NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Joins Colleagues in Calling for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Fired by Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (January 31, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and a group of 36 colleagues in a letter to President Trump, strongly condemning the President’s recent decision to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies, and demanding their immediate reinstatement. The IGs who were removed included those overseeing the Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In the letter, the senators assert that President Trump’s actions violated the law and threaten the independence of these non-partisan watchdogs. Senator Peters helped lead the Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in 2022 as part of the FY 2023 national defense bill, to require a President to provide a 30-day notice and substantive reasons for removal in writing to Congress before an Inspector General can be removed. 

    “Inspectors General are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs by working to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer dollars – oversight our federal agencies desperately need,” the senators wrote. “The federal government and the American people count on these officials to operate in a professional and non-partisan way to hold our government accountable—regardless of who is in power.  Without strong, qualified, and independent officials to lead these critical efforts, the Administration risks wasting taxpayer dollars, and allowing fraud and misconduct to go unchecked.” 

    “While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized,” wrote the senators. “With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal.  Because your actions violated the law, these IGs should be reinstated immediately, until such time as you have provided in writing ‘the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons’ for each of the affected Inspectors General and the 30-day notice period has expired.”   

    The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and John Fetterman (D-PA).

    The full text of the letter can be found here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Decries Confirmation of Unrestricted Fracking Booster Chris Wright to Lead Energy Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 3, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Chris Wright, most recently the CEO of fossil fuel company Liberty Energy, to head the Department of Energy.

    “Chris Wright is a bought-and-paid-for fossil fuel industry executive and hasn’t met a tract of land or aquifer of water he wouldn’t despoil through fracking,” said Senator Markey. “We need federal agencies helmed by responsible, qualified executives without blatant conflicts of interest, not individuals who force their employees to drink fracking fluid for fun. Chris Wright at Energy, alongside Zeldin at EPA and Burgum at Interior, will use his position to push expensive and polluting fossil fuels on the American people for the benefit of his Big Oil and Big Gas allies. Our federal agencies are already being forced by Trump and Elon Musk to illegally ignore laws passed by Congress, and Chris Wright will be nothing more than another henchman for the billionaire class at the expense of the health and pocketbooks of working families.”

    On January 16, Senators Markey and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced the Banning In Government Oil Industry Lobbyists (BIG OIL) from the Cabinet Act, which would prohibit the appointment of executive officers and lobbyists of fossil fuel entities or trade associations as the heads or political appointees of certain government departments that work on issues related to American energy policy for a ten-year period.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Grieving and crying’ as people on either side of Gaza conflict come together

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    Two people who have fought on opposing sides of the decades-old conflict between Palestinians and Israel have come to together through “grieving and crying” to discuss how Israeli Jews and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.

    Given the brutality of the recent conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, it has become increasingly difficult to imagine a durable peace. Yet, that remains the aim of a remarkable grassroots organization called Combatants for Peace.

    The organization, which has been nominated for two Nobel Peace Prizes, is made up of Israelis and Palestinians who once embraced violence but have since turned to peace and dialogue as the only solution to healing the wounds of both communities.

    Several of the members of Combatants for Peace were invited to UN Headquarters at the end of January by the UN Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, including Mai Shahin and Elik Elhanan.

    Ms. Shahin, a Palestinian peace activist and therapist with over 12 years of experience on conflict resolution, fought against Israel in the Second Intifada, a major uprising of Palestinians in the occupied territories which begin in the year 2000.

    Elik Elhanan is a teacher at City College of New York. In the late 1990s, he served in an Israeli Special Forces unit. In 1997, his 14-year-old sister was killed in Jerusalem by a suicide bomber.

    During their visit, they shared their stories with Conor Lennon from UN News, who started by asking them if dialogue between the members of Combatants for Peace has become more difficult, given the intensity of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

    This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

    Soundcloud

    Mai Shaheen: Even though there might be disagreements, dialogue has been one way of solving and ending the occupation for many years, so it is normal for me to be sitting with another human being who just happens to be Israeli Jewish.

    Elik Elhanan: Combatants for Peace has been around for a while. The 7 October 2023 attacks and the subsequent violence and crimes against humanity in Gaza tested our mettle. But it wasn’t our first test of this sort.

    We’ve been trying to find a way to communicate and dialogue since 2005. There is no absence of conflict, but we try to live with it and around it. Over the last 20 years, this has become my community. These are my brothers and sisters. These are my peers. These are the people I go to when I need advice. And these are the people I go to when I need support.

    I trust Mai and I trust the other Palestinian members. We’re grieving for two communities and fighting for two communities. As a result of our long engagement together, this feels natural.

    UN News: But have the conversations between Combatants for Peace in the two communities changed since 7 October?

    Mai Shaheen: For us it was very clear, even on the day itself, that we had to meet. Now more than ever. Actually, the work we had been doing for so many years came to fruition on 7 October. We soon began discussing how to bring everything we have learned and worked for, and how to walk our talk in front of the Israeli and Palestinian community. There were many conversations and meetings, a lot of grieving and a lot of crying.

    © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

    A car filled with belongings heads back to Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

    Non-violent dialogue has been one of the most crucial strategies that we have been using in Combatants for Peace. We don’t just talk about politics; we connect deeply with each other and allow the pain and the grieving to come.

    As Palestinians, we held the space for the Israeli activists who were going from one funeral to another. They needed to come with their frustration, anger, pain and grief. And we understood that this is the time to show our communities that nonviolent resistance is actually the only way for both of us to live together as equals.

    Elik Elhanan: I was in New York during the events of 7 October, and I was terrified for both communities. My family comes from the kibbutzim in the South. I know people in Gaza. Many of our members have families and friends in Gaza and we could feel that the Israeli reprisals would be insane and disproportionate and criminal. It was terrible.

    I held on to one hope, that the Combatants for Peace would survive. As I said, this is not our first test, but it’s the worst, and there were many moments where we thought that the organization would not survive this level of atrocities.

    It was the ability of members, usually from the Palestinian side, to stretch out a hand that saved the movement. So, even in this darkest of moments, a sliver of hope remains.

    I lost my sister in 1997 to a Hamas suicide bombing. I am familiar with this side of the conflict, and I am familiar with being the aggressor of this conflict. I could never find a place of forgiveness for my actions and a place for my grief in Israeli society.

    However, my Palestinian friends in Combatants for Peace were able to give me this space, and the fear of losing it was the worst fear I have ever experienced. And the joy that is still around is definitely what gives me hope in the everyday.

    UN News: Can you remember if there was a particular moment when you decided that violence was not the answer?

    Elik Elhanan: Ther was not a specific moment. It took time and patience and there were a lot of pangs along the way. After the murder of my sister, when I was in the midst of all the rage and pain, members of my unit and my commanding officer visited me. They didn’t have anything to say, any vision except more death, more killing.

    I remember very clearly officers from my unit telling me to get over it quickly and come back to the unit. “You’ll feel like a whole person again. We’re going out to Lebanon. You’ll get even”. The Palestinians who killed my sister are from the area of Nablus. How is fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon going to alleviate my pain or redeem her death? What is this vision of a world completely dominated by senseless violence?

    That transactional violence depressed me more than I can explain. I was in a violent and angry sort of depression for many years until during the Second Intifada. As a young student in Paris, I met Palestinian students and we started working together, and protesting against the violence. We insisted that dialogue and peace negotiations based on equality and justice are not dead. It’s in this moment that something opened up in me.

    Mai Shaheen: 13 years ago I was fortunate to meet a community of Palestinians and Israelis who had the vision and the dream to live together. That was my first time meeting normal Israelis who are not military, who are not investigating me or terrorizing me at checkpoints.

    I started reflecting on my own story and realized that, even when I chose violent resistance, my intention was not to kill. We have never had anything against the Jewish people or the Jewish nation. We are against occupation. We are against oppression. We are against the separation wall and the checkpoints. Our Israeli partners are saying the same.

    © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

    Children and their families wait in Al Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, for the green light to begin their journey back home to Gaza City and the northern areas, after 15 months of displacement.

    UN News: Is the political class in Israel and Palestine listening to what you’re saying?

    Mai Shaheen: We had a big solidarity campaign in August, and we were joined by members of from the Knesset. We hope to have more changemakers in politics.

    Elik Elhanan: I should point out that the politicians that support us in the Israeli system are from the very far left of the political map. These are the Jewish and Palestinian members of the Communist Party and the coalition around it. Unfortunately, in mainstream Israeli political system, we have a lot of silent support, but few of them have the courage to support us openly and vocally.

    I think that is because they believe we, as Israelis, need more unity, strength and togetherness. I think what we need is a principled opposition. We can see that in the popular reaction to our work both in Israel and in Palestine, and I hope that politicians both in Israel and around the world will follow.

    UN News: The idea of a two-state solution, an Israeli and Palestinian state existing peacefully side by side, has been the United Nations position for decades. Is it still possible?

    Mai Shaheen: The real solution is everybody living freely on one land, like in America or Europe, with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, non-believers all living together freely and respectfully.

    Elik Elhanan: Reality changes and perspective changes. In Combatants for Peace, we began building a joint political language for Israelis and Palestinians to function together in a single political system. This experience has changed me. I like sharing my political landscape with Palestinians, with their experience and their intelligence and their particular understanding of history and politics.

    We don’t have a position paper on this subject. That is a job for others, possibly people in this building. We are here to say that the solution is through negotiation, and a peace process, not through violence, war, ethnic cleansing and genocide.

    Anything is better than what’s going on now.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Appointments to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Two new board appointments will bring infrastructure governance experience and capability to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.

    “The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission is responsible for important work to improve New Zealand’s infrastructure system, including developing the National Infrastructure Plan to be delivered this year.

    “The Government has appointed Tim Brown and Stephen Selwood to its board.

    “Mr Brown and Mr Selwood bring a wealth of experience in leadership inside large scale organisations, extensive governance experience including of companies responsible for key infrastructure assets, and critical abilities in deep economic and strategic thinking. They join five existing board members: Raveen Jaduram, Suzanne Tindal, Dr Sina Cotter Tait, Maurice David, and Geoffrey Hunt.

    “The two new members replace former chair Dr Alan Bollard who retired late last year, and Sarah Sinclair who resigned in September 2024. I thank the outgoing members for their work, and pay particular tribute to Dr Bollard’s many years of service and leadership.”

    Note for editors:

    Tim Brown has extensive governance involvement in the infrastructure industry includes three decades of large infrastructure asset investment, infrastructure finance and debt and capital markets across a range of boards. He has served on the boards of Infratil and Wellington Airport and is a councillor on the Wellington City Council.

    Stephen Selwood was previously an establishment Infrastructure Commission Board Member, and served as Commissioner of Tauranga City Council from February 2021 to June 2024. He has extensive experience in the infrastructure sector and was Chief Executive at Infrastructure New Zealand. Stephen is the currently managing director of a commercial retail company.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Turnaround plan to get Kāinga Ora back on track

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Kāinga Ora’s turnaround plan will refocus the agency on its core mission of building and managing government-owned social housing in a financially sustainable way, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
    “Kāinga Ora is an important Crown entity, with assets of $47 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It currently owns around 75,000 homes and is the country’s biggest landlord.
    “The previous government poured billions of dollars into Kāinga Ora, with debt on its balance sheet rising from $2.3 billion in 2017/18 to $16.5 billion in 2023/24. 

    Operating deficits grew from a surplus of $76 million in 2017/18 to a deficit of $568 million in 2023/24. Kāinga Ora’s 2023 Board-approved budget showed debt forecast to grow to $24.8 billion by 2026/27, outside of the previous government’s debt limit for the organisation. Staff numbers grew from around 2000 in 2020 to around 3477 by the end of 2023 – all this at a time when the social housing waitlist grew to over 20,000 applicants.
    “In December 2023 the Government commissioned an independent review, led by Sir Bill English, into Kāinga Ora. The report from this independent review was released in May 2024, with two broad findings: that Kāinga Ora was underperforming and not financially viable without significant savings as well as funding and financing changes, and secondly, that the wider social housing system was not delivering the results New Zealand needs.
    “The review made it clear that Kāinga Ora was in considerable financial strife. The Government appointed a refreshed board and asked them to deliver a turnaround plan by the end of 2024 to return the agency to financial sustainability.
    “Cabinet has now considered and endorsed the plan, which is being released today. The plan will refocus Kāinga Ora on its core purpose of being a good social landlord and improve operating performance and reduce losses, with debt capped at an acceptable level.
    There are five major components to the turnaround plan:
     

    Kāinga Ora to be refocused on its core mission: building, maintaining and managing quality social housing, and being a supportive, but firm landlord.
    Improved tenant and community management.
    Improved housing portfolio and build management – better managing the existing Kāinga Ora assets and building or renewing homes as efficiently as the market, including simplifying social housing building specifications and using all available building delivery channels.
    Improved organisational performance: a focus on cost effectiveness – reducing high overheads and leveraging buying power more effectively.
    A more persistent and sustainable approach to funding and associated settings.

    Renewal of Kāinga Ora stock
    “The previous government’s funding for new social houses finished in June 2025, a “fiscal cliff” which the coalition government has had to confront. Kāinga Ora is currently funded to deliver around 2650 additional houses around New Zealand through to 2026 and the Government has also funded 1500 further social houses to be delivered by Community Housing Providers from June 2025 onwards.
    “The Kāinga Ora turnaround plan means that from 2026/7 onwards, Kāinga Ora will be involved in around 1900-2000 construction events per year, made up of approximately 1500 new build homes and 400 retrofits of existing homes. This will be offset by demolitions associated with redevelopment activities, and sales of around 900 homes per year. This means the number of KO social houses will not reduce over time, and existing older or unsuitable housing stock is refreshed.
    “Kāinga Ora sales will focus on older properties in high value areas, with the proceeds going to provide multiple other units in different areas. The sales programme will also focus on houses which are not fit for purpose, where the typology is ill-suited to the particular area, or which are simply uneconomic to maintain or redevelop.
    “Despite rhetoric from Labour in the past, divestment of properties in order to manage stock is a routine approach to Kāinga Ora’s operations. In the past five years they have sold, demolished or ended the lease on more than five thousand properties as part of their normal stock renewal process. The plan allows them to do more of this so the old, unfit housing stock can be renewed more quickly. 
    Construction costs
    “Advice from the Board is that Kāinga Ora has been building houses for approximately 12% more than market comparisons. The plan commits Kāinga Ora to delivering new builds at fully allocated costs that are in line with, or better than, market rates.
    “Ministers are clear that Kāinga Ora should be building or acquiring simple, functional warm and dry houses, as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
    Narrowed Scope
    “The previous government gave Kāinga Ora an enormous number of tasks – everything from managing infrastructure funds, to large-scale urban development and KiwiBuild underwrites. In line with the back to basics approach, Cabinet has agreed that residual KiwiBuild underwrite activity will be transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, administration of the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund will transfer to the new National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Agency and the Kāinga Ora Land Programme will be wound down. Legislation will also be progressed this year to amend the Kainga Ora Homes and Communities Act.”
    Financial Performance
    “The impact of the Kāinga Ora plan is a net reduction in deficits of around $190 million in this financial year, with a reduction in the deficit in 2027/28 of $354 million compared to the 2023 Pre-Election Update. Debt is forecast to be $1.8 billion lower in 2027/8 compared to the forecast included in the 2023 Pre-Election Update.
    “Today’s plan is a big step in the right direction for Kāinga Ora and I would like to thank Chair Simon Moutter and the rest of the Board for their hard work. The Government will be closely monitoring progress as the plan is implemented.
    Media contact: 
    Note to Editors:
    The high-level comparison of updated financial modelling.

    $millions
    2024/25
    2025/26
    2026/27
    2027/28

    Forecast Deficit pre tax

    2023 Pre Election Update
    (779)
    (925)
    (1,003)
    (864)

    Turnaround Plan*
    (588)
    (432)
    (479)
    (510)

    Reduction in Deficit
    191
    407
    524
    354

    $ millions
    2024/25
    2025/26
    2026/27
    2027/28

    Debt

    Pre Election Update
    18,669
    22,463
    22,573
    22,288

    Turnaround Plan
    18,407
    19,567
    20,415
    20,504

    Reduction in Debt forecast
    (262)
    (2,896)
    (2,158)
    (1,784)

     
    *The numbers in this row differ from the Kāinga Ora plan document. This is because the figures in the turnaround plan include tax, while the numbers in this table and the cabinet paper exclude tax in line with Treasury documents.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council Will Meet

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council will meet at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. The meeting will take place remotely via the internet on Microsoft Teams and is open to the public. The agenda and handouts will be posted on the council’s website.

    • What: Meeting of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council
    • When: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, 11 a.m. to noon.
    • Where: Join a Microsoft Teams Meeting by ID | Microsoft Teams
      • Meeting ID: 248 640 172 639 Passcode: XM2p9p8D
    • Phone: +1 503-446-4951 Phone conference ID: 346 290 669#
    • Who: State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council

    The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council is established by Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 23-26, Establishing a State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council.

    The purpose of the council is to recommend an action plan to guide awareness education, and usage of artificial intelligence in state government that aligns with the state’s policies, goals, and values and supports public servants to deliver customer service more efficiently and effectively. The recommended action plan shall include concrete executive actions, policies and investments needed to leverage artificial intelligence while honoring transparency, privacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    Meetings of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council are open to the public.

    Public comment may be made during the meeting. Sign-up for public comment is required as spots are limited. Sign-up closes Monday, Feb. 10 at noon. Written comment will also be accepted. Written comment can be submitted by mail to the Council Support Office at 550 Airport Rd SE Suite C, Salem, OR 97301 or online via the office form.

    Accommodations can be arranged for persons with disabilities, and alternate formats of printed material are available upon request. Please contact Enterprise Information Services at 503-378-3175 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to request accommodations. Closed captioning is included on the Microsoft Teams meeting.

    Links:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney

    In a hectic 24 hours of trade diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has paused his threatened 25% tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico, while keeping 10% tariffs on imports from China.

    Australian companies with operations in Canada or Mexico such as Rio Tinto, whose Canadian operations export billions of dollars of aluminium to the US, have won a temporary reprieve. But the risk of weaker economic growth in China will weigh heavily on companies that export to our largest trading partner.

    And Trump has hinted all US imports of aluminium and copper, including from Australia, may be his next target.

    The Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Tuesday that although Australia is not immune when there are escalating trade tensions, “we are pretty well-placed to navigate them.”

    However, even if Australia manages to stay out of Trump’s sights, Australians cannot expect to come out of a trade war unscathed. Due to the complexity of global supply chains, it is difficult to predict exactly how Australia would be affected, but here are a few key factors that would likely come into play.

    Our largest trading partner

    About 40% of Australia’s exports go to China, making it the biggest destination by far, according to data for 2023 from UN Comtrade. Most of this is Australian iron ore and other minerals that are used in China’s construction and manufacturing sectors.

    If Trump’s tariffs further slow the
    already sluggish Chinese economy, this will reduce demand for the goods it buys from Australia.

    If China’s demand for iron ore falls significantly, this will not only hurt the Australian mining sector, but it could trigger a fall in the Australian dollar, making the things Australians buy from abroad more expensive.

    But the size of the impact of the latest tariffs on China remains to be seen. China has already absorbed the tariffs from the first Trump administration, and the latest increase is much smaller than the 60% tariff he previously proposed.

    Trade diversion

    The one positive effect for Australia of US tariffs on other countries is that, because they raise the price of other countries’ exports to the US, they may make some Australian exports more competitive. This is something economists call trade diversion. For example, the tariffs on Canadian aluminium would have shifted US demand toward aluminium produced in Australia.

    The tariffs on China will divert relatively little trade to Australia because there is not much overlap between the products China and Australia export to the US.

    But China’s retaliatory tariffs could make a significant impact. China responded to the US tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term with tariffs on American wheat and other agricultural products. A similar move this time could create an opening for Australian farmers to fill the gap.

    But it is not all good news. The US exports diverted away from the Chinese market will also compete with Australian products in other countries. So, while Australian wheat may become more competitive in China, US wheat may displace Australia’s in the Philippines.

    A weaker Aussie dollar?

    Tariffs also tend to cause the currency of the country imposing them to rise because they reduce demand for goods denominated in foreign currencies.

    The flip side is a weaker Australian dollar, which dropped to a five-year low after the tariffs were flagged. The currency has now fallen nearly 10% since November.

    Again, this raises the cost of imports to Australia, which could lift inflation.

    Network disruption

    If the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are confirmed in 30 days’ time, the greatest impact will be in the supply chain disruption they will cause.

    Analyses of the tariffs Trump imposed on China in 2018 found most of the cost was borne by US businesses that use imported inputs. But because North American production networks are so highly integrated, and have been for decades, the effect of tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be much more disruptive to all North American producers.

    As economic networks expert Ben Golub explains, the concern is not just that auto prices will rise, but that if key parts of the production network fail, such as if small but important intermediate suppliers go out of business, the effects of the tariffs could cascade into major disruptions.

    Eventually, businesses will develop alternative supply chains, but the short-run pain could be considerable.

    For Australians, this could mean higher prices and supply disruptions, not just for the products we buy from the US, but for anything that depends on a North American supplier at any stage in the production process.

    We are still feeling the effects of the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID, including the jump in inflation in 2021 and 2022 and the subsequent high interest rates and global backlash against incumbent political parties. That includes Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office.

    Similar disruptions may be in store if this skirmish becomes a major global trade war. Even if Trump’s promised tariffs never actually materialise, we may still see the same effects on a smaller scale because the trade policy uncertainty from just the threat of a trade war has similar effects on business activity as actual tariffs.

    Whatever transpires, even if Australia can escape direct involvement in a trade war, it cannot escape the shockwaves that reverberate through the global economy. The question is whether it will be a ripple or a tsunami.

    Scott French 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. Australia won’t escape the fallout of the Trump trade chaos – https://theconversation.com/australia-wont-escape-the-fallout-of-the-trump-trade-chaos-248883

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump is Delivering on His Commitment to Protect our Kids

    Source: The White House

    Last week, President Donald J. Trump took executive action to protect American children from irreversible chemical and surgical mutilation.

    It’s already having its intended effect — preventing children from being maimed and sterilized by adults perpetuating a radical, false claim that they can somehow change a child’s sex. Hospitals around the country are taking action to downsize or eliminate their so-called “gender-affirming care” programs:

    • NEW YORK: NYU Langone Health has started canceling appointments for so-called “gender-affirming care” involving minors. They canceled appointments for “two 12-year-olds who had been scheduled to receive implants that dispense puberty-blocking medication.”
    • COLORADO: Denver Health announced it would stop performing sex change surgeries on minor children, while UCHealth said it is ending so-called “gender-affirming care” for all minors.
    • VIRGINIA: VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond have “suspended” providing transgender-related medication and surgeries for minors, while UVA Health has “suspended” all transgender-related services for minors.
    • WASHINGTON, D.C.: Children’s National Hospital has “paused” prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, while Northwest Washington Hospital has done the same.
    • ILLINOIS: Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is “reviewing” their transgender-related services for minors.
    • PENNSYLVANIA: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is “closely reviewing” the transgender-related services they provide for minors.

    President Trump will always protect American children.

    Promises made, promises kept – again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai on the U.S. tariff delay

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

    “Today’s announcement that the United States is delaying the implementation of tariffs on Canadian goods by at least one month is a step in the right direction.

    “I was also pleased to hear the long-overdue news that our two countries will be working together to combat the flow of illegal drugs across the border in both directions. All of us know someone who has been impacted by the substance use health emergency; many of our families have been impacted directly. Hopefully this joint action will mean fewer lives are lost due to toxic drug use here in the Yukon.

    “While today’s news was positive, it does not resolve the uncertainty facing Yukon workers, businesses and communities. Here in the Yukon, our economy depends on fair and predictable trade with American partners. These tariffs – if and when they come into effect – threaten jobs, increase costs for families and disrupt supply chains that have benefited both sides of the border, for decades.

    “The Government of Yukon will pause our retaliatory measures and we will continue to work during this period to ensure we’re ready to respond if needed in the future.

    “Yukon businesses and communities cannot plan for the future under the constant uncertainty of potential trade barriers. The U.S. must recognize that Canada is not just their neighbour – we are their closest ally and their most trusted economic partner.

    “I will continue to work with the Prime Minister and fellow Premiers to protect Canadians and to advocate for policies that defend our economy and our way of life.

    “At the same time, we must take this as a wake-up call to strengthen our own economy by prioritizing purchases that are made locally or in Canada. Our government is committed to working with business leaders, First Nations partners and northern communities to ensure more of the goods and services we rely on are sourced right here in Canada.

    “I encourage all Yukoners to keep supporting local businesses and prioritize buying Canadian-made products whenever possible.

    “Now more than ever, we need long-term stability in our trading relationship with the U.S. and a strong, self-reliant Canadian economy that puts our workers and industries first.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Children’s Commissioner welcomes national review of healthcare for trans and gender diverse children

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    The National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has welcomed the Federal Health Minister’s announcement of a national review of healthcare for trans and gender diverse children. 

    Announced by Health Minister Mark Butler on Friday, the review will be led by the National Health and Medical Research Council and will examine aspects of children’s gender-affirming care, including the use of puberty blockers.

    Commissioner Anne Hollonds said: ‘In order to safeguard the best interests of children, it’s important that the healthcare we provide for children is based on the highest possible standards, and that these standards are regularly and rigorously evaluated.

    ‘This national review will provide national guidelines to ensure consistency in evidence-based healthcare and hopefully will lead to longitudinal research.

    “It’s also important that young people across our country have equitable access to healthcare. Currently it’s a postcode lottery and there are too many communities where children and their families cannot access comprehensive medical services, including mental health care and specialist clinical services for trans and gender diverse children.

    “I welcome this review and the opportunity it provides to ensure a consistent approach across all states and territories for the delivery of healthcare services for young people who are trans and gender diverse.  

    “Importantly, this national review will also help to put the focus on the needs of children, not the politics, and make the wellbeing of Australia’s children a national priority.

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or +61 457 281 897 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Schumer, Wyden, Schatz, Warren Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly-Sensitive Government Payment System, Threatening to Choke Off Funding for the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “It’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.”

    Murray: “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to sound the alarm over Elon Musk and his team at the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” being granted access to the federal government’s central payments system, which handles $6 trillion and the vast majority of all federal disbursements each year. Musk and his associates were granted access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems the same weekend they threatened their way into the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and seized Office of Personnel Management (OPM) computer systems. New reporting indicates they are now forcing their way into Small Business Administration (SBA) systems, as well. 

    Murray and her colleagues outlined the threat of Musk and the administration abusing the Treasury’s payment system to illegally block funding and payments, the danger of allowing Musk access to Americans’ most sensitive personal data, and how this administration’s historic corruption and illegal funding freezes are putting our country’s economy and national security in jeopardy. 

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Well we’re two weeks in, and it’s already painfully clear that this is the most corrupt administration in our history, and it’s putting our economy, our government, and our most at-risk communities in serious jeopardy.

    “In particular, we learned that Elon Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s most sensitive payment system handling six trillion dollars every year and managing nearly all federal disbursements. It’s a system that contains extremely sensitive personal and commercial information, and I’ve been hearing from people across my state who are truly alarmed about what Musk and his associates having access to this system could mean for their data—and for funding that they count on. 

    “Let’s not mince words here. An unelected, unaccountable billionaire—with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China, and an indiscreet axe to grind against perceived enemies—is hijacking our nation’s most sensitive financial data system and its checkbook so that he can illegally block funds to our constituents, based on the slightest whim or wildest conspiracy. Funds—mind you—that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis. 

    “Some Republicans are trying to suggest that Musk only has ‘viewing access’ to Treasury’s highly sensitive payment system as if that’s acceptable either. But why on earth should we believe that—particularly when he is saying the exact opposite loudly and repeatedly for everyone to see? 

    “What funds will Elon target next—life-saving medical research? Housing assistance? Food banks? We already know he is falsely attacking faith-based organizations that help people—and promising to cut off funds based off conspiracy theories.

    “The world’s richest man has vowed to cut off funding that helps the least among us. Think about that. And next—think about how many dollars he himself makes from government contracts. And the Trump Administration is handing the keys of the Treasury over to him? It does not get more blatantly corrupt than that. 

    “And let me underscore just how dangerous this is—because now that Trump has handed over Treasury’s checkbook, what if Elon decides he doesn’t like how Ford is getting federal funds to build an EV battery plant, what’s next? All Elon has to do is say ‘oh, they’re woke,’ and he can convince Trump to illegally cut off those funds.

    “Maybe Elon will decide he doesn’t like that Blue Origin—and not SpaceX—gets a contract, so he wants to gum up the works on their payments. Private corporations and competitors need to take note. And anyone who thinks that surely won’t happen has not been paying attention.

    “Now, make no mistake: Trump and Musk have absolutely zero legal authority to hold up any federal payments that are law, but that has not stopped them so far.

    “This country is still reeling from the chaos of last week’s blanket spending freeze and Trump’s illegal executive orders to withhold funds are still not yet revoked. Trump and Musk have yet to find a law they think applies to them.

    “That is not how things work in this country. We have a democracy. We have checks and we have balances—where the President is accountable to Congress, where we pass the laws, and he implements them.

    “But some of my colleagues across the aisle seem to be forgetting that our democracy does not work by magic. We have to do our part to hold the President accountable. Our job is not to say ‘yes’ to everything any President does—no matter how lawless or harmful. 

    “Democrats are pushing back with the tools that we have. We will speak out, we will press this administration, we will open investigations, and we will demand accountability. The one tool we do not have is the majority in this Congress. 

    “So that means our Republican colleagues have to say ‘enough.’ We need them to join us. We need them to stand up to the corruption and lawlessness and stand up for the people they represent.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Join Senators in Bipartisan Push to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Reinstating Expanded Global Gag Rule, Targeting Reproductive Health Care

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and other colleagues in reintroducing their Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act, bipartisan legislation to permanently repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule or “Mexico City Policy,” which bans U.S. federal funding for foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that use their own, non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services or information about abortion. Recently, the Trump administration reinstated its expanded Global Gag Rule, after the Biden administration had rescinded the policy in 2021.

    The Global Gag Rule forces clinics to choose between providing limited reproductive health services while accepting U.S. foreign aid, or providing inclusive family planning and reproductive health care while forgoing U.S. aid. It means organizations that receive U.S. international aid for other reasons—such as HIV prevention, maternal health, or fighting diseases like malaria—cannot educate their communities on pregnancy options, including safe abortion care, or their funding will be pulled.

    In addition to reinstating the harmful Global Gag Rule, President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to freeze all U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days. Notably, in response to widespread public backlash, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on January 28th a waiver for “life-saving humanitarian assistance”—but the waiver explicitly excludes lifesaving family planning programs. If these programs remain shut down for the full 90-day review period, 11.7 million women and girls will be denied birth control, resulting in 4.2 million unintended pregnancies, and 8,340 will die from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk are now illegally attempting to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides critical humanitarian aid overseas that supports U.S. national security interests.

    “When we invest in a safer and healthier world, that pays dividends for America. Make no mistake: the Global Gag Rule prevents NGOs from using their own resources to provide lifesaving reproductive health services, and it forces organizations to make impossible choices that restrict access to care for some of the most desperate people across the globe—that’s why I’m glad to once again join my colleagues in introducing legislation to repeal this dangerous policy,” said Senator Murray.“It is unsurprising, but extremely telling, that some of the very first moves of Donald Trump’s second administration prioritize attacking reproductive health care and targeting vulnerable women and girls around the world.”

    “The Trump administration is stripping U.S. funding from international aid groups that even just discuss abortion with their patients. Congress must permanently repeal the global gag rule — these organizations provide essential health care and save lives,” said Senator Cantwell.

    Senators Murray and Cantwell have long supported the Global HER Act and pushed to repeal the Global Gag Rule, including speaking out forcefully against the expanded Global Gag Rule Donald Trump issued at the beginning of his first administration.  

    Among other things, the Global HER Act:

    • Ensures that eligible foreign NGOs can continue to operate U.S.-supported health programs abroad, particularly those that provide legal health services to women — including counseling, referral and legal abortion services — with their own, non-U.S. funds;
    • Guarantees that foreign NGOs will not be forced to sacrifice their right to free speech in order to participate in U.S.-supported programs abroad; and
    • Expands access to health programs for women around the world to improve health and development outcomes for entire families, communities and developing countries.

    Full text of the Global HER Act is available HERE.

    In addition to Senators Murray, Cantwell, Shaheen, and Murkowski, the Global HER Act is also cosponsored by Senators Merkley (D-OR), Warnock (D-GA), Durbin (D-IL), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Welch (D-VT), Murphy (D-CT), Reed (D-RI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Hirono (D-HI), Bennet (D-CO), Whitehouse (D-RI), Kaine (D-VA), Rosen (D-NV), Schatz (D-HI), Hickenlooper (D-CO), King (I-ME), Padilla (D-CA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Booker (D-NJ), Baldwin (D-WI), Coons (D-DE), Ossoff (D-GA), Sanders (I-VT), Warren (D-MA), Slotkin (D-MI), Duckworth (D-IL), Wyden (D-OR), Smith (D-MN), Kelly (D-AZ), Markey (D-MA), Lujan (D-NM), Alsobrooks (D-MD), Warner (D-VA), Hassan (D-NH), Gillibrand (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Schiff (D-CA), Schumer (D-NY) and Gallego (D-AZ). Companion version is being led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Lois Frankel (D, FL-22).

    The Global HER Act is endorsed by 58 organizations representing global health, women’s reproductive rights, women’s equality, civil rights and other relevant advocacy constituencies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Blasts Dangerous & Unprecedented Move by Trump Admin. That Puts U.S. Economy and National Security At Risk and Jeopardizes Americans’ Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Treasury, sounded the alarm that the Trump Administration is putting the U.S. economy and national security at risk; needlessly turning Americans’ sensitive personal information over to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also owns the social media platform known as X (formerly Twitter); and creating a pathway for the Trump Administration to potentially block payments to any individual or entity perceived as a political opponent of President Donald Trump.

    Reed is seeking answers from new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following reports that he granted access to a highly sensitive Treasury Department payment system to personnel affiliated with Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taskforce. 

    In a letter, Reed urged Bessent: “To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.”

    The U.S. Treasury’s federal payment system, which is maintained by non-political civil servants, disperses trillions of dollars each year, such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government.  No previous Treasury Secretary has ever allowed Treasury’s payment system and the goldmine of sensitive personal data it processes to be accessed by a partisan task force.  Trump loyalists could use this information to illegally manipulate or operationally shut down individual U.S. government payments to any disfavored entity or perceived opposition of the President’s.

    “Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments,” Reed wrote.

    The previous person in charge of Treasury’s payment system, the Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury, who served in that position since 2014 — and who President Donald Trump named as acting Treasury Secretary while Mr. Bessent went through the nominations process — was put on paid administrative leave and then resigned after refusing to do what Bessent did: spark an unprecedented payment system crisis by turning over the keys to America’s payment system to an unelected billionaire with significant foreign business ties and his partisan cronies and potentially empowering DOGE to go after President Trump’s perceived enemies.

    Reed warned that Secretary Bessent’s departure from long-standing Treasury procedure could endanger the nation’s financial well-being and harm ordinary citizens.  Granting Elon Musk’s team the single most comprehensive dataset on virtually every American with no checks, transparency, or accountability is extremely dangerous and unprecedented. 

    “It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest,” Reed wrote.

    Reed urged Treasury to take four key steps immediately, including:

    •           Revoking the access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not been property vetted;

    •           Appointing a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refusing to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Taking steps to protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals who were granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    Reed also demanded written responses to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Full text of the letter follows:

    February 3, 2025

    The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary

    U.S. Department of the Treasury

    1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

    Washington, DC 20220

    Dear Secretary Bessent:

    On Friday, January 31, you provided full access to the federal government’s payment systems to surrogates of Elon Musk and representatives of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which operates under the de-facto control of Mr. Musk, a private citizen. To protect our national security and public confidence in our fiscal and economic system, you should immediately reverse this action.

    The Treasury Department through the Bureau of the Fiscal Service executes payments on behalf of agencies across the federal government. Last year, Treasury distributed $5.4 trillion in payments for the American public, including Social Security benefits, defense spending and servicemember pay, interest on government bonds, tax refunds, federal grants, and nearly all other obligations owed by the government. Your actions have placed our national security at risk because unvetted individuals, potentially including foreign nationals, now have full access to these systems. According to press reports, these individuals include corporate executives of multinational companies with extensive international operations. Access to this system includes the ability to view American’s most sensitive personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses, and more. It also gives Mr. Musk and his allies outside the federal government the ability to unilaterally and illegally cut off federal payments.

    It is longstanding Treasury Department procedure to restrict access to this system to a handful of individuals who have undergone a full background investigation evaluating criminal history, foreign ties, trustworthiness, and finances, among other issues. This process is essential to protect Americans’ personal information and benefits from being compromised by hostile nations, to protect taxpayer funds from being pilfered by untrustworthy individuals, and to ensure that payments owed to the American people are made reliably and on time. This deviation from Treasury practice follows an emerging pattern of DOGE impeding fundamental government functions, placing taxpayer funds at risk, and intruding on Americans’ privacy—actions that have placed the special interests of a small group of well-connected individuals above American families. Indeed, the individuals who have just received access to government payment systems have not sworn an oath to the Constitution and have no obligation to act in the general interest.

    You should immediately reverse the actions that you took on January 31:

    •           Revoke access to U.S. government payment systems that you provided to surrogates of Mr. Musk, who have not undergone full background investigations and have not been property vetted;

    •           Appoint a new Fiscal Assistant Secretary who is a nonpartisan expert with experience working in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service across Administrations of both parties;

    •           Refuse to honor any requests by Mr. Musk’s surrogates or the DOGE to block disbursements of any funds; and

    •           Protect Americans’ personal information from being exploited for commercial purposes by individuals to whom you have granted access to U.S. government payment systems.

    In addition, because you have already have given individuals operating at the behest of Mr. Musk access to U.S. government payment systems, please provide written answers to the following questions no later than February 10, 2025:

    •           Which individuals have you allowed to access to the federal payment systems and why?

    •           Do all those who have access to the systems hold security clearances? If not, why not?

    •           Have you provided any non-federal employees or any individuals working at the behest of Mr. Musk, as part of DOGE or any other entity, with source code information related to the federal payment systems?

    •           Do any non-federal employees have access to the systems or authority to direct or withhold payments? If so, on what authority?

    •           How many foreign nationals have been granted access to the federal payment systems or been given authority over payments?

    •           What are you doing to prevent unauthorized access to the systems?

    •           What assurances are there that Mr. Musk will not be able to use access to the Federal government’s payment system to advance his own business interests or penalize his competitors or critics?

    •           What are you doing to ensure that political interference will not affect Americans’ access to their Social Security benefits and other critical payments the Bureau of Fiscal Service makes?

    •           Are you planning to allow the same DOGE cohort access to the Internal Revenue Service’s information technology?

    Finally, please keep in mind that all executive branch agencies must proactively alert the Appropriations and other appropriate House and Senate Committees when apportionments are not made in required time periods, are approved only with conditions, or may hinder the prudent obligation of apportionments or the execution of a program, project, or activity. Agencies are also required to report all violations of the Impoundment Control Act to Congress. Finally, agencies may not prohibit or prevent any federal employee from having direct communication with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of Congress. All federal employees must be free to communicate directly with Congress, whether Congress has requested that communication or not.

    Thank your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Swiftly Implement New Law Increasing Social Security Benefits for Public Service Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    CRANSTON, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse along with Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today joined with union officials to call on the Trump administration to swiftly implement a new law that increases Social Security benefits for public service employees.  The event took place at National Education Association Rhode Island’s headquarters.

    “Thousands of hardworking Rhode Islanders who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities deserve the reassurance that they won’t be short-changed on their Social Security benefits. That’s why I worked for years with my colleagues to pass this legislation and ensure that millions of teachers, postal workers, firefighters, police officers, and other dedicated civil servants get the benefits they have earned,” said Reed.  “I’m glad we were able to finally deliver this correction and it is imperative that the Trump Administration acts urgently to implement this law.  We will be watching closely.  I’m committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security to ensure all Americans are able to retire with the dignity and financial security they have earned.”

    “We worked for years to pass this law to finally increase Social Security benefits for retired teachers, police officers, and firefighters across Rhode Island,” said Whitehouse, a founding member of the Expand Social Security Caucus and a longtime cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act.  “This change will strengthen the middle class, and we are going to keep after the Trump administration to swiftly implement it.  I will continue doing everything in my power to protect and expand the benefits seniors have earned over a lifetime of hard work.”

    “For too long, public servants—teachers, firefighters, and police officers—have been unfairly shortchanged on the Social Security benefits they have rightfully earned,” said Magaziner. “With the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, we’ve corrected this injustice and delivered long-overdue relief to thousands of Rhode Islanders.”

    “The Social Security Fairness Act is a critical new law that expands earned benefits for Rhode Islanders for the first time in over 20 years,” said Amo. “It fixes an oversight where public employees — including teachers, firefighters, and police officers — paid into Social Security but received far less than what they planned for in retirement. I promised to work to get it across the finish line upon arriving in the House. I proudly signed a discharge petition that forced House Republicans to bring the Social Security Fairness Act to the floor — and I was thrilled to vote yes when it passed the House in November last year.”

    All four members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act, which President Biden signed into law in January. 

    The Social Security Fairness Act eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision, which reduced Social Security benefits for retired or disabled workers if they also receive pensions from public sector jobs that are not covered by Social Security.

    The bill also eliminated the Government Pension Offset, which reduced Social Security spousal benefits for retired public servants who receive pensions from employment that was not covered by Social Security.

    More than 8,600 Rhode Islanders who receive government pensions but also contributed to Social Security through private-sector employment stand to benefit from the legislation.

    “This hard-fought, long-awaited legislation exemplifies government working for the people by correcting a provision that unfairly penalized workers for their public service,” said National Education Association Rhode Island President Val Lawson. “The Social Security Fairness Act will significantly improve the lives of our educators and education support professionals.”

    “The labor movement has been organizing for this victory for decades.  It shows that we will never give up, no matter how long it takes,” said Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “Thank you to the entire Congressional Delegation for their support for Rhode Island public services workers.”

    Today, we stand united in this victory, honoring the countless hours of advocacy, resilience, and unwavering determination it took to repeal the WEP/GPO legislation. This journey has been long, but together, we’ve fought for fairness and justice for every worker who dedicated their life to public service. Our success is a testament to the strength of solidarity and the belief that when we stand together, we can change the course of history,” said Maribeth Calabro, President of the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. “We are grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation, to ensuring that members have these benefits.”

    “On behalf of the national Repeal WEP/GPO Task Force committee, and as one of the three founding committee members along with John Pernorio, RI ARA and Roger Boudreau, RIAFT-R, I extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our RI federal House of Representatives members and Senators for their sponsorships and continued support to achieve passage of the Social Security Fairness Act,” said Rose Marie Cipriano, President of the RI Association of Retired Principals. “After forty-two years penalizing public service workers, predominantly educators, fairness was achieved January 5, 2025, when former President Biden signed HR 82 into law.  Over three million retirees will no longer have to endure a sixty percent reduction to their owed Social Security benefits.  Our RI Congressional delegation’s commitment and respect for all public service workers will forever be acknowledged.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New York Times: Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter on Monday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding answers for why the so-called Department of Government Efficiency was granted access to the federal payments system, giving Elon Musk and his team a powerful tool that could be used to track and potentially limit government spending.

    The letter is a sign of mounting outrage among Democrats over the unorthodox efforts that the Trump administration and Mr. Musk are preparing to take control of how congressionally approved funds are spent. The questions come after a career civil servant named David Lebryk abruptly resigned on Friday after requests to grant Mr. Musk’s lieutenants access to Treasury’s payment system.

    “It is extraordinarily dangerous to meddle with the critical systems that process trillions of dollars of transactions each year, are essential to preventing a default on federal debt, and ensure that tens of millions of Americans receive their Social Security checks, tax refunds and Medicare benefits,” wrote Ms. Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Alan Rappeport
    Source: New York Times

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warren Sounds Alarm on Threat Elon Musk Poses to Government Payment Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    “Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else.” 

    “[T]his is not business as usual…We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up.” 

    Video of Press Conference (YouTube) 

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (BHUA), delivered remarks on the danger of Elon Musk having access to the federal government’s critical payment systems, which includes the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans.

    Transcript: Press Conference – Democrats Sound Alarm Over Musk Forcing Way into Highly Sensitive Central Government Payment System
    February 3, 2025
    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: I want to be clear about what’s going on here.

    The system that makes sure that your granddad gets his Social Security check. The system that makes sure your mom’s doctor gets a Medicare payment to cover her medical appointment. And the system that makes sure you get the tax refund you’re owed, has been taken over by Elon Musk. And every organization from your state government that uses federal money on that bridge project to the local Head Start that takes care of little kids while their mommies and daddies go to work is now at the mercy of Elon Musk. Maybe you get paid, or maybe you don’t—because now it appears that all of us work for Elon Musk.

    Elon just grabbed the controls of that whole payment system, demanding the power to turn it on for his friends or turn it off for anyone he doesn’t like. One guy deciding who gets paid and who doesn’t. It is not the law, but it is the reality. 

    Now, there’s a second problem here. It’s not just payments from the federal government that are now in Elon’s control. Elon and his handful of friends now have full access to your personal and financial information that’s in the system. Your payment history. Your social security number. Your bank account numbers. Elon now has the power to suck out all that information for his own use. Now, whether it’s to boost his finances or expand his political power, it is all up to Elon. 

    And there’s a third problem. In order for this handful of programmers to gain access to our $6 trillion payment system, we don’t know what safeguards were pulled down. Are the gates wide open now for hackers from China, from North Korea, from Iran, from Russia? Heck, who knows what black hat hackers all around the world are finding out about each one of us and copying that information for their own criminal uses. 

    Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else. And this is just the start. As we gear up for the tax fight, it will become even clearer that Trump will open the doors for billionaires and giant corporations to find more ways to loot the government at your expense. Meanwhile, everyone else pays more for groceries, more for housing, more for prescription drugs, and more for healthcare.

    When unelected billionaires start ransacking our government offices, this is not business as usual. Nope. Nothing is normal. We are living a nightmare created by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and we need to wake up. We need to use every tool we have to fight back, and in the Senate, we can start by saying NO to dangerous Trump nominees like Tulsi Gabbard or Russ Vought. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homes England and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority launch new Strategic Place Partnership to catalyse growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Move highlights commitment to locally-led growth, investment and regeneration at a pivotal time for the region

    Homes England and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) have formalised their ongoing housing and regeneration efforts with a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP), as part of the Government’s plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.

    It builds on an established track record of partnership work across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Cambridgeshire is home to Northstowe, one of Britain’s largest new settlements, and a place 1,400 households already call home. Once completed the development – which Homes England acts as master developer for – will feature 10,000 homes, a vibrant town centre, and strong community infrastructure.

    CPCA and the Agency will work together to bring more investment to the region, starting with developing a shared plan to accelerate local housing, regeneration and growth proposals.

    Over the next eight weeks, Homes England will invest over £100,000 alongside existing government funding to accelerate plans to develop Peterborough Station Quarter. Peterborough is one of the country’s fastest growing cities, and in Cambridge, where average house prices and land values are amongst the highest in the UK, funding is pledged to support the delivery of much needed affordable housing.

    Homes England has also committed considerable funding to accelerate the Waterbeach New Town development, with the potential to deliver 11,000 homes. This includes over £23m to relocate a railway station to directly unlock 4,500 homes, in partnership with Waterbeach Development Company. These plans are in addition to the existing £61 million loan at the former Waterbeach Barracks and airfield site, led by Urban&Civic, with plans to deliver 6,500 homes on completion. 

    Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:

    Through our Strategic Place Partnership model, we work hand-in-hand with local leaders to help them accomplish their ambitious housing and regeneration aims. This SPP marks the Agency’s commitment to working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, to help realise the aspirations set out in the Shared Ambition for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 2050.

    We already have a strong track record of delivering transformative projects across the region and through this new partnership we will build on our existing relationships and achieve even more for the local community.

    Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, said:

    The Combined Authority is about building powerful partnerships locally and nationally, with an aligned vision to deliver for the region. We’re committing, with Homes England, to work smarter, together, to help accelerate the building of the new, good quality, energy efficient homes we need, in places that have the capacity for growth.

    The partnership signed with CPCA means Homes England has now signed seven SPPs with combined authorities across England.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    The strengthened relationship between Homes England and the combined authority follows the publication of the government’s English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, which details the plan to empower local leaders and deepen devolution across England.

    The white paper highlights Homes England’s work on SPPs and the important part they play in devolution.

    About Homes England

    We are the government’s housing and regeneration Agency, and we’re here to drive the creation of more affordable, quality homes and thriving places so that everyone has a place to live and grow.

    We make this happen by working in partnership with thousands of organisations of all sizes, using our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more quality homes built.

    Learn more about us: https://bit.ly/3WvT0yd

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World-leading AI trial to tackle breast cancer launched

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier.

    • Cutting-edge AI trial to transform cancer care, helping radiologists catch breast cancer earlier 
    • Trial announced this World Cancer Day, as government launches ‘call for evidence’ to shape new plan to cut lives lost to cancer 
    • Plan for Change will put UK on the front foot, unleashing AI to drive up health services and shift NHS from analogue to digital as part of 10 Year Health Plan

    Nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier, the Department of Health and Social Care announced today (4th February 2025). 

    As government ramps up the use of new technology across the board, 30 testing sites across the country will be enhanced with the latest digital AI technologies, ready to invite women already booked in for routine screenings on the NHS to take part. The technology will assist radiologists, screening patients to identify changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer and referred for further investigations if required. 

    Currently two specialists are needed per mammogram screening. This technology enables just one to complete the same mammogram screening process safely and efficiently. If the trial is successful, it could free up hundreds of radiologists and other specialists across the country to see more patients, tackle rising cancer rates, save more lives and cut waiting lists. 

    The EDITH trial (‘Early Detection using Information Technology in Health’) is backed by £11 million of government support via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It is the latest example of how British scientists are transforming cancer care, building on the promising potential of cutting-edge innovations to tackle one of the UK’s biggest killers. 

    Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed with the disease every year. Currently, women between the ages of 50 and 71 are invited to be screened every three years to help detect cases. This equates to around 2.1 million breast cancer screens carried out by the programme annually, helping to prevent around 1,300 deaths. 

    The launch of the trial comes as cancer experts, people living with cancer, and medical professionals are invited to help shape the development of a new National Cancer Plan via the launch of a call for evidence, being announced later today by the Health and Social Care Secretary at an event hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support to mark World Cancer Day. 

    Every four minutes, someone in the UK dies from cancer and Lord Darzi’s recent investigation into the NHS found that cancer survival in this country is worse for some cancers than some similar nations. 

    The new plan to fight one of the UK’s major conditions could help transform the way we treat cancer, making the UK a world-leader in cancer survival by fighting the disease on all fronts, through improving research, diagnosis, screening, treatment and prevention. This includes investing in the latest technologies to address rising cancer cases, recognising the vital role they’ll play in tackling the disease. 

    This government is taking the necessary steps to ensure that NHS patients will be among the first to benefit from cutting-edge medical innovations, such as the technology being tested in the EDITH trial, catapulting the service from analogue to digital to cut waiting lists and make it fit for the future, as set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. 

    Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, have already been invited to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the Change NHS online platform, which will help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. The results of this consultation will support the development of the National Cancer Plan. 

    This closely follows the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has put the UK on course to revolutionise public services and become an AI superpower – already attracting over £14 billion in investment since launching just last month. 

    Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting said: 

    As a cancer survivor, I feel like one of the lucky ones. 

    With record numbers of people diagnosed with cancer, and Lord Darzi finding that cancer survival is worse in this country than our peers, I know that urgent action is needed to save lives and improve patient care. 

    That’s why for World Cancer Day, I am committed to publishing a dedicated National Cancer Plan this year, to unleash Britain’s potential as a world-leader in saving lives from this deadly disease and make the NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change.

    Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR said: 

    This landmark trial could lead to a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, offering women faster, more accurate diagnoses when it matters most.  

    It is another example of how NIHR research, shaped and funded by the public, is crucial for rigorously testing world-leading new technologies, such as AI, that can potentially save lives while reducing the burden on the NHS.

    Due to be published later this year, the National Cancer Plan will set out targeted actions to reduce lives lost to one of the biggest killers, continue improving survival rates, and improve the experience of patients along their cancer journey. 

    It will also include specific actions for rarer cancers such as those affecting children. 

    To support this work, the government has re-launched the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce, with Dame Caroline Dinenage and Professor Darren Hargrave appointed as its co-chairs, alongside Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel as vice-chair. 

    The taskforce will bring together the country’s top experts to set out plans to improve treatment, detection, and research for cancer in children, which will feed into the National Cancer Plan. 

    NHS national clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson said: 

    The NHS is diagnosing more cancers at an early stage than ever before – when treatment is most likely to be effective – but we know we need to accelerate progress further.  

    A National Cancer Plan will give us the chance to do just that – bringing in new ideas, help us make best practice, normal practice – and ensure the NHS is at the cutting edge of new cancer developments and innovations in the future.

    Britain is a global leader in the development of advanced therapies, with a strong academic and life sciences industry, and was the first national health system in Europe to commission CAR-T cellular therapy for blood cancer patients. 

    Now, alongside the National Cancer Plan, a new UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research is being launched to provide coordination, target investment, and maximise opportunities for  the UK to lead in clinical research. This will help to unlock innovation and growth. 

    Hosted by the Association of Medical Research Charities, the Collaborative will support charities to convene expertise from across the cancer research landscape, to identify strategic priorities and cross-cutting areas of unmet need.  

    Science Minister Lord Vallance, and Health Minister Baroness Merron will see first-hand how charities, academia, industry and the NHS working hand-in-hand to support research is leading to breakthroughs for cancer patients, on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital today. Their Sutton cancer hub is hosting MANIFEST, a research project jointly led by the Francis Crick Institute, looking to better-target immunotherapy as a treatment of cancer. The Government announced £9 million funding for the project, in October. 

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:  

    Catching cancer weeks earlier could be the difference between life and death – and these trials could not only help to get women faster access to treatment but reduce pressures on our NHS. 

    Delivering on our AI Opportunities Action Plan, we are going to use AI to repair broken public services and drive forward our Plan for Change. Trials like this illustrate exactly the impact we know the technology can have – improving lives and in this case, saving them. 

    The government has committed to fixing the NHS and making it fit for the future as part of its Plan for Change. 

    Last week, the government pledged to speed up diagnosis and treatment for tens of thousands of cancer patients. From March 2026, around 100,000 more people every year will be told they have cancer or not within 28 days and around 17,000 more people will begin treatment within two months of a diagnosis. 

    This comes as part of new targets from NHS England confirming four out of five patients would receive a diagnosis or be given the all-clear within 28 days of a cancer referral – an increase to 80% on the current target of 77%. 

    The move will ensure that those with cancer are given the best chance of survival through earlier diagnosis and access to treatment.   

    It will also bring the government closer to achieving all of the cancer waiting time standards set out in the NHS Constitution, some of which haven’t been met since 2015. 

    For more information on how to contribute to the call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan, visit gov.uk. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: April pay rise set to boost pockets of over 3 million workers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government lays legislation confirming that the new National Living Wage and new National Minimum Wage will take effect from 1 April.

    • Millions of workers set for significant pay increase in April to improve living standards and drive growth  

    • Pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker as Government takes significant step towards genuine living wage  

    • Living wage boost set to put more money back into the pockets of working people and kickstart growth as part of the Plan for Change  

    Over 3 million workers in shops, restaurants and workplaces across the UK are set to receive a significant pay boost from April – putting thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working people every year. As a result of these changes, a further 4 million workers could benefit from the positive spill-over impacts of the rate increases.   

    The Government will lay legislation today that confirms a new National Living Wage of £12.21, and a new National Minimum Wage of £10.00 per hour from April.   

    Announced at last year’s Budget, the 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage which will be worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker is a significant step towards delivering the manifesto commitment to deliver a genuine living wage.  

    The National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds is also set to increase by £1.40 to £10.00 per hour – a record increase which means full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 a year.  

    An impact assessment also published today shows that these reforms will put   around £1.8 billion into the pockets of workers over the next six years – delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change to improve living standards and make working people better off.   

    The increased income is set to boost financial stability for millions of families and improve spending power which will drive economic growth.  

    Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said: 

    Economic growth only matters if working people are feeling the benefits.  

    This will be a welcome pay bump for millions of workers who in turn will spend more in the real economy boosting our high streets.  

    Our Plan for Change is putting money back into people’s pockets and delivering better living standards across the country.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:   

    This Government promised a genuine living wage for working people that will support people with the cost of living, creating a workforce that is fit and ready to help us deliver number one mission to growth the economy.  

    This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: 

    We’ve taken quick and sensible action to boost wages for millions of lower paid workers who are the backbone and future of our economy. 

    This is us fulfilling our promise to make work pay and improve living standards across the country, with record boosts to support young people and apprentices – our skilled workers of tomorrow.

    The National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount an employer must pay per hour for most workers, while the National Living Wage is the higher rate that applies to workers aged 21 and over.  

    This is the first time the National Living Wage has taken into account the cost of living and inflation and marks the first step towards aligning the National Minimum Wage for 18–20-year-olds and National Living Wage to create a single adult wage rate.  

    This will put an end to age-based wage discrimination, meaning employers can no longer be justified in paying younger workers less for doing the same job as their older colleagues.  

    The minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also set to be boosted this year, with an 18-year-old apprentice in an industry like construction seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18.0%, a pay bump from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour.       

    The April pay rise comes as the latest ONS stats showed average weekly earnings after inflation have risen at their fastest year-on-year rate in over three years.   

    This builds on the commitment to be a pro-business, pro-worker, pro-growth Government. It delivers a key plank of the Plan to Make Work Pay, which is already set to boost the pockets of some the lowest paid workers by up to £600 a year through the Employment Rights Bill.    

    The Employment Rights Bill will boost productivity by creating a secure workforce to help us deliver our first mission to kickstart economic growth.  

    Working across government, including with HMRC and Acas, we will continue to engage closely with businesses, unions and wider society to ensure that all employers are aware of the new rates and taking the steps needed to prepare for payroll changes on 1 April.  

    Low Pay Commission Chair Baroness Stroud said:  

    The increases we recommended are a big step towards making work pay and achieving a genuine living wage.   

    These rates secure a real-terms pay increase for the lowest-paid, and substantial increases for young workers make up some of the ground lost against the adult rate over time.   

    It’s important we continue to assess the effects of these changes on employers and workers; to that end, the Low Pay Commission will be consulting with both groups in the coming months.

    TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

    This government is delivering on its promise to make work pay. The increase in the national minimum wage will make a real difference to the lowest paid at a time when one in six are skipping meals to get by. And moving to end the outdated and unfair youth rates will give young workers a boost up and down the country.  

    More money in working people’s pockets means more spend on our high streets – that’s good for workers and good for local economies. After workers in the UK have been through the biggest squeeze in living standards in 200 years, this boost to working people’s pay packets is badly needed.

    Jason Davenport, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), said:  

    With continued pressure on employers, it’s imperative that we ensure the new rates are understood, implemented and paid to workers correctly.   

    Compliance can be complex with issues for employers to be alert to around, for example, salary sacrifice arrangements.   

    The CIPP urges employers and agents to get their payroll processes ready for 1 April 2025 and the CIPP is on hand with support, advice and resources to help payroll professionals and employers ensure their workers are paid compliantly.  

    Notes to editors:  

    The changes from April will mean:  

    • The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over will rise from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour.  

    • The National Minimum Wage for 18- to 20-year-olds rises from £8.60 to £10.00 per hour.  

    • The apprenticeship rate, and for 16- to 17-year-olds rises from £6.40 per hour to £7.55 per hour.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Native Village of Kipnuk Private Nonprofits Affected by the August Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Native Village of Kipnuk of the March 3, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the severe storm and flooding that occurred Aug. 16-18, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Lower Kuskokwim Regional Educational Attendance Area.

    Under this disaster declaration, PNPs that provide services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans. Eligible PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. 

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster.

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

    PNPs are also eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any physical property damage.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 3. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Orders Plan for a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund

    Source: The White House

    DELIVERING A PLAN TO CREATE A UNITED STATES SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order calling for the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

    • The Executive Order directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to deliver a plan within 90 days for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.
      • The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce will work closely with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy to develop the plan.
      • The Order directs the Secretary to include in the plan recommendations for funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structure, and a governance model.

    ENSURING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY: The creation of a sovereign wealth fund for the United States will help maximize the stewardship of our national wealth.

    • Sovereign wealth funds exist around the world as mechanisms to amplify the financial return to a nation’s assets and leverage those returns for strategic benefit and goals.
      • The United States can leverage such returns to promote fiscal sustainability, lessen the burden of taxes on American families and small businesses, establish long-term economic security, and promote U.S. economic and strategic leadership internationally.
    • The United States already holds a vast sum of highly valued assets that can be invested through a sovereign wealth fund for greater long-term wealth generation.
      • The Federal government directly holds $5.7 trillion in assets. Indirectly, including through natural resource reserves, the Federal government holds a far larger sum of asset value.

    PURSUING NATIONAL ENDEAVORS AND MAGNIFYING ECONOMIC GROWTH: President Trump has called for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund “to invest in great national endeavors for the benefit of all of the American people.”

    • President Trump’s economic policies—including the pursuit of fair and balanced trade, national energy dominance, and tax and regulatory relief to spur robust economic growth—will result in greater wealth and revenue streams that a sovereign wealth fund can maximize the potential of.
    • Sovereign wealth funds are maintained by a diverse array of countries leveraging equally varied classes of national assets. President Trump has called for a sovereign wealth fund to ensure the United States can lead the way in long-term wealth generation.
      • The United Kingdom recently announced their own plans to pursue development of such a fund.
      • In addition to countries around the world maintaining their own funds, 23 states within our own country maintain their own funds that control in total $332 billion in assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Response to U.S. tariff delay: Premier Smith

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Approves Additional $1.3 Million for Emergency Work Following Florida’s Hurricanes

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Approves Additional $1.3 Million for Emergency Work Following Florida’s Hurricanes

    FEMA Approves Additional $1.3 Million for Emergency Work Following Florida’s Hurricanes

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FEMA has approved an additional $1.3 million to reimburse Florida communities for emergency work after Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Debby. This includes: $935,244 for Marion County for debris removal (Milton).$118,386 for Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for Emergency Protective Measures (Milton).$45,745 for Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for Emergency Protective Measures (Helene).$4,374 for Talquin Electric Cooperative, Inc. for Emergency Protective Measures (Debby).$3,208 Dixie District School Board for debris removal (Debby).$7,698 for the City of Newberry for debris removal (Debby).$25,551 for the City of Newberry for Emergency Protective Measures (Debby).$7,377 for the Unity Church of Sarasota, Inc. for Emergency Protective Measures (Debby).$170,095 for St. Johns County for Emergency Protective Measures (Debby).To date, FEMA Public Assistance has provided $1.04 billion for Hurricane Milton, $416.1 million for Hurricane Helene and $112.6 million for Hurricane Debby. The money reimburses the state, local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures and debris removal. FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides reimbursement to local and state government agencies for the costs of emergency response, debris removal and restoration of disaster damaged public facilities and infrastructure. Houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations may also be eligible for FEMA Public Assistance.For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    despina.pappas
    Mon, 02/03/2025 – 22:04

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Combustor Facilities

    Source: NASA

    Combustion studies are conducted in this two-test position facility specifically in support of the NOx-reduction research for the High Speed Research program and the Advanced Subsonic Technology program. CE-5B-1 is large enough to test sector arrangements of injector elements to include interactions of the elements and single larger elements. The facility receives filtered combustion air from the 450-psig system. The air is heated in a 1,100°F non-vitiated heater at flows up to 20 lb/s, which can be valved to either test stand. The airflow passes through the test section, is water spray quenched, and is then discharged to the altitude exhaust system or the atmospheric exhaust system. The facility preheater consists of a heat exchanger fired by four J-47 burner cans using natural gas for a fuel and the 40-psig combustion air. The research hardware uses ASTM Jet-A, JP-5, or JP-8 as a fuel. 
    CE-5B-1 Special Features
    In addition to inlet and exit rakes and standard instrumentation, water-cooled gas sampling rakes are in the downstream section. Particulate measurements are taken at the exit of the combustion section. Optical accessibility of the combustor section allows never-before-possible nonintrusive laser-based diagnostics of the reacting and non-reacting flowfield. These include such techniques as planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging, Planar Mie scattering, Phase/Doppler particle analysis (PDPA), focused Schlieren imaging, and light sheet photography. Both rigs share the gas analysis, particulate analysis, and diagnostics equipment. 
    CE-5B Facility Capabilities (typical of both rigs)

    Parameter
    Operating Value

    Inlet Air Supply Pressure
    450 psig

    Inlet Air Temperature
    100°F, preheated to 350-1,350°F

    Inlet Airflow Stand 1 Stand 2 
    20 lb/s (available) 0.5 to 12.0 pps 0.5 to 5.0 pps

    Exhaust
    Atm or 20-26 in. Hg

    Rig Pressure Without Windows Stand 1 Stand 2
    275 psig 400 psig

    Rig Pressure With Windows Stand 1 Stand 2
    250 psig 275 psig

    Rig Fuel (JP-8) Flow
    7 gpm @ 400-900 psig (three legs per stand)

    Window Cooling GN2 (4 legs)
    0.125 to 0.5 pps (each leg) 

    Cooling Water
    150 gpm @ 460 psig 250 gpm @ 395 psig 50 gpm @ 350 psig 15 gpm @ 55 psig

    CE-5B-1 System Instrumentation

    System
    Number and Type

    ESP
    96 Ports of + 500 PSID Barometric Ref

    Escort
    240 Channels 154 Available to the Customer

    Thermocouples
    156 Type K 24 Type B 12 Type W 524 Type R

    Gas Analyzers
    HC – 1,000 ppm 1% & 5% CO – 2,000 ppm 5% CO2 – 5%, 10%, 20% O2 – 25% NO – 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm 1% NOx –

    Laser
    PLIF, Raman

    CE-5B-2 is one of the two test stands in the CE-5B facility. It can be configured to study lean-premixed-prevaporized (LPP) and lean-direct-injection (LDI) concepts for developing a low-NOx combustor for high-speed research and advanced subsonic applications. The non-windowed combustion flame tube can use a 3-inch square cross section or a 3-inch-diameter round section and has six ports available for gas sampling probes. The windowed combustion flame tube takes advantage of the flat walls on a 3-inch square cross section to install optical windows for non-intrusive measurements. Tests are conducted with combustion air inlet pressure ranging from 10 to 15 atmospheres with preheater and exhaust conditions described for CE-5B-1. 
    CE-5B-2 Special Features 
    The same laser-based non-intrusive diagnostics of reacting and non-reacting flowfields described for test position CE-5B-1 are available to this test section. A typical data acquisition system is used for both test positions in CE-5B. In addition, most of the optical diagnostic instruments have their own data acquisition systems.
    CE-5B Facility Capabilities (typical of both rigs)

    Parameter
    Operating Value

    Inlet Air Supply Pressure
    450 psig

    Inlet Air Temperature
    100°F, preheated to 350-1,350°F

    Inlet Airflow Stand 1 Stand 2 
    20 lb/s (available) 0.5 to 12.0 pps 0.5 to 5.0 pps

    Exhaust
    Atm or 20-26 in. Hg

    Rig Pressure Without Windows Stand 1 Stand 2
    275 psig 400 psig

    Rig Pressure With Windows Stand 1 Stand 2
    250 psig 275 psig

    Rig Fuel (JP-8) Flow
    7 gpm @ 400-900 psig (three legs per stand)

    Window Cooling GN2 (4 legs)
    0.125 to 0.5 pps (each leg) 

    Cooling Water
    150 gpm @ 460 psig 250 gpm @ 395 psig 50 gpm @ 350 psig 15 gpm @ 55 psig

    CE-5B-2 System Instrumentation

    System
    Number and Type

    ESP
    96 Ports of + 500 PSID Barometric Ref

    Escort
    240 Channels 154 Available to the Customer

    Thermocouples
    148 Type K 24 Type B 48 Type R

    Gas Analyzers
    HC – 1,000 ppm 1% & 5% CO – 2,000 ppm 5% CO2 – 5%, 10%, 20% O2 – 25% NO – 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm 1% NOx –

    Laser
    PLIF, Raman

    Test Cell CE-13 Combustion and Dynamics Facility (CDF) is used to investigate ways to reduce NOx and particulate emissions from air-breathing aircraft engines. This low-pressure (1-5 atm) facility is used to study fuel-air injection schemes and how they affect fluid mixing, emissions, dynamics, and flame stability. Jet-A fuel is the primary fuel, but candidate alternate jet fuels and their effects are also studied. Standard measurements consist of major species and dynamic pressures. Some optical measurements available are high-speed video, standard and time-resolved 2D PIV, planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF), and chemiluminescence imaging.

    CE-13C Special Features
    Research hardware is designed to flow vertically downwards. Preheated air is fed to the inlet air stream conditioner and then to the fuel injector. Fuel at room temperature is fed separately to the injector. The mixed hot air and fuel mixture moves to the combustor where combustion can be observed via customized windows. The products of combustion flow through an emission sampling ring and choke nozzle/straight outlet pipe. The fuel system consists of a 25-gallon fuel tank, a pump, and a GN2 purge. A separate laser room operates various class 3B and 4 lasers (UV, Vis, NIR) to characterize fuel injection, combustor flow, and measure combustion species.
    CE-13C Facility Capabilities

    Parameter
    Operating Value

    Inlet Air Pressure
    Ambient to 75-psia

    Inlet Air Temperature
    Ambient to 1,000°F

    Inlet Airflow
    0.0 – 1.0 pps

    Jet Fuel Supply
    CKT 1 6.9-140 pph @ 1,000-psig CKT 2 1 – 13.1 pph @ 1,000-psig 

    Exhaust
    Atmospheric

    Peripheral H2O Cooling
    54-gpm @ 100-pisg

    Quench Cooling
    11-gpm @ 500-psig

    CE-13C System Instrumentation

    System
    Number and Type

    Labview
    64 voltage/current channels 32 temperature channels 10 voltage/current channels available to the customer 30 temperature channels available to customer

    Optical and Laser
    PLIF, Raman, PIV, droplet sizing, chemiluminescence, temperature, time-resolved imaging

    Gas Analyzers
    CO – 1,000 ppm, 5,000 ppm CO2 – 5%, 15% O2 – 25% NO – 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm NOx – 100 ppm, 1,000 ppm HC –  100 ppm, 1,000 ppm 

    The SE-5 High-Pressure Combustion Diagnostics (HPCD) laboratory is a gas- and liquid-fueled high-pressure flame tube facility with single-element fuel injection burners and emission sampling ports for advanced diagnostics development and national standard calibrations. The facility provides large-aperture optical access to the primary reaction zone (flame holding) through four UV-grade fused silica optical windows (44-mm-thick by 85-mm clear apertures located around the periphery) enabling non-intrusive optical diagnostics such as laser Raman spectroscopy or high-speed imaging to measure chemical species and temperature. The HPCD rig can operate at sustained pressures up to 30 atm (or 60 atm with limited flow rate) with a variety of gaseous fuels, liquid jet fuels, and oxidizers, including hydrogen, methane, oxygen-argon, and pure oxygen. The innovative microtube array burner or micro-radial-entry counter-swirl (MRX) burner is mounted inside the air-cooled high-temperature liner casing within the rig. The burner was designed to provide a uniform combustion product zone downstream of the flame for calibrating the laser diagnostic system. The facility is also used for bench-mark tests of emission gas and particulate matters (PM) sampling. The data from the HPCD rig enables the validation of numerical codes such as powered by advanced CFD that simulate gas turbine combustors. All aspects of the facility operation, including startup, shutdown, and automatic safety shutdowns, are controlled and monitored via an icon-based touch-screen software system and a most-updated programmable logic controller (PLC) in conjunction with a precision DEWETRON data acquisition system. The HPCD rig can also provide a pressure vessel for prototype thermal or combustion hardware of a customer’s choice.
    SE-5 Special Features
    The facility is unique because it is the only continuous-flow, hydrogen-capable 60-atm rig in the world with optical access. It will provide researchers with new insights into flame conditions that simulate the environment inside the ultra-high pressure-ratio combustion chambers of tomorrow’s advanced aircraft engines.
    SE-5 Facility Capabilities

    Parameter
    Operating Value

    Cooling Capacity
    4,000,000 BTU/hr

    Equivalence Ratio Variance
    0.2 (fuel very lean) – 4 (fuel rich)

    Fuel Flow Rate
    Limited by cooling capacity, e.g., 2 GPH of n-heptane

    Operating Pressure
    30 atm nominal, 60 atm max

    Cooling Airflow
    0.25 lbm/s max

    Quenching Airflow
    0.20 lbm/s max 

    SE-5 System Instrumentation and Diagnostics

    System
    Number and Type

    Pressure Transducers and Thermocouples
    Custom

    DEWETRON DAQ
    Custom

    Emission Gas Sampling (Exhaust)
    NO, NOx, SOx, O2, CO, CO2

    Particulates Sampling (Exhaust)
    Mass (TSI), counter (TSI), In-line sensor (GRC in-house)

    Laser Raman Spectroscopy (In Flame)
    Custom

    In-situ Soot Detection
    Extinction measurements

    The Particulate Aerosol Laboratory (PAL) studies aerosols at simulated upper atmospheric conditions with altitudes up to 55,000 feet at -135°F. Altitude chamber environment and burner settings are individually controlled, creating a multitude of test parameters and a dynamic testing environment. The PAL facility is designed around a small-scale jet exhaust nozzle and altitude chamber and takes full advantage of its reduced size for screening of various alternative fuels, additives, and other combustion concepts. This makes PAL the ideal facility for validating the advancement of such research to the next phase. 
    Combustion fuel operation capabilities include alternative fuel additive mixing in real-time mode with switching between a baseline fuel and an alternative fuel while maintaining a continuous combustion flame. Heated bypass air is available with optional external burner and associated piping heating up to 1,000°F. Additionally, PAL is enhancing its cloud simulation capability with real-time atmospheric water vapor content readings and on-demand direct liquid injector vaporizers for high purity 100% fluid vaporization.

    SE-11 Special Features 
    Particulate emission sample extraction taking at burner rear section. Chamber equipped with windows and fused silica lenses providing optical access for non-intrusive optical diagnostic Mie scattering and color video imaging. Particulate size and number density measurements are accomplished with absorption measurements and forward, back, and side scattering. Video capability of both burner flame and altitude chamber contrails. Optical measurement plane location relative to the chamber nozzle exit is adjustable.
    SE-11 Facility Capabilities

    Parameter
    Operating Value

    Burner Fuel Flow Rate
    .2 – 9.9 ml/min various liquid fuels

    Burner Air
    -Filtered and dried -Downstream heated or non-heated bypass air available to ≤1,000°F

    Burner EGT
    ≤1,000° F

    Particle Sizing Range
    2.5-1,000 nm

    Particle Size Distribution Concentration Range
    10-107 particles/cm³

    Aerosol Particle Size Range
    .75-10 nm

    Gas Composition Analyzer
    CO – CO₂ – O₂

    Optic Light Source
    300W Xenon Lamp

    Optic Video
    -32-bit Color -16-bit Monochrome, -Frame rate: 15fps

    Optic Detectors
    Selection of Various Spectrometers and Photodiodes

    NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland provides ground test facilities to industry, government, and academia. If you are considering testing in one of our facilities or would like further information about a specific facility or capability, please let us know.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Presses Forward Search for VIPER Moon Rover Partner

    Source: NASA

    To advance plans of securing a public/private partnership and land and operate NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission on the Moon in collaboration with industry the agency announced Monday it is seeking U.S. proposals. As part of the agency’s Artemis campaign, instruments on VIPER will demonstrate U.S. industry’s ability to search for ice on the lunar surface and collect science data.
    The Announcement for Partnership Proposal contains proposal instructions and evaluation criteria for a new Lunar Volatiles Science Partnership. Responses are due Thursday, Feb. 20. After evaluating submissions, any selections by the agency will require respondents to submit a second, more detailed, proposal. NASA is expected to make a decision on the VIPER mission this summer.
    “Moving forward with a VIPER partnership offers NASA a unique opportunity to engage with the private sector,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Such a partnership provides the opportunity for NASA to collect VIPER science that could tell us more about water on the Moon, while advancing commercial lunar landing capabilities and resource prospecting possibilities.”
    This new announcement comes after NASA issued a Request for Information on Aug. 9, 2024, to seek interest from American companies and institutions in conducting a mission using the agency’s VIPER Moon rover after the program was canceled in July 2024.
    Any partnership would work under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. This type of partnership allows both NASA and an industry partner to contribute services, technology, and hardware to the collaboration.
    As part of an agreement, NASA would contribute the existing VIPER rover as-is. Potential partners would need to arrange for the integration and successful landing of the rover on the Moon, conduct a science/exploration campaign, and disseminate VIPER-generated science data. The partner may not disassemble the rover and use its instruments or parts separately from the VIPER mission. NASA’s selection approach will favor proposals that enable data from the mission’s science instruments to be shared openly with anyone who wishes to use it.
    “Being selected for the VIPER partnership would benefit any company interested in advancing their lunar landing and surface operations capabilities,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in the Science Mission Directorate. “This solicitation seeks proposals that clearly describe what is needed to successfully land and operate the rover, and invites industry to propose their own complementary science goals and approaches. NASA is looking forward to partnering with U.S. industry to meet the challenges of performing volatiles science in the lunar environment.”
    The Moon is a cornerstone for solar system science and exoplanet studies. In addition to helping inform where ice exists on the Moon for potential future astronauts, understanding our nearest neighbor helps us understand how it has evolved and what processes shaped its surface. 
    To learn more about NASA’s lunar science, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/moon
    -end-
    Karen FoxHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100karen.fox@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Leads All Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats IN Letters Demanding Answers From FBI, DOJ Nominees, Acting Attorney General, And Acting FBI Director On Trump Administration Forcing Out DOJ And FBI Officials

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in letters to President Trump’s nominee to be the Attorney General of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Pam Bondi; nominee to be the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel; nominee to be Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche; as well as the Acting Attorney General,  James McHenry; and Acting FBI Director, Brian Driscoll, about the removal or reassignment across DOJ and FBI of career law enforcement officials. Last week, the Trump Administration reportedly purged dozens of DOJ and FBI officials involved in prosecuting Donald Trump and the January 6 rioters and is now threatening additional action against thousands of employees across the country who worked on investigations related to the attack on the Capitol.

    In addition to Durbin, the letters were signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

    The Senators wrote, “We have grave concerns about the removal or reassignment across the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of senior career civil servants who have served honorably under multiple administrations, regardless of the President’s party. The removals and reassignments from their positions of a significant number of experienced, nonpartisan Department officials with invaluable national security expertise without any comparable replacements one day into the second Trump Administration presents an alarming threat to national security. As many as 20 senior Department officials were reassigned or removed, including the veteran career deputy assistant attorneys general in the Department’s National Security Division.”

    The Senators continued, “Our alarm has only grown in the past two weeks as this purge of experienced career prosecutors and agents has expanded to include the removal or forced retirement of all six Executive Assistant Directors (EADs), including the EADs who oversee the National Security Branch, Intelligence Branch, and the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch; as well as the Assistant Directors and the Special Agents in Charge of at least four major field offices. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered these actions in a January 31, 2025 memo, stating, ‘I do not believe the current leadership of the Justice Department can trust these FBI employees to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully.’ Similarly, more than a dozen senior Department prosecutors were fired after receiving memos from Acting Attorney General McHenry stating: ‘Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully.’ Retaliating against these career public servants who were simply doing the work assigned to them is outrageous and unacceptable.”

    Over the weekend, thousands of FBI personnel across the country were asked to complete a questionnaire by today, Monday, February 3, at 3pm. The survey asks for their job title, whether they worked on a case related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol, “if they were involved in the arrest of a Jan. 6 suspect, if they testified at a trial, if they interviewed witnesses, if they conducted surveillance on suspects and more.” It has also been reported that the Acting FBI Director is being advised by an advisory committee comprised of partisan political operators, including an Elon Musk affiliate. This is a stark departure from the longstanding tradition that the FBI Director is the only political appointee in the Bureau.

    “As America faces a heightened threat landscape, these shocking removals and reassignments deprive DOJ and the FBI of experienced, senior leadership and decades of experience fighting violent crime, espionage, and terrorism. As the FBI Agents Association stated in response to reports about the removal of FBI officials: ‘Dismissing potentially hundreds of Agents would severely weaken the Bureau’s ability to protect the country from national security and criminal threats and will ultimately risk setting up the Bureau and its new leadership for failure,’” the Senators wrote. “Moreover, the firing of dozens of federal prosecutors and hundreds of agents will cripple FBI field offices and U.S. Attorney’s offices across the country. We can only assume these decisions are intended to prevent the Department from investigating national security and public corruption, while also serving as political retribution against the President’s perceived enemies and stoking fear among the dedicated and talented workforce in our nation’s premier law enforcement agency.”

    In the letter, the Senators state that the Senate Judiciary Committee has a constitutional obligation to perform oversight over the Department and its components, and to provide advice and consent on the nominations of officers to lead it. To that end, they request various information to be returned to the Committee in response to the removal of FBI and DOJ officials. They also request answers from these individuals about their involvement.

    The full letter to AG nominee Pam Bondi can be found here.

    The full letter to FBI Director nominee Kash Patel can be found here.

    The full letter to Deputy AG nominee Todd Blanche can be found here.

    The full letter to Acting AG McHenry and Acting FBI Director Driscoll can be found here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Elections 2025 – are you Porirua Proud?

    Source: Porirua City Council

    It’s an election year, and we’re asking people in Porirua to show how much they care about their city. This year you’ll decide who represents you around the Council table. There will also be a poll on whether the city should keep its Māori ward.
    There are three phases to an election year – enrol, stand, and vote.
    Council’s Manager Democratic Services, Jack Marshall, says while the election is just over eight months away, now is a great time to find out more. You can check you’re enrolled and, if you’re interested, start thinking about standing for Council. You can find out online anytime whether you’re enrolled for the general or Māori roll.
    “We’ll be out and about at events across our city (including Waitangi Day), helping people to show how ‘Porirua Proud’ they are. Come have a chat about enrolling, standing, or how voting works,” Jack says.
    “Our mayor and councillors make key decisions on how the city is run and these decisions impact our lives every day.
    “Council is responsible for delivering essential services and infrastructure like roading, rubbish, recycling, the landfill, three waters, animal control, planning and building consents, as well as things like parks, reserves, sports fields and events that help make Porirua the great place it is.
    “If you’ve ever thought about being mayor or a councillor, now’s the time to start thinking about standing. Come help ensure the Council reflects our diverse and vibrant city.”
    Local elections are by postal vote, with voting closing on 11 October. Porirua has a mayor, and 10 councillors, which includes one councillor for the Parirua Māori Ward.
    A key decision to be made this election by voters is whether the city should keep its Māori ward.
    “There are big decisions to be made for our city’s future. Make sure your voice is heard – either by voting or by standing,” Jack says.
    Check you’re enrolled at vote.nz or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union: While Tariffs Pause, U.S. and Canadian Workers Should Have Seat at Table

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2025 – Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement following a pause of proposed U.S.-Canadian tariffs.

    “As the largest aerospace and defense labor union in the United States and Canada, the IAM Union is relieved that destructive tariffs between our two allied countries are being paused. A new path forward—one that doesn’t put U.S. and Canadian workers in a needless cycle of worrying about job loss due to tariff threats between allies—is possible. This moment offers the perfect opportunity for workers and unions from both countries to be a part of the solution moving forward. 

    “For decades, we have seen millions of good-paying, high-skilled U.S. and Canadian jobs outsourced to countries with little to no labor rights. Thanks to bad trade deals, tens of thousands of good IAM Union aerospace and defense jobs have become low-wage jobs in Mexico, while China has used forced technology offsets to create its own aerospace industry. This race-to-the-bottom model is being replicated by other bad actors across the globe – and it’s hurting all workers, as well as our shared national security. 

    “We have a chance right now to pull all stakeholders – government, business and labor – together to forge a real, comprehensive strategy to protect and grow critical manufacturing here in the United States and Canada. Workers on the both sides of the border deserve to drive policy conversations about their livelihoods, not be pawns in a larger political discussion.”  

    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Announces Its Net Asset Value and Asset Coverage Ratios as of January 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: KYN) today provided a summary unaudited statement of assets and liabilities and announced its net asset value and asset coverage ratios under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as of January 31, 2025.

    As of January 31, 2025, the Company’s net assets were $2.4 billion, and its net asset value per share was $14.46. As of January 31, 2025, the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness was 623% and the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to total leverage (debt and preferred stock) was 476%.

     STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
    JANUARY 31, 2025   // (UNAUDITED)    		      
           
        (in millions)      
    Investments   $ 3,450.6        
    Cash and cash equivalents     1.8        
    Accrued income     9.9        
    Current tax asset, net     6.4        
    Other assets     0.4        
    Total assets     3,469.1        
               
    Credit facility     87.0        
    Notes     409.7        
    Unamortized notes issuance costs     (2.7 )      
    Preferred stock     153.6        
    Unamortized preferred stock issuance costs     (1.3 )      
    Total leverage     646.3        
               
    Payable for securities purchased     18.8        
    Other liabilities     16.3        
    Deferred tax liability, net     342.8        
    Total liabilities     377.9        
               
    Net assets   $ 2,444.9        
               

    The Company had 169,126,038 common shares outstanding as of January 31, 2025.

    Long-term investments were comprised of Midstream Energy Companies (94%), Utility Companies (4%) and Other (2%).  

    The Company’s ten largest holdings by issuer at January 31, 2025 were:

          Amount
    (in millions)*    		   % Long Term
    Investments
    1. Energy Transfer LP (Midstream Energy Company)   $390.7   11.3 %
    2. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Midstream Energy Company)     338.2   9.8 %
    3. The Williams Companies, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     327.6   9.5 %
    4. MPLX LP (Midstream Energy Company)     320.4   9.3 %
    5. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)               256.3   7.4 %
    6. Targa Resources Corp. (Midstream Energy Company)     208.8   6.1 %
    7. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     207.3   6.0 %
    8. ONEOK, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company)     183.1   5.3 %
    9. TC Energy Corporation (Midstream Energy Company)     155.6   4.5 %
    10. Western Midstream Partners, LP (Midstream Energy Company)     151.2   4.4 %
                   
    * Includes ownership of common and preferred units.            
                   

    Portfolio holdings are subject to change without notice. The mention of specific securities is not a recommendation or solicitation for any person to buy, sell or hold any particular security. You can obtain a complete listing of holdings by viewing the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual report.

    Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Company’s investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Company’s most recent quarterly report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider any investor’s specific objectives or circumstances. Before investing, please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.kaynefunds.com or www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment objectives will be attained.

    Contact investor relations at 877-657-3863 or cef@kayneanderson.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Unwritten rules: why claims of a missing ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty don’t stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology

    I sign this Treaty with my hand, but with the mana of my ancestors.

    So said Hōne Heke, the first rangatira (chief) to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. To emphasise the gravity of this sentiment, he then mentioned two of his predecessors by name: Kaharau and Kauteawha.

    It would be difficult to imagine a statement that could invest more mana in the Treaty than this. And Heke was not alone in his view of the agreement.

    Many other rangatira similarly regarded the Treaty as a kawenata (covenant) of utmost importance, including some going as far as putting a representation of their tā moko (facial tattoo) on the document.

    How each rangatira interpreted the Treaty’s provisions remains open to speculation. But what they committed themselves to abiding by was the text of the agreement (either the English version, or in the case of most signatories, the translation in te reo Māori).

    That text was comprised of a preamble, followed by three operative articles. Some rangatira read it, some had it read to them. But as far as all the parties were concerned, that was the entirety of the Treaty.

    In the 1990s, however, suggestions began to surface about a mysterious “fourth article” guaranteeing religious protections. It was not part of the text, but supposedly a verbal promise that amounted to a provision of the agreement.

    The idea has gained sufficient traction for supporters to petition parliament late last year to recognise the fourth article, just as debate about the Treaty Principles Bill was heating up. But it is a claim that needs to be treated with caution and scrutiny.

    Religious protections

    Prior to the first signing of the Treaty – at Waitangi – the Anglican missionary Henry Williams had observed that some Catholic rangatira were reluctant to commit to the agreement.

    The Catholic Bishop, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, had queried British motives and insisted Catholic rangatira should receive specific protection from the Crown. Williams then read out a hastily-prepared statement to clarify the issue:

    The Governor wishes you to understand that all the Maories (sic) who shall join the Church of England, who shall join the Wesleyans, who shall join the Pikopo or Church of Rome, and those who retain their Maori practices, shall have the protection of the British Government.

    Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Williams noted that this statement “was received in silence. No observation was made upon it; the Maories, and others, being at perfect loss to understand what it could mean.”

    And there the matter ought to have ended: a peripheral detail in a momentous day. But this minor episode was disinterred from its historical obscurity in 1995 at a meeting of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

    The clerics announced that a “fourth article was added to the Maori text of the Treaty signed at Waitangi, at the request of Bishop Jean Baptiste […] This article guaranteed religious freedom for all in the new nation, including Maori.”

    Some Anglicans soon endorsed this position. The “fourth article” thus entered the bloodstream of Treaty discourse and began to circulate freely.

    Missing evidence

    There are several objections to the claim of a fourth article of the Treaty.

    Firstly, if it was regarded as a part of the Treaty at the signing on February 6 1840, then we would expect to see both contemporaneous confirmation of this, and subsequent evidence that is consistent with it.

    Yet, these categories of evidence are largely absent. Indeed, mention of a “fourth article” before the 1990s does not exist.

    The sentiment of the fourth article is also absent from the instructions for the Treaty issued by Lord Normanby, British Secretary of State for the Colonies, in 1839.

    Indeed, far from the Crown wishing to guarantee freedom of cultural or religious beliefs, Normanby made it explicit that only those Māori customs the British regarded as acceptable would be protected:

    [The] savage practices of human sacrifice and cannibalism must be promptly and decisively interdicted; such atrocities, under whatever plea of religion they may take place, are not to be tolerated in any part of the dominions of the British Crown.

    Therefore, as far as one party to the Treaty was concerned, the idea of the fourth article was never in contention. What was explicitly promised to all people was the protection of the British government, and not the protection of all customs held by Māori.

    Treaties are written

    As every other contemporaneous source confirms, no rangatira sought this fourth article, and around 90% of rangatira who signed the Treaty (in places other than Waitangi) did not have this so-called fourth article read to them (and so could not have consented to it).

    William Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Nor was it included in the text of copies of the agreement that were subsequently circulated around the country, and neither Hobson nor Pompallier suggested it was an “article” as such.

    International law requires that treaties be in a written form. This certainly has been the convention as far as European treaties are concerned, extending back several centuries.

    It makes any suggestion Hobson admitted an oral article extremely problematic. Likewise, New Zealand’s domestic law also specifies the Treaty contains only three articles.

    Furthermore, if spoken commitments have the status of an article, then what about other verbal commitments made at some of the Treaty signings? Singling out one statement as a presumed article is inconsistent. Either the principle of all verbal commitments in such a setting constitute articles of the Treaty, or none does.

    Previous attempts to insert the fourth article into the country’s constitutional framework have gone nowhere. And in the absence of more persuasive historical evidence, it’s likely to stay that way.

    As the late Kingi Tūheitia succinctly put it: “The Treaty is written. That’s it.”

    Paul Moon 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. Unwritten rules: why claims of a missing ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty don’t stack up – https://theconversation.com/unwritten-rules-why-claims-of-a-missing-fourth-article-of-the-treaty-dont-stack-up-248539

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –