that no fair-minded American can construe as anything but representing one point of view with your tax dollars.
    “I am going to try to stop subsidizing media—not just PBS and not just NPR—but any form of media that somehow is getting federal taxpayer dollars. It is just not right. It is not fair. I have a bill to do that. . . . I think President Trump and Mr. [Elon] Musk are going to pursue it on their own, and I think that is a very good thing.”
    Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Marshall Joins Fox Business to Discuss Tariffs, President Trump’s Joint Address Before Congress, and DOGE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Charles Payne with Fox Business today to discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs strategy, the President’s address before Congress, and the actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    [embedded content]
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full Fox Business interview.
    On President Trump’s Tariffs Strategy
    “First and foremost, my farmers and ranchers are patriots. There’s not a county in Kansas that has not been impacted by fentanyl poisoning, and that’s why they’re willing to stand beside President Trump and secure our borders, and that Canada and Mexico can do more than just that.
    “Beyond that, though, there are so many more levers that President Trump can pull. We’ve been through this with him before. In Trump 1.0, he did these tariffs on China, and like he just said, he went out and gave us $28 billion of those tariffs. But then he gave us China phase one – record sales in the commodities as well.
    “And then he went on in that Presidency, and he gave us trade agreements, really good trade agreements for agriculture, with Mexico, with Canada, with South Korea, and Japan. There are opportunities out there.
    “And lastly, the other two levers he can pull if he gives us year-round E15, that could replace two-thirds of our export market for corn. And lastly, he can give us the certainty of a 5-year Farm Bill. So, there’s other things he can do besides just the tariffs. Don’t look at the tariffs in them in and of themselves.”
    On the President’s Address Before a Joint Session of Congress
    “I think the President has given us hope. For the first time in five years, since I found out what COVID was and Joe Biden became President, for the first time, America has hope again. We’re bullish on America, that we can leave this world better than we found it, that we can go to places that we never thought we could go to, not just going to Mars. There are so many more things, instead of our country contracting…
    “I think we walked out of there excited, [I’m] disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle couldn’t stand. They couldn’t stand for the First Lady. They couldn’t stand for a young boy that had survived brain cancer and was deputized into the Secret Service, and the other families as well.”
    On DOGE’s Impact So Far
    “I told Elon today he’s not going fast enough. And I think I got a little laugh out of him. I’ve gotten to know Elon a little bit better over the last four or five years. I think the first thing I want to let Americans know is he’s a patriot now too. That’s kind of my theme of the day. He’s a patriot, that he’s all in, he’s doing a great job.
    “The big misconception I think people see out there is that Elon is not in there doing the work. He’s an advisor. There are DOGE employees who went through the federal government employment process like everybody else, and they’re just in there, shining a flashlight on the fraud, waste, abuse, and incompetence…
    “He’s had a great success in the past. I think there’s an opportunity to curb 10, 15, 20% of this federal government. And you know what would really help our farmers, is if the federal government to stop borrowing money and get our interest rates down. That’s what would really help my farmers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions account for over 70% of global deaths annually.

    In South Africa, non-communicable diseases cause more than half of all deaths. Diabetes ranks as the second leading cause after tuberculosis.

    A major contributor to rising diabetes rates is the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including cooldrinks.

    The World Health Organization recommends a tax of at least 20% on sugary drinks as an effective tool to help reduce consumption and curb related health risks.

    South Africa introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, officially known as the Health Promotion Levy, in 2018.

    The tax applies at R0.0221 ($0.0012) per gram of sugar beyond a 4g/100ml threshold, amounting to an 8% of final selling price. The tax has increased slightly since it was introduced, but not in line with inflation. The Health Promotion Levy therefore falls short of the original 20% target as industry pressure led to a watered-down version of it.

    I lead the South African Medical Research Council/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA, which has been studying various aspects of the levy for over 10 years.

    PRICELESS SA is still in the process of measuring the health and financial impact of not implementing the Health Promotion Levy at the recommended 20%. A lack of recent data adds to this challenge. But it is worth noting that the World Obesity Report shows that obesity is still a severe problem in South Africa.

    Without interventions, obesity in South Africa is projected to affect 30 million adults and 10 million children by 2035. In 2019 there were 55,238 deaths in South Africa from non-communicable diseases attributable to obesity, and with an annual increase of 2.3% in obesity, deaths are going to increase.

    Taxing sugary beverages is effective

    Despite the sugar industry’s claims that the Health Promotion Levy is ineffective, global evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Countries that have implemented such taxes have seen significant declines in sugar consumption.

    Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes have been implemented in 103 countries and territories globally and have been shown to be effective in many countries.

    In Ireland there was a 30.2% reduction in sugar intake through these beverages.

    In California a study showed a decrease in overweight and obesity among young people living in cities where there was a sugary beverage tax.

    In Mexico, a sugar-sweetened beverages tax at 1 peso ($0.05) per litre was introduced in 2014, and by 2016, sugary drinks sales had dropped by 37%.

    Similarly, in the UK, a tax introduced in 2018 led to a 35.4% reduction in sugar consumption from taxed beverages.

    The levy has had a positive impact in South Africa. Studies show decreased purchasing of these beverages. There were greater reductions in sales among lower socioeconomic groups and in sub-populations with higher sugary drink consumption.

    Mean sugar from taxable beverage purchases fell from 16.25 g/capita per day from the pre-health promotion levy announcement to 10.63 g/capita per day in the year after implementation.

    Lower-income households, which initially purchased more taxable sugary beverages than wealthier households, showed the most significant reductions in consumption after the tax was enforced.

    This is particularly important as non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations.

    Stronger taxation on sugary beverages not only decreases consumption but also encourages reformulation by manufacturers, leading to healthier products.

    The levy does not cause job losses

    Sugar-related industries often argue that the tax has led to massive job losses.

    Our research contradicts these claims.

    A recent study carried out by PRICELESS SA, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the University of North Carolina and the South African Medical Research Council, showed no significant association between the levy and employment levels. It showed that the levy had not been associated with job creation or job losses in sugar-related industries. These include agriculture, beverage manufacturing and commercial enterprises that sell food and beverages.

    The study suggests several factors that may explain this:

    Firstly, firms may reallocate labour within their operations rather than cut jobs.

    Secondly, many beverage producers have responded to the tax by reformulating their products, reducing the sugar content and using non-nutritive sweeteners rather than reducing production.

    Thirdly, demand for taxed sugary drinks has not declined enough to affect employment.

    Finally, consumers often switch to untaxed alternatives produced by the same companies, preventing financial losses to the industry.

    Increasing the levy is beneficial to the public purse

    The recent delay of South Africa’s budget speech, due to disagreements within the government over the proposed value added tax increase of two percentage points, highlights the urgent need for additional and alternative revenue sources.

    South Africa’s health system is experiencing a massive financial burden due to overweight and obesity, costing R33 billion (US$1.78 billion) annually. This expense accounts for 15.38% of the government’s health expenditure and 0.67% of the country’s GDP. On a per-person basis, the annual cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769 (US$150).

    On the other hand, the levy generated R5.8 billion (US$313m) in revenue over its first two fiscal years.

    Beyond raising funds, a higher tax rate would provide public health benefits and savings for health services.

    Based on our research, increasing the levy to 20% in South Africa could reduce obesity rates by 2.4 to 3.8 percentage points, prevent 85,000 strokes, and save 72,000 lives over two decades.

    These improvements potentially save over R5 billion (US$270m) in medical costs.

    Unlike other taxation measures, which affect all consumers equally, the levy primarily targets discretionary purchases, making it a fairer fiscal tool.

    Therefore, government must act – raise the Health Promotion Levy to 20% and cut the sugar-fuelled health crisis at its root.

    Raising the levy to 20% would be a smarter tax for a healthier nation.

    Darshen Naidoo, Legal Researcher and Associate Lecturer at PRICELESS SA, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg contributed to the article.

    – Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/sugary-drinks-are-a-killer-a-20-tax-would-save-lives-and-rands-in-south-africa-251393

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government pledges to protect more women from violence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Government pledges to protect more women from violence

    This International Women’s Day, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

    This International Women’s Day, as statistics show that a woman is killed on average every 3 days in the UK, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

    For the past 10 years, Jess Phillips has read the names of women suspected of being killed by men on International Women’s Day, provided by the Femicide Census. But today she read out the names for the first time from the front benches as a Home Office Minister, and reiterated that ensuring our streets and homes are safer for women is now a top government priority. 

    This comes as the data shows that 1 in 5 homicides are domestic homicides and that over the last decade there were:

    • 898 female victims of domestic homicides
    • of these, 698 victims (78%) were killed by a partner or ex-partner
    • and over 9 in 10 female homicide victims were killed by a man (92%)

    These are numbers that the government has committed to change.

    Following the toxic influence we have seen on and offline from misogynistic figures, Minister Phillips also pledged that the government’s milestone violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy, expected to be published in the summer, will include actions specifically addressing the root causes of abuse – including underlying behaviours held by some men and boys.

    Under the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, the government has already set out a number of initiatives to tackle these appalling numbers and the scourge of abuse suffered by women and girls in this country.

    Work is already under way to improve the policing and criminal justice system response, relentlessly pursue dangerous perpetrators and provide enhanced support for victims, and includes:

    • a cross-government approach to tackling VAWG: to deliver transformational change and ensure efforts remain coordinated and effective, we are spearheading a cross-government approach to tackling VAWG through the Safer Streets Mission Board

    • Raneem’s Law: last month, domestic abuse specialists were embedded in 999 control rooms in the first five police forces under ‘Raneem’s Law’, to help improve the police response to domestic abuse – these specialists are advising on risk assessments, working with officers on the ground and ensuring that victims are referred to appropriate support services swiftly

    • measures to tackle spiking: in November, the Prime Minister announced a raft of measures to tackle spiking including a new criminal offence for spiking and new spiking training for up to 10,000 staff in the night-time economy to ensure they have the skills to support victims and prevent incidents

    • new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders: in November, we launched these orders in select police forces and courts and in the short time since they have launched, we have seen them being used to protect victims, including those experiencing coercive and controlling behaviour – we are going even further and onboarding an additional two sites over the next two months

    • measures to protect stalking victims: in December, we announced a package of new measures to protect victims of stalking, including helping ensure victims have the right to know the identity of online stalkers and widening the use of Stalking Protection Orders which can ban stalkers from going within a certain distance of victims or force them to attend behaviour programmes

    Today, the Home Office lit up in the colours of green, purple and white to mark International Women’s Day across four estates in the UK in a symbol of how crucial this priority is for Keir Starmer’s government.

    For the first time, each of the 95 women’s names provided by the Femicide Census were displayed in the Home Office’s headquarters in London for staff to view.

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips said:

    Today, for the first time from the front benches as a Home Office minister, I have performed the heavy task of reading out the names of women suspected of being killed by a man over the last year, provided by the Femicide Census. The statistics show that a woman is killed in the UK on average every 3 days – a number that is unacceptably high.

    Each had more of their life to live and was unfairly torn away from their loved ones, and each deserves to be recognised.

    The government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade is not an abstract goal – it is a top priority. From embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to launching new domestic abuse protection orders, we are taking action. But the names on today’s list remind us we must do more, and we must do it faster.

    Julie Davey, Killed Women Trustee, said:

    Each and every year too many women are murdered by violent men. That has to stop and we welcome the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and the action it is taking to stem this devastating tide.

    The reading out of the names of killed women has become a sombre but important tradition – and we are pleased to see that duty move to the government front benches where it belongs. We know ministers are focussed on protecting the women we are here to fight for, and delivering justice for those whose loved ones have been cruelly snatched away.

    But this must be just the beginning – we hope government will deliver urgent action to address hidden homicides so that the lives of all women are recognised in the future. We look forward to working with ministers as they work to deliver justice.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to West Virginia Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in West Virginia of the April 3, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring on April 11-12, 2024. 

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Boone, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Putnam, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming in West Virginia, as well as Athens, Belmont, Columbiana, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe and Washington in Ohio, and Beaver, Greene and Washington in Pennsylvania.  

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises. 

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

     “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and PNPs cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

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

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 3, 2025. 

    ### 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Announces SBA Reforms to Put American Citizens First

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a series of reforms to put American citizens first by ending taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens and moving SBA offices out of sanctuary cities. These actions support President Trump’s agenda to secure our borders – which has already resulted in the lowest rates of illegal border crossings in history.

    In the coming days, the SBA will promulgate a new policy requiring SBA loan applications to include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants can access SBA programs. Lenders will be required to confirm that applicant businesses are not owned in whole or in part by an illegal alien, consistent with President Trump’s executive order ending the taxpayer subsidization of open borders.

    Additionally, the SBA will relocate six of its regional offices currently in municipalities that do not comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Over the coming months, the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle regional offices will be moved to less costly, more accessible locations that better serve the small business community and comply with federal immigration law.

    “Over the last four years, the record invasion of illegal aliens has jeopardized both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of American small business owners, who have each become victims of Joe Biden’s migrant crime spree. Under President Trump, the SBA is committed to putting American citizens first again – starting by ensuring that zero taxpayer dollars go to fund illegal aliens,” Administrator Loeffler said.

    “Today, I am pleased to announce that this agency will cut off access to loans for illegal aliens and relocate our regional offices out of sanctuary cities that reward criminal behavior. We will return our focus to empowering legal, eligible business owners across the United States – in partnership with the municipalities who share this Administration’s commitment to secure borders and safe communities.”

    Under the last Administration, lax guardrails allowed illegal aliens to both apply for and get approved for SBA assistance. In June 2024, the agency approved a $783,000 loan application for a small business that was 49% owned by an illegal alien. Last month, under the leadership of this Administration, an internal SBA audit identified the illegal status of the individual and halted the loan from being disbursed – ensuring that $0 was distributed to the business.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration
    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Enhancing Safety and Reducing Fatalities on Roadways

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that $90 million is now available to help local governments enhance safety and reduce fatalities on their roads, part of a comprehensive “Safe System” approach toward zero deaths being deployed by the State Department of Transportation to reduce fatalities on all highway systems across New York. The funding will support projects intended to prevent vehicles from inadvertently straying from their lanes and to lessen the severity of crashes that result from those instances. In New York State, about 40 percent of crash fatalities occur when a vehicle departs from its lane. The initiative is part of a multi-year, multi-agency action plan released last year by the New York State Department of Transportation to reduce such incidents and minimize the injuries and fatalities that result from them.

    “Safe highways save lives and through the adoption of a ‘Safe System’ approach, we are holistically looking at our highway systems to see where our safety investments can make the biggest difference in reducing fatalities,” Governor Hochul said. “The funding we are making available today will help local governments design and implement projects that will enhance the safety of their roadways and make it more likely that drivers reach their destination unharmed.”

    Striving to achieve a Safe System Approach toward Zero Deaths, the New York State Department of Transportation in the summer of 2024 released the Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan, which calls for comprehensive approach to be undertaken by NYSDOT and its partner agencies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries that result when vehicles inadvertently depart their lanes or the roadway. Under the plan, NYSDOT is focusing on engineering improvements, public education and awareness campaigns, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee is coordinating law enforcement activities.

    State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “From day one, Governor Hochul has been laser focused on improving public safety, and that’s what our ‘Safe System’ approach toward zero deaths on highways is all about — reducing and preventing fatalities and serious injuries on our highways. Highway safety is a shared responsibility and the funding we are making available for local governments, combined with complementary enhancements to the state highway system, will hopefully have a major impact in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on New York’s highways.”

    Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said, “Investing in innovative and effective programs like New York’s ‘Safe System’ will save lives and lower costs related to crashes. I was proud to lead the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law to passage, which boosted funding for this critical road-safety program. Today Governor Hochul is ensuring local governments have the resources they need to lay the foundation for a safer future on our roads.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Millions of New Yorkers rely on our highway system every day to get from point A to point B. It’s only right that we do everything we can to keep these drivers safe. I’m grateful for the partnership of Governor Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez in keeping our roads safe and for their commitment towards pursuing zero highway fatalities in New York.”

    Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, “Safety on our local roads and highways is of paramount importance. This funding made available from Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Transportation will help local governments prioritize safety and give motorists and the public more peace of mind when they travel on their local roads and highways in New York State.”

    New York State Association of Counties President Benjamin Boykin II said, “Counties are responsible for maintaining thousands of miles of roads and highways across New York State, and ensuring the safety of our residents is a top priority. This funding from Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Transportation will help local governments make roadway improvements designed to reduce accidents and fatalities and make our roads safer for everyone.”

    New York State Association of Towns Executive Director Chris Koetzle said, “Safe roads are essential to thriving communities and a priority for towns. We deeply appreciate every dollar the State invests in helping local governments build and maintain safer roadways, ensuring the well-being of all who travel them.”

    New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “Safer roads lead to safer communities. NYCOM thanks Governor Hochul for advancing this grant funding opportunity for our cities and villages. We look forward to partnering with her and the State Legislature to further enhance critical transportation funding for our local roads.”

    Funding for these projects is available through the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program and may be used to support the design and construction of countermeasures intended to reduce roadway/lane departures and lessen the likelihood that departure-related crashes cause death or serious injury. Such countermeasures include, but are not limited to, enhanced striping, curve warning signs, rumble strips and median barriers. The funding compliments an additional $90 million that has also been set aside for NYSDOT to make safety enhancements on roads in the state highway system.

    A portion of the funds — about $10 million — has been set aside to support local municipalities in developing Local Road Safety Plans, which identify and analyze problem areas and prioritize potential safety improvements.

    Minimum available funds per local project is $250,000 and additional information about the funding and how local governments can propose projects is available here. The following entities are eligible to sponsor a project:

    • Counties, towns, villages and Native Nations
    • Metropolitan Planning Organizations
    • Counties interested in sponsoring a project on behalf of one or more municipalities within their county are also eligible to apply.

    About the Department of Transportation

    It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State.
    Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

    For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit our website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Goldstein, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand

    Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions account for over 70% of global deaths annually.

    In South Africa, non-communicable diseases cause more than half of all deaths. Diabetes ranks as the second leading cause after tuberculosis.

    A major contributor to rising diabetes rates is the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including cooldrinks.

    The World Health Organization recommends a tax of at least 20% on sugary drinks as an effective tool to help reduce consumption and curb related health risks.

    South Africa introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, officially known as the Health Promotion Levy, in 2018.

    The tax applies at R0.0221 ($0.0012) per gram of sugar beyond a 4g/100ml threshold, amounting to an 8% of final selling price. The tax has increased slightly since it was introduced, but not in line with inflation. The Health Promotion Levy therefore falls short of the original 20% target as industry pressure led to a watered-down version of it.

    I lead the South African Medical Research Council/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science – PRICELESS SA, which has been studying various aspects of the levy for over 10 years.

    PRICELESS SA is still in the process of measuring the health and financial impact of not implementing the Health Promotion Levy at the recommended 20%. A lack of recent data adds to this challenge. But it is worth noting that the World Obesity Report shows that obesity is still a severe problem in South Africa.

    Without interventions, obesity in South Africa is projected to affect 30 million adults and 10 million children by 2035. In 2019 there were 55,238 deaths in South Africa from non-communicable diseases attributable to obesity, and with an annual increase of 2.3% in obesity, deaths are going to increase.

    Taxing sugary beverages is effective

    Despite the sugar industry’s claims that the Health Promotion Levy is ineffective, global evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Countries that have implemented such taxes have seen significant declines in sugar consumption.

    Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes have been implemented in 103 countries and territories globally and have been shown to be effective in many countries.

    In Ireland there was a 30.2% reduction in sugar intake through these beverages.

    In California a study showed a decrease in overweight and obesity among young people living in cities where there was a sugary beverage tax.

    In Mexico, a sugar-sweetened beverages tax at 1 peso ($0.05) per litre was introduced in 2014, and by 2016, sugary drinks sales had dropped by 37%.

    Similarly, in the UK, a tax introduced in 2018 led to a 35.4% reduction in sugar consumption from taxed beverages.

    The levy has had a positive impact in South Africa. Studies show decreased purchasing of these beverages. There were greater reductions in sales among lower socioeconomic groups and in sub-populations with higher sugary drink consumption.

    Mean sugar from taxable beverage purchases fell from 16.25 g/capita per day from the pre-health promotion levy announcement to 10.63 g/capita per day in the year after implementation.

    Lower-income households, which initially purchased more taxable sugary beverages than wealthier households, showed the most significant reductions in consumption after the tax was enforced.

    This is particularly important as non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations.

    Stronger taxation on sugary beverages not only decreases consumption but also encourages reformulation by manufacturers, leading to healthier products.

    The levy does not cause job losses

    Sugar-related industries often argue that the tax has led to massive job losses.

    Our research contradicts these claims.

    A recent study carried out by PRICELESS SA, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the University of North Carolina and the South African Medical Research Council, showed no significant association between the levy and employment levels. It showed that the levy had not been associated with job creation or job losses in sugar-related industries. These include agriculture, beverage manufacturing and commercial enterprises that sell food and beverages.

    The study suggests several factors that may explain this:

    Firstly, firms may reallocate labour within their operations rather than
    cut jobs.

    Secondly, many beverage producers have responded to the tax by reformulating their products, reducing the sugar content and using non-nutritive sweeteners rather than reducing production.

    Thirdly, demand for taxed sugary drinks has not declined enough to affect employment.

    Finally, consumers often switch to untaxed alternatives produced by the same companies, preventing financial losses to the industry.

    Increasing the levy is beneficial to the public purse

    The recent delay of South Africa’s budget speech, due to disagreements within the government over the proposed value added tax increase of two percentage points, highlights the urgent need for additional and alternative revenue sources.

    South Africa’s health system is experiencing a massive financial burden due to overweight and obesity, costing R33 billion (US$1.78 billion) annually. This expense accounts for 15.38% of the government’s health expenditure and 0.67% of the country’s GDP. On a per-person basis, the annual cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769 (US$150).

    On the other hand, the levy generated R5.8 billion (US$313m) in revenue over its first two fiscal years.

    Beyond raising funds, a higher tax rate would provide public health benefits and savings for health services.

    Based on our research, increasing the levy to 20% in South Africa could reduce obesity rates by 2.4 to 3.8 percentage points, prevent 85,000 strokes, and save 72,000 lives over two decades.

    These improvements potentially save over R5 billion (US$270m) in medical costs.

    Unlike other taxation measures, which affect all consumers equally, the levy primarily targets discretionary purchases, making it a fairer fiscal tool.

    Therefore, government must act – raise the Health Promotion Levy to 20% and cut the sugar-fuelled health crisis at its root.

    Raising the levy to 20% would be a smarter tax for a healthier nation.

    Darshen Naidoo, Legal Researcher and Associate Lecturer at PRICELESS SA, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg contributed to the article.

    Susan Goldstein on behalf of PRICELESS receives funding from the Bloomberg Foundation, the SAMRC and the National Institutes for Health Research

    – ref. Sugary drinks are a killer: a 20% tax would save lives and rands in South Africa – https://theconversation.com/sugary-drinks-are-a-killer-a-20-tax-would-save-lives-and-rands-in-south-africa-251393

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Calls for Committee Investigation into DOGE, Subpoena for Musk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, March 6 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today called for a formal committee investigation into the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a subpoena of Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, to testify about his plans for running the federal government.
    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available below:
    Mr. Chairman, for a wide variety of reasons, I am strongly opposed to President Trump’s Deputy Secretary of Labor nominee, Keith Sonderling. But more importantly than my views on Mr. Sonderling is the reality that it really does not matter who becomes Deputy Labor Secretary.
    In a few moments, we will be hearing from President Trump’s nominee to be the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Martin Makary. Truthfully, and with respect to Dr. Makary, it does not matter who the next FDA commissioner is.
    I think everybody on this committee and the people of America understand who is running the government, and it’s not going to be the Secretary of Labor. It’s not going to be the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. With all due respect to President Trump’s nominees, the person who is running the government right now is Elon Musk.
    Mr. Musk has taken it upon himself, with the support of President Trump, to virtually dismantle the United States government. Yesterday, shockingly – and I speak as the former chairman of the Veterans Committee – it is outrageous and beyond belief that while veterans put their lives on the line to defend our country, yesterday, we heard that 80,000 employees at the V.A. are going to be terminated.
    Virtually all Americans understand how important Social Security is to the well-being of our seniors. Yesterday, we learned they are on their way to get rid of half of Social Security employees, at a time when Social Security is now grossly understaffed. Mr. Musk has ordered HHS, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education to fire employees, hand over confidential and sensitive data and defy judicial orders.
    Mr. Chairman, if we are serious about exercising our constitutional responsibilities, which I hope all of us are, it is critical for our committee to hear from the person who is in fact in charge of the federal government.
    Yesterday, it was reported that Mr. Musk met with Republican senators, at a private meeting for 90 minutes, and plans to do the same with Republican members of the House. That’s fine.
    The Washington Post reported Mr. Musk gave his cell phone number to Republican senators and promised to communicate more effectively with congressional Republicans. That’s fine.
    But you know what? My constituents in Vermont and constituents all over this country want to know what the hell is going on with the federal government right now. And it’s not going to be the next Deputy Secretary of Labor who is going to tell them.
    So if we are serious, Mr. Chairman, about our oversight responsibilities, we must find out what is going on in the federal government. And the way we do that is bringing Mr. Musk before this committee.
    Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion.
    I move that pursuant to its authority under Rules 25 and 26 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hereby authorizes an investigation into the actions of the United States DOGE Service at agencies within the committee’s jurisdiction, and pursuant to the same authority, authorizes the chairman to subpoena Mr. Elon Musk for testimony regarding those actions.
    I ask for the yeas and nays.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts on Trump Message to Congress: “America is Back”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), reacted to President Trump’s speech to a Joint Session of Congress. He made the following comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media:
    “Last night, America heard from a President who got right to the point with the first line of his address: America is back,” said Ricketts. “President Trump is committed to ushering in a new Golden Age for the United States. I am excited about the newfound opportunities presented to all Americans because we have President Trump back in office. Americans elected President Trump to secure the border, unleash American energy, and restore American strength. Last night, the President laid out a grand vision for how we can accomplish those goals.”
    [embedded content]
    TRANSCRIPT:
    Senator Ricketts: “Last night, America heard from a President who got right to the point with the first line of his address: America is back.
    “President Trump is committed to ushering in a new Golden Age for the United States.
    “I am excited about the newfound opportunities presented to all Americans because we have President Trump back in office.
    “Americans elected President Trump to secure the border, unleash American energy, and restore American strength.
    “Last night, the President laid out a grand vision for how we can accomplish those goals.  
    “The days of open borders, overregulation, and appeasement are over. And not a moment too soon. 
    “I will do all I can to help President Trump deliver prosperity and keep Americans safe. 
    “Our Border Patrol agents need more tools to stop drugs, crime, and illegal border crossings. 
    “The President made clear he will stand strong with them. 
    “His policies are already working. Last month, we saw the lowest number of illegal border crossings in recorded history. 
    “I support dozens of Senate solutions to codify his policies in federal law.  
    “Another key part of President Trump’s vision is unleashing American energy. 
    “We’re blessed with incredible natural resources here at home. 
    “By cutting red tape and streamlining processes, we can unleash those resources. 
    “We can make America energy dominant. 
    “That’s how we can lower energy prices and deliver prosperity for our families across the country. 
    “Those are my priorities as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. 
    “The President also highlighted the work of DOGE and what it is doing to attack wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive federal spending. 
    “As a former Governor and businessman who did similar work at the state level, it was refreshing to hear what they’re doing. 
    “So for example, one agency had 13,000 employees and had 37,000 software licenses. 
    “Many of those licenses had never even been used or opened. 
    “Additionally, DOGE has found 22 million individuals on our Social Security rolls who are too hold to be alive.
    “This is government waste in its most obvious form. 
    “We need to bring both business sense and common sense to cut red tape and streamline the federal bureaucracy. 
    “Last week, I introduced the Improper Payments Transparency Act to help identify wasteful spending. 
    “I’ll keep fighting for transparency and accountability with our spending. 
    “Lastly, we heard President Trump talk about extending his historic tax cuts. 
    “The Trump tax cuts brought prosperity to American families. 
    “I will work with the President to extend and make permanent the Trump tax cuts so that all Americans can get ahead once again. 
    “We can restore the American dream. 
    “President Trump spoke about restoring American strength on the world stage. 
    “Biden’s appeasement-first policy led to new conflicts.  
    “Now, President Trump’s strong leadership is bringing the world closer to peace. 
    “Our enemies will no longer doubt our resolve. 
    “I’m working to support those priorities on the Foreign Relations Committee. 
    “President Trump’s address last night was about renewing the American Dream. 
    “That means restoring a strong border, a strong military, and a strong energy policy. 
    “I will continue doing all I can to support President Trump as he works toward those goals.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Stable, reliable funding for municipalities

    Alberta’s population is growing rapidly, and there are more people relying on their municipality to deliver essential services such as roadwork, snow clearing and transit than ever before. Being able to meet the needs of the province’s rapidly growing population is a top priority for Alberta’s government and this work begins with ensuring municipalities are well-positioned to support their residents.

    To strengthen municipalities’ position in accommodating the needs of Alberta’s rapidly growing population, Budget 2025, if passed, increases Grants in Place of Taxes (GIPOT) by more than $17 million in 2025. This increase in GIPOT will provide municipalities with a stable and reliable source of funding to help them deliver the essential services which their residents depend on.

    “We heard clearly from municipalities that they need more stable funding to deliver local services effectively while avoiding property tax increases. Boosting GIPOT shows how our government is doing its part to help our municipal partners fund the municipal services their residents rely on.”

    Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs

    “Municipalities across Alberta will get more funding from the province as part of this change. It means stable and reliable funding to provide services, while their residents pay less in income taxes thanks to Budget 2025.”

    Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

    As with all provinces in Canada, eligible properties belonging to provincial governments are exempt from municipal taxes. To account for this, municipalities in Alberta are paid a discretionary grant, rather than taxes, that would be applicable to provincial properties within their boundaries. These grants provide municipalities with a stable and reliable source of revenue that they can rely on while developing municipal budgets and allocating funding to municipal services and programs.

    “Alberta Municipalities and its 264 member communities are pleased to see this issue has been addressed in Budget 2025. We appreciate that the provincial government heard and responded to our sustained collective call for a return to full GIPOT funding as quickly as possible.”

    Tyler Gandam, president, Alberta Municipalities

    Through Budget 2025, funding for GIPOT is increasing from $38 million to more than $55 million, covering 75 per cent of the municipal property tax value of eligible provincial properties in 2025. In 2026, GIPOT will increase again to cover 100 per cent of the amount that would be paid if the properties were taxable, raising the total amount of funding for municipalities to be projected at over $75 million.

    “The GIPOT funding increase announced in Budget 2025 is a step in the right direction for mid-sized cities across the province. As we collectively look to find ways to strengthen and foster resiliency in our municipalities, this increase helps us continue to make critical investments that support residents in growing communities.”

    Jeff Genung, chair, Alberta Mid-Sized Mayors’ Caucus

    “The Rural Municipalities of Alberta appreciates the Government of Alberta’s increase in Grants in Place of Taxes in Budget 2025 and a commitment to fully restore funding in 2026-2027. It’s essential that the province works in partnership with all municipalities to ensure that they have the resources to deliver the essential services their residents and business communities rely on.”

    Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • GIPOT is paid to 167 municipalities across the province in urban and rural areas for provincially-owned properties such as the Alberta Legislature building, remand centres, court houses and other provincial administration buildings.
    • GIPOT total funding amount:
      • 2025: $55.3 million
      • 2026: $75.3 million (projected)
      • 2027: $79.3 million (projected)

    Related information

    • For more information on GIPOT, visit www.alberta.ca/grants-in-place-of-taxes-program

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Status of Women Office During International Women’s Day 2025

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 6, 2025

    In preparation of this year’s International Women’s Day, the Government of Saskatchewan is proud to celebrate 60 years of advancing the status of women in our province through the development of public policy, programs and services and other strategic initiatives.  

    “We are deeply committed to supporting the safety, health and prosperity of women in our province,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Office Alana Ross said. “When women thrive, so will our families, communities and economy in Saskatchewan.”

    Since its establishment in 1964, the Status of Women Office has helped initiatives that have improved equality and offered protections for women in the workplace; increased maternity leave to extend time with newborn children; and enhanced supports and resources for women experiencing interpersonal violence along with innovative measures focused on preventing violence and abuse from occurring.   

    “While we celebrate the progress made over the past 60 years, we know there is always more work to be done,” Ross said. “The Status of Women Office works across all levels of government and with community stakeholders to support opportunities that advance women in growing the economy and increases their health and safety. It is all part of our government’s focus on making life better for Saskatchewan people.” 

    Events are being held across the province to recognize International Women’s Day which is celebrated each year to recognize the achievements of women and the impact they have on our world and in our communities. This year’s United Nations theme is ” For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

    For more information about the Status of Women Office, visit: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/boards-commissions-and-agencies/status-of-women-office.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indictment Charges Former Federal Correctional Officer in Chicago With Sexually Abusing Inmates

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sexually abusing four inmates while on duty.

    BRITTANY HALL, 31, of Chicago, sexually abused the inmates inside the MCC in December 2023, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  At the time, Hall was a correctional officer for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, responsible for supervising inmates in Unit 12 of the MCC. Hall resigned from the BOP in 2024.

    The indictment charges Hall with five counts of sexual abuse of a ward, each of which is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, and three counts of abusive sexual contact, each of which is punishable by up to two years in federal prison.  Arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and William J. Hannah, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Regional Office of the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.

    The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell-Led Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill Unanimously Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.06.25
    Cantwell-Led Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill Unanimously Passes Senate
    Bill would authorize USCG “Whale Desk” for additional 2 years to help ships steer clear of Puget Sound Orcas and other whales; Legislation would establish first-ever tribal advisor to increase collaboration with WA state tribes on native issues and conservation efforts
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025 that would reauthorize $30.45 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026. The bill was introduced last month by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee.
    The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
    Ahead of the bill’s passage, Sen. Cantwell delivered a speech on the Senate floor:
    “The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 provides the tools that our Coast Guard needs now to protect our shores, keep our maritime [industry] moving,” said Sen. Cantwell. “It includes [investments] in Base Seattle, the home port to our nation’s current icebreakers, the future of our heavy icebreaker fleet […] The bill also reauthorizes the Puget Sound Whale Desk for another two years, [which] helps ship steer clear of our cherished orca and whale populations, and it also increases collaboration between Washington tribes and the Coast Guard. And the bill invests in critical safety programs.”
    “Moving forward, we have more to do to support the Coast Guard. They needed our help with their assets, and they need access to shipyards,” she said.
    Among many important provisions, the legislation includes historic protections for service members from sexual assault and harassment, boosts workforce development programs and availability of affordable housing, increases funding to help the U.S. Coast Guard deliver on critical priorities such as icebreakers and 52-foot heavy-weather lifeboats, raises penalties for abandoned and derelict vessels, and encourages more collaboration with tribes.
    The legislation authorizes $14.93 billion for FY25 and $15.51 billion for FY26. The full bill text of the bipartisan U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 is available HERE. 
    Sen. Cantwell secured language for programs critical to Washington state in the legislation. Among those provisions, her bipartisan legislation:
    Expands Affordable Housing Opportunities: Allows the Coast Guard to acquire housing that is available both on the market and in new housing construction programs. This is particularly important in coastal areas — like Cape Disappointment, Grays Harbor, and Port Angeles — where Coast Guard families face a difficult time accessing affordable, quality housing due to competition with seasonal rentals and other challenges associated with remote units. This bill also expands the Coast Guard’s ability to enter into long-term leases for medical facilities, child development centers, and training facilities to expand access to services for Coast Guard families while reducing administrative overhead expenses and allowing for additional improvements to these facilities.
    Increases Federal Funding to Deliver on Icebreakers and Heavy Weather Lifeboats: The legislation increases authorized funding by 30% compared to 2024 appropriated funding levels, which will help the Coast Guard deliver on critical priorities such as polar icebreakers, 52-foot heavy-weather lifeboats, and other priority acquisition programs.
    Seattle will be home for the Coast Guard’s fleet of 3 polar icebreakers.
    Sen. Cantwell recently toured U.S. Coast Guard Station Disappointment, where the future fleet of heavy-weather lifeboats will be homeported to support search and rescue missions, which is critical to safety of people working in the fishing and maritime sector in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. In 2023, Sen. Cantwell secured a downpayment of $12 million to replace the heavy-weather boats in the 2023 Appropriations Act.
    Creates the First-Ever Tribal Advisor: Creates a new senior position within the Coast Guard to advise the Commandant and other Coast Guard leaders on how the Coast Guard can work more closely with tribes. The new Special Advisor would also be charged with ensuring the Coast Guard upholds trust responsibilities to tribal governments, improving tribal engagement and consultation activities, and ensuring that tribes have a voice on Coast Guard programs that impact tribes including oil spill preparedness and response, fisheries oversight, and the protection of natural resources.
    Boosts Local Tribal Partnerships to Improve Conservation: Provides the Coast Guard with new authorities to support habitat conservation and other resilience projects with state, local, and tribal governments. This important new authority would ensure tribes and other organizations can partner with the Coast Guard to protect treaty fishing rights and maintain access to cultural and natural resources.
    Reauthorizes the Whale Desk: Extends the Whale Desk at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound by two years, through FY2028. Authored by Senator Cantwell in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2022, the “Whale Desk” at Sector Puget Sound gives vessel operators and mariners near real-time data about the location of whales to reduce encounters that disturb whales, including noise pollution and ship strikes. The pilot program also includes a “hotline” where callers can report whale sightings in real time. The data collected will be valuable for researchers who track whale migration patterns.
    According to the Coast Guard, 75 whale sightings have been reported to the Sector Puget Sound Whale Desk since its opening in December 2023.
    Sen. Cantwell helped celebrate the launch of the Whale Desk in February 2024. Photos and videos are available HERE and HERE.
    Supports the Commercial Fishing and Maritime Industries: Continues to authorize the use of a satellite tracking system to mark fishing gear locations, which ensures gear is not lost and avoids potential damage by derelict gear. It also supports fishing vessels engaging in temporary towing operations as part of salmon hatchery development in Alaska.  The bill also creates new training and credentialing opportunities for qualified mariners, veterans, and the general public seeking to become mariners. It also expedites processing times for merchant mariner licensing documents to help close this critical workforce gap.
    Maps Arctic Maritime Routes: The Bering Sea is expected to see increased fishing, commercial, and other vessel traffic over the coming decades. As a key international trade and maritime route, this bill requires an analysis of projected traffic in the Bering Strait, and the emergency response capabilities and infrastructure needed to support this increased vessel traffic and prevent oil spills in the Bering Sea and the Arctic.
    Boosts International Pacific Cooperation: Requires the Coast Guard to develop a plan to increase international training opportunities in the Pacific, including with the Taiwan Coast Guard. This coordination will strengthen American relations, combat illegal fishing, and boost international security in the Pacific.
    Cracks Down on Abandoned Vessels: Improves oversight of derelict and abandoned vessels by requiring the Coast Guard to develop and maintain an inventory list of these vessels to improve tracking, management, and coordination between federal, state, tribal, and other relevant entities. It authorizes a new federal penalty of $500 a day for abandoning vessels.
    Abandoned and derelict vessels pose unique and costly threats to coastal communities and ecosystems by leaking pollutants and imperiling marine traffic. According to the WA Department of Natural Resources, DNR removed 319 derelict and abandoned boats from Washington state waterways between 2021 and 2023.
    Protects Personnel from Illicit Drug/Fentanyl Exposure: As the Coast Guard carries out important drug interdiction missions to stop the flow of illegal drugs, this bill requires all installations to maintain a supply of naloxone or similar medication to treat opioid or fentanyl overdoses or exposure by Coast Guard members and the public in search and rescue or response calls.
    Requires Stronger Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) Prevention and Response: The bill would establish or update numerous Coast Guard and Academy authorities and programs to improve reporting, oversight, prevention, and accountability related to sexual misconduct. These provisions were drafted in response to Operation Fouled Anchor, which revealed gross mishandling of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases of U.S. Coast Guard personnel.
    A full breakdown of these protections is available HERE.
    Supports Coast Guard Families Stationed in Washington:
    Creates the First Vice Admiral of Personnel: To support the more than 40,000 active service members, the bill establishes a new Vice Admiral leadership position solely focused on supporting the needs of personnel and their families, from housing to health care, investments in childcare, and improving recruitment and training programs.
    Jump Starts Hiring of Health and Family Service Providers Across Entire Service: Provides direct hiring authority to swiftly fill more than a hundred vacancies, including behavioral and mental health professionals, medical specialists, childcare service providers, housing supervisors, criminal investigators, and other positions to protect the health and wellbeing of Coast Guard members and their families. It also adds two new telemedicine rooms at the Coast Guard Academy.
    Improves College-to-Service Career Pathways: Updates the College Student Pre-Commissioning Program to allow more colleges and universities to participate and to increase recruitment of students interested in commissioning into a Coast Guard career. 
    Prepares Tsunami Evacuation Plans: Requires the development of tsunami evacuation and preparedness plans for Coast Guard units in tsunami zones, including across the West Coast and Pacific Northwest. It also requires the Coast Guard to consider vertical evacuation as a lifesaving option for Coast Guard members.
    Bolsters National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Supports NOAA Corps Officers: To support the hundreds of NOAA’s commissioned officers, the bill makes improvements to personnel management, education assistance programs, pilot recruitment programs, and more. NOAA Corps members help manage maritime research, support disaster response, and monitor weather forecasting including hurricanes and atmospheric rivers, as well as performing other cutting-edge weather forecast and research needs.
    Modernizes NOAA Vessel Fleet: Authorizes replacement and modernization of the NOAA research vessel fleet and improves oversight of the fleet, which helps maintain our nation’s weather and scientific buoy network, conducts fisheries research, maps the ocean floor including in the Arctic, and supports other important oceanographic and conservation priorities.
    Removes Aging NOAA Vessels: Allows NOAA to use the proceeds of obsolete vessel sales to support the acquisition or repair of other NOAA vessels to help make the fleet more resilient in the future.
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s speech on the Senate floor today is HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Government introducing improvements to prompt payments to Irish SMEs

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    6th March 2025

    Government has this week agreed new measures to support effective delivery of the Public Sector’s obligation to pay its bills within 15 days. 

    These measures are designed to bring about improvements that will benefit SMEs that supply goods and services to public authorities, and which will also see savings for the Exchequer.

    Speaking following the decision, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, said:

    “As Minister with responsibility for promoting and supporting Irish enterprise, I know how important timely cash flow is to our business community. This is one very practical way that Government can support our key SME sector.  I am committed to using every possible lever available to provide support for our indigenous enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy”.

    ENDS

    Note for editor:

    Departments and public bodies are obliged to pay for goods and services within 15 calendar days, with some exceptions.

    Government has agreed measures that are designed to achieve an improvement in overall payment performance and is determined to meet the commitment to the 15-day period right across the public sector.

    The PfG commits to reduce costs for business, cut through unnecessary bureaucracy, ensure access to finance and invest in vital infrastructure to help businesses succeed.

    Back to Department News

    Back to Top

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: FAO, IFAD and WFP Join Forces to Celebrate International Women’s Day 2025

    Source: World Food Programme

    Rome – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) together marked International Women’s Day 2025 at an event today, reiterating their strong commitment to the empowerment of women and girls, particularly in the context of the fight against hunger.

    The three UN Rome-based agencies met under this year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” to underscore the importance of ensuring meaningful change and support that allows every person around the world to thrive. 

     

    International Women’s Day is a global day to commemorate and uphold women’s achievements and raise awareness about the challenges they face. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide. 

     

    Since 1995, the world has seen progress for women and girls, notably the establishment of legal reforms that protect women from violence and discrimination, an increase in women’s representation in political and decision-making positions, strides towards women’s financial inclusion, and improved access to education and health facilities. 

     

    However, the global prevalence of food insecurity remains consistently higher among women than among men and the world is not on track to reach any of the global nutrition targets by 2030. 

     

    The Rome-based agencies come together annually for the International Women’s Day event to demonstrate their joint commitment to promoting equality and women’s empowerment which is crucial when it comes to tackling poverty and food insecurity, and building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that benefit everyone. 

     

    “Women play a critical role in agrifood systems, yet they face persistent barriers to accessing resources, technology and opportunities. At FAO, we strongly believe that closing these gaps is not just a matter of fairness, but an economic imperative,” said FAO Assistant Director-General and Chief Scientist ad interim, Beth Crawford.

     

    “Women’s economic empowerment is crucial for a broad array of development goals and for ensuring their own resilience, the resilience of their communities, and more sustainable food systems,” said Gérardine Mukeshimana, IFAD’s Vice-President. “Investing in women is not just the right thing to do; it is an essential element for improving food security, reducing poverty, and achieving prosperity in rural communities.”

     

    “Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict and disasters,” said Valerie Guarnieri, WFP Assistant Executive Director. “WFP works to ensure they have access to nutritious food and to build their resilience to withstand future shocks. When we invest in women and girls, we nurture families and communities.  We can win the battle against hunger and malnutrition by supporting women to take the lead.”

     

    Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, FAO, IFAD and WFP reaffirm their commitment to empowering women and girls worldwide with the objective of building a more resilient, and sustainable future for all. 

     

    FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. FAO provides policy and technical assistance to developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices. 

     

    IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to enhance their livelihoods and strengthen their communities. By expanding market access, building resilience and fostering inclusive rural economies, IFAD aims to transform agriculture and food systems, enabling rural populations to overcome poverty and achieve sustainable development.

    WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Coalition Defending the Integrity of the National Labor Relations Board

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing a legal challenge in YAPP USA Automotive Systems Inc. v. National Labor Relation Board that, if successful, would severely limit the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s ability to carry out its responsibility of protecting American workers’ right to unionize. YAPP’s lawsuit seeks to stop the NLRB from addressing allegations that YAPP engaged in unfair labor practices prohibited by federal law, arguing the NLRB’s structure and administrative proceedings are unconstitutional. In today’s amicus brief, the attorneys general are urging the court to deny YAPP’s request for an injunction, which would hamstring the NLRB’s ability to protect workers’ right to collectively bargain for better wages and improved working conditions.    

    “The right to organize and collectively bargain is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy, and the NLRB remains essential in defending these rights for all Americans,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I’m standing with my fellow attorneys general in urging the Court to deny YAPP’s request for an injunction. The Board must be allowed to fully carry out its duty to continue providing strong protections for millions of workers nationwide.” 

    The NLRB is the federal agency responsible for administering the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which guarantees American workers the right to unionize, bargain for better wages and working conditions, and engage in activities like strikes and pickets. Under the law, the NLRB investigates violations of labor laws, adjudicates unfair labor practice disputes and certifies the results of union elections. The Board is also responsible for administering the NLRA uniformly across the country.

    To protect the NLRB from political pressure by the President, NLRB board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress for staggered five-year terms. Board members do not serve at the pleasure of the President. Federal law provides that Board members can only be removed by the President “upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” The agency’s administrative law judges have similar protections from arbitrary removal. In its lawsuit, YAPP’s argues that these removal protections are unconstitutional and that the court should prevent the NLRB from conducting any proceedings while they remain in effect. The Trump administration has declined to defend the constitutionality of the removal protections. 

    In today’s brief, the attorneys general explain the removal protections are constitutional, that YAPP’s is not entitled to relief, and that pausing the NLRB’s operations would seriously harm the public that relies on the Board’s administration of the NLRA. Collective bargaining helps workers obtain better wages, benefits and working conditions. Unions also help nonmembers by creating competition for workers that boosts wages. The NLRA also benefits the broader economy by decreasing inequality and stabilizing labor-management relations. 

    Attorney General Bonta remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting workers’ rights and preserving the NLRB. Just last week, the Attorney General filed a brief in support of a challenge to President Trump’s unlawful attempt to remove NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox in the middle of her five-year term. In the brief, the Attorney General, alongside a coalition of attorneys general, urged the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to grant Wilcox’s motion for summary judgement and to order the defendants in that case to allow her to continue performing her responsibilities as an NLRB member.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin in submitting this brief. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ezipay Coin Presale Goes Live, Starting the Next Phase in Making Digital Payments More Accessible

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ezipay Coin, a unique digital currency built on innovative blockchain technology, has officially launched its presale, offering early investors the opportunity to be part of the future of digital payments. EziPay Coin is part of the greater EziPay ecosystem, that aims to redefine the way of handling payments, rewards, and investments. With strategic partnerships and a vision to create a more connected financial ecosystem, Ezipay Coin is poised to transform the way transactions are conducted across the globe.

    Speaking to the media, Sumit Sharma, CTO of EziPay Coin, said, “As a safe, flexible, and easy-to-use cryptocurrency, EziPay Coin aims to transform digital payments. EziPay Coin wants to make cryptocurrency acceptance more universal, being used in normal life while facilitating borderless, quick, safe transactions.”

    Borderless Transactions
    EziPay Coin makes digital currencies useful for everyone by focusing on openness, sustainability, and accessibility. By eliminating excessive costs and sluggish processing times while remaining connected with conventional cross-border payments, EziPay Coin presents a quick, safe, and reasonably priced option for trade and global remittances

    Some of the key features of EziPay Coin include:

    • Non-Custodial Wallet: Full control over digital assets.
    • Integrated Ecosystem: Works seamlessly within the EziPay app.
    • Low Transaction Costs: Ideal for microtransactions and global remittances.
    • Future Blockchain Development: A scalable and feature-rich blockchain is in progress.
    • User-Centric Design: Intuitive and easy to use.
    • Practical Utility: Designed for everyday transactions.
    • Dedicated Blockchain: Ensures security and scalability.
    • Seamless Integration: Works effortlessly within the EziPay app.
    • Transparent and Secure: Built on blockchain technology.
    • Expanding Ecosystem: Future integrations in healthcare, fintech, and agritech.

    About EziPay Ecosystem
    EziPay Coin is a part of the greater EziPay Ecosystem, which ensures that cryptocurrency has a real-world utility. It aims to make digital payments accessible, borderless, quick, and safe for everyone.

    Some of the features of the EziPay Ecosystem include:

    • Reward & Loyalty Programs: Use EziPay Coin across platforms like EziPay Global Digital Bank, EziPay Ghana, EziPay Francophone, and EziPay Sierra Leone to earn rewards and access financial services.
    • Gaming Platform: Redeem EziPay Coin for free top-ups and bonuses on Ezivote, India’s fastest-growing political-based gaming app.
    • Digital Learning: Get certified on Iripash using EziPay Coin.
    • App Development: Use EziPay Coin to develop applications and projects in the crypto space.

    By providing an all-in-one solution for payments, rewards, and investments, the EziPay Ecosystem with EziPay Coin is positioned to make digital currencies accessible to everyone.

    To take part in the presale of EzPay Coin, visit: https://www.ezipaycoin.com/

    About Ezipay Coin
    Ezipay Coin is a next-generation cryptocurrency designed to provide secure, efficient, and borderless digital transactions. Backed by leading industry partners, it aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain-powered solutions.

    Join the conversation on:
    X: https://x.com/EzipayCoin
    Telegram: https://t.me/ezipaycoin

    Media Contact
    Company Name: EziPay Coin
    Contact Person: Amit Gaur
    Email: info@ezipaycoin.com
    Website: https://www.ezipaycoin.com/

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by EziPay Coin. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d74790f1-f33a-4217-9868-0f60dff3505a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM International N.V. publishes Annual Report 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    March 6, 2025, 5.45 p.m. CET

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today publishes its Annual Report 2024
    ASM’s Annual Report 2024 is available in ESEF reporting package and as a PDF file on the company’s website www.asm.com. 
    ASM publishes the Annual Report in accordance with European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) reporting requirements with the format of the report being Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (xHTML). In line with the ESEF requirements, the primary consolidated financial statements have been labelled with XBRL tags.
    ASM will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 12, 2025. The AGM agenda with all related documents will be available in due time.

    About ASM International
    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.
    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company’s reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.
    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Contact

    Investor and media relations

    Victor Bareño
    T: +31 88 100 8500
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    		  

    Investor relations

    Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Rosen, Markey Introduce Legislation to Prevent the Political Weaponization of the FCC, Protect First Amendment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Luján Bill Comes Amid FCC Probes Into Broadcasters That Were Previously Dismissed
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, and U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) announced the introduction of the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. The legislation would reaffirm the importance of the independence of the FCC, including that the President should not mandate the FCC’s agenda. U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va) lead companion legislation in the House.
    “The Trump administration’s weaponization of the FCC and intimidation of broadcast stations for political purposes is a serious threat to the First Amendment,” said Senator Luján. “The FCC and the President should not hold the power to revoke broadcasting licenses and censor free speech simply because they disagree with the viewpoints that are broadcasted. That is why I’m proud to lead this legislation to make it clear that the FCC operates independent of any political agenda. Free speech and freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy, and I am committed to defending it from politically motivated attacks.”
    “A free and independent press is a foundational part of defending the first amendment and ensuring Americans have access to information,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “It is clear President Trump intends to use every available avenue to intimidate and silence broadcast media that challenges his viewpoints. The weaponization of the FCC to launch baseless attacks on NPR and PBS show exactly the bullying tactics Donald Trump will use to censor dissent. That’s why Senator Luján and I are introducing this legislation that will ensure our media is protected from government attacks no matter their point of view.”
    Specifically, the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act would:
    Explicitly state that the FCC is an independent agency and that they must not use their authority to execute politically motivated attacks against licensees.
    Prohibit the FCC from taking action (including revoking any license or authorization) against any person based on the viewpoints disseminated.
    Prohibit the FCC from placing conditions based on viewpoint disseminated on any transaction approval.
    This bill has no effect on the FCC’s authority to take action on violations explicitly outlined in other sections of the Communications Act, including with regard to obscenity, lottery, fraud, or incitement under the First Amendment. 
    “When Congress created the FCC, it had witnessed firsthand how fascist governments in Europe used control of radio broadcasting to spread propaganda and suppress the free press. Determined to prevent that from happening in America, Congress established the FCC as an independent agency to safeguard press freedom. For nearly a century, the FCC has upheld this mission. But now, the current Chair has abandoned this long-standing tradition, turning the agency into a tool for the President’s agenda of press intimidation and suppression of criticism. It is a national tragedy that such a bill is even necessary. However, Public Knowledge applauds Senator Luján for standing up to the Administration’s bullying and giving defenders of a free press a cause to rally behind,” said Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of Public Knowledge.
    “The First Amendment prohibits the government, including the FCC, from dictating what content the media covers and how they cover it. It is this freedom of the press that enables us to hold our government accountable when they overreach. Efforts to retaliate against the press for the viewpoints they express is not only unconstitutional, but will make all of us less informed about the world we live in. We thank Senator Lujan for introducing the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act to protect freedom of the press,” said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union.
    “This bill sends exactly the right message, at a time of remarkable danger for freedom of the press in this country. Just a few years ago, Brendan Carr was an FCC commissioner proclaiming that newsroom decisions about how to frame stories should be beyond the reach of government bureaucrats like him. Now, he is our chief censor, eager to threaten those very same newsrooms any time Donald Trump snaps his fingers. Free Press Action thanks Senator Luján, Representatives Matsui, Barragan, and McClellan, and all members supporting this legislation,” said Matt Wood, Vice President of Policy at Free Press Action.
    Senator Luján’s introduction of the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act follows his call to FCC Chair Carr to stop the weaponization of FCC in light of recent attacks against both broadcasters and public media.
    The legislation is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Knowledge, and Free Press Action.
    Full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina: UK statement to the OSCE, March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina: UK statement to the OSCE, March 2025

    The UK underlines concerns at the adoption of laws by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in violation of the Dayton Agreements, and reaffirms unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of BiH.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    The United Kingdom remains concerned at the rise of dangerous ethno-nationalist politics which seek to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina’s statehood. 

    The people of BiH need their political leaders to focus on passing reforms, rather than exacerbating tensions and engaging in dangerous, secessionist moves. 

    We note and share the deep concerns of ODIHR and RFoM at the adoption by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska of laws in violation of the Dayton Agreements. These unconstitutional actions disrupt institutions such as the BiH Court from exercising their legal authority. 

    The UK continues to urge all actors to fully adhere to Dayton, and respect the state institutions of BiH.  We reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of BiH and support for a single, sovereign state comprising two entities, in which all its peoples and citizens are equal. 

    Republika Srpska President Dodik’s actions this week do not serve the people of BiH. They are an attempt by Dodik to undermine and distract from the decision of an independent court.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Europe-Nato ‘coalition of the willing’ scrambles for collective response to hostility from Trump and threat from Putin

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    Six days after the infamous shouting match between the US president and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president is scrambling to try and repair what looked initially like a near-total breakdown in the relationship between the US and Ukraine.

    Zelensky, urged by European leaders, including the British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, has tried to mend his ties with Trump. The US president acknowledged as much in his first post-inauguration speech to congress on March 5, saying that he appreciated Zelensky’s readiness to work for peace under US leadership.

    But that happened just 24 hours after he decided to halt all military aid to Ukraine. And since then, the new director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, and national security adviser, Mike Waltz, have confirmed that intelligence sharing with Kyiv, which was critical to Ukraine’s ability to hit strategic targets inside Russia, has also been suspended.

    Neither of these two moves will have an immediate game-changing effect on the war, but they certainly increase pressure on Ukraine to accept whatever deal Trump will ultimately make with Putin.

    So far, so bad for Zelensky. Yet Trump’s manoeuvring does not only affect Ukraine. It has also had a profound impact on the relationship between the US and Europe. On Sunday March 2, in the aftermath of the White House debacle, Starmer convened an emergency meeting in London with a select number of European leaders, as well as the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau.

    This “coalition of the willing”“ has been in the making for some time now. Its members straddle the boundaries of the EU and Nato, including – apart from the UK – non-EU members Norway and Turkey. Since the relatively disappointing first-ever EU meeting solely focused on defence on February 3 – which was more notable for the absence of a European vision for the continent’s role and place in the Trumpian world order – Europe has embarked on a course of more than just rhetorical change.

    The UK was first out of the blocks. Ahead of Starmer’s visit to Washington, the UK government announced on February 25 an increase of defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. This was then followed on March 2 with a pledge of additional air defence missiles for Ukraine worth £1.6 billion.

    Europe responds

    In a crucial boost to defence spending at the EU level, the president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the “Rearm Europe” plan on March 4. It is projected to mobilise around €800 billion (£670 million) for European defence.

    This includes a “national escape clause” for EU members, exempting national defence expenditures from the EU’s deficit rules. It also offers a new loan instrument worth up to €150 billion, allows for the use of already allocated funds in the EU budget for defence projects, and proposes partnerships with the private sector through the Savings and Investment Union and the European Investment Bank.

    Perhaps most significantly, in Germany, the two main parties likely to form the next coalition government announced a major shift in the country’s fiscal policy on March 5, which will allow any defence spending above 1% of GDP to be financed outside the country’s strict borrowing rules.

    This marks an important point of departure for Germany. Apart from what it means in fiscal terms, it also sends an important political signal that Germany – the continent’s largest economy – will use its financial and political muscle to strengthen the emerging coalition of the willing.



    Read more:
    Europe will need thousands more tanks and troops to mount a credible military defence without the US

    Donald Trump reads a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech to Congress, March 4.

    These are all important steps. Taken together, and provided that the current momentum is maintained, they are likely to accelerate Europe’s awakening to a world in which US security guarantees as no longer absolute.

    The challenges that Europe faces on the way to becoming strategically independent from the US are enormous. But they are not insurmountable.

    The conventional military threat posed by an aggressive and revanchist Russia is more easily manageable with the planned boost to conventional forces and air and cyber defences. Close cooperation with Ukraine will also add critical war-fighting experience which can boost the deterrent effect.

    Europe for now, however, remains vulnerable in terms of its nuclear capabilities, especially if deprived of the US nuclear umbrella and faced with Russia’s regular threats to use its nuclear arsenal – the world’s largest nuclear power by warhead stockpiles.

    But here, too, new strategic thinking is emerging. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has indicated his willingness to discuss a more integrated European nuclear capability. And in Germany, a country with an otherwise very complex relationship with nuclear weapons, such a European approach has been debated, increasingly positively, for some time, starting during Trump’s first term in office between 2017 and 2021.



    Read more:
    French nuclear deterrence for Europe: how effective could it be against Russia?

    Tectonic shift

    A stronger, and strategically more independent Europe, even if it will take time to emerge, is also crucial for the war in Ukraine. Increased European defence spending, including aid for Ukraine, will help Kyiv in the short term to make up for at least some of the gaps left by the suspension – and possible complete cessation – of US military support.

    In the long term, however, EU accession would possibly open up the route to a security guarantee for Ukraine under article 47.2 of the Lisbon treaty on European Union.

    This so-called mutual defence clause has been derided in the past for lacking any meaningful European defence capabilities. But if the current European momentum towards beefing up the continent’s defences is sustained, it would acquire more teeth than it currently has.

    With the benefit of hindsight, Zelensky may have walked away less empty handed from his clash with Trump last week than it seemed initially. If nothing else, Europeans have since then demonstrated not just in words but also in deeds that they are no longer in denial about just how dangerous Trump is and how much they are now on their own.

    Threatened by both Moscow and Washington, Europe is now on the cusp of a second zeitenwende, the “epochal tectonic shift” that the then German chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They may finally even have found an answer to the question he posed at the time: “How can we, as Europeans and as the European Union, remain independent actors in an increasingly multi-polar world?”

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    Tetyana Malyarenko 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. Europe-Nato ‘coalition of the willing’ scrambles for collective response to hostility from Trump and threat from Putin – https://theconversation.com/europe-nato-coalition-of-the-willing-scrambles-for-collective-response-to-hostility-from-trump-and-threat-from-putin-251332

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Reject Durbin’s Resolution To Condemn Russia’s Abduction Of Ukrainian Children

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 07, 2025

    Since Russia’s full-scale war started in 2022, the Russian government has abducted, forcibly transferred, or facilitated the illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a simple resolution he introduced condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children and called on Russia to work with the international community to return all abducted Ukrainian children to their families. Since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression started in 2022, the Russian government has abducted, forcibly transferred, or facilitated the illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children. Senate Republicans rejected the resolution.  They also objected to every other straightforward resolution offered by Senate Democrats, including urging Russian President Putin to end the war, clarifying that Russia started the war, stating that Russia committed war crimes, reaffirming the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and support for its sovereignty, and clarifying that no nation should forcibly seize territory of another. 

    “War brings out the worst in humans. And Russia, under the bloody leadership of Vladimir Putin, has committed some of the worst wartime atrocities that a mind can imagine. Mass murders, rapes, torture, and deliberate targeting of hospitals and civilians, that’s been the three-year strategy of Vladimir Putin,” said Durbin.

    “But one of the most horrific of these atrocities is Russia’s kidnapping of Ukrainian children… Since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression started in 2022, the government of Russia has abducted, forcibly transferred, or facilitated the illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children,” said Durbin. “The depravity of Putin’s strategy is hard to imagine. But Putin and his government know no humanity or morality. It is not surprising that Putin would stoop to such a repulsive strategy.”

    “That is why I am asking unanimous consent to pass a resolution condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children. And I am calling on Russia to work with the international community to return all of these children to their families. There is no tasteful way to violate the sovereignty of another nation.  But Putin takes depravity to a new extreme with his kidnapping of Ukrainian children. This barbaric act must be condemned—it should be easy for members on both sides of the aisle to just imagine for a moment if this had happened to American children. It has to be a priority of any peace process to acknowledge Putin’s responsibility for the invasion and the terrible policies in Ukraine,” Durbin continued.

    Last week, Durbin introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) are cosponsors of the legislation. Bill text can be found here.  

    Durbin also joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and others in leading a simple resolution last week that expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of thousands of lives to Russian aggression; rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign Ukrainian territory; reaffirms U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and states unequivocally that Ukraine must be at the table for negotiations on its future.

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lazertinib approved for use in combination with amivantamab for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Lazertinib approved for use in combination with amivantamab for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer 

     As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 6 March 2025, approved lazertinib (brand name Lazcluze) for adults with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has undergone specific changes in a gene called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is to be used in combination with an approved cancer medicine called amivantamab.

    Lazertinib works by blocking EGFR and may help to slow or stop the lung cancer from growing. It may also help to reduce the size of the tumour. It is taken daily in tablet form.  

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:

    Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm approval of Lazertinib for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer. 

    We’re confident that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this new formulation have been met. 

    As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.

    Lazertinib has been evaluated in a clinical trial, in which a total of 1074 participants were randomised to receive one of three treatments. The lazertinib and amivantamab combination treatment was compared against treatment with lazertinib alone, and against treatment with another cancer medicine osimertinib. Participants who received the combination treatment had a longer period without progression of their disease, as compared to patients who received the other two treatments.  

    Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of the most common side effects are skin problems (such as rash, itching and dry skin), decreased appetite, nausea, muscle spasms, vomiting and fever. 

    For the full list of all side effects reported with this medicine, see Section 4 of the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the SmPC available on the MHRA website. 

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.    

     ENDS

    Notes to editors    

    • The new marketing authorisation was granted on 6 March 2025 to Janssen-Cilag Ltd 

    • This product was submitted and approved via a national procedure.  

    • More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.  

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.  

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.  

    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –