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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mexico: Boom in organised crime making femicide invisible, local activist says

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Nathalie Minard and Ana Carmo

    Women

    With more than 2,526 women murdered in the past three decades – from 1993 through 2023 – and hundreds disappeared, Ciudad Juárez remains Mexico’s deadliest city for women. 

    Local activist Norma Andrade, who was recently at the UN Office in Geneva to raise awareness about femicide, knows the issue first-hand. Her own daughter, Lilia Alejandra, was murdered in that same city in 2001.

    “As my granddaughter would sum it up: we are worth a peanut – which in other words means that a woman is just disposable,” she told UN News.

    “On one day, she was working in a factory, the next day she disappeared, the next she is found dead, while another person has already replaced her at work, so [her death] is only important to her family – not for society, not for the government, much less for the authorities or the company,” she explained.  

    UN/Nathalie Minard

    Norma Andrade in front of the art work of Clara Garesio “In Women’s Hands” at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

    Impunity is rampant

    According to Ms. Andrade, the fact that Juárez is a key border crossing with the United States contributes to the lack of community rootedness, which dehumanizes the population and makes it harder to fight the crime of femicide.

    But the problem is not confined there. Across Mexico, around 10 women and girls are killed every day by intimate partners or other family members, according to Government data. 

    Since 2001 – the year when Lilia Alejandra was killed – 50,000 women have been murdered, while the impunity rate exceeds 95 per cent. 

    Furthermore, only two per cent of cases end in a criminal sentence and only one in 10 victims dares to report their aggressor.

    There is no justice

    Ms. Andrade has survived two murder attempts in the 23 years since her daughter’s body was discovered, as she continues her quest for justice.  

    “In Mexico, the growing number of disappearances is real, but this boom in organized crime and drug trafficking has erased what is happening to women, not that it stopped happening, but it is becoming invisible…”, she said.

    Even though the violence against women is increasing, its visibility is going down – local activist Norma Andrade

    Speaking about the lack of justice, she said that even when the skeletal remains of a missing young woman are found, it is an “achievement” as it gives closure to their families. “It gives them a place to go and mourn their daughter,” she added.

    Since the disappearance of her daughter, Ms. Andrade has been fighting for justice. 

    “Recently, an expert made me see a reality that I hadn’t seen for the past 23 years, one that I didn’t want to accept: maybe I won’t find justice for Alejandra. Or at least not the legal justice that I want that would put Alejandra’s attackers in jail”, she stressed.  

    Her case was transferred to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, located in Costa Rica, in December 2023. 

    Symbolic justice

    “Perhaps we can find moral or symbolic justice,” Ms. Andrade said, “because the moment the Mexican State is given a criminal sentence […] it publicly acknowledges that it didn’t protect Alejandra, neither all the Alejandras in the country, nor all those children who were orphaned when their mothers were murdered; and that would alleviate to some extent the lack of legal justice”. 

    Blaming the lack of political will, Ms. Andrade who is also a co-founder of non-profit association of mothers whose daughters were victims of feminicide in Ciudad Juárez, added that the mothers are the ones “swimming against the tide”.

    Supported by other women, academics, feminists, and civil society, they are the ones “who must go, protest and raise their voices to be taken into account”, she said. 

    In recent years, the crimes have sparked several waves of protests and put gender violence at the top of Mexico’s political agenda.

    Keeping the issue of femicide in the spotlight and making information available and accessible for women, is key for holding the authorities accountable and preventing violence against women and girls. 

    Since 2011, UN Women, in partnership with key state institutions, has published periodic studies analysing the scope, trends, characteristics of femicide in the country.

    UNIC Mexico/Eloísa Farrera

    The Ecatepec mural “Voices in Resistance: murals for justice and memory” seeks to dignify all mothers who fight for their daughters killed by femicidal violence.

    ‘Look at us’

    Ms. Andrade stars in the documentary Norma, in search of justice directed by French journalist Brigitte Leoni, which was screened in Geneva ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.

    She hopes the documentary will bring more visibility to the cases of disappearance, noting that “this boom in organized crime has caused people to flee, crossing into the United States, and drug trafficking has made what is happening to women invisible”.

    Speaking in Geneva, home to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN News asked Ms. Andrade what message she would like to share with rights experts. 

    “Look at us, look at the mothers. Come here and see the families and don’t just stick with the image that the government gives to the outside world”, she said.

    Femicide transcends borders

    Violence against women is a global crisis, according to a report by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), released on the International Day.

    Unsplash/María Fuentes

    Women march on International Women’s Day in Mexico City.

    The commemoration marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that runs through 10 December, Human Rights Day.

    Regional data shows that femicide transcends borders, socio-economic status and cultures, but its severity varies.

    Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicides, with 21,700 women killed in 2023, followed by the Americas and Oceania.

    In Europe, 64 per cent of victims were killed by their intimate partners; in the Americas, it was 58 per cent. 

    In contrast, women in Africa and Asia were more likely to be killed by family members than by their partners.

    The report revealed that globally, 140 women and girls died every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative in 2023 – one woman killed every 10 minutes.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to work with Britain to consolidate bilateral ties: FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China is willing to collaborate with Britain to consolidate the positive momentum towards stabilizing and improving bilateral relations.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said this during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

    Wang first conveyed the cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Starmer, saying the successful meeting between Xi and Starmer at the end of last year has launched the process of improving and developing China-Britain relations.

    Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the recent China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue has produced fruitful results and exchanges at all levels have been resumed, Wang said.

    This demonstrates the huge potential of practical cooperation between the two countries, and also fully proves that the Labour government’s rational and pragmatic policy towards China is in line with the interests of the country and people and conforms to the trend of the times, he said.

    He said China stands ready to work with Britain to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen and expand cooperation in infrastructure, trade and investment, clean energy and other fields, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries.

    Wang noted that the world is becoming volatile and changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Britain should strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, demonstrate their responsibilities as major countries, and deepen cooperation in key areas concerning the future of humanity, including climate change, artificial intelligence, and green development, thus to contribute greater certainty and stability to the world, he said.

    Starmer asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Xi, noting that the current cooperation between Britain and China in various fields has made positive progress. He added that he looks forward to candid and constructive dialogues between the two countries to promote the sustained and stable development of Britain-China relations.

    During his visit to Britain, Wang also met with Jonathan Powell, British prime minister’s national security adviser, and co-chaired the 10th China-UK Strategic Dialogue with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What was the Sykes-Picot agreement, and why does it still affect the Middle East today?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Thomas, Lecturer in Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    Some national borders are determined by natural phenomena like seas, mountains and rivers. Most, however, are created by people.

    This means the creation of borders is often a political exercise – usually informed by the interests of those who create them, not the local populations to whom they apply.

    The Sykes-Picot agreement, known officially as the Asia Minor Agreement of 1916, was arguably the first in a series of attempts by colonial powers to mould the borders of the Middle East.

    Signed in secret at the height of the first world war, Sykes-Picot was an agreement between France and Great Britain, approved by Russia. It would have lasting consequences for the region.

    It is frequently cited as the epitome of European colonial betrayal, and the genesis of most conflict in the Middle East.

    But while Sykes-Picot did significantly affect regional politics, the history is more complicated than popular narratives suggest.

    ‘The Eastern question’

    The agreement was seen by the signatories as a potential answer to what was then known by European powers as “the Eastern question”: what would happen when the Ottoman Empire inevitably collapsed?

    The Ottoman state in the early 20th century was vast compared to its European peers, encompassing Anatolia (the Asian part of modern-day Turkey) and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

    But it was weak, and had been on a steady decline since the 18th century due to multiple military defeats, revolts and rampant corruption. By the beginning of the first world war, the Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia) believed the Ottoman state would not survive long.

    The Entente aimed to create new “zones of influence” in the Middle East, dividing Ottoman territory into colonial partitions.

    By the beginning of the first world war, France, Britain and Russia believed the Ottoman state would not survive long.
    Everett Collection/Shutterstock

    Secret negotiations

    Between late 1915 and early 1916, Britain and France sent their respective envoys to negotiate the potential terms of this outcome in secret.

    Mark Sykes, a political adviser and military veteran, represented the British. François Georges-Picot, a career diplomat, represented the French.

    Italy and Russia also had delegations in attendance, though the discussions were dominated by Britain and France as the most powerful nations. The Ottomans were oblivious to these negotiations.

    Under the agreement:

    • France was allocated what is now Syria, Lebanon and southern Turkey
    • Britain claimed most of modern-day Iraq, southern Palestine and Kuwait
    • Russia took control of Armenia.

    An area known as the Jerusalem Sanjak (an administrative division created by the Ottomon Empire) in Palestine was to come under an international protectorate, though it was not settled in the agreement as to how this protectorate would operate.

    Sykes-Picot was kept secret, mostly because Britain had made contradictory commitments to other parties. It had promised (through a series of letters known as the McMahon-Hussein correspondence) to give independence to the Arabs who had helped the British fight the Ottomans in the first world war.

    Later, in early November 1917, it also made a promise to Zionist Jews migrating to Palestine in the Balfour Declaration. In this public declaration, Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour effectively expressed Britain’s support for the Zionist project to create a Jewish state in Ottoman Palestine. Then-Prime Minister David Lloyd George also publicly supported both Zionism and Balfour’s statement.

    The Sykes-Picot agreement did not stay secret for long.

    In November 1917, the Bolsheviks, who were now in power in Russia following the fall of the Russian monarchy, published Sykes-Picot to the world.

    Arab nationalists were enraged. So, too, were Zionists who had witnessed the Balfour Declaration just weeks prior. The Anglo-French declaration of November 1918 attempted to allay the fears of the Arabs by pledging to “assist in the establishment of national governments and administrations.” However, Arab distrust of the European powers only grew.

    Borders moulded by colonial powers

    In the years following, European powers started to reevaluate their position on Ottoman territory.

    The French, who still wished to take control of Syria, had argued the newly formed League of Nations (a predecessor of the United Nations) could give France the territory under a mandate. A mandate is a formal authorisation to govern by the League of Nations.

    The British said this would violate their earlier promises to the Arabs. Britain reiterated that the Anglo-French declaration of 1918 superseded Sykes-Picot.

    Then came the San Remo Conference in 1920, an international meeting in Italy. This is where some of the popular readings into Sykes-Picot get muddled, as several aspects of the agreement were discarded. What remained the same was the French and British desire to add Ottoman territory to their dominions.

    Here, the European victors of the first world war sought to finalise the division of Ottoman territories by slicing them into League of Nations mandates.

    This included the French mandates of Syria and Lebanon, as well as the British mandates of Palestine and Mesopotamia. Britain also confirmed at the time its support for a Jewish national homeland, while protecting the local Palestinian population.

    This is where we start to see borders of the modern Middle East form. The boundaries themselves differed from Sykes-Picot. But Britain and France, however, were still able to expand their colonial dominion in the region.

    In 1921, a group of British representatives met in Cairo to finalise the borders of their mandates. This led to the creation of two states: Iraq under King Faisal and Transjordan (now Jordan) under King Abdullah – both of whom were members of the Arab Heshemite dynasty. Palestine was to remain under British mandatory control.

    While these states had independence on paper, then-Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill believed that Transjordan would ultimately be controlled by the British Empire, giving the Heshemites only nominal independence.

    Little consideration was given to the ethnic and religious diversity of these territories. Some argue this helped lead to modern-day sectarian conflict in Iraq.

    Ripples that continue today

    The collapse of the Ottoman Empire was always going to cause regional upheaval, but the colonial jockeying for territory clearly had lasting consequences.

    Several regional conflicts were exacerbated during this period, but it would also directly lead to the creation of the state of Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

    This leads to the displacement of Palestinians and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that still rages today.

    Zionists and Arab nationalists viewed Palestine to have been originally promised to them by the British through the Balfour Declaration and McMahon-Hussein correspondence, respectfully.

    But in Sykes-Picot, the British had no intention of promising Palestine to anyone but themselves.

    As a result, the British mandate was characterised by anti-colonial violence from both Jews and Arabs.

    When the British eventually abandoned control of Palestine in 1947, the UN partition plan for two states (one Jewish, one Arab) was supposed to take over. Instead, Arab-Israeli conflict began within hours of the partition taking effect.

    So a lot happened after Sykes-Picot, with the map proposed in 1916 looking very different to what actually eventuated.

    Many scholars argue it was the agreements that followed Sykes-Picot that were more consequential, and Sykes-Picot holds only “minor importance” by comparison.

    While this may be true, Sykes-Picot is still emblematic of how consequential European colonial ambition was in the Middle East.

    And while the borders outlined in the agreement did not eventuate, Britain and France still managed to get most of the territory they wanted, with little consideration of local populations.

    The Sykes-Picot agreement is therefore one of many colonial projects that we are still feeling the ripples of today.

    Andrew Thomas 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. What was the Sykes-Picot agreement, and why does it still affect the Middle East today? – https://theconversation.com/what-was-the-sykes-picot-agreement-and-why-does-it-still-affect-the-middle-east-today-246332

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Leads Entire Democratic Caucus in Raising Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Slams Indirect Cost Rate for NIH as Massive Indiscriminate Cut, Setting Back Progress on Lifesaving Research

    NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023

    Washington state receives $1.29 billion in NIH funding that supports nearly 12,000 jobs and nearly $3 billion in economic activity; STATE BY STATE analysis HERE of total NIH funding, jobs supported, and economic activity supported through NIH research

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump administration has taken would create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, and could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds,” Senator Murray and the Members wrote.

    Last week, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent—creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system and stifle the development of new cures for disease. It won’t produce cost savings—it will just shift costs to states who can’t afford to pay the difference. Importantly, this action by the Trump administration is illegal—Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs.

    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators wrote. On Monday, a federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21st.

    The senators’ letter points out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023 and every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. 

    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research—they cost lives,” the senators continued.

    “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.”

    The letter was signed by the entire Senate Democratic caucus: in addition to Senator Murray, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) signed onto the letter.

    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Murray has long fought to boost biomedical research, strengthen public health infrastructure, and make health care more affordable and accessible. Over her years as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, she has secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 

    A PDF of the letter is available HERE and the full text is below.

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our serious concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine the nation’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump Administration has taken will create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.

    Just last week, NIH announced an illegal plan to cap indirect cost rates that research institutions rely on. In capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent for NIH-funded grants, this policy would cut funding essential for conducting research, such as operating and maintaining laboratories, equipment, and research facilities. This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly.

    These confusing and harmful policy changes threaten patient safety. The strength of the American research enterprise – recognized as the best in the world – is built on Congress’ bipartisan commitment to supporting essential research infrastructure. This funding, which Congress has long appropriated on a bipartisan basis, fuels groundbreaking medical discoveries and cements the United States’ position as the global leader in biomedical research.

    In addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with everyone from custodians, to research trainees, to scientists facing potential layoffs. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023. Every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. These reckless policy changes not only threaten biomedical innovation and research, but also the livelihoods of thousands of workers in every state across the nation.

    The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research – they cost lives.

    The NIH plays a critical role in our nation’s efforts to fund scientific advancements that improve health and save lives. Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray: Trump Blocking Funding Will Kill Good-Paying Energy Jobs and Raise Families’ Energy Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “In choking off tens of billions of dollars in energy investments, Trump is threatening to kill thousands of good-paying American jobs and raise energy costs for households across the country.”

    Senator Murray hosts press call to detail how Trump blocking energy investments is hurting communities in every part of the country

    ***WATCH: PRESS CALL HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, hosted a press call to underscore how President Trump continuing to block key energy investments threatens to raise families’ energy bills, derail key energy projects, and kill good-paying jobs in communities across the country. Senator Murray was joined by David Turk, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Joe Nguyen, Director of the Washington state Department of Commerce.

    “The guy who swore up and down on the campaign trail that he would lower people’s energy costs is now working to raise them. And an administration that says it wants to ‘restore energy dominance’ is now working to kill domestic energy projects and the thousands of American jobs they are creating,” said Senator Murray. “This funding freeze—which may very well not be a freeze but a permanent rollback—is bad for families and it’s bad for workers. And it is also bad for American businesses who have inked contracts to create new battery plants, produce sustainable aviation fuel, lay down new transmission lines, construct new energy plants, and so much more—and who are now left wondering whether the federal government is going to honor its commitments.”

    “Another estimate said that the average American consumer is going to pay almost $500 more per year if these kinds of programs—the tax incentives to the loan programs—don’t go forward. And I think that’s a conservative estimate,” said David Turk, who recently served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. “I really want to underscore that chaos and confusion and uncertainty is not our friend. If you talk to any investor, if you talk to any CEO, the last thing they need—the last thing they want—is chaos, confusion, uncertainty about what should be no brainers. If the government makes a commitment, if we get to conditional commitment with a loan program recipient, that’s the government’s credibility. That’s the American people’s credibility on the line to follow through and make sure that we are providing that certainty for investment.”

    “It was 27 degrees in West Seattle this morning, and even colder in other parts of the state. The hundreds of millions of dollars threatened today by Trump’s political games hurts already overburdened communities the most, especially low-income families, rural towns, and our small businesses. Washingtonians deserve better than the games the Trump administration is playing,” said Joe Nguyen, Director of the Washington state Department of Commerce.

    On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order to illegally halt funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) from going out the door to communities and recipients counting on the funding. Hundreds of billions of dollars are still being held up under Trump’s directives—and it’s jeopardizing all manner of energy projects and programs communities are counting on.

    In the years since the IIJA and IRA were signed into law, over $211 billion in private sector investment in clean energy and tech manufacturing has been announced nationwide—with 232k+ jobs announced and nearly 80% of those investments made in Republican-held districts. The president’s freeze puts all these gains at serious risk.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thanks everyone for joining this call today. I’m really glad to be here with David Turk, who recently served as Deputy Energy Secretary, and Joe Nguyen, Director of Washington state’s Department of Commerce, to talk about how President Trump and Elon Musk are holding up tens of billions of dollars in energy investments nationwide—putting jobs at risk and raising energy costs for families.

    “We are now well into the fourth week of President Trump’s illegal—and deeply harmful—funding freeze.

    “Trump is still blocking funding that we secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, among much else, from going out the doors. It is, of course, illegal for a president to unilaterally decide to block funding.

    “As I’ve said many times: presidents don’t just get to pick and choose what laws they feel like following.

    “But Trump blocking funding is not merely illegal. It also devastating for communities like the ones I represent—who are counting on these resources, who’ve hired folks, are relying on this funding to, for example, lower their monthly energy bill, and who, in many cases, have already inked contracts.

    “Today, we are talking about the energy investments Trump is blocking—and I want to say from the outset this is just one slice of the vast pot of funding he is holding up.

    “Trump’s freeze is holding up funding for: rebuilding roads and bridges, new clean school buses, wildfire prevention efforts, assistance for farmers, replacing old water pipes, investments in our national security, and so much more.

    “But today I wanted to zero in on what’s going on at the Department of Energy.

    “Because make no mistake: in choking off tens of billions of dollars in energy investments, Trump is threatening to kill thousands of good-paying American jobs and raise energy costs for households across the country.

    “When Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, we made historic investments to—among a whole lot else—create good-paying clean energy jobs, spur innovation, strengthen American manufacturing, and lower energy costs for families.

    “We provided funding for families to upgrade their homes and save big on their energy bills. We delivered resources to build new battery manufacturing plants, construct cutting-edge hydrogen hubs, boost our nuclear power capabilities, and increase domestic production of critical minerals we absolutely need.

    “As you can imagine, a lot of good new jobs have been created in the process—and we’re really just beginning to feel the full benefits.

    “A quarter of a million clean energy jobs have been created since we passed the IRA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In Washington state, the new Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub alone is set to create 10,000 jobs. The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office awards alone will support at least 50,000 good jobs across the country.

    “But Trump is putting these domestic jobs at risk—which plays right into the hands of our competitors, like China.

    “And he is simultaneously threatening to rip up programs we’ve created that are lowering people’s energy costs.

    “Right now, Trump is putting funding for the Home Energy Rebates Program in serious jeopardy. We are talking about funding for families to make upgrades that save them on their monthly energy bill. Funding for you to buy energy efficient appliances and to retrofit your home so that cold air stays out in the winter and hot air stays out in the summer. These programs aren’t just important in tackling the climate crisis—they are saving families money.

    “They provide households up to $14,000 in rebates to make upgrades and lower their energy bills—and they are saving American households up to $1 billion every single year.

    “The Weatherization Assistance Program, for example, saves households $372 on average each year! But again—Trump has put it on the chopping block.

    “There’s no need to dance around it: the guy who swore up and down on the campaign trail that he would lower people’s energy costs is now working to raise them.

    “And an administration that says it wants to ‘restore energy dominance’ is now working to kill domestic energy projects and the thousands of American jobs they are creating!

    “This funding freeze—which may very well not be a freeze but a permanent rollback—is bad for families and it’s bad for workers. And it is also bad for American businesses who have inked contracts to create new battery plants, produce sustainable aviation fuel, lay down new transmission lines, construct new energy plants, and so much more—and who are now left wondering whether the federal government is going to honor its commitments.

    “That uncertainty alone risks jobs and investments—and will hurt local economies everywhere.

    “It was recently reported, for example, that Trump and Musk are looking at cancelling even finalized loans provided by the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office. That, of course, puts jobs at risk and puts workers’ livelihoods and businesses’ bottom lines in jeopardy.

    “But what we are seeing is also a situation rife with potential conflicts of interest and corruption—which is another huge part of the story when it comes to Trump and Musk blocking funding.

    “Just one example: back in 2010, when Tesla wasn’t doing too hot, Elon Musk secured a half billion-dollar loan from the Department of Energy. That loan boosted the company—and Elon Musk—and helped them become what they are today.

    “Fast forward to now—Elon Musk is raiding agencies, cutting off funding, cancelling contracts, and the Energy Department is apparently looking to cancel loans it has made to his electric vehicle competitors.

    “The obvious question then is Elon Musk going to cut off loans that are helping Tesla’s competitors create jobs and build their business right here in America?

    “There is so much at stake—and what is painfully clear is that Trump’s illegal funding freeze is causing chaos and confusion. It’s putting these projects and jobs at risk—and will take money out of families’ pockets—and it has got to end.

    “The court decisions we’ve gotten so far have affirmed what we have known all along: Trump does not have the power to steal approved funding from the American people.

    “But the relief the orders should provide is, for now, only temporary—and in many cases, the funding is still frozen.

    “Now, DOE may say they’ve just developed a new process for thoroughly reviewing all programs and payments but make no mistake: this process is meant to have the same effect—it is a freeze by a different name and the funds remain frozen.

    “What needs to happen is Donald Trump and Elon Musk must end the freeze and revoke their orders to choke off these investments.

    “As I’ve said before: if Donald Trump wants to roll back programs that are lowering people’s energy bills, he can come to Congress and win the votes he needs to do it.

    “If Donald Trump wants to gut funding that is creating good-paying energy jobs all across the country, he can come to Congress and win the votes he needs to do it.

    “That’s why I am here today to sound the alarm and protect critical programs American families rely on and support. You don’t just get to rip up contracts and block funding owed to the American people.

    “Now, I want to turn it over to David Turk, who I’m so glad could join us, to talk a bit more about what this freeze is doing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Resignations – Dr Sarfati’s resignation another blow to underfunded health system – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The resignation of director-general of health Dr Diana Sarfati is a further symptom of the Government’s chaotic mismanagement and underfunding of the health system, the PSA says.
    PSA Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says Dr Sarfati’s resignation will create more turmoil in an overstretched health system being put under further pressure by the Government’s demands for health spending cuts.
    “The alarm bells should be ringing in the health sector. Dr Sarfati’s resignation follows those of Health New Zealand Chief Executive Margie Apa and Director of Public Health Nicholas Jones in the past few weeks.
    “The fundamental problem in health is that the Government is starving our health system of the funding needed to run it.
    “Hard working public servants delivering health care like Dr Sarfati are being asked to work miracles to somehow keep a groaning system working for New Zealanders,” Fitzsimons says.
    “That’s why we have started litigation in the Employment Relations Authority aimed at stopping rushed and damaging job cuts in health to meet the Government’s savings targets.
    “These cuts will endanger the lives of patients and see thousands of dedicated and essential health workers lose their jobs,” says Fitzsimons.
    Fitzsimons says the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi would like to thank Dr Sarfati for her work, which was an example of the dedicated service of so many public servants.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to adjust intensity, timing of monetary policies as appropriate

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 13 — China’s central bank will utilize a variety of monetary policy tools and adjust the intensity and timing of policies as appropriate, based on domestic and international economic and financial conditions, as well as financial market operations, according to a report released by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) on Thursday.

    The aim is to maintain ample liquidity and ensure that social financing and money supply growth align with the country’s goals for economic growth and overall price levels, according to the PBOC’s fourth-quarter 2024 monetary policy report.

    China’s monetary policy toolkit is enriched continuously, and the scope of its monetary policy functions is expanding, the report said.

    Since 2013, the central bank has reduced the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) 29 times, decreasing the average RRR from 20.1 percent to 6.6 percent.

    Outstanding relending loans, including medium-term lending facility loans, stood at 11.4 trillion yuan (1.59 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2024, representing 28.8 percent of the PBOC’s total assets.

    In 2024, the PBOC conducted net purchases of government bonds worth a total of 1 trillion yuan, which, in combination with other monetary tools, maintained a reasonably ample level of liquidity.

    Next, the PBOC will adopt a moderately loose monetary policy and increase financial support further to drive technological innovation and promote consumption, according to the report.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Delivers Opening Remarks at HFAC Hearing on the USAID Betrayal

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing on the United States Agency for International Development’s betrayal of America.

    WATCH HERE

    -Remarks as delivered-

    We are here today, very simply, because many of the people and many of the programs in USAID have literally betrayed America. My colleagues to my left will say that I am lying about these programs, and I know they damn well wish that I was lying. The programs USAID and the State Department have spent money on are indefensible, they hurt America’s standing around the globe, and I think the fact is clear that America would have been better off if your money had been simply thrown into a fireplace.

    Instead, the Biden administration spent it imposing their far-left-wing ideology onto other nations. Under them, USAID spent:

    – $2 million for sex change surgeries in Guatemala.

    – $22 million to increase tourism in Tunisia and Egypt, that’s not lifesaving.

    – $520 million to pay consultants to teach people in Africa about climate change, that’s not medicine.

    – $4.5 million to teach people in Kazakhstan how to fight back against internet trolls, that’s not lifesaving.

    –  $20,000 to help LGTB individuals vote in the Honduran elections, that’s not medicine.

    –  $5.5 million to improve the lives of LGBT individuals in Uganda.

    –  $14 million to identify LGBT leaders in Cambodia.

    –  $425,000 to train Indonesian coffee companies on how to be more gender friendly.

    –  $15 million for condoms to the Taliban.

    And I have pages and pages more. That is not diplomacy. It’s a slap in the face to every American who got up this morning and went to work. To this moment, you haven’t seen or heard any of my colleagues on the left apologizing for this being wrong or wasteful.

    Instead, their biggest concern is that the person assembling a team to make sure these programs are not funded is a billionaire named Elon Musk. They’re so out of touch; they think these programs are bringing other countries closer to us and our adversaries are going to get a foothold if these programs don’t continue.

    That is not what competing looks like for the United States of America. On the contrary, last month when I participated in a Q&A with my colleague here to the left in the U.S. Institute of Peace, which will have to explain their funding, the Ugandan Ambassador stood up and said these programs were not doing anything to improve relations between our nations.

    Take a look at the video.

    These programs will not continue. They’re going to come to an end. Yet my colleagues to the left are arguing for these programs to continue, arguing for the people who put these programs in place to go back to work, and arguing for the agency that did this to continue wasting your money.

    They’re going to argue that President Trump doesn’t have the authority to do this, but the fact is of those who were in Congress, all but three of them, voted to give him the authority in 2024. It says very specifically in SFOPS Appropriations Act that the administration may potentially “expand, eliminate, consolidate, or downsize covered departments, agencies, or organizations.” That’s the language of the authority.

    It’s not just the content of USAID that is the betrayal. It’s the larceny that USAID has conducted. Crooked NGOs around Washington, D.C. swindling American taxpayers out of their money. A recent audit found that USAID’s implementing partners were using as much as 50% of their grant for overhead costs not lifesaving measures.

    The administration has said that the aid pause is temporary, and they have proven it. The recipients of USAID programs, they can apply for a waiver. I have a list with me. Many have applied. Many have been denied and some have received wavers that proved that their work was lifesaving.

    Let me give a warning to my colleagues, it will be short-sighted of you to turn a blind eye to USAID’s betrayal and more broadly to the betrayal within the State Department. Because we are going to bring in the people who put these programs in place. We are going to show to the American people exactly what they were doing. The videos, the documents, the everything. They are going to see it.

    Like $25,000 for a drag show seminar for Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador and we are going to show you that video.

    We will be writing these programs out of law as we conduct our first full State Department review since 2002.

    I would say that when done right, foreign aid can be one of the best tools. It can help strengthen our relationships with our allies that need a hand up and it can help countries realize that America is the best partner.

    But it is only true if we understand a couple of things:

    – What does America actually need from each country or region?

    – What does that country or region actually want from the United States of America? Because it’s not these things.

    – And it’s only fair to Americans if we can prove that a dollar better spent going abroad than staying in the pocket of an American who is right now hustling and grinding it out of work.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces Healthy SNAP Act, Stopping Tax Dollars from Subsidizing Junk Food

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced the Healthy SNAP Act. The bill would exclude soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from being purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that eligible food promotes the health of SNAP recipients and reflects nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) has introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. 
    “American tax dollars should not be used to pay for junk food and endanger the health of the most vulnerable Americans,” said Sen. Lee. “The fastest way to Make America Healthy Again is to encourage balanced diets and stop subsidizing unhealthy food choices. The Healthy SNAP Act is a solid step forward in building a society where all families can be enjoy strength, health, and good nutrition.”
    “President Trump has been given a mandate by the majority of Americans to Make America Healthy Again, and those in his administration, like RFK Jr. and Senator Marco Rubio, have directly advocated for eliminating junk food purchases with SNAP,” said Rep. Brecheen. “This legislation advances President Trump’s agenda by ensuring that SNAP is used for nutritious foods, rather than junk foods and soda that contribute to long-term health issues.”
    “The SNAP program should not prey on low-income populations by perpetuating the consumption of sugary drinks designed to be addictive filled with artificial additives. It’s time to use our SNAP dollars wisely, to incentivize and provide healthier options in low-income areas so all Americans can live healthier and longer. We need more government dollars going towards food that actually provides health rather than take it away – this starts with removing the junk.” –Vani Hari, Founder of Food Babe & Truvani
    “With 38% of U.S. teens now afflicted with pre-diabetes, it is the height of public policy insanity to subsidize soda and candy for the neediest children. SNAP money should be going to American farmers and ranchers, not soda companies. This bill will ensure that.” -Calley Means, Founder of Truemed 
    BACKGROUND
     
    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exists to provide nutritious food to low-income Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. Over 42 million people, roughly 1 in 8 Americans, are currently receiving SNAP benefits. However, over 20 percent of all SNAP dollars are used to purchase soda, candy, desserts, and other junk food items, which is projected to total $240 billion over the next decade. One of the key aspects of President Trump’s agenda is to “Make America Healthy Again”, and one of the ways to work toward that goal is to prevent SNAP dollars from being used to purchase unhealthy and ultra-processed junk food items that fuel the rise of chronic disease in the United States. Obesity, and the chronic diseases it causes, costs the United States healthcare system nearly $173 billion every year.[1] Taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits should not continue to fund the growth of chronic disease in the United States. 
    The Healthy SNAP Act would exclude soda, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from SNAP eligibility. The bill would also direct the Secretary of Agriculture to review foods qualified under SNAP every five years to ensure that new and relevant nutrition data is reflected in SNAP food guidelines. The legislation is endorsed by Heritage Action for America.
     
    You can read the bill text HERE.
    You can read the one-pager HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Bondi & Patel Will Restore Trust in Our Justice System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) commended U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Nominee Kash Patel for their commitments to restore trust in our justice system and end the weaponization and politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that took place under the Biden Administration. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “One of President Trump’s most important pledges during the campaign was to end the politicalization and the weaponization of the Department of Justice, including the FBI.”

    “Attorney General Bondi and soon-to-be Director Patel are going to have a huge task ahead of them.”

    “My goal for the Department of Justice and the FBI is to restore the nonpartisan functioning of our country’s chief law enforcement agencies. The American people deserve an FBI and a Department of Justice that they can trust.”

    “President Trump’s Attorney General will have a chance to turn the page from Merrick Garland’s failures by reversing the partisan hackery that has been a part and parcel of President Biden’s Department of Justice.”

    “Pam Bondi can serve President Trump and the nation well by enforcing the law that’s on the books and ending the weaponization of political enemies.”

    “Similarly, Kash Patel has an opportunity to turn the page from the abuses and the lack of accountability that we’ve seen at the FBI in recent years. So, I look forward to working with Ms. Bondi and Mr. Patel in their noble endeavor to restore trust in our nation’s justice system and, by doing so, to restore the trust of the American people.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $3 million boost for palliative care research

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: $3 million boost for palliative care research

    Published: 14 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research

    The Minns Labor Government is committing $3 million to improve health outcomes for patients, carers and families with end of life and palliative care needs in NSW.

    The funding for The End of Life and Palliative Care Research Grant Program aims to translate research projects into practical benefits and support collaboration between NSW Health, research institutes, community organisations, non-government organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

    Eligible agencies will receive up to $300,000 over three years for smaller scale research projects, and up to $600,000 for larger scale research activity.

    Recipients of the funding will conduct research in the following priority areas:

    • Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management for patients
    • Collaborative care models to improve experience
    • Culturally and socially inclusive care for Aboriginal, culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTIQ+ patients, carers, families and communities
    • Psychosocial support for grief, loss and bereavement for patients, carers, families and communities. 

    The Program will run a competitive application process to identify research projects. Expressions of Interest applications open on 14 February 2025 and will close on 23 March 2025.

    More information can be found on the NSW Health website.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving the comfort and experience of people with life-limiting illnesses during what is an extremely challenging time for patients and their families.

    “I am proud to announce this initiative which reaffirms our commitment and aims to translate projects into tangible benefits for people with end of life and palliative care needs in NSW.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Medical Research David Harris:

    “I am pleased our government is committing funding for research and innovation that is so critical to improving the experiences of palliative care and end of life patients and the community. 

    “I appreciate all the hard work and collaboration efforts to implement this fantastic initiative.

    “Importantly, these priority research areas have been informed through extensive consultation with the NSW palliative care sector, including clinicians, policy managers, academics and advocacy groups.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber Urge Appellate Court to Resolve Huntington Beach Voter ID Lawsuit on the Merits

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, February 13, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    Court filing underscores that this is an urgent elections matter 

    SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. today announced filing a petition for writ of mandate with the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three in Santa Ana concerning Huntington Beach’s voter identification (voter ID) law, Measure A. Without citing any evidence that fraudulent voting occurs with any regularity in the city or has ever compromised the outcome of a municipal election, Measure A amended the city’s charter to purportedly allow the city to impose voter ID requirements at the polls for all municipal elections starting in 2026. On November 15, 2024, the Orange County Superior Court concluded that the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach over Measure A was “not ripe for adjudication” because the measure “is permissive and discretionary in character, and thus currently presents no conflict with state elections law.” Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber appealed on January 14, 2025. The petition for writ of mandate asks the appellate court to resolve the whole case on the merits, rather than wait to resolve the state’s pending appeal on the narrower question of ripeness. 

    “Secretary Weber and I continue to believe that Huntington Beach’s Measure A is unlawful. Today, we are asking the appellate court to hear our case on the merits now, instead of waiting. With preparations for the 2026 elections beginning late this year, time is of the essence,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The right to vote is sacred, and we will not allow Huntington Beach to disenfranchise Californians at the polls. As we have said repeatedly, our elections are already secure, and applicants who register to vote in California are already required to verify their identity during the registration process.” 

    “As California’s chief elections officer, I stand with Attorney General Bonta in challenging local government actions that violate state law and diminish the right to vote,” said Secretary of State Shirley Weber. “I will continue to advocate for an inclusive democracy and the voices of voters. The writ of mandate filed today seeks to ensure a prompt resolution of Huntington Beach’s unlawful charter amendment.”

    In the petition, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber explain that the appellate court should grant the petition for the following reasons: 

    • The state lacks an adequate, speedy remedy at law. The City of Huntington Beach apparently intends to adopt and enforce voter identification rules after elections officials begin planning for the 2026 elections and mere months before they are held. There is no other way for the courts to resolve this case quickly enough to prevent elections officials and the city’s voters from suffering harm. 
    • The issue presented is one of great statewide, public importance, with significant implications for the successful administration of upcoming elections, the protection of the right to vote, and the constitutional separation of powers between charter cities and the state.  
    • This case presents a matter of first impression under the California Constitution and a new state law prohibiting local voter identification rules.
    • Resolving this case now serves judicial economy by avoiding numerous appeals raising the same issue. 

    Filed on April 15, 2024, the lawsuit by Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber alleges that Measure A is preempted by state law and invalid. Under the California Constitution, charter cities have the right to govern “municipal affairs,” but local law cannot conflict with state law governing a “statewide concern.” Both the integrity of California’s elections and the protection of the constitutional right to vote are matters of statewide concern. The lawsuit further argues that California already maintains a uniform and robust legal scheme for safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and protecting the rights of eligible voters.

    A copy of the petition can be found here. If the appellate court does not grant the petition, the court may still resolve the state’s appeal on ripeness grounds.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Honors American Flag by Introducing One Flag for All Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today led his colleagues in introducing the One Flag for All Act. This legislation prohibits any flag other than the American flag from being flown, draped, or displayed on federal buildings, with certain exceptions. 
    Senator Marshall’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-Tennessee-1) led the House companion of this bill. 
    The One Flag for All Act was first introduced by Senator Marshall in 2023 following the Biden Administration’s breach of U.S. Flag Code by centering a Pride flag between two American flags on the White House. This bill would ensure that such denigration never happens again. It would expand and codify President Trump’s “One Flag Policy,” barring U.S. outposts at home and abroad from flying any other flag than the Stars and Stripes.
    “Never again should a flag that promotes radical gender ideology be flown, draped, or displayed outside the White House or any other federal building,” said Senator Marshall. “The American flag is our nation’s symbol and should be the primary flag proudly flown over government property. I’m proud to introduce legislation to honor Old Glory and ensure rogue politicians and bureaucrats never deface our sacred symbol again.”
    “Too many brave men and women have given their lives for what our American flag represents—liberty, justice, democracy, and freedom,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “Those are principles that should stand above any ideological or social movement of the day. It’s a shame that legislation like this is even needed, but it is to ensure the dominance of the United States flag.”
    “Around the globe, the American flag is seen as a symbol of freedom and liberty,” said Senator Lummis. “I’m proud to join Senator Marshall in ensuring that the U.S. flag is always the preeminent public symbol of our country.”
    “Old Glory is the most recognized symbol of strength, freedom, and prosperity in the entire world. American soldiers did not raise our flag at Iwo Jima for it to be disgraced decades later by radical ideologies,” said Representative Harshbarger. “Our flag represents every single American and should never be disgraced on federal public properties by not being the primary flag flown. This legislation accomplishes just that.”
    This legislation exempts the following flags from being flown at covered public buildings:
    ·         National League of Families POW/MIA flag
    ·         Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
    ·         Flags representing a visiting diplomat’s or representative’s nation
    ·         Member of Congress’ State flags
    ·         Flags representing a unit or branch of the Armed Forces
    ·         Flags representing religious organizations or churches in limited circumstances
    ·         Flags representing Indian Tribes
    ·         Flags representing the State, territory, county, city, or local jurisdiction in which the building is located
    ·         Flags representing federal agencies
    ·         Flags commemorating a specific national observance, including the 9/11 memorial flag and the Remembrance Day flag
    ·         Flags of historical significance, including the Besty Ross flag, the Gadsden flag, and the Bennington flag

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Risch introduce bill to make bureaucrats write contracts in plain language

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in introducing the Simplifying Subcontracting Act to require the federal government to write subcontracting applications in plain, understandable language. 

    “Government agencies speak an entirely different language from the American people. The Simplifying Subcontracting Act would help Louisiana’s small business owners better compete for contracts by ending Washington’s bureaucratic terminology in the application process,” said Kennedy.

    “Small businesses are vital to our economy but are often left out in federal government contracting due to overly complicated, bureaucratic language. The Simplifying Subcontracting Act requires certain federal government contracts to use plain language, enabling more small businesses to compete for these contracts,” said Risch.

    Currently, overly technical and specialized language discourages many small businesses from applying for and entering into government contracts.

    Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) also cosponsored the bill.

    Kennedy first backed the bill in the 118th Congress, during which the Senate Small Business Committee approved it.

    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy: Congress should not be picking winners and losers in the news media by funding PBS, NPR

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) argued that the federal government should not continue to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP), including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), on the Senate floor.

    Key excerpts of the speech are below:

    “It might have made sense many, many, many years ago for the federal government to subsidize and fund public broadcasting. Fifty years ago, that might have made sense, but the ability of the American people today to access whatever news they would like to hear from whatever form of media they choose is no longer limited. It is virtually unlimited—only by the imagination.

    “So here is my question, Mr. President. . . . If all this is true, if media has changed and it is accessible to everyone, why is the U.S. Congress still spending half a billion dollars a year—not half a million a year—half a billion dollars a year to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting? It makes no sense.”

    . . .

    “Congress does not send taxpayer money to the most popular podcast host in America. We don’t. The anchors on Fox News, the anchors on CNN, the anchors on MSNBC, nor their stations—they don’t get any taxpayer dollars. Nor do any of the journalists that ask me questions every day in the hallway in this building—unless they work for NPR or PBS or their affiliates or the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Congress should not be picking winners and losers in the news media, but that is what we are doing.” 

    . . .

    “President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is looking for fat to trim, Mr. President. As far as I am concerned, this gravy train—this gravy train with biscuit wheels called the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—is the perfect example of a project the American people no longer need and should not fund.”

    Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Advocates for Small Business in Federal Contracting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Simplifying Subcontracting Act to reduce complexity in federal government contracting and help more small businesses and entrepreneurs pursue contracts.

    “Small businesses are vital to our economy but are often left out in federal government contracting due to overly complicated, bureaucratic language,” said Risch. “The Simplifying Subcontracting Act requires certain federal government contracts to use plain language, enabling more small businesses to compete for these contracts.”

    The Simplifying Subcontracting Act, true to its name, is a simple, one-page bill that would require federal government contracts use straightforward language when subcontracting work is given to small businesses. This legislation mirrors the Plain Writing Act of 2010. 

    U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Kennedy (R-La.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) joined Risch in introducing the bill.

    “Qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs deserve the same access to federal government contracts as larger entities that currently dominate the contracting market,” said Crapo. “Simplified, clearer language will improve their access to the federal contracting application process.”

    “Our bill will make government subcontracting agreements easier to understand, opening up more opportunities for Hoosier small businesses to compete for these contracts,” said Young.

    “Dense and technical language discourages small businesses from competing for government contracts,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill helps even the playing field.”

    The Idaho Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Idaho Veteran Entrepreneurship Alliance, and American Subcontractors Association support Risch’s bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supportive-living home for people with brain injuries coming to Parksville

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Stephanie Higginson, MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside –

    “Having a supportive-living home for people with acquired brain injuries that will serve the central and north Island is big news for the people and their families who live in the area and need these services. Having access to quality health care when people need it, where they live is a priority for our government.  The care people receive will help them with physical, cognitive and emotional therapy, and improve their overall quality of life.”

    Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

    “This new service aligns with Island Health’s goal to provide patient-centred, accessible and equitable care for Vancouver Island residents and will address an identified gap in specialized brain injury services on central Island. By expanding and improving the services provided to people living with brain injuries, we can improve quality of life for clients, provide hope for improved wellness, better support families and caregivers, and reduce strain on hospitals and long-term care resources.”

    Dean, client, Island Health Brain Injury Program –

    “This program will greatly serve to create community and belonging, as well as dependability, consistency and calm to life, and living for those supported.”

    Ashley Ormiston, regional program co-ordinator, Island Health Brain Injury Program –

    “Living with a brain injury can be life-altering. With early intervention and focused, timely interventions, we know people with brain injuries can begin to recover, improve their health and gain independence to reintegrate into society.”

    Patti Flaherty, CEO, Connect –

    “We are thrilled to partner with Island Health and expand Connect’s life redesign model to Vancouver Island. Our team has more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals after brain injury and strokes in Langley, Kelowna and Ontario. Our Parksville location will provide a safe, nurturing environment, empowering the people we support to redesign their lives and thrive.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: China confirms ‘in-depth exchange’ with Cook Islands as New Zealand faces criticism for bullying

    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga

    China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his regular press conference that Brown’s itinerary, from February 10-16, would include attending the closing ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin as well as meeting with Premier of the State Council Li Qiang.

    Guo also confirmed that Brown and his delegation had visited Shanghai and Shandong as part of the state visit.

    “The Cook Islands is China’s cooperation partner in the South Pacific,” he said.

    “Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and sought common development.”

    Guo told reporters that the relationship between the two countries was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.

    “Our friendly cooperation is rooted in profound public support and delivers tangibly to the two peoples.

    ‘New progress in bilateral relations’
    “Through Prime Minister Brown’s visit, China stands ready to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Cook Islands on our relations and work for new progress in bilateral relations.”

    Brown said on Wednesday that he was aware of the strong interest in the outcomes of his visit, which has created significant debate on the relationship with Cook Islands and New Zealand.

    He has said that the “comprehensive strategic partnership” deal with China is expected to be signed today, and does not include a security component.

    Cook Islanders are divided over Brown’s decision to keep Aotearoa in the dark about the contents of the agreement it intends to sign with Beijing.

    While on one hand, the New Zealand government has been urged not to overreact, on the other the Cook Islands opposition want Brown and his government out.

    Locals in Rarotonga have accused New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters of being a “bully”, while others are planning to protest against Brown’s leadership.

    A local resident, Tim Buchanan, said Peters has “been a bit bullying”.

    He said Peters had overacted and the whole issue had been “majorly” blown out of proportion.

    ‘It doesn’t involve security’
    “It does not involve our national security, it does not involve borrowing a shit load of money, so what is your concern about?

    “Why do we need to consult him? We have been a sovereign nation for 60 years, and all of a sudden he’s up in arms and wanted to know everything that we’re doing”

    Brown previously told RNZ Pacific that he had assured Wellington “over and over” that there “will be no impact on our relationship and there certainly will be no surprises”.

    However, New Zealand said it should have seen the text prior to Brown leaving for China.

    Cook Islands opposition MP and leader of the Cook Islands United Party Teariki Heather . . . he has filed a vote filed a vote of no confidence motion against Prime Minister Mark Brown. Image: Caleb Fotheringham/RNZ Pacific

    Vote of no confidence
     Cook Islands opposition MP Teariki Heather said he did not want anything to change with New Zealand.

    “The response from the government and Winston Peters and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, that’s really what concerns us, because they are furious,” said Heather, who is the leader of Cook Islands United Party.

    Heather has filed a no confidence motion against the Prime Minister and has been the main organiser for a protest against Brown’s leadership that will take place on Monday morning local time.

    He is expecting about 1000 people to turn up, about one in every 15 people who reside in the country.

    Opposition leader Tina Browne is backing the motion and will be at the protest which is also about the Prime Minister’s push for a local passport, which he has since dropped.

    With only eight opposition members in the 24-seat parliament, Browne said the motion of no confidence is not about the numbers.

    “It is about what are we the politicians, the members of Parliament, going to do about the two issues and for us, the best way to demonstrate our disapproval is to vote against it in Parliament, whether the members of Parliament join us or not that’s entirely up to them.”

    The 2001 document argument
     Browne said that after reading the constitution and the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration, she agreed with Peters that the Cook Islands should have first consulted New Zealand on the China deal.

    “Our prime minister has stated that the agreement does not affect anything that he is obligated to consult with New Zealand. I’m very suspicious of that because if there is nothing offensive, why the secrecy then?

    “I would have thought, irrespective, putting aside everything, that our 60 year relationship with New Zealand, who’s been our main partner warrants us to keep that line open for consultation and that’s even if it wasn’t in [the Joint Centenary Declaration].”

    Other locals have been concerned by the lack of transparency from their government to the Cook Islands people.

    But Cook Islands’ Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana said that is not how these deals were done.

    “I think the people have to understand that in regards to agreements of this nature, there’s a lot of negotiations until the final day when it is signed and the Prime Minister is very open that the agreements will be made available publicly and then people can look at it.”

    Cook Islands Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana . . . Image: Caleb Fotheringham/RNZ Pacific

    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government would wait to see what was in the agreement before deciding if any punishment should be imposed.

    With the waiting, Elikana said he was concerned.

    “We are worried but we want to see what will be their response and we’ve always reiterated that our relationship is important to us and our citizenship is really important to us, and we will try our best to remain and retain that,” Elikana said.

    He did not speculate about the vote of no confidence motion.

    “I think we just leave it to the day but I’m very confident in our team and very confident in our Prime Minister.”

    ‘Cook Islands does a lot for New Zealand’
     Cultural leader and carver Mike Tavioni said he did not know why everyone was so afraid of the Asian superpower.

    “I do not know why there is an issue with the Cook Islands and New Zealand, as long as Mark [Brown] does not commit this country to a deal with China with strings attached to it,” he said.

    Tavioni said the Cook Islands does a lot for New Zealand also, with about 80,000 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand and contributing to it’s economy.

    “The thing about consulting, asking for permission, it does not go down well because our relationship with Aotearoa should be taken into consideration.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Bloodbath continues for health leadership

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government continues to tear apart New Zealand’s health leadership, sacking or forcing the resignation of our top medical experts.

    “I am concerned to hear of the resignation of the Director-General of Heath Dr Diana Sarfati today,” acting Labour health spokesperson Peeni Henare said.

    “Christopher Luxon thinks a purge of health leadership will turn around the health system while he refuses to invest properly for the health of New Zealanders.

    “Dr Sarfati is a world-leading cancer research expert, improving survival rates and closing inequities in treatment. If the Government doesn’t reach its cancer targets without Dr Sarfati they have no one to blame but themselves.

    “We acknowledge Dr Sarfati’s leadership when the Ministry of Health continued to give evidenced-based advice on tobacco control despite a hostile government.

    “Health is complex, and firing the leadership may come back to haunt the Prime Minister.

    “As Simeon Brown struggles to get up to speed on the complex health portfolio, it’s as if Christopher Luxon is getting rid of everyone who disagrees with him. It’s an absolute disgrace, causing damage that will ripple for years to come.

    “The Director-General of Health has gone, the Director of Public Health stepped down, the Health New Zealand board was sacked and the Health New Zealand Chief Executive resigned.

    “The executive leadership team of Health New Zealand has been gutted, and the organisation’s Chief Financial Officer was structured out of a job. Luxon is fast running out of other people to blame for his Government’s failures.

    “I wish Dr Diana Sarfati all the best for her next role and thank her for the commitment, mahi and expertise she gave for the better health of New Zealand,” Peeni Henare said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ depends on the rules-based world Trump is dismantling – why the silence?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2023 strategic foreign policy assessment, “Navigating a shifting world”, accurately foresaw a more uncertain and complex time ahead for New Zealand. But already it feels out of date.

    The Trump administration’s extreme disruption of the international order (which New Zealand helped construct) is going further and faster than foreseen in the assessment. Were another nation responsible, the government would have been quick to condemn it.

    But New Zealand has so far been largely mute while Trump has quit the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord, attacked foreign assistance programs and withdrawn funding from key United Nations organisations.

    Had Russia or China threatened the annexation or acquisition of Canada, Panama and Greenland, New Zealand would have reacted strongly. But it has said nothing substantive.

    The United States still belongs to the World Trade Organization and various regional trade agreements. But Trump’s use of tariffs threatens havoc throughout the multilateral trade system.

    Similarly, Trump has not quit the International Court of Justice. But his proposal to remove two million Palestinians from Gaza amounts to an unequivocal rejection of the court’s recent ruling on Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Territories – as well as international law.

    On all these fronts, New Zealand has preferred not to make a stand.

    The coming Russia-Ukraine test

    While other countries have been quick to criticise Trump’s Gaza plan, New Zealand has opted not to comment until greater clarity is available, other than to reiterate its support for a two-state solution for Palestine.

    When Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, New Zealand (along with Australia and Japan) failed to join a statement from 79 other countries expressing unwavering support for the court.

    The next likely test will be Trump’s attempt to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. While the goal is undoubtedly worthy, the question will be at what cost.

    If the price is ignoring the UN Charter, and if European supporters of Ukraine find the illegal annexations of its sovereign territory unpalatable, New Zealand will face a stark choice.

    For Australia, with its special trade relationship with the US and membership of the AUKUS security pact, this may be simple politics. For New Zealand, without a special free trade agreement with the US, frozen out of ANZUS and not part of AUKUS, the equation is more complex.

    Discord in the Pacific

    Last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand must “stand up for this international rules-based system that has actually served New Zealand incredibly well”. Quietly sitting down will not be an option forever.

    Furthermore, all this is happening against the backdrop of New Zealand’s apparently waning influence in its own back yard, the South Pacific.

    While China seeks to expand its own influence, cuts and possible retrenchment in New Zealand’s aid budget suggest little appetite for tangible counteraction.

    The loss of influence was first apparent with Kiribati, which has steered towards a much closer relationship with China since 2022. More recently, China has made inroads into other Pacific countries, including the Solomons and East Timor, working in an increasingly grey zone with support for civilian and military security.

    But the recent fracture with the Cook Islands takes things to a new level.

    Struggling to find a voice

    While no longer a dependency, the Cooks’ free association agreement with New Zealand gives its people immense benefits, including citizenship and the right to work and live in New Zealand.

    In return, the Cooks undertakes to consult over foreign affairs matters, including any policy or initiative that might affect the interests of the other signatory.

    But the development of a somewhat opaque “comprehensive strategic partnership” with China blindsided New Zealand, and has strained what is meant to be a good-faith relationship. Again, however, New Zealand has struggled to find its voice.

    If it speaks too loudly, it risks further undermining that special Pacific relationship, as well as irritating its largest trade partner, China. If it speaks too softly, the respect and influence the country deserves will fade.

    New Zealand’s vaunted independent foreign policy is a fine ideal and has been a workable mechanism to navigate the challenges facing a small trading nation reliant on a rules-based global order.

    This has worked well for the past few decades. But as the old world order erodes, losing its voice for fear of offending bigger powers cannot become the country’s default position.

    Alexander Gillespie 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. NZ depends on the rules-based world Trump is dismantling – why the silence? – https://theconversation.com/nz-depends-on-the-rules-based-world-trump-is-dismantling-why-the-silence-249857

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Second World Summit in Doha Must Advance Humanity’s Fight against Structural Inequalities, Speakers Tell Commission for Social Development

    Source: United Nations 4

    At one of two panel discussions held today by the Commission for Social Development, speakers stressed that the Second World Summit for Social Development must advance humanity’s fight against structural inequalities by promoting quality employment for young people, closing digital divides, addressing the challenges of ageing populations and tackling the climate crisis.

    The Commission — established in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council as one of its functional commissions — advises the United Nations on social development issues, and its sixty-third session will run through 14 February.

    The first panel discussion, titled “Preparations for the World Social Summit under the title of the Second World Summit for Social Development”, focused on the specific needs of various regions ahead of the meeting to take place in November in Doha.  Panellists provided updates collected via various regional consultations and underscored the global summit’s unique opportunity to reset global priorities and build a more sustainable future for all.

    Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, moderated the panel.  “The state of play looks good, but then I ask myself if I were to describe it in two words I would say, not good,” he emphasized.  Around 300 million people will still be living in poverty by 2030 if the world continues the same trajectory.

    “Unless we act with foresight, the gaps we seek to close will only deepen,” said Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).  For the Arab region, social development cannot succeed unless conflict and displacement are addressed.  “Social policies must be designed for resilience,” she went on to stress.  The Arab region also faces a growing divide between the skills needed for emerging industries and those currently being developed through the education system.  The Summit in Doha must ensure employment policies are fit for the future.  The political declaration to come out of that meeting must promote policies that enable all generations to contribute meaningfully to economic and social progress.  The digital divide in the Arab region remains significant, she also underscored, noting the gap between men and women, and urban and rural communities.

    Laura Thompson, Assistant Director-General for External and Corporate Relations, International Labour Organization (ILO), said that the opportunity to renew the global social contract should be an invitation to all Member States to uphold social justice principles.  “Technological innovations create both challenges and opportunities, and monitoring their impact and optimizing their potential for decent work creation is critical,” she added.  One in five young persons in the world is neither in employment, education or training.  The rate is almost 26 per cent for young women.  “This is a personal drama for the young person concerned, but also a waste of assets for national development plans,” she added.

    Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), said that environmental degradation, including climate change and biodiversity loss, is widely recognized as a cross-cutting issue affecting livelihoods, health and equity.  More specifically in Africa, formality, lack of social protection and labour rights, youth unemployment, gender inequality and climate change are all considered to be major challenges.  Meanwhile, Asia faces significant structural challenges, including a digital device, ageing population and climate related risk.  For Latin America and the Caribbean region, structural inequalities, backlash against progressive policies, weakened democratic governance and climate change risk are challenges most identified.  The political declaration must mobilize resources towards achieving universal rights to ensure access to adequate income and social assistance.

    Srinivas Tata, Director of the Social Development Division of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said that the region is undergoing an unprecedented demographic transition.  The number of older persons — 65 years or above — is expected to nearly double from 500 million in 2024 to almost 1 billion in 2050.  “Yet, there are many countries in the region which are still having a youth bulge, and so we also need to pay specific attention to the needs of the youth,” he added.  It is estimated that 42 million people in the region were pushed into extreme poverty in 2020 compared with pre-pandemic levels.  “We really suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added, expressing alarm that in many countries in the Asia region fewer than 50 per cent of the population are covered by any form of social protection.

    Rodrigo Martinez, Senior Social Affairs Officer, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), said that all people must achieve a life free of poverty and have access to economic growth and freedom and dignity.  Every person must be able to fully exercise their economic, social and cultural rights.  “Poverty and hunger are two persistent but surmountable scourges,” he added.  “Inequality, in its multiple dimensions, represents a trap for development,” he also emphasised.  People must be able to access the labour market, decent working conditions, education and healthcare.  On urbanization, he urged Governments to also expand access to energy, water and sanitation.

    In the afternoon, the Commission held a multi-stakeholder forum on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the “social and solidarity economy”, which encompasses a wide range of organizations, including cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises, that prioritize people and communities over profit.

    Moderating the discussion was Konstantinos Papadakis, Principal Social Affairs Officer at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who recalled the General Assembly resolutions on cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy in 2022 and 2023, respectively.  He also noted that 2025 marks the International Year of Cooperatives, observed under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.  He then introduced three panellists, who shared their experiences and actions taking place in their countries.

    Carlos Jorge Paris Ferraro, Vice-Minister for Social Policies at the Ministry of Social Development of Paraguay, said that while the social economy was not a public policy in his country until 2024, such an idea has historically existed in indigenous communities whose economies are marked by reciprocity.  They were able to create a self-sufficient solidarity economy during the colonial period.  Currently, peasant organizations and family agriculture include this culture of solidarity and reciprocity.  In Paraguay, the social and solidarity economy accounts for 12 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), with cooperatives producing 72 per cent of dairy products and 24 per cent of meat for export.  About 500,000 small- and medium-size enterprises are members of cooperatives.  In a country with only 6 million people, “the cooperative sector is gigantic and is growing”, he said.  He then detailed several national initiatives, such as cash transfers to preserve forests or to plant trees that benefited 268 families.  To promote this growth model, the Government created the Department for the Social and Solidarity Economy within the Ministry of Social Development.

    Ankhbayar Nyamdorj, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations, said that his country in April 2024 launched the “New Cooperative” programme under its “New Recovery Policy” to enhance agriculture, particularly risk-resistant livestock husbandry through cooperatives.  The programme aims to stabilize herders’ income, improve social security and boost the livestock sector’s climate resilience.  By the end of 2024, it had reached 16,009, or 6.4 per cent, of Mongolia’s 247,900 herder families.  Government efforts include establishing a National Committee led by the Deputy Prime Minister, granting $200 million in investment loans, and subsidizing $9.27 million in interest.  Loans support breeding animal purchases, facility expansion and dairy/meat production.  Training programmes engaged 1,500 cooperative members, while forums promoted development strategies.  Public outreach reached 1 million citizens.  Future plans include model cooperatives, national insurance integration and food safety standards.  Challenges include strengthening the “social and solidarity economy” capacities, enhancing research and fostering public-private partnerships.  Mongolia also shared experiences internationally, such as at the Global Cooperative Conference in India, he added.

    Maxime Baduel, Ministerial Delegate for the Social and Solidarity Economy at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of France, said that the social and solidarity economy is imbued with equality, justice and cooperation. In his country, it represents 10 per cent of GDP.  “The strength of this French ecosystem also lies in its legislative framework,” he said, noting how laws are designed to encourage organizations like cooperatives. Developing the social and solidarity economy is “a strong lever” to meet the SDGs, and it should be encouraged by the Commission.  In conclusion, he stressed the importance of establishing a legislative regulatory framework to “give a structure to this ecosystem”, as well as the need to ensure that they are resourced financially and capacity-building instruments are in place. It is also vital to promote these structures with financial institutions and create public policies in line with the social and solidarity economy, he emphasized.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: PDF Solutions® Announces Record 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Total Revenues

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDF Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDFS), a leading provider of comprehensive data solutions for the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights of Fourth Quarter 2024

    • Record quarterly total revenues of $50.1 million, up 22% over last year’s comparable quarter
    • Record quarterly analytics revenue of $47.9 million, up 22% over last year’s comparable quarter
    • GAAP gross margin of 68% and non-GAAP gross margin of 72%
    • GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.01 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.25

    Financial Highlights of Full Year 2024

    • Record full year total revenues of $179.5 million, up 8% over last year
    • Record full year analytics revenue of $169.3 million, up 11% over last year
    • GAAP gross margin of 70% and non-GAAP gross margin of 74%
    • GAAP diluted EPS of $0.10 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.84
    • Backlog of $221.4 million as of December 31, 2024

    Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $50.1 million, compared to $46.4 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $41.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Analytics revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $47.9 million, compared to $44.8 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $39.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Integrated Yield Ramp revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $2.2 million, compared to $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total revenues for the full year 2024 and 2023 were $179.5 million and $165.8 million, respectively.

    GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 68%, compared to 73% for the third quarter of 2024 and 68% for the fourth quarter of 2023. GAAP gross margin for the full year 2024 and 2023 was 70% and 69%, respectively.

    Non-GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 72%, compared to 77% for the third quarter of 2024 and 72% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP gross margin for the full year 2024 and 2023 was 74% and 73%, respectively.

    On a GAAP basis, net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $0.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, and net income of $0.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. On a GAAP basis, net income for the full year 2024 was $4.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the full year 2023.

    Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $9.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $9.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, and non-GAAP net income of $5.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income for the full year 2024 was $32.6 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $28.5 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the full year 2023.

    Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2024, were $114.9 million.

    Financial Outlook

    “We are pleased with the progress we are making with our customers. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we completed an ongoing manufacturing evaluation of an eProbe machine earlier than the customer’s schedule, resulting in the sale to this new leading edge customer, booked multiple Exensio deals, and saw growth in our Cimetrix connectivity business from runtime licenses. In 2025, we expect our full year revenues to grow at a rate approaching 15% year over year,” said John Kibarian, CEO and President.

    Conference Call

    As previously announced, PDF Solutions will discuss these results on a live conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today. To participate on the live call, analysts and investors should pre-register at: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI1b05df01d9534a648d4fd2cd753be31c. Registrants will receive dial-in information and a unique passcode to access the call. We encourage participants to dial into the call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled time. The teleconference will also be webcast simultaneously on the Company’s website at https://ir.pdf.com/webcasts. A replay of the conference call webcast will be available after the call on the Company’s investor relations website. A copy of this press release, including the disclosure and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures, which non-GAAP measures may be used periodically by PDF Solutions’ management when discussing financial results with investors and analysts, will also be available on PDF Solutions’ website at http://www.pdf.com/press-releases following the date of this release.

    Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Commentary Available Online

    A Management Report reviewing the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K and published on the Company’s website at http://ir.pdf.com/financial-reports. Analysts and investors are encouraged to review this commentary prior to participating in the conference call.

    Information Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    In addition to providing results that are determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), PDF Solutions also provides certain non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP gross profit and margin exclude stock-based compensation expense and the amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues. Non-GAAP net income excludes stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues, amortization of other acquired intangible assets, and the effects of certain non-recurring items, such as expenses for certain legal proceedings, non-recurring legal, tax and accounting service-related costs, loss on damaged equipment in-transit, net of recovery from previously written-off property and equipment, and their related income tax effects, as applicable, as well as adjustments for the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and reconciling items. These non-GAAP financial measures are used by management internally to measure the Company’s profitability and performance. PDF Solutions’ management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the Company’s ongoing operations in light of the fact that none of these categories of expense and income has a current effect on the future uses of cash (with the exception of expenses related to certain legal proceedings and non-recurring legal, tax and accounting services) nor do they impact the generation of current or future revenues. These non-GAAP results should not be considered an alternative to, or a substitute for, GAAP financial information, and may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In particular, these non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures of income or loss as a measure of performance, or to cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as a measure of liquidity. Since management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to measure profitability and performance, PDF Solutions has included these non-GAAP measures to give investors an opportunity to see the Company’s financial results as viewed by management. A reconciliation of the comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented below.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release and the planned conference call include forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s future expected business performance and financial results, including expectations about total revenue growth for 2025 and other statements identified by words such as “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms, that are subject to future events and circumstances. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements contained in this press release and the planned conference call are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially include risks associated with: the effectiveness of the Company’s business and technology strategies; current semiconductor industry trends and competition; rates of adoption of the Company’s solutions by new and existing customers; project milestones or delays and performance criteria achieved; cost and schedule of new product development and investments in research and development; the continuing impact of macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, changing interest rates and tariffs, the evolving trade regulatory environment and geopolitical tensions, and other trends on the semiconductor industry, the Company’s customers, operations, and supply and demand for its products; supply chain disruptions; the success of the Company’s strategic growth opportunities and partnerships; recent and future acquisitions, strategic alliances and relationships and the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and technologies; whether the Company can successfully convert backlog into revenue; customers’ production volumes under contracts that provide Gainshare; the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources and anticipated funds from operations; the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing if needed and its ability to use support and updates for certain open-source software; and other risks set forth in PDF Solutions’ periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports. The forward-looking statements made in this press release and the conference call are made as of the date hereof, and PDF Solutions does not assume any obligation to update such statements nor the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in such statements. The Company has not filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. As a result, all financial results described in this earnings release should be considered preliminary, and are subject to change to reflect any necessary adjustments or changes in accounting estimates, that are identified prior to the time the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    About PDF Solutions

    PDF Solutions (Nasdaq: PDFS) provides comprehensive data solutions designed to empower organizations across the semiconductor and electronics industry ecosystem to improve manufacturing yield, product quality and operational efficiency leading to increased profitability. The Company’s products and services are used by Fortune 500 companies across the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem to achieve smart manufacturing goals by connecting and controlling manufacturing equipment, collecting data generated during manufacturing and test operations, and using advanced analytics and machine learning models to enable profitable, high-volume manufacturing.

    Founded in 1991, PDF Solutions is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company (directly or through one or more subsidiaries) is an active member of SEMI, INEMI, TPCA, IPC, the OPC Foundation, and DMDII. For the latest news and information about PDF Solutions or to find office locations, visit https://www.pdf.com.

    PDF Solutions and the PDF Solutions logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PDF Solutions, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

    Company Contacts:    
    Adnan Raza   Sonia Segovia
    Chief Financial Officer   Investor Relations
    Tel: (408) 516-0237   Tel: (408) 938-6491
    Email: adnan.raza@pdf.com   Email: sonia.segovia@pdf.com
         

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands)

                 
           December 31, 
        2024   2023
                 
    ASSETS            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 90,594     $ 98,978  
    Short-term investments     24,291       36,544  
    Accounts receivable, net     73,649       44,904  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     17,445       17,422  
    Total current assets     205,979       197,848  
    Property and equipment, net     48,465       37,338  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net     4,029       4,926  
    Goodwill     14,953       15,029  
    Intangible assets, net     12,307       15,620  
    Deferred tax assets, net     43       157  
    Other non-current assets     29,513       19,218  
    Total assets   $ 315,289     $ 290,136  
                 
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
    Current liabilities:            
    Accounts payable   $ 8,255     $ 2,561  
    Accrued compensation and related benefits     16,855       14,800  
    Accrued and other current liabilities     8,752       4,633  
    Operating lease liabilities ‒ current portion     1,675       1,529  
    Deferred revenues ‒ current portion     24,930       25,750  
    Billings in excess of recognized revenues     75       1,570  
    Total current liabilities     60,542       50,843  
    Long-term income taxes     2,915       2,972  
    Non-current operating lease liabilities     3,504       4,657  
    Other non-current liabilities     2,291       2,718  
    Total liabilities     69,252       61,190  
                 
    Stockholders’ equity:            
    Common stock and additional paid-in capital     502,908       473,301  
    Treasury stock, at cost     (159,352 )     (143,923 )
    Accumulated deficit     (93,988 )     (98,045 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (3,531 )     (2,387 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     246,037       228,946  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 315,289     $ 290,136  
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                   
      Three months ended   Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024     2024     2023        2024     2023  
                                 
    Revenues:                              
    Analytics   $ 47,926     $ 44,750     $ 39,128     $ 169,253     $ 152,085  
    Integrated yield ramp     2,159       1,659       1,997       10,212       13,750  
    Total revenues     50,085       46,409       41,125       179,465       165,835  
                                   
    Costs and Expenses:                              
    Costs of revenues     15,901       12,484       13,194       54,144       51,749  
    Research and development     14,417       13,516       12,308       53,566       50,736  
    Selling, general, and administrative     19,073       18,094       16,194       69,924       62,216  
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets     182       196       306       896       1,285  
    Interest and other expense (income), net     (962 )     (1,511 )     (1,020 )     (5,644 )     (5,020 )
    Income before income tax benefit (expense)     1,474       3,630       143       6,579       4,869  
    Income tax benefit (expense)     (935 )     (1,424 )     744       (2,522 )     (1,764 )
    Net income   $ 539     $ 2,206     $ 887     $ 4,057     $ 3,105  
                                   
    Net income per share:                              
    Basic   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08  
    Diluted   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  
                                   
    Weighted average common shares used to calculate net income per share:                              
    Basic     38,783       38,710       38,269       38,602       38,015  
    Diluted     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP GROSS MARGIN TO NON-GAAP GROSS MARGIN (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands)

                                             
      Three months ended     Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
                                           
    GAAP                                        
    Total revenues   $ 50,085     $ 46,409     $ 41,125     $ 179,465     $ 165,835  
    Costs of revenues     15,901       12,484       13,194       54,144       51,749  
    GAAP gross profit   $ 34,184     $ 33,925     $ 27,931     $ 125,321     $ 114,086  
    GAAP gross margin     68 %     73 %     68 %     70 %     69 %
                                             
    Non-GAAP                                        
    GAAP gross profit   $ 34,184     $ 33,925     $ 27,931     $ 125,321     $ 114,086  
    Adjustments to reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP gross margin:                                        
    Stock-based compensation expense     1,336       1,366       1,147       5,087       4,169  
    Amortization of acquired technology     583       584       586       2,335       2,266  
    Non-GAAP gross profit   $ 36,103     $ 35,875     $ 29,664     $ 132,743     $ 120,521  
    Non-GAAP gross margin     72 %     77 %     72 %     74 %     73 %
     

    PDF SOLUTIONS, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                     
      Three months ended   Year ended
        December 31,    September 30,    December 31,    December 31,    December 31, 
        2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
                                   
    GAAP net income   $ 539     $ 2,206     $ 887     $ 4,057     $ 3,105  
    Adjustments to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:                                
    Stock-based compensation expense     6,507       6,730       5,923       25,047       21,484  
    Amortization of acquired technology under costs of revenues     583       584       586       2,335       2,266  
    Amortization of other acquired intangible assets     182       196       306       896       1,285  
    Expenses for certain legal proceedings (1)     69       —       75       69       2,600  
    Non-recurring legal, tax and accounting service-related costs     940       —       —       940       209  
    Loss on damaged equipment in-transit, net of (recovery) from previously written-off property and equipment     663       (55 )     —       608       (105 )
    Tax impact of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and reconciling items (2)     375       262       (2,060 )     (1,335 )     (2,374 )
    Non-GAAP net income   $ 9,858     $ 9,923     $ 5,717     $ 32,617     $ 28,470  
                                     
    GAAP net income per diluted share   $ 0.01     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.08  
    Non-GAAP net income per diluted share   $ 0.25     $ 0.25     $ 0.15     $ 0.84     $ 0.73  
                                     
    Weighted average common shares used in GAAP net income per diluted share calculation     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  
    Weighted average common shares used in non-GAAP net income per diluted share calculation     39,104       39,105       38,814       39,047       38,937  

    (1) Represents legal costs and expenses related to certain litigation and an arbitration proceeding which are expected to continue until these matters are resolved.
    (2) The difference between the GAAP and non-GAAP income tax provisions is primarily due to the valuation allowance on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP adjustments. For example, on a GAAP basis, the Company does not receive a deferred tax benefit for foreign tax credits or research and development credits after the valuation allowance. The Company’s non-GAAP tax rate and resulting non-GAAP tax expense is not calculated with a full U.S. federal or state valuation allowance due to the Company’s cumulative non-GAAP income and management’s conclusion that it is more likely than not to utilize its net deferred tax assets (DTAs). Each reporting period, management evaluates the need for a valuation allowance and may place a valuation allowance against its U.S. net DTAs on a non-GAAP basis if it concludes it is more likely than not that it will not be able to utilize some or all of its U.S. DTAs on a non-GAAP basis.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Scaling up or losing steam? Parliamentarians debate the future of the SDGs

    Source: United Nations 2

    SDGs

    As the clock ticks toward 2030, parliamentarians gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday to assess the state of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and the verdict was anything but unanimous. 

    Amid deepening global debt, taxation disputes and a widening gap between ambition and action, tensions flared over how (and whether) the SDGs can still be salvaged.

    The meeting, themed Scaling up Action for the Sustainable Development Goals: Finance, Institutions and Politics, underscored the urgency of rebooting the 2030 Agenda.

    “We are far behind from where we need to be on almost every single one of the SDGs,” said President of the General Assembly Philémon Yang.

    With only 17 percent of SDG targets reportedly on track, the discussions revealed sharp divides over priorities and outlook.

    Some called for renewed commitment; others questioned whether the goals should be replaced entirely.

    Debt and development

    Debt emerged as a key sticking point, with countries like Malta and Morocco pointing to the “great difficulty” of accessing financial mechanisms designed to support SDG implementation. 

    The Benin delegate went further, arguing that global wealth remains unevenly distributed, requiring structural concessions for heavily indebted nations.

    But there was little consensus on solutions.

    Cyprus defended its tailored tax system, arguing that small service-based economies cannot afford high taxes without stunting growth essential to development.

    Meanwhile, Chile warned of the increasing use of tariffs as leverage in global decision-making, raising concerns about economic coercion in an already unequal system.

    US economist Jeffrey Sachs, a leading voice on global development, called for action based on “fundamental fairness”, emphasising that many developing nations bear no historical responsibility for climate change yet struggle to access funding for basic needs.

    “The money is there, believe me, it’s there” he said, “but it’s not flowing to the low income and lower middle-income countries right now.”

    Political will: Commitment or fatigue?

    Despite the financial hurdles, UN officials insisted that a lack of political will remains a fundamental barrier.

    Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy challenged the perception of weak national ownership of the SDGs, noting that while commitment exists, it has not translated into sufficient results.

    “17 percent doesn’t look like a pass rate,” he admitted. Nevertheless, “What would the figures have been like if there never had been the SDGs?  What would the world look like?”, he put to the room.

    Still, frustrations ran high. Some delegates questioned the effectiveness of existing frameworks.

    A delegate from Sweden called for replacing the SDGs with new, more relevant goals, arguing that the 17 goals agreed amid fanfare in 2015 had run their course.

    Morocco pushed back, warning that abandoning existing commitments before they are achieved would be futile. “We must achieve what we adopted in 2015,” the delegate stated.

    Nigeria offered a middle ground, suggesting a redesigned approach to align national interests with global multilateralism.

    Meanwhile, a parliamentarian from Qatar reflected on lessons from the SDGs’ predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), noting that while many targets were unmet, they laid the groundwork for future progress.

    Where next for the SDGs?

    As the meeting wrapped up, it was clear that while the SDGs remain the most ambitious global development framework, the road ahead is fraught with challenges.

    National priorities continue to clash with multilateral ambitions and financial constraints risk derailing progress even further.

    But if there was one point of agreement, it was that inaction is not an option.

    As President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Ackson reminded delegates, “We must be willing to think less in terms of our own political interest and more in terms of the common good.”

    Citing Nelson Mandela, she added: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: OJI needs to work with government and unions before closure

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill.

    “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with all partners to make sure that we get the best outcome on the site,” said Wagstaff.

    “At the meeting this morning, OJI officials disclosed that they were in negotiation with the Government about support for the Kinleith site. This support would be an investment in the pulp production side. It is essential that this investment comes with guarantees from OJI that as much employment is maintained on site as possible.

     “Given the offer from the Minister, and the potential impact on the supply chain if alternative suppliers of paper are not found, OJI should reconsider their decision today to terminate employees.

    “OJI must get round the table with all parties and find a solution that keeps as much employment on the site as possible. OJI Kinleith products are a vital part of the supply chain for our dairy and fruit exports.

     “There is an opportunity here for a better outcome at Kinleith. One that would deliver more jobs, and brighter economic development for the region. We need to make that happen for the benefit of workers, the community and the regional manufacturing sector,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government delivers faster broadband to the regions with completion of $480 million NBN upgrades

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Households and businesses in regional, remote and outer-urban areas are benefiting from faster broadband and increased data with the completion of the Albanese Government’s $480 million upgrades to NBN Co’s Fixed Wireless and Satellite services.
     
    Around 800,000 premises can now access broadband speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. These increased speeds allow for smoother streaming, faster downloads and uploads, and stronger connections – even with multiple devices online at the same time.
     
    The fixed wireless upgrades have already delivered increased average end-user download speeds for households from around 48Mbps in 2022 to over 100 Mbps today. 
     
    Using the latest 4G and 5G wireless technology has also enabled an additional 120,000 premises to access fixed wireless for the first time.
     
    NBN Co has launched two faster speed tiers: around 90% of premises in the fixed wireless footprint can now access speeds of up to 200-250 Mbps download. Around 80% of premises can access speeds of up to 400 Mbps.
     
    These upgraded services are helping to meet Australia’s growing demand for data.
     
    The average Australian household is using more than 450GB of data per month with around 22 connected devices. This is forecast to increase to 1 Terabyte and more than 40 devices by the end of the decade.
     
    In addition to fixed wireless upgrades, the program has also improved NBN’s Sky Muster satellite service, which provides much-needed connectivity options for more than 200,000 households and businesses in regional and remote Australia.
     
    Thanks to the Albanese Government, customers now have unlimited data through NBN Co’s Sky Muster Plus Premium, providing download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
     
    The $480 million upgrade complements the Albanese Government’s nation-building investment to deliver a world-class NBN fibre network, backed by an additional $3 billion equity investment.
     
    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
     
    “Fast, reliable, affordable internet is an essential building block of any modern economy, boosting productivity, enabling innovation and creating jobs.
     
    “Families and businesses in our regions and suburbs should have equal access to the opportunities the NBN delivers. Labor founded the NBN on this principle. 
     
    “Faster, more reliable internet allows smoother streaming, faster downloads and uploads, and stronger connections – even with multiple devices online at the same time.
     
    “It enables access to essential government services, banking and telehealth, and learning and working online.
     
    “The completion of these upgrades demonstrates what can be done with a publicly-owned NBN Co.
     
    “In contrast, Peter Dutton wants to privatise the NBN, reducing services and making high speed internet more expensive for all Australians.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Monmouth County Man Charged With Aiming Beam Of A Laser At Federal Law Enforcement Aircraft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was charged with aiming the beam of a laser at an aircraft, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    James M. Pedone, 27, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with knowingly aiming the beam of a laser at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.  Pedone had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on February 13, 2025.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    On or about December 12, 2024, Pedone pointed the beam of a laser on three separate occasions, striking an aircraft operated by federal law enforcement personnel in or near the vicinity of Colts Neck, New Jersey, erroneously believing the aircraft to be a drone.

    Knowingly aiming the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special jurisdiction of the United States carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers of the FBI Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, as well as the Colts Neck Police Department, under the direction of Chief Daniel DeVito, with the investigation leading to the charge.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Michael Thomas, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Citizen Admits Conspiring To Distribute Heroin And Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, NJ. – A citizen of Mexico previously extradited to the United States today admitted to conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Norma Flores-Fernandez, a/k/a “Norma Camarillo,” 56, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a Superseding Information charging conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Flores-Fernandez was part of a Guadalajara, Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram quantities of narcotics, including heroin and cocaine, throughout the United States from in or around March 2018 through in or around December 2019.  Flores-Fernandez acknowledged holding a leadership role in this conspiracy.

    The charge to which Flores-Fernandez pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.  Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sheila G. Lyons in Chicago, Illinois and Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; and special agents of the Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Lafonda Sutton-Burke in Chicago, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.  He also thanked special agents and task force officers with the DEA operating in Lima, Peru and Guadalajara, Mexico; Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago; and officials in Mexico for their assistance.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest of Flores-Fernandez and her extradition to the United States.

    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.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

                                                   ###                                                     

    Defense counsel: Michael Rubas, Esq., Jersey City, NJ

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Press Conference Following NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting in Brussels, Belgium

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    UNKNOWN:  Good afternoon, everyone. We’re going to start with the US press. We’re going to take two from the US, we’ll take two from international, and then we’ll go from there depending on the secretary. So, let us start with —

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Now, hold on, John.

    UNKNOWN:  Sir?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  I’m going to talk first.

    UNKNOWN:  Roger that.

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  It is great to be here at NATO with 31 allies, also with my wife Jenny, who’s been meeting with families of US troops both here, in Germany, and we’re heading to Poland right after this as well. That’s what this is all about for me, for President Trump and the Defense Department.

    I also want to express a special thanks to the secretary general, Secretary General Rutte, for your boldness, for your friendship, for your leadership and most especially for your urgency — your urgency of the matter at hand, which is great to see from the leader of NATO. Look forward to working very closely with him and his team.

    And before we’re talking about what we’ve done at the ministerial, I want to reaffirm a few things from this podium. First, as we see it, NATO’s strategic objectives are to prevent great power conflict in Europe, deter nuclear and non-nuclear aggression, and defeat threats to treaty allies should deterrence fail.

    Second, the US is committed to building a stronger more lethal NATO. However, we must ensure that European and Canadian commitment to article three of this treaty is just as strong. Article three says that allies, and I quote, “By means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.”

    Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent, which means security ownership by all allies guided by a clear understanding of strategic realities and it’s an imperative given the strategic realities that we face. And that begins with increasing defense spending. 2 percent is a start, as President Trump has Trump has said, but it’s not enough, nor is 3 percent, nor is 4 percent. More like 5 percent. Real investment. Real urgency.

    We can talk all we want about values. Values are important. But you can’t shoot values. You can’t shoot flags and you can’t shoot strong speeches. There is no replacement for hard power. As much as we may not want to like the world we live in, in some cases, there’s nothing like hard power. It should be obvious that increasing allied European defense spending is critical as the President of the United States has said.

    Also critical is expanding our defense industrial base capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. Our dollars, our euros, our pounds must become real capabilities.  The US is fully committed under President Trump’s leadership to pursue these objectives in face — in the face of today’s threats.

    Yesterday, I had a chance to attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Today, participated in both the NATO ministerial and the Ukraine Council. In both, we discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. I had the chance to brief allies on President Trump’s top priority; a diplomatic peaceful end to this war as quickly as possible in a manner that creates enduring and durable peace.

    The American Defense Department fully supports the efforts of the Trump administration and we look to allies to support this important work with leading on Ukraine security assistance now through increased contributions and greater ownership of future security assistance to Ukraine. To that end, I want to thank my UK counterpart, Defense Secretary John Healey, for hosting this Ukraine Defense Contact Group and for his leadership on support of Ukraine.

    President Trump gave me a clear mission, achieve peace through strength as well as put America first, our people, our taxpayers, our borders, and our security. We are doing this by reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military and reestablishing deterrence. NATO should pursue these goals as well. NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history.

    But to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe’s defense. We must make NATO great again. It begins with defense spending, but must also include reviving the transatlantic defense industrial base, rapidly fielding emerging technologies, prioritizing readiness and lethality, and establishing real deterrence.

    Finally, I want to close with this. After World War II first General and then President Eisenhower was one of NATO’s strongest supporters. He believed in a strong relationship with Europe. However, by the end of Eisenhower’s presidency, even he was concerned that Europe was not shouldering enough of its own defense, nearly making, in Eisenhower’s words, “A sucker out of Uncle Sam.” Well, like President Eisenhower, this administration believes in alliances. Deeply believes in alliances. But make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker. Thank you, and we’re glad to take some questions.

    UNKNOWN:  Thanks very much. Let’s start with the US traveling TV pool with Liz Frieden.

    Q:  Thank you, Secretary Hegseth. You have focused on what Ukraine is giving up. What concessions will Putin be asked to make?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Well, that’s — I would start by saying the arguments that have been made that somehow coming to the table right now is making concessions to Vladimir Putin outright, that we otherwise — or that the President of the United States shouldn’t otherwise make, I just reject that at its face.

    There’s a reason why negotiations are happening right now, just a few weeks after President Trump was sworn in as President United States. Vladimir Putin responds to strength. In 2014 he invaded Crimea, not during the presidency of Donald Trump. Over four years, there was no Russian aggression from 2016 to 2020. In 2022, Vladimir Putin took aggression on Ukraine. Once again, not while President Trump was President of the United States.

    So any suggestion that President Trump is doing anything other than negotiating from a position of strength is on its face a historical and false. So when you look at what he may have to give or take, what’s in or what’s out in those negotiations, we have the perfect dealmaker at the table from a position of strength to deal with both Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy.

    No one’s going to get everything that they want, understanding who committed the aggression in the first place. But I challenge anyone else to think of a world leader at this moment who, with credibility and strength, could bring those two leaders to the table and forge a durable peace that ultimately serves the interests of Ukraine, stops the killing and the death, which president has been — Trump has been clear he wants to do and hopefully ultimately is guaranteed — or guaranteed by strength of Europeans who are there prepared to back it up.

    Q:  To follow up on that — follow up. Thank you, sir. Why not invoke article five then for the NATO peacekeeping forces that could potentially be deployed? Like, how does that deter President Putin?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Well, I would say I want to be clear about something as it pertains to NATO membership not being realistic outcome for negotiations. That’s something that was stated as part of my remarks here as part of a coordination with how we’re executing these ongoing negotiations, which are led by President Trump.

    All of that said, these negotiations are led by President Trump. Everything is on the table in his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world of President Trump. So I’m not going to stand at this podium and declare what President Trump will do or won’t do, what will be in or what will be out, what concessions will be made or what concessions are not made.

    I can look as our team has of what’s realistic, likely on an outcome. I think realism is an important part of the conversation that hasn’t existed enough inside conversations amongst friends. But simply pointing out realism, like the borders won’t be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014, is not a concession to Vladimir Putin. It’s a recognition of hard power realities on the ground after a lot of investment and sacrifice first by the Ukrainians and then by allies and then a realization that a negotiated peace is going to be some sort of demarcation that neither side wants. But it’s not my job as the Secretary of Defense to define the parameters of the President of the United States as he leads some of the most complex and consequential negotiations in the world.

    UNKNOWN:  Sticking with the US press, let us go with Axios’ Zach Basu right in the far right.

    Q:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Given the position you’ve now staked out, what leverage exactly is Ukraine being left with, especially if the US also plans to wind down its military aid? And then quickly, if a NATO ally is attacked by Russia or any country, will the US unequivocally uphold its obligations under article five regardless of that country’s —

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  — We’ve said we’re committed to the alliance and that’s part of the alliance, right? You pointed out article five. You point out article three — it’s just a cheap — I’m not saying it’s cheap coming from you — but it’s just a cheap political point to say, oh, we’ve left all the negotiating cards off the table by recognizing some realities that exist on the ground. President Zelenskyy understands the realities on the ground. President Putin understands the realities on the ground. And President Trump, as a dealmaker, as a negotiator, understands those dynamics as well.

    By no means is anything that I state here, even though we lead the most powerful military in the world, hemming in the commander in chief, in his negotiations, to ultimately decide where it goes or does not go. Well, he’s got all the cards he would like.

    And the interesting part is oftentimes while the conventional status quo mindset or the legacy media wants to play checkers, the same checkers game we’ve been playing for decades, President Trump time and time again finds a way to play chess — as a dealmaker, as a businessman who understands how to create realities and opportunities where they otherwise may not exist.

    Take for example, the conversations that our treasury secretary had in Kyiv recently with President Zelenskyy, which will continue in Munich with our vice president and secretary of state, around investments and resources inside Ukraine. I don’t want to get ahead of any decision or announcement that could be made there, it could be any number of parameters.

    But President Trump as a dealmaker and a businessman recognizes that an investment relationship with Ukraine, ultimately in the long term for the United States, is a lot more tangible than any promises or shared values we might have, even though we have them. There is something to relationships and deals in real ways, whether militarily or economically or diplomatically, that he sees that are possibilities that could forge together a lot of opportunities to show that solidarity that Vladimir Putin will clearly recognize.

    That’s one of any number of other opportunities that this president will leverage in these high-stake negotiations. So, I just reject on its face the premise that somehow President Trump isn’t dealing with a full set of cards when he’s the one that can determine ultimately what cards he holds.

    UNKNOWN:  Great. Now shifting to the international press, we’ll take the French wire service Agence France Presse with Max Delaney.

    Q:  Thank you very much, Secretary of Defense. Can you — you’ve spoken about trying to force both Putin and Zelenskyy to the table. Can you give a guarantee that no deal will be forced on Ukraine that they do not want to accept? And also, that you will include Europe in the negotiations about their own — about an issue that concerns European security? And can you tell us whether the US will continue to supply arms to Ukraine during any negotiations?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Well, to the first part of your question, that’s not ultimately my decision. The president will lead these negotiations alongside our secretary of state, our national security advisor, and numerous other officials that will be involved. And ultimately, we’ve played our role in talking to our NATO allies about what that would look like.

    President Trump, I want to point out, I’ve got the truth’s right here that he posted, called both, in case we missed it, Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy, called them both. Any negotiation that’s had will be had with both.

    I also am very encouraged by what the secretary general has said here. Clearly attuned to the realities of the moment, the need for peace, and that the NATO alliance and European members will play a role in that.

    Ultimately, President Trump speaking to those two countries is central to the deal being made. But it affects a lot of people, of course. So, I’m not going to be involved in those intimate diplomatic negotiations. That’s for the pros atop the Trump administration who do diplomacy and negotiations. Ultimately as security assistance, we have continued to provide what has been allocated.

    I think it would be fair to say that things like future funding, either less or more, could be on the table in negotiations as well. Whatever the president determines is the most robust carrot or stick on either side to induce a durable peace, understanding, obviously, the motivations that Vladimir Putin has had on Ukraine for quite some time. Thank you.

    UNKNOWN:  We’ll have a second international press outlet. We’ll go with the German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung with Dr. Thomas Gutschker.

    Q:  Thanks a lot. Thomas Gutschker of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Good afternoon. Mr. Secretary, two questions, please. The first one regarding the new Defense Investment Pledge.

    When you and President Trump speak about raising it to 5 percent, do you mean European allies only, or do you mean the US as well, which is currently at 3.4 percent according to NATO statistics? And if the latter is true, when do you think the US could possibly reach the goal of spending 5 percent on defense? That’s number one.

    Number two, you said yesterday that Europeans need to take ownership of their own conventional security. So, should Europeans expect that ultimately the US would withdraw the bulk of their forces from Europe and just leave in place what is necessary for nuclear deterrence? I know there’s a revision going on. I don’t expect you to name any numbers but maybe give us an outlook of what we should expect. Thank you.

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Thank you. I think nobody can or should contest the extent of America’s willingness to invest in national security. We have a budget of $850 billion spent on defense. I’m in the business of ensuring that every dollar of that is used wisely, which is why we’re pushing a Pentagon audit and making sure that we’re cutting fat so that we’ve got more at the tip of the spear.

    3.4 percent is a very robust investment, larger than most of our allies within NATO. Any defense minister or secretary of defense that tells you they wouldn’t want more would be lying to you, I understand that. Ultimately, we have our own budgetary considerations to be had, but I don’t think an unwillingness of NATO allies to invest in their own defense spending can be dismissed away by trying to point at the $900 billion that America has invested around the globe to include the NATO alliance and saying that’s not enough.

    So, ultimately, we are very much committed to the NATO alliance and to our allies. But without burden sharing, without creating the right set of incentives for European countries to invest, then we would be forced to attempt to be everywhere for everybody all the time, which in a world of fiscal restraints is, again, to get back to that word reality, just not reality.

    So, yes, we will continue to spend robustly. Our expectation of our friends, and we say this in solidarity, is you have to spend more on your defense, for your country, on that continent, understanding that the American military and the American people stand beside you as we have in NATO, but can’t have the expectation of expectation of being the permanent guarantor, as I alluded to, from what even Eisenhower observed post-World War II.

    That shift has to happen. The peace dividend has to end. There are autocrats with ambitions around the globe from Russia to the communist Chinese. Either the West awakens to that reality and creates combat multipliers with their allies and partners to include NATO, or we will abdicate that responsibility to somebody else with all the wrong values.

    You mentioned Europe, we have not said in any way that we’re abandoning our allies in Europe. There have been no decisions based on troop levels. Again, that’s a discussion to be had by the commander in chief in these high-stake negotiations. And that would most likely come later on. But there is a recognition that the ambitions of the communist Chinese are a threat to free people everywhere, to include America’s interests in the Pacific.

    And it makes a lot of sense, just in a commonsense way, to use our comparative advantages. European countries spending here in defense of this continent, in defense of allies here against an aggressor on this continent with ambitions. That strikes me as the right place to — and I don’t say that in a condescending way. I say that in a common sense, practical way.

    Investing in defense on the continent makes sense. We support that as well. It also makes sense comparatively and geographically for the United States, along with allies in the Pacific like Japan and South Korea and the Philippines and Australia and others, to also invest in allies and partners and capabilities in the Pacific to project power there in service of deterrence. That deterrent effect in the Pacific is one that really can only be led by the United States.

    We wish we could lead everywhere at all times. We will stand in solidarity with allies and partners and encourage everyone to invest in order to have forced multiplication of what we represent, but it requires realistic conversations. Those with disingenuous motives in the media, I don’t mean to look at you, just saying anyone, that suggests it’s abandonment are trying to drive a wedge between allies that does not exist.

    We are committed to that NATO alliance. We understand the importance of that partnership, but it can’t endure on the status quo forever in light of the threats we face and fiscal realities. Europe has to spend more. NATO has to spend more. Has to invest more. And we’re very encouraged by what the secretary general has said and frankly, by — behind closed doors, what a lot of our allies have said as well acknowledging that reality.

    And that’s why when I say make NATO great again, it’s what President Trump set out to do in 2017. The press said President Trump is abandoning NATO. He’s turning his back on our NATO allies. That’s what is — that’s what the headlines read in 2017 and 2018. What actually happened? That tough conversation created even more investment to the point where now almost every NATO country is meeting the 2 percent goal that was said to be egregious when he first said it. Now European countries are stepping up and President Trump continues to ring the alarm bell that even more investment is required considering where we are.

    So suggestions of abandonment otherwise continue to be disingenuous and we are — we are proud to be part of this alliance and stand by it.

    UNKNOWN:  Sir —

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  — I’ll take a couple more.

    UNKNOWN:  Sure. Why don’t we take one from a US outlet and one from an international outlet. With the US outlet — pardon me, sir, what we’re going to take from the US is Logan Rateck from Newsmax, please.

    Q:  Mr. Secretary, you talked about what — you talked about expanding the defense industrial base and also expediting foreign military sales. Can you expand on that a little bit and how important that is to NATO?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Well, one of the self-evident conclusions of the — of the war in Ukraine was the underinvestment that both the European continent and America has had, unfortunately, in the defense industrial base, the ability to produce munitions, emerging technologies rapidly and field them was a blind spot exposed through the aggression against Ukraine.

    Ukraine has responded to that, as we’ve had a chance to listen to a great deal. Europe is responding to that, and so is America. We have to do more to ensure — whether you call it the arsenal for democracy or defending the free world, if America can’t build and export and build and provide rapid capabilities because we’re too stale or static or bureaucratic or the Pentagon is bloated, then we’re not able to field the systems we need in the future.

    So deep and dramatic reforms are coming at the Defense Department with the leadership of President Trump to ensure that we’re investing robustly in our defense industrial base. A great example is shipbuilding. We need to vastly increase our ability to build ships and submarines, not just for ourselves, but to honor our obligations to our allies as well.

    And we will do that. Foreign military sales is another thing I mentioned this morning with the secretary general. We have for a long time been the country by with and through that our allies are able to supply major platforms and weapon systems like the F-35 and the Patriots and others. Whatever the system is, we need to reform that process so it’s quicker, so a request today isn’t delivered seven years from now, but three years from now with less red tape and with the most efficient and effective technology possible.

    We hear that from our allies, and that’s part of being a good faith partner is we’re going to invest in our defense industrial base. We’re going to make sure foreign military sales are as rapid as possible, which again is a force multiplier for American power, which is something we want to do in a contested world.

    UNKNOWN:  For our final question, we’ll go to an international outlet. The Japanese service NHK with Tsuchiya Tsujita, please.

    Q:  Tsuchiya from NHK, the Japanese TV station, thank you very much. I would like to ask about China. As you mentioned that the US will be prioritizing and deterring China, what role will you be expecting Japan and IPv4 countries to play in this context?

    DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH:  Sure. I mean, first of all, I would point out that President Trump has expressed a strong relationship with Xi Jinping. We don’t have an inevitable desire to clash with China. There’s a recognition that there are divergent interests which lead to a need for strength on the American side to ensure our interests are advanced and that ultimately any aggression is deterred. That’s a real thing, but we don’t feel like conflict is inevitable and certainly don’t seek conflict with China. And that’s why President Trump has that good relationship with Xi Jinping.

    But it was prudent for us to work with allies and partners in the Pacific to ensure that that deterrence, hard power deterrence, not just reputational, but reality exists. And that’s why a lot of my first phone calls as Secretary of Defense were to Pacific allies, to Australia, to Japan, to South Korea, to the Philippines and others and will continue because that, just as this alliance in Europe is critical, working by with and through allies and partners in that region who understand the reality of the ascendant Chinese threat will be critical.

    It can’t be America alone. It won’t be America alone if we are to deter that. So it’s — it is a focus. I’ve articulated that from day one. America achieves strength, whether it’s in this — in the — in the — in peace through the Ukrainian conflict or deterring it in the Pacific through strength. There’s a reason why Donald Trump emphasizes peace through strength at every moment.

    My job, my job alone as the Secretary of Defense is to ensure he has the strongest, most capable, most lethal military possible. Heaven forbid we have to use it. It’s meant and built for deterrence. But if we have to, we can close with and destroy our enemies and bring our men and women home with success as quickly as possible. Thank you very much for being here.

    UNKNOWN:  Thank you, everyone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: South Coast Build to Rent homes construction to start

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 14 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    Landcom’s build to rent project on the South Coast will start construction in the coming months to deliver much needed housing supply and security for the region’s renters.

    The NSW Government developer Landcom has signed with Ulladulla based Zauner Construction Pty Ltd to deliver the construction of 60 new homes in Bomaderry.

    The 48 new homes will be provided at market rates for long term rental, with the remaining twelve set aside for affordable housing for households on low to moderate incomes.

    The building will demonstrate best practice sustainable design to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and provide a healthy environment for residents with fresh air and natural light.

    There will be a mix of apartment sizes to suit the needs, lifestyles and budgets of the local community.  Future residents will be close to Bomaderry railway station and have easy access to shops, open space and other amenities.

    Construction will take around 18 months with new residents expected to move in by late 2026.

    This week the NSW Government announced Landcom’s plans to transform the former WestConnex dive site at Camperdown into 500 new apartments including 200 Build to Rent apartments with discounted rents for essential workers like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters.

    Landcom is also leading the development of 50 new apartments in the NSW Northern Rivers as part of its Build to Rent Program in regional NSW.

    For more information about the project visit Landcom: Bomaderry | Landcom

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “Landcom was formed by the Wran Labor Government and under a Minns Labor Government we are seeing a new level of investment and is supporting the delivery of new homes.

    “From the regions to our city centres, the NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering more affordable, well-built and connected homes to those that need it.

    “The Minns Labor Government’s program is boosting housing supply in areas where we know people are struggling with the rising cost of rent.

    “This will provide a boost to jobs and the local economy in the Shoalhaven region.”

    Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

    “The injection of housing is welcome news and will be of great benefit to many families in the area. It is developments such as this that has been the missing link for Bomaderry and the South Coast.

    “Long term, secure rental housing is important now, more than ever. I am proud to be part of the Minns Labor Government that is taking action to address the housing crisis in NSW.”

    Duty MLC for Kiama Sarah Kaine MLC said:

    “This is a great development, backed by responsible investment of government money, to boost housing supply, and tackle the housing crisis head on.

    “It’s great to be part of a Government that is investing in affordable housing in our regional communitites and supporting local jobs.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington joins landmark multistate lawsuit to stop Elon Musk’s unconstitutional power grab

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown today joined 13 other attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk — the world’s richest man who is unelected, unconfirmed and upending the federal government.

    The lawsuit argues that President Trump has violated the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution by creating a new federal department without congressional approval, and by granting Musk sweeping powers over the entire federal government without the advice and consent of the Senate or accountability to the people of the United States. 

    “Elon Musk has amassed — or simply taken for himself — unaccountable power to walk into any federal agency, fire people, eliminate programs authorized by Congress, and access confidential personal and national security information without regard for the consequences,” Brown said. “Washingtonians will not stand by while their safety and freedoms are threatened by a lawless administration intent on shredding the Constitution line by line.”

    “Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration is unconstitutional,” said Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson. “If the President wants Musk or any other powerful billionaire to have a significant role in running our government, he can and should appoint them as the Constitution requires.”

    The lawsuit highlights how, with the president’s approval, Musk has unraveled federal agencies, accessed sensitive data, and caused widespread disruption for state and local governments, federal employees, and the American people. The complaint further asserts that Musk’s actions violate the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that executive appointments are subject to congressional oversight and Senate confirmation.

    Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies that provided over $20 billion in federal grants to Washington last year alone. Among other unlawful acts, he effectively shut down USAID, which provides grants that Washington State University and Washington farmers rely on to study and prevent deadly livestock diseases, protect Washington against disease outbreaks in other parts of the world, and strengthen food security. In the past days, he has threatened to close the Department of Education, which provided $2.5 billion to Washington last year for special education programs, school lunches, and academic assistance to students.

    “Musk’s seemingly limitless and unchecked power to strip the government of its workforce and eliminate entire departments with the stroke of a pen, or click of a mouse, is unprecedented,” the lawsuit states. “The sweeping authority now vested in a single unelected and unconfirmed individual is antithetical to the nation’s entire constitutional structure.”

    Defendants’ actions threaten the financial and operational stability of the states by disrupting billions of dollars in federal funding essential for law enforcement, healthcare, education, and other critical services. State agencies depend on federal funds and cooperative agreements, and the termination of these partnerships would result in severe budget shortfalls, staffing crises, and the potential loss of key programs. Similarly, the proposed elimination of the U.S. Department of Education would strip away federal civil rights oversight in schools, leaving states with uncertain legal authority to address discrimination cases involving students with disabilities and enforce Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and disability protections.

    Beyond financial and regulatory harms, the reckless expansion of DOGE’s authority endangers cybersecurity and erodes public trust. DOGE operatives have reportedly accessed federal financial databases containing sensitive state tax records and banking information without proper oversight, increasing the risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and foreign exploitation.

    The manipulation of federal IT infrastructure by unauthorized individuals threatens not only state financial security but also the integrity of critical national systems. As reports of unauthorized access to Treasury databases emerge, citizens have expressed growing fear that their private financial data is at risk, leading to a chilling effect on participation in state-administered federal programs. The plaintiff states are now forced to contend with both immediately.

    Washington and its partner states seek a court ruling declaring Musk’s actions unconstitutional and invalidating them, and issuing an injunction barring him from issuing further unlawful orders.

    The New Mexico Department of Justice leads this lawsuit with Arizona and Michigan as co-leads. Washington also joins New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Vermont.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the State of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

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    MIL OSI USA News –