NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues to White House: “Immediately Reverse” Damaging, Unconstitutional Cuts to Job Corps

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the Trump administration attempting to shutter the nation’s largest jobs training program for low-income and at-risk young people, Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside 39 of his Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to reverse the unconstitutional and illegal cuts to the Job Corps program that are harming student and communities in Maine and across the country. These cuts have left 25,000 students and thousands of staff across 99 Job Corps centers in the lurch, including nearly 500 Maine students and nearly 270 Maine employees

    “The Administration’s decision to illegally and abruptly terminate Job Corps center operations has left 25,000 students and thousands of staff across 99 Job Corps centers in the lurch,” wrote the senators. “The sudden ‘pause’ of operations at Job Corps centers puts young people’s lives at risk, especially a significant number of students who were experiencing homelessness before arriving to the program. Local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the centers and will lose their livelihoods.” 

    “We urge you to immediately reverse this decision to prevent a lapse in education and services for Job Corps students. We further urge that the Department restart enrollments, expeditiously restart background checks, and make any contract extensions or modifications necessary to ensure no interruptions or delays for students or program operations,” concluded the senators. 

    For more than 60 years, Job Corps has helped millions of young people in rural communities and cities alike to finish high school, learn technical skills and get good-paying jobs while providing stable housing, medical and mental health care, and other supportive services. Through Job Corps programs, young people receive the training they need to start in good-paying jobs that support their communities after graduation – including as wildland firefighters, nurses, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, and welders. Last month, however, the Trump administration indefinitely ‘paused’ operations at Job Corps sites across the country. 

    Joining Senator King on the letter are Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL.), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI.), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA). 

    Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. He previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared” and a speech where he shared his growing concerns over the Trump Administration’s usurpation of Congressional authority. Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. Previously, he joined 36 Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sharing the detrimental effects of  the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and has also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.

    The full text of the letter is available here and below.

    +++

    Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer:

    We write to express our grave concern with the “pause” of operations that began at Job Corps centers on May 29, 2025, which will harm students and local economies in every state across the country. The Administration’s decision to illegally and abruptly terminate Job Corps center operations has left 25,000 students and thousands of staff across 99 Job Corps centers in the lurch. The sudden “pause” of operations at Job Corps centers puts young people’s lives at risk, especially a significant number of students who were experiencing homelessness before arriving to the program. Local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the centers and will lose their livelihoods.

    We urge you to immediately reverse this decision to prevent a lapse in education and services for Job Corps students. We further urge that the Department restart enrollments, expeditiously restart background checks, and make any contract extensions or modifications necessary to ensure no interruptions or delays for students or program operations. Congress passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps and ensures that Job Corps Centers are funded for the new program year that begins on July 1, 2025. We write to remind you of your obligation to faithfully implement the law.

    Since 1964, Job Corps has helped millions of low-income or at-risk young people develop the skills and resilience needed to succeed in work and life. As the largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16-24, Job Corps programs help students complete their high school education, learn high-value technical skills, and connect to employment through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting while providing stable housing, medical and mental health care, and other supportive services to ensure their success. At a time when more than 72 percent of jobs will require training beyond a high school diploma, Job Corps provides students with the opportunity to become wildland firefighters, nurses, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, CDL drivers and welders and more.

    Job Corps centers operate in rural and metropolitan regions nationwide and contribute to their local communities and economies. Many centers have partnered with employers, local workforce development boards, government agencies, and community-based organizations to develop the future workforce and meet the needs of local employers.

    Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. Rather than gutting this valuable program, we urge you to work with Congress to strengthen accountability and program quality for the betterment of young workers, employers needing skilled labor, and communities nationwide, such as reforms included in the bipartisan, bicameral WIOA reauthorization bill from last Congress. We request that you provide written answers to the following questions as soon as possible, but not later than June 20, 2025.

    1. Please provide a list of onboard strength (enrollment) at each center before January 20, 2025 and before the operations pause on May 28, 2025.
    2. With Job Corps operations on pause, how does the department plan to fulfill its obligations to implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which includes $1,760,155,00 for Job Corps serving students?
    3. Please provide information on the number of students experiencing homelessness prior to enrollment at a Job Corps center based on enrollment at each center on May 28, 2025.
    4. Please provide a list of every contract that has been terminated or modified since January 20, 2025, including the total amount of funds to each operator, the amount of funds that each operator has spent up to the date of the contract’s termination or modification, and the amount of remaining unspent funds for each contract.
    5. What authority is the Department using to “pause” operations? Please provide a citation in law or regulation.
    6. The concept of a “pause” does not exist in Job Corps authorizing statute and appears to be an attempt to illegally shut down Job Corps operations without following requirements in law. Section 159 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) includes clear requirements and processes for the closure of Job Corps Centers that were not followed in this “pause”. How does the Department define a “pause” and how is it different than a “termination”?
    7. On April 25, 2025, the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released the first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report, which is used throughout the DOL press release to pause operations at centers.
      1. Centers have returned funding to DOL when enrollments were lower than expected (but that’s not reflected in this report.) Please provide an updated cost per enrollee that accounts for money returned to DOL.
      2. The report also provides cost per enrollee based on enrollment from program year 2023. DOL has much more up-to-date enrollment numbers. Please provide an updated cost per enrollee with the enrollments on campuses as of May 28, 2025, incorporating onboard strength at each campus.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The answer to global energy security

    Alberta’s energy industry contributes billions of dollars to Alberta’s economy and plays a vital role in the global responsible energy supply.

    Premier Danielle Smith, Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean, and other government officials will attend the Global Energy Show from June 10 to 12 to welcome international delegates and promote Alberta’s responsible energy development. Their participation will focus on strengthening Alberta’s position as a trusted energy partner, advancing investment opportunities, and highlighting the province’s role in reducing global energy poverty through secure, sustainable supply.

    With current geopolitical challenges, Alberta’s role in energy security has never been more important for Canada’s stability and that of our trading partners, particularly in North America and Asia.

    “Alberta’s energy industry has been built from the ground up by innovative minds who saw opportunity where others see challenges – and they continue to do so today. Thanks to this ingenuity, Alberta has risen in the global ranks as an energy powerhouse with an equally strong environmental record. With global demand for energy security at an all-time high, Alberta stands ready to provide the solutions our partners need.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    “The world needs reliable, responsible and affordable energy from a producer they can trust. Alberta’s vast resources are positioned to meet long-term energy demand and will be key in obtaining North American and global energy security and helping defeat energy poverty. We intend to showcase this to attendees from all over the world at this year’s Global Energy Show.”

    Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals

    While at the Global Energy Show, Premier Smith and Minister Jean will meet with international officials and business leaders to promote Alberta’s energy sector and vast resource base. Their discussions will focus on strengthening Alberta’s position as a reliable resource partner, identifying new opportunities to meet evolving energy needs, and reducing global reliance on energy from conflict zones.

    “As Canada’s largest international energy gathering, the event will address critical issues including energy security, affordability, access and investment. With delegates from over 100 countries, Calgary will highlight Canada’s leadership in shaping the future of energy at home and globally.”

    Nick Samain, Senior Vice President at dmg events

    The conference is an annual event in Calgary, the heart of Canada’s energy sector, and will take place at the BMO Centre with numerous panels, keynote speakers and opportunities for delegates to network.

    Related information

    • Global Energy Show

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Default ahead for California? Unlikely, says New Report From Payden & Rygel’s California Municipal Social Impact Fund Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recent concerns over California’s fiscal health—driven by declining initial public offering (IPO) volume, reduced federal funding risk, and rising costs—have prompted questions about the state’s financial stability. However, after a thorough analysis, Payden & Rygel’s market-leading municipal bond team believes the risk of a bond default or severe credit deterioration remains low.

    “While we understand investors’ concerns about the California economy, its capacity to generate adequate revenue to match spending levels and the potential impact on the state’s municipal debt, we believe that although the revenue picture is softening, the outlook remains relatively stable over the next 1-2 years with potential credit rating deterioration limited to just one notch over that timeframe in a worst case scenario. Near term ratings will hinge on the final FY 26 budget that we expect Sacramento to pass by June 15th, otherwise lawmakers don’t get paid,” say the report’s authors, the Payden & Rygel’s California Municipal Social Impact Fund team.

    “We are also closely monitoring the evolution of entitlement spending reduction proposals at the federal level but ultimately expect Medicaid cuts to be less pervasive than currently feared,” they added.

    Here are six reasons to be optimistic:

    Reason 1: Legal structure.

    The 10th amendment prohibits states, including California, from filing for bankruptcy. While defaults are technically possible, California is nowhere near default based on current indicators.

    Reason 2: Strong revenues, limited impact from IPO weakness

    With less than a month in the current fiscal year, tax revenues are weakening but remain strong, with Governor Newsom’s recent May Revision projecting a relatively small $12 billion projected for next year. IPO activity, while down, is not a core revenue driver. Its recent decline reflects a normalization post-COVID stimulus, not a structural weakness.

    Reason 3: Credit ratings are stable

    All three major credit agencies S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch—rate California AA-/Aa2/AA, respectively, all with stable outlooks but we expect the ratings agencies to refine their views this summer following the finalization of the FY 2026 budget process by the end of June.

    Reason 4: A strong economy with healthy reserves

    California’s gross domestic product (GDP) ranks #4 globally, recently surpassing Japan, underscoring a broad, diverse and innovative state economy with a deep employment base. Although reserves have dipped since 2023 due to pandemic fund drawdowns and budgetary uncertainty in FY 2023/2024 due to delayed tax receipts, they remain at comparatively strong levels historically that will grant state leadership time to navigate federal policy uncertainty, which Governor Newsom blames for a softening of revenue.

    Reason 5: Manageable liabilities

    Debt service is low at 3–4% of governmental expenditures, and pension funding remains solid. Because of constitutional protections that prioritize education and debt payments, revenue would need to drop over 50% to threaten debt service. For context, State revenues dropped 15% in 2008.

    Reason 6: Credit conditions are weakening but remain healthy

    Despite uncertainty, California retains healthy credit fundamentals with relatively stable ratings, manageable deficits, excellent access to liquidity and conservative budgeting assumptions that support bondholder confidence.

    In summary, while recent headlines surrounding tariffs, fiscal tightening, and economic uncertainty have contributed to heightened market anxiety, our base case remains firm: Although California’s credit profile is softening, it continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by a vast and diversified tax base, substantial reserve levels across all governmental funds, and long-term liabilities that we consider both moderate and manageable.

    Here is a link to the full report.

    ABOUT PAYDEN & RYGEL

    With $165 billion under management, Payden & Rygel is one of the largest privately-owned global investment advisers focused on the active management of fixed income and equity portfolios. Payden & Rygel provides a full range of investment strategies and solutions to investors around the globe, including Central Banks, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies, Private Banks, and Foundations. 

    This material reflects the firm’s current opinion and is subject to change without notice. Sources for the material contained herein are deemed reliable but cannot be guaranteed. This material is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or buy any security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

    For press requests, please contact:
    Kate Ennis
    ennis@daipartnerspr.com
    301-580-6726

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/367a23d6-9d21-429c-a5ea-634d52a11acd

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f85ccbe4-4c3a-4ee8-a197-5f8be8382a85

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada’s new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must be prepared – to defend our people and our values, to secure our sovereignty, and to protect our Allies. We must be prepared to lead and to shape a more stable and prosperous world. This entails government recognizing our new realities and investing in the measures required to meet this moment.

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada’s new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces.

    With this increase, Canada will achieve NATO’s 2 per cent target this year – half a decade ahead of schedule – and further accelerate our investments in years to follow, consistent with our security imperatives. The investment for 2025-26 will be over $9 billion.

    Measures in this plan include:

    • Better pay for Canadian Armed Forces, improved recruitment and retention, and investments to support operational readiness, fleet maintenance, security, and infrastructure requirements.
    • New aircraft, armed vehicles, and ammunition, as well as support for projects currently underway.
    • Developing new drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.
    • Repairing and maintaining existing ships, aircraft, and other assets.
    • More health care funding and staff for Armed Forces personnel.
    • Expanding the reach, security mandate, and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard and integrating it into our NATO defence capabilities – to better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance.
    • Bolstering Canada’s defence industrial capacity.
    • Building capacity in artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum, and space.
    • Modern and secure digital infrastructure.

    The plan will support key capabilities, including:

    • Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar
    • Joint Counter-Drone Program
    • Joint Support Ships
    • Long-range precision strike capability
    • Increased domestic ammunition production
    • Additional logistics utility vehicles, light utility vehicles, and armoured vehicles

    This government will also undertake efforts to support veterans, including modernizing the benefits system so veterans get supports sooner, streamlining military trade credentials in the civilian sectors, and improving health services for women veterans.

    Canada requires these capabilities to uphold and assert its sovereignty and ensure our defence never becomes dependent on others again. As we strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces, we will also build up Canadian industry, driving innovation and creating good careers for Canadian workers and new opportunities for Canadian businesses. Now more than ever, we need to defend our sovereignty and safeguard Canada’s people and interests.

    Quotes

    “In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must assert its sovereignty. We will rapidly procure new equipment and technology, build our defence industrial capacity, and meet our NATO defence commitment this year. Canada will seize this opportunity with urgency and determination.”

    “For generations, Canadians have served our country with honour, and today, we renew our promise to stand behind them. We are equipping our Armed Forces with the capabilities and support they need to protect Canadians and uphold our commitments around the world. This historic investment will strengthen our sovereignty and invest in the Canadian economy – growing a world-class defence industry that fuels innovation and job creation.”

    Related Product

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Pride Month, Davids Introduces Bill Supporting LGBTQI+ Youth Mental Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, during Pride Month, Representative Sharice Davids reintroduced her legislation to improve mental health support for at-risk LGBTQI+ youth. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of American teenagers found that LGBTQI+ students report significantly worse mental health than other students. Also, nearly 40 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens said they considered committing suicide in 2023. The Pride in Mental Health Act works to improve physical and mental health in at-risk youth.

    “Children here in Kansas and across the country continue to struggle with mental health challenges, but we are failing many of our most vulnerable children on this issue,” said Davids. “My Pride in Mental Health Act takes a comprehensive and data-driven approach to tackling the mental health crisis among LGBTQI+ youth. By increasing access to mental health support for our children and teens, we can save lives.”

    Specifically, the Pride in Mental Health Act:

    • Increases mental health support for LGBTQI+ youth by updating care standards, developing training for caregivers, identifying school bullying prevention guidelines, and more.
    • Protects at-risk youth by commissioning a report on the mental health and mental health care of LGBTQI+ youth in foster care and other federal social services programs.
    • Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to review and update resources listed on their website that pertain to LGBTQI+ communities.

    The Pride in Mental Health Act has been endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, National Education Association (NEA), Advocates for Trans Equality, PFLAG National, American Psychological Association (APA), Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The Trevor Project, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    “As someone who faced firsthand the challenges of growing up LGBTQI+ while struggling with their mental health, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can be,” said Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “Across the country, LGBTQI+ youth face alarmingly high rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and disproportionate representation in the foster care system. For too long, we’ve failed to meet their needs with the compassion and support they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Pride in Mental Health Act with Rep. Sharice Davids to confront these disparities head-on and ensure every young LGBTQI+ person has access to the care and support they need to thrive.”

    “Young people across the country are struggling right now with unprecedented levels of depression and mental health challenges, and it is felt most acutely among LGBTQ+ youth,” said Congressman Sorensen (IL-17). “It’s important this Pride Month that we help our vulnerable youth access the mental health care, treatment, and resources they need to live happy and healthy lives as their full selves. I’m proud to work with my fellow Equality Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Davids and Torres, to address this crisis head-on. With this legislation, we can improve and save lives.”

    “On behalf of PFLAGers everywhere, I thank Rep. Davids for introducing this important bill providing tools and accountability to SAMHSA,” said Brian K. Bond, CEO, PFLAG National. “Across races, places, genders, and abilities, all people — including LGBTQ+ youth — deserve to thrive as their authentic selves. This bill will ensure access to and measurement of critical behavioral health services, especially for trans youth who are facing unprecedented attacks by people who are seeking to remove the most basic access to healthcare of all kinds.”

    “The LGBTQ+ community faces significant barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Ensuring access to early intervention and comprehensive, evidence-based treatment are essential to helping LGBTQ+ individuals with mental health conditions to live well. The Pride in Mental Health Act helps ensure that all individuals affected by mental illness receive the care and support they need and deserve to lead healthy, fulfilling lives within a supportive and inclusive community. NAMI is grateful to Rep. Davids for introducing this legislation and proud to support this important bill.”

    “Passing the Pride in Mental Health Act would provide vital resources to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and shine a necessary spotlight on the serious mental health crisis facing our country,” said Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, yet half of those who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. It’s clear that we need more resources to end suicide among this high-risk group, and this legislation creates a critical avenue for providing the resources, data, and awareness we need to help LGBTQ+ young people across the country lead the happy, healthy lives they deserve.”

    “The reintroduction of the Pride in Mental Health Act is a critical step toward closing the persistent behavioral health gaps experienced by LGBTQ+ youth,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. “Decades of psychological research show that access to affirming, evidence-based care dramatically improves outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. This legislation affirms a simple but powerful principle: every young person deserves the support they need to thrive — without fear, stigma, or discrimination. We commend Representative Sharice Davids for her bold leadership and steadfast commitment to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.”

    “LGBTQ+ youth are growing up in a moment of crisis — where their very existence is being debated in legislatures across the country,” said David Stacy, Vice President for Government Affairs, Human Rights Campaign. “They are not just facing the everyday pressures of adolescence, but also the constant drumbeat of rejection and discrimination. Mental health support from affirming, qualified professionals isn’t just helpful — it’s lifesaving. The Pride in Mental Health Act is a crucial response to this national emergency.”

    Davids has focused on improving mental health care since taking office. She visited Tyler’s House KC to help launch their summer mental wellness programming, helped secure funding for mental health programs in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, and advocated for stronger mental health supports in schools. She also helped acquire grants for local police departments to hire more behavioral health specialists to the force, including the Overland Park Police Department’s new Crisis Action Team. Her legislation to renew federal mental health grant programs for health centers, schools, and law enforcement also passed the U.S. House.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brazil combating organized crime: President Lula visit underscores INTERPOL’s central role

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    9 June 2025

    New INTERPOL taskforce targeting criminal networks in Latin America launched during Brazilian state visit to international police’s global headquarters

    LYON, France – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva today underscored Brazil’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime during his visit to INTERPOL, the world’s largest policing organization. 

    The visit represents a strong endorsement of INTERPOL’s mission and its leadership role as central to tackling one of the most urgent security challenges of our time.

    A new INTERPOL Taskforce Against Organized Crime in Latin America was also officially launched during the visit of President Lula and the Brazilian delegation, which included Ricardo Lewandowski, Minister of Justice and Public Security, Mauro Vieira Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues, General Director of the Brazilian Federal Police and the Ministers of Mines and Energy, and of Science, Technology and Innovation.

    Aimed at targeting criminal networks and drug trafficking across the region and beyond, the International joint Taskforce, based at INTERPOL’s offices in Latin America and the Caribbean, will focus on disrupting and dismantling the most dangerous transnational organized crime groups, capturing high-value targets, and targeting the financial infrastructure of these networks.

    The Letter of Intent between Brazil and INTERPOL signed during the state visit will see an even greater exchange of information, expertise and best practice in the fight against crime, further strengthening Brazil’s position as a leader in combating all forms of crime.

    Welcomed by INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza and President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the Brazilian President was briefed on INTERPOL’s critical work in supporting member countries protect vulnerable populations, preserve the environment and dismantle organized crime networks.

    President Lula said:

    “The election of Valdecy Urquiza as Secretary General of INTERPOL is recognition of Brazil’s prominent role in combating transnational crime.

    “This organization works to search for and apprehend some of the most dangerous criminals on the planet, combats terrorism, rescues victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and protects the environment.

    “Crime is evolving at an unprecedented speed, requiring urgent and coordinated multilateral action.

    “No country will be able to defeat transnational crime alone.

    “As with other current challenges that require collective action, such as climate change and digital governance, police cooperation will remain a priority in Brazilian foreign policy.”

    INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:

    “We are confronting a security landscape more volatile than ever, as transnational organized crime reaches unprecedented levels — more dynamic, more digital, and more deeply embedded across borders.

    “This is no longer just a security issue. Organized crime is a global phenomenon threatening justice, undermining climate resilience, as well as stalling social and economic progress.

    “The threat is real, it is growing, and the moment to act is now. 

    “The agreement between INTERPOL and Brazil sends a powerful message: we are placing the fight against organized crime at the top of the global agenda.

    “Now is the time for countries to follow Brazil’s lead and reinforce INTERPOL’s efforts. Only by working together — through a truly global and coordinated response — can we dismantle criminal networks and ensure a safer world for all.”

    During the visit, President Lula awarded Secretary General Urquiza with Brazil’s Order of Rio Branco Medal, at the rank of Grand Officer. Established in 1963, the decoration recognizes individuals—both Brazilian and foreign—who have made significant contributions to Brazil’s international relations and global cooperation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Chinese capital will host the Moscow Seasons in Beijing festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Beijing, June 9 (Xinhua) — The Moscow Seasons in Beijing festival will be held in the Chinese capital from June 12 to 15, the Russian Embassy in China reported.

    The festival, organized by the Moscow government with the support of the Beijing People’s Government, will be one of the largest in a series of events within the framework of the China-Russia Cross Years of Culture 2024-2025.

    From historical traditions to contemporary gastronomy and art, visitors will be able to get to know Russian culture better. Guests will have the opportunity to try their hand at national crafts, enjoy instrumental music, ballet and opera.

    A special platform with information on Moscow’s tourist opportunities will be organized separately. And on June 13, a conference will be held called “Cities of the Future. Synergy of the Strategic Partnership of Moscow and Beijing”, where participants will discuss issues of developing international cooperation in trade, technology, culture and creative spheres.

    Beijing and Moscow have been sister cities for 30 years. Last year, a cooperation program was signed between the Beijing People’s Government and the Moscow Government for 2024-2026. The parties agreed to exchange experience and implement joint projects in various areas. These include culture, technology, education, trade and tourism.

    Let us recall that from January 28 to February 9 this year, the festival “Chinese New Year in Moscow” was held in the Russian capital. The festival attracted about 1.5 million people. Great interest was aroused by master classes in calligraphy and making paper dragons, board games and street performances, drum shows and tea ceremonies.

    China ranks first among foreign countries in the number of tourists coming to the Russian capital. In 2024 alone, Moscow was visited by more than 420 thousand guests from China. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sanders Announces Merit Pay Increases for State Employees

    Source: US State of Arkansas

    Dear Arkansas State Employees:
     
    You are the engine that keeps Arkansas state government running. My administration has tasked you with improving services for the people of Arkansas while saving money, and over the past year, you have stepped up and delivered. I am grateful for your hard work. 
     
     In recognition of your efforts, I am announcing a pay increase for state employees who met or exceeded expectations over the past year, as shown in your most recent performance evaluations. I am authorizing a 1% base salary increase for those who received a 3 on their evaluation – met expectations – and a 3% base salary increase for those who received a 4 on their evaluation – exceeded expectations. These raises will only apply to state employees who have worked in the executive branch for at least a year, and who have worked at their current executive department since January 2, 2025.
     
     Additionally, I know many of you were excited to see Act 499 pass during the 2025 legislative session. That legislation authorized a new pay plan that will go into effect on July 1 of this year, raising the pay of two-thirds of executive branch employees up to market standards and offering double-digit pay increases to some of our most in-demand personnel, including corrections officers, state troopers, and DCFS caseworkers. 
     
     Rewarding good work goes hand-in-hand with delivering better results for the people of Arkansas. Thank you for your service to our state and your continued dedication to your career in public service.

    Sincerely, 
    Sarah Huckabee Sanders
    Governor of Arkansas

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kemp: May Net Tax Revenues Up 9.1%; Adjusted YTD Up 0.2%

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in May totaled $2.69 billion, for an increase of $224 million, or 9.1%, compared to FY 2024, when net tax collections approached $2.47 billion for the month. As a result of the hurricane-related tax filing deadline extension granted by Governor Kemp to file tax year 2024 income tax returns, a large number of filers took advantage of the extension by remitting payments at the May 1 deadline, leading to a significant portion of both individual and corporate return payments being captured in the May reporting cycle.

    Year-to-date, net tax revenue totaled $30.46 billion, for an increase of $536.2 million that was driven largely by the collection of the state’s motor fuel excise tax, which was suspended by Executive Order for a period of two and a half months during FY 2024.  Adjusting for the year-over-year motor fuel tax changes, year-to-date net tax revenue collections for the period ending May 31 were up $64.8 million, or 0.2%.

    The changes within the following tax categories help to further explain May’s overall net tax revenue increase:
     
    Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections totaled nearly $1.33 billion, for an increase of $102.3 million, or 8.3%, compared to last year when Individual Tax collections totaled $1.23 billion.

    The following notable components within Individual Income Tax combine for the net increase:

    • Individual Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) increased $57.9 million or 38.7 percent
    • Individual Withholding payments declined by $38.1 million, or 3.2 percent, from the previous fiscal year
    • Individual Income Tax Return payments were up $162.5 million, or 142.9 percent, over last year
    • All other Individual Tax categories, including Estimated payments, were up a combined $35.8 million

    Sales and Use Tax: Gross Sales and Use Tax collections totaled roughly $1.6 billion in May, for an increase of $74.2 million, or 4.9%, compared to FY 2024.  Net Sales and Use Tax increased by $37.5 million, or 5%, compared to last year, when net sales tax totaled $746 million. The adjusted Sales Tax distribution to local governments totaled $809.4 million, for an increase of $41.7 million, or 5.4%, while Sales Tax refunds decreased by $4.9 million compared to the previous fiscal year.

    Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for the month of May totaled $121.2 million, which was an increase of $50.2 million, or 70.8%, compared to last year’s total of $70.9 million.

    The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the net increase:

    • Corporate Income Tax refunds issued (net of voids) declined roughly $31.1 million, or 75.1%
    • Corporate Income Tax Return payments increased by $30.7 million, or 98.5%, over May 2024
    • All other Corporate Tax types, including Corporate Estimated payments, were down a combined $11.6 million 

    Motor Fuel Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax collections increased by $5 million, or 2.6%, compared to FY 2024.

    Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees:  Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fees increased by $1.4 million, or 4.2%, for the month, while Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) collections increased by $6.3 million, or 8.3%, over May 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Alleged QLD money laundering organisation dismantled, 4 charged

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Four people allegedly involved in an elaborate Queensland-based money laundering scheme that smuggled cash around the country and washed millions of dollars of criminal proceeds have been charged following an 18-month, multi-agency investigation.

    The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) has also restrained assets across Queensland and NSW suspected of being the proceeds of crime, which have a combined value of about $21 million and include 17 properties, bank accounts and vehicles.

    More than 70 members from the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (QJOCTF), comprised of the AFP, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and Australian Taxation Office, executed 14 search warrants at homes and businesses across Brisbane and the Gold Coast on 5 and 6 June 2025.  

    AUSTRAC and the ATO also provided analytical expertise and support during the investigation, which was centred on Southeast Queensland but also monitored cash dead drops in multiple cities around Australia.

    A Brisbane man, 32, from Heathwood, who was allegedly a major client of the money laundering operation and washed $9.5 million in 15 months, was charged on Thursday (5 June) with money laundering and failing to provide the password to a mobile phone. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates’ Court today (9 June).

    In December 2023, the QJOCTF began investigating suspicious financial transactions. The investigation linked the Heathwood man to a company that had received millions of dollars transferred by suspicious third-party transactions.  

    Investigators following the money trail allegedly identified the man was a customer of a sophisticated money laundering operation allegedly being run through the armoured transport unit of a security company that transferred $190 million cash into cryptocurrency.    

    Investigations into the source of the $190 million converted into cryptocurrency by the security company remain ongoing.

    A Gold Coast man, 48, and woman, 35, who were the director and general manager respectively of the security business, were each charged on Friday (6 June) with a money laundering offence. The couple, from Maudsland, was granted watchhouse bail and is scheduled to face Southport Magistrates Court on 21 July 2025.

    Another Brisbane man, 58, from West End, who allegedly funnelled laundered money through a business account to a separate business account controlled by the Heathwood man, was also charged on Friday with two money laundering offences. He was granted watchhouse bail and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on 1 August 2025.

    The QJOCTF alleges the Gold Coast-based security company used a complex network of bank accounts, businesses, couriers and cryptocurrency accounts to launder millions of dollars of illicit funds over 18 months.

    The security company, which transferred cash between businesses and banks, allegedly mixed cash from its legitimate business arm with illicit funds deposited by suspected criminals.

    To further obfuscate the source of the funds from law enforcement, the security company allegedly channelled the money through a web of transactions including through a sales promotion company, a classic car dealership and cryptocurrency exchange services.

    The organisation then paid out the funds to beneficiaries using cryptocurrency or those third-party companies.

    The Heathwood man allegedly controlled the sales promotion company and received about $9.5 million in cash and cryptocurrency originating from the security company over 15 months.  

    The QJOCTF will allege the Heathwood man attempted to distance himself from the money laundering scheme by setting his wife up as a ‘straw director’ of the promotions company, while he maintained effective control.

    The QJOCTF alleges the West End man was the director of a classic car dealership that received about $6.4 million from the security company and laundered it through his business over a 17-month period.  

    The director allegedly opened at least seven bank accounts with different banks to conceal the source of the money as he moved it around. The illicit money was then allegedly mixed with legitimate money from the car dealership before being transferred to the sales promotions business.

    It is alleged the security company was also the front for the movement of millions of dollars of illicit cash from other states to Southeast Queensland for laundering.

    The cash, which was allegedly generated by organised criminal ventures, was left at dead drop locations around the country and collected by a network of couriers who sent it as domestic cargo on flights to Queensland. It was then collected by the security company’s couriers in Southeast Queensland.

    During search warrants last week, investigators seized crypto wallets containing about $170,000 in cryptocurrency, $30,000 cash, encrypted devices, along with business records and documents related to the alleged money laundering scheme.

    The Maudsland man, 48, the director of the security company, was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(6) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.

    His wife, 35, who was the general manager of the business, was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(3) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for life.

    The Heathwood man, 32, allegedly linked to the sales promotion company, was charged with:

    • one count of dealing with proceeds of crime, worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years’ imprisonment, and
    • one count of failure to comply with a 3LA Order, contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment.

    The West End man, 58, who was the director of the classic car company, was charged with:

    • two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime, money or property worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years’ imprisonment
    • one count of uttering a forged document, contrary to section 488(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (QLD). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years’ imprisonment, and
    • one count of dealing with identification information to commit or facilitate an indictable offence, contrary to section 408D of the Criminal Code (Qld). The maximum penalty for this offence is 5 years’ imprisonment.

    Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

    AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said money laundering undermined Australia’s national security, the economy and social security system.

    ‘Many Australians are feeling the financial pinch but remain law-abiding and honest citizens,’ Det Supt Telfer said.

    ‘Criminals always choose greed over decency and will constantly find opportunities to increase their wealth at the expense of others.’  

    ‘We allege this organisation intentionally concealed and disguised the source, value and nature of their illicit money, and distanced themselves from the funds to try to avoid getting caught by authorities.’

    ‘This plot was elaborate and calculated, and it demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to make money.’

    ‘Money laundering investigations are incredibly challenging due to the complex web of deception used by criminals, and this crime cannot be tackled by one agency alone.’

    ‘This result is a testament to the great work done by the investigators, forensic accountants in the QJOCTF, the CACT, and our Taskforce Avarus partners.’  

    Queensland Police Service Crime and Intelligence Command, Detective Acting Superintendent David Briese, from the Drug and Serious Crime Group, said money laundering was far from a victimless crime.

    ‘Criminal networks use money laundering to legitimise their profits and exploit legitimate businesses, harming communities and economies. It fuels serious organised crime, enabling everything from drug trafficking and exploitation to fraud and violence,’ Det a/Supt Briese said.

    ‘This case demonstrates both the complexity of money laundering operations, and the extreme lengths criminals will go to conceal their illicit gains.’

    ‘The result reflects the strength of our collaboration across law enforcement, intelligence, and regulatory bodies, and our shared commitment to protecting the public from the harms of serious and organised crime.’

    ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff praised the efforts of ABF officers working alongside partner agencies in the QJOCTF.  

    ‘Today’s outcome sends a formidable message to those who seek to engage in criminal money laundering. This act is illegal and unacceptable, and all branches of law enforcement can and will work together to bring such crimes to justice,’ a/Commander Sokoloff said.

    ‘I would like to acknowledge the dedication of our highly trained investigator who was engaged as a co-case officer for the entirety of this investigation.  He has worked tirelessly with his colleagues to achieve this outcome, drawing upon ABF digital intelligence sharing and observations which were critical to the success we see today.’

    ‘This type of illegal activity is insidious – and the ABF will continue to work hand in hand with its partners to detect and deter such schemes.’

    ATO Deputy Commissioner John Ford reinforced the ATO was assisting partner agencies in disrupting, investigating and penalising the perpetrators of organised crime.  

    ‘Serious and organised crime harms our community, economy, government and way of life, and robs the community of funding for essential services such as health and education,’ Mr Ford said.

    ‘This week’s action is a strong reminder to those involved in money laundering – while you may think you can wash away the evidence, this is simply not the case. We will continue to work together with our partner agencies to disrupt these criminals and hold them to account.’

    AUSTRAC National Coordinator, Law Enforcement, Markus Erikson said AUSTRAC intelligence was pivotal in putting a stop to these crimes.

    ‘The intelligence AUSTRAC provided to law enforcement painted a vivid trail of criminal activity being undertaken by disparate individuals,’ Mr Erikson said.

    ‘I would like to recognise the businesses who report to AUSTRAC for their commitment to protecting the financial system from harm. Without their reporting, this disruption would not have been possible, and the offending may have continued undetected.’

    ‘I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work of our partner agencies in this matter. Operations like this take significant resources, hard work, and personal sacrifice to accomplish.’

    ‘This outcome is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in Taskforce AVARUS as well as the Queensland Police Service and Australian Taxation Office.’

    ACIC National Manager Boyd Doherty emphasised the critical role of the QJOCTF.  

    ‘The ACIC works closely with partners to disrupt the highest threat criminal networks. Serious and organised crime groups thrive off money made from criminal activities,’ Mr Doherty said.  

    ‘We are committed to disrupting the operations of these groups, denying them the ability to profit and making Australia a hostile environment for them to operate in.’

    The QJOCTF is a multi-agency team focused on targeting and dismantling transnational serious organised crime networks in Queensland.

    Taskforce Avarus was established in 2022 to target the highest priority money laundering threats facing Australia. The Taskforce comprises the AFP, AUSTRAC, ACIC and ABF who work in partnership to uncover methods criminals use to conceal their illegal funds.

    The CACT – which brings together the resources and expertise of the AFP, ABF, Australian Taxation Office, ACIC and AUSTRAC – was permanently established in 2012 as a proactive and innovative approach to trace, restrain and ultimately confiscate criminal assets. 

    Images

    Images available via HightailExternal Link

    MIL OSI News –

  • Northeast India’s infrastructure revolution: 11 years of connectivity and growth

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ortheast India has witnessed significant infrastructure growth over the past 11 years, with new roads, rail lines, and airports enhancing connectivity as part of a wider government plan to integrate the area with national development goals.

    From 2014 to 2025, roads, railways, air routes, and digital networks have expanded at an unprecedented pace under flagship schemes like the Act East Policy and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).

    More than 4,000 km of roads have been constructed during this period, opening access to remote border areas. The region now boasts 10 new greenfield airports, vastly improving air connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The commissioning of the Bogibeel Bridge and the under-construction Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, India’s longest, are reshaping transport logistics across the Brahmaputra.

    The Indian Railways made historic inroads into Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, with the latter receiving its first passenger train in independent India’s history. Railway connectivity has also extended into Manipur and Nagaland during this 11-year timeframe.

    Meanwhile, inland waterways have been revived with Ro-Ro ferry services on the Brahmaputra, enhancing cost-effective cargo movement. Digital inclusion has kept pace, with Bharat Net projects and 4G saturation programs narrowing the digital divide across all districts.

    Under NESIDS alone, over 600 projects have been sanctioned for upgrading healthcare, education, drinking water, and public infrastructure. This sustained momentum in infrastructure development over 11 years is seen as a crucial factor in improving the quality of life and attracting private investments in the region.

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese defense ministry rebukes Britain for hyping up “China threat” in report 2025-06-09 21:33:02 A Chinese defense spokesperson on Monday rebuked Britain for hyping up the so-called “China threat” in its recent strategic defense evaluation report.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) — A Chinese defense spokesperson on Monday rebuked Britain for hyping up the so-called “China threat” in its recent strategic defense evaluation report.

      Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding the document issued by the British government.

      China adheres to the path of peaceful development and pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. It has always been a defender, builder and contributor to security in the Asia-Pacific region, said Jiang.

      He urged the British side to perceive China in a correct manner, objectively and rationally view China and its military development, and stop propagating the so-called “China threat.”

      The British side should make more practical efforts to contribute to the growth of relations between the two countries and their militaries, Jiang added. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fisheries and Seafood Scheme reopens with around £6 million of investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Fisheries and Seafood Scheme reopens with around £6 million of investment

    The latest round of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) in now open, supporting projects that strengthen England’s seafood sector and support economic growth while enhancing nature recovery.

    Administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of Defra, around £6 million in funding is open to seafood and marine businesses, recreational sector, charities and other organisations. 

    The latest round of funding is available to support projects in the 2025/2026 financial year which focus on the following priorities: 

    • Creating a sustainable and resilient seafood sector 

    • Reduce emissions and waste from the seafood sector 

    • Clean up rivers, lakes, seas and support nature recovery 

    • Boost regional and economic growth within the seafood sector 

    Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said: 

    I’m thrilled to further invest in our exceptional seafood industry, demonstrating our steadfast support for England’s coastal communities alongside our substantial £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. 

    This is on top of our new agreement with the EU, which will boost exports by making it easier for producers to sell their high-quality products to our largest trading partner. 

    “This government is committed to creating a sustainable seafood sector that grows local economies while safeguarding our precious marine habitats, all central to our Plan for Change.

    Paul Errington, Acting Director of Finance and Resources at MMO, said: 

    We’re proud to facilitate the delivery of continued financial support through FaSS, which has already had a real impact across England’s fishing communities and coast. 

    This new round of funding will deliver investment to safeguard the long-term sustainability, resilience and prosperity of England catching, aquaculture and processing sectors as well as continue efforts to protect our precious marine environment. 

    This round of FaSS builds on four successful years of the scheme, which has seen more than £35 million committed and over 1700 projects approved, ranging from marine litter removal and funding for vital processing equipment to promoting careers within the industry. 

    Fishing and coastal communities are also set to benefit from £360 million investment to drive growth and boost the sector for the future as the Government launches its Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, a major investment to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. 

    A new agreement with the EU will also cut red tape for seafood exporters and reopen certain markets for British shellfish, making it easier to sell our fish to our biggest trading partner. 

    Applicants can find out more about FaSS, access scheme guidance and submit their application online.

    Additional information

    • Learn more about the legacy of FaSS through MMOs selected case studies. 

    • £1 million from the total fund has been set aside specifically to support the seafood processing sector and to help businesses get their products from the sea to the consumer.  

    • Applications with a total project cost of £150,000 or more must be considered by the FaSS panel, which is responsible for reviewing and recommending projects in line with the overall objectives of the scheme. Projects over £150,000 must be submitted by 21 July 2025. The panel is expected to meet to consider these during the week commencing 8 September 2025. 

    • MMO is also on hand to provide expert advice to those considering applying. Telephone 0208 026 5539 or email FaSS.queries@marinemanagement.org.uk 

    • Fishing and coastal communities are also set to benefit from £360 million investment to drive growth and boost the sector for the future as the Government launches its Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DTEP funding for SCI the CHERI on the cake

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    DTEP funding for SCI the CHERI on the cake

    Cambridge-based SCI Semiconductors secure funding through the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme

    • Cambridge-based SCI Semiconductors are the latest SME to be awarded a DTEP grant
    • They are collaborating with an experienced higher-tier partner on a project to resolve a number of long standing cyber security challenges
    • The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) boosts security and defence innovation while supporting the technology supply chain

    SCI Semiconductors, a leading cyber security company based in Cambridge, are the latest SME to be awarded DTEP funding for their innovative approach to tackling the escalating problem of compromised computer integrity within military systems.

    SCI are collaborating with Ultra, a higher-tier supplier who specialise in mission focused technological innovations, who will provide mentoring for the duration of the project. SCI will receive a government grant worth 50% of the project value with the aim of developing innovative new solutions that meet UK defence and security challenges.

    The DTEP programme, which seeks to improve the competitiveness of the UK defence supply chain, is sponsored by the MOD’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE) and delivered through a number of partners including the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Innovate UK.

    Congratulations to SCI Semiconductors

    The UK has invested heavily in Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) systems to manage cyber defences, however gaps still exist in getting this crucial technology into real world applications (e.g. autonomous drone platforms). Through their DTEP project, SCI are working to resolve these gaps by developing high integrity, isolated hardware and software structures for a broad array of applications. This means that vital military control systems can be much safer from the risk of cyber attack.

    Haydn Povey, Chief Executive of SCI Semiconductors said:

    The UK government are keen to act on Security by Design and this project will leverage CHERI technology, a key technology to delivering this capability. With over 70% of critical vulnerabilities and exploits (CVE’s) directly linked to software Memory Safety issues, which form the vast majority of cyber-attacks on critical systems, there is a clear need to address this systemic weakness. This project is directly focused on ensuring communication systems and active control systems are more robust, higher integrity, and are inherently secured again broad-based cyber-attacks.

    DTEP’s funding for SCI Semiconductors highlights the MOD’s commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening the UK defence and security supply chain through strategic SME partnerships.

    Learn more about DASA’s funding opportunities here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Woman invented business to claim Covid loan then sent money to Poland

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Woman invented business to claim Covid loan then sent money to Poland

    Jagoda Rubaszko guilty of fraud after inventing a business to apply for a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan which she then sent to bank accounts in Poland

    • Rubaszko invented a business to get a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan – which was paid out to five bank accounts in Poland 

    • She told Insolvency Service investigators a man called Daniel told her how to apply for the loan – but provided no evidence he exists 

    • Sentenced to six-month curfew and 18-month suspended sentence 

    A woman who pretended to run a business to secure a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan has been sentenced for fraud following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. 

    Jagoda Rubaszko, 37, of Old Ruislip Road, Northolt, invented an administrative service business which she falsely claimed had a turnover of £210,000. 

    In reality, she had no business – and the £50,000 loan she received was sent to five separate bank accounts in Poland.  

    Rubaszko told investigators she had been contacted by a man called Daniel who told her how to apply for the loan, and to declare herself bankrupt to avoid having to repay it. 

    Rubaszko was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, for fraud by misrepresentation at Isleworth Crown Court on 5 June 2025.  

    She will be tagged and under curfew between 7.30pm and 6am every day for six months, and must complete 175 hours of unpaid work.  

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. 

    Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Jagoda Rubaszko claimed to be a business director, but she had no business at all. She invented a turnover of £210,000 even though her bank accounts showed no business dealings.  

    She invented a man called Daniel, who she has blamed for her actions, claiming he had told her to apply for the loan, and she believed she’d get away with this by declaring herself bankrupt. 

    What is definitely real, is that she took money which was meant to help businesses during a difficult period, and sent that funding off to the bank accounts of five men in Poland. 

    As a result, reality has now caught up with her.

    Rubaszko applied to a bank for a Covid Bounce Back Loan on 26 April 2021, which was approved on 28 April 2021 and paid into her bank account. 

    In the application, she claimed she had been operating a business since 1 March 2020 and had a turnover of £210,000. But investigations into Rubaszko’s finances showed her tax returns were no higher than £15,100 each year between 2019 and 2021. 

    In a prepared statement, Rubaszko claimed to have been contacted by a man called Daniel, who told her how to apply for the loan, and to declare herself bankrupt to avoid repaying it. 

    But Rubaszko admitted she had never met Daniel, even though she said she paid him a £17,500 commission for his ‘help’ after receiving the £50,000. 

    Her bank records showed no such payment was made – instead, 22 smaller payments up to £11,690 were made to five individual bank accounts in Poland over a two-month period.  

    After declaring herself bankrupt, Rubaszko was subject to a 10-year Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU) on 12 May 2023. The BRU prevents her from managing a limited company until 2033.  

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Wall Street Journal Op-ed: My Son is Counting on Medicaid Work Requirements

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — When people who can work but refuse to do so and stay on Medicaid, it takes away resources from those who deserve and rely upon it – like the teenage son of Arkansas father Nick Stehle, who has severe autism and epilepsy and requires constant attention. The Wall Street Journal published Nick’s story last week, which touts the work requirements included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will strengthen and preserve the program for those who need it.

    “Yet thanks to ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion, he is stuck on a multiyear waiting list for in-home care because able-bodied adults are competing for the same resources,” Arkansas father Nick Stehle wrote.

    Read the full op-ed here or below:

    Medicaid was created to help people like my son. He is 17, has severe autism and epilepsy, and needs constant attention. Yet thanks to ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion, he is stuck on a multiyear waiting list for in-home care because able-bodied adults are competing for the same resources. Republicans in the Senate can help states fix this by strengthening the Medicaid work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act they’re about to pass.

    ObamCare gave states a financial incentive to treat able-bodied adults better than the disabled. The federal government gives states $9 for every $1 they spend on able-bodied adults, but only $1.33 for every dollar spent on children, people with disabilities, pregnant women and seniors. Drawn by the promise of so much federal money, Arkansas’s Democratic governor expanded Medicaid in 2013. The program now covers more than 230,000 able-bodied adults.

    Because able-bodied adults bring so much money, Arkansas makes them a priority. We applied for in-home care in 2023, but state officials said it would take 10 years. Democrats are doing everything they can to keep my son on the wait list. They’re trying to frighten Republicans into abandoning work requirements by claiming they’re ineffective, unnecessary and cruel—none of which is true.

    In 2018 the Trump administration gave Arkansas a waiver that let it require able-bodied adults without children to work part time as a condition of receiving Medicaid benefits. A federal judge struck down the waiver on procedural grounds 10 months after the policy began to phase in. Yet the work requirement already had strong results.

    In less than a year, nearly 18,000 able-bodied adults increased their incomes enough to get off Medicaid. States should encourage people to replace government dependency with financial independence, protecting Medicaid for people like my son. But Democrats and their allies now claim there wasn’t a corresponding increase in the number of people working. They also claim that people left Medicaid because they didn’t know about the work requirement and therefore didn’t fill out the paperwork. All these false claims are intended to convince Republicans that work requirements are difficult for states to administer.

    Yet Arkansas thought it was well worth the effort, sending out more than a million letters, emails, text messages and phone calls in 2018 alone to inform recipients about the requirement. And far from not filling out paperwork, fully 87% of the people who were removed from Medicaid had already increased their incomes, moved out of state or otherwise become ineligible for the program. This freed up resources for people like my son. Arkansas projected the changes would save at least $300 million a year, reflecting how few of those able-bodied adults worked. Though the left now says that 92% of Medicaid recipients are supposedly working, that claim is based on self-reported survey data from the Census, with state sample sizes as small as 41 people. Only one conclusion is possible: Democrats want able-bodied adults to continue getting the benefits intended for my son.

    A work requirement for Medicaid would put my son first. The House version of the “one big beautiful bill” applies only to childless adults on Medicaid expansion. The Senate could do better by extending the work requirement to even more able-bodied adults—say, those without young kids. The Senate could go even further, ending the Medicaid funding formula that encourages states to sign up able-bodied adults at the expense of people with disabilities. But the work requirement is the bare minimum of what Republicans should pass. Able-bodied adults have blocked my son from care for too long.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Applauds the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Wins for America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    [embedded content]

    CLICK HERE to download Rep. Mann’s opening remarks.

    CLICK HERE to watch Rep. Mann’s opening remarks on YouTube.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) spoke on the U.S. House floor in support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed in the House with a vote of 215-214 on May 22, 2025. During the speech, Rep. Mann highlighted his priorities in the bill, which include advancing the largest tax cuts in American history, historic investments in the nation’s border security and air traffic control systems, and long overdue relief for the nation’s agriculture community.

    Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:

    Mr. Speaker, over the Memorial Day recess, Rasmussen found that a majority of Americans say the country is on the right track. Under President Trump, America just keeps winning, again and again and again. Promises made, promises kept.

    77 million Americans trusted President Trump to restore common sense to our nation’s capital by bringing down everyday costs, reining in our federal spending, lowering taxes, rolling back burdensome regulations, strengthening our nation’s border security and getting our fiscal house back in order. President Trump has already begun delivering on that mandate, and Congress is helping him advance his agenda.

    Just a few days ago, here in this chamber, House Republicans voted to deliver the largest tax cut in American history. We made long overdue investments into our nation’s border security by funding the completion of the border wall, investing in modern technology to assist with intercepting drug and human smuggling, and increasing detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as they work to deport violent criminals and gang members who are in the country illegally.

    Our bill supports America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers like those in the Big First District of Kansas who want to see the farm safety net strengthened by expanding crop insurance and updating reference prices. We permanently expanded the death tax exemption, saving two million family farms and saving those families more than $10 billion. We supported President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s request to make much-needed investments into the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize our air traffic control technology and infrastructure and to uphold the Gold Standard of American aviation.

    The One Big Beautiful Act strengthens our social safety net while better stewarding the tax dollars of hardworking Americans. Americans are generous people, but we cannot allow the government to abuse that generosity. Programs like Medicaid and SNAP were intended for the most vulnerable populations in the country—pregnant women, single parents with kids too young for school, low-income Americans, disabled individuals, and the elderly. Over the years, those programs have been exploited and expanded beyond their initial intent, causing the cost of these programs to skyrocket exponentially.

    If taxpaying Americans can get up every day and go to work, why shouldn’t we ask the same thing of those who benefit from that generosity? Our bill requires that able-bodied adults without kids too young for school, work, or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. This includes volunteering at a food pantry, a local church, or giving back to their community. It’s disheartening that so many of my Democrat colleagues would prefer to lie about what our bill does and limit Americans to a permanent destination of government assistance rather than empower them returning to the ladder of opportunity. That is not the American dream.

    I am hopeful that the Senate will move quickly to get it over the finish line and on the President’s desk. The country cannot afford for us to get this bill wrong, and I trust that every single Republican is committed to getting it to the President as soon as possible and helping America win yet again.

    ###

     

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Trump Abuse of Power in Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal  (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, Integrity, and Enforcement, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s escalations of violence and abuse of power in Los Angeles, California.

    “On Friday and Saturday, the Trump Administration conducted a series of increasingly militarized immigration actions, utilizing law enforcement from numerous agencies and calling out the National Guard without a request or support from the Governor. They arrested David Huerta, the President of SEIU California, who was peacefully protesting the raids, as well as rounding up over 120 immigrants at least, according to initial reports. ICE also denied entry to Members of Congress — who have the legal authority and responsibility to conduct unannounced oversight visits — at both the LA detention center, where people were being held, as well as the Adelanto Detention Center, where detained people were reportedly transferred.   

    “The people of Los Angeles were non-violently protesting the injustices they have seen with Trump’s mass deportation agenda, the Administration’s sweeping up people of various legal statuses, and denying access to counsel to those detained. These peaceful protestors were exercising their constitutional rights to use their voices to speak out against this injustice and were met instead with tear gas and rubber bullets from an Administration that refuses to allow free speech or dissent in this country.

    “Trump is weaponizing the military against U.S. citizens and immigrants alike with no regard for the rule of law in this country — even threatening force on nonviolent protesters. This isn’t just an attack on immigrants, it is an attack on our foundational freedoms. Detained people must be provided with access to counsel, and the militarized raids by the federal government must stop immediately. 

    “I urge every person using their right to protest to continue to do so peacefully, even as the Trump Administration escalates violence.”

    Issues: Civil Rights, Public Safety & Criminal Justice

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beating at Ogden Market in March 2021 Leads to Murder Conviction

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              WASHINGTON – Alvin Alexis Cruz Garcia, 27, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on June 6, 2025, by a Superior Court jury for the beating death of Ramon Gomez Yanez at the Ogden Market in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

              Cruz Garcia was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder while armed following a 4-day trial. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2025.

              According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 8:28 p.m. on March 23, 2021, 38-year-old Ramon Gomez Yanez, parked his car and made his usual stop at the local food market, Ogden Market, located at 1500 Ogden Street NW. When Mr. Gomez came back outside, the defendant was standing on the sidewalk and urinating much too close to the back of Mr. Gomez’s car. The Ogden Market surveillance video, with no audio available, showed some exchange of words and then showed the defendant punch Mr. Gomez down to the ground. While Mr. Gomez was down on the sidewalk, the defendant kicked and punched Mr. Gomez multiple times in the head area, and then just walked away. Mr. Gomez died at the scene from his head and neck injuries.

              Although there were no witnesses to the homicide and no witnesses to identify the defendant from the Ogden Market video, MPD and Metro Transit Police tracked the defendant through a series of CCTVs along the 14th Street corridor and through the metro transit system. These efforts ultimately led MPD to a witness that could identify the defendant in a metro rail car video and to other corroborating identification evidence to build the case.

              This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Metro Transit Police Department.

              It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jin Park and Katrenia Shelly.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Colleagues Demand Answers on Cost and Justification for Un-American Transgender Military Ban That Will Harm National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    June 05, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—today led 22 of her fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in urging Defense Secretary Hegseth to reverse course and not implement the Trump Administration’s un-American transgender military service ban that will unfairly attack honorable servicemembers for who they are, compromise good order and discipline and jeopardize our national security. In the Senators’ letter, the group demands answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—including what specific data is being used to back up their claim that transgender servicemembers are not in the “interests of national security” and how much it will cost taxpayers to train the replacements of perfectly capable transgender servicemembers that they are forcing out of our military. After Senator Duckworth led over a dozen of her colleagues in April pushing back against the ban, Secretary Hegseth’s response to their letter did not answer many of the questions that were asked about the short- and long-term impacts of the ban on servicemembers, readiness and national security as well as taxpayer cost and more.

    “Transgender servicemembers are not political props; they are patriotic Americans serving honorably,” wrote the Senators. “Banning them from service will compromise good order and discipline, take deployable servicemembers out of the fight and create national security risks felt for years to come. Your recent implementation guidance makes matters worse.”

    Additionally, the lawmakers admonished the Trump Administration’s latest guidance for implementing the ban, which requires military commanders to report servicemembers in their unit who they think display any signs of gender dysphoria.

    “By stating that unit commanders ‘will direct’ reviews of the medical records of servicemembers under their command, despite the fact that they are not equipped to do so, you are requiring them to perform a duty—for purely political reasons—that is far outside the scope of their normal operational and warfighting-centric responsibilities,” continued the Senators. “This burden is corrosive to unit cohesion, trust and the wellbeing of the servicemember and the commanders, who are being failed by their chain of command. This is not leadership.”

    In conclusion, the lawmakers’ wrote: “Your policy will harm our armed services’ operational readiness and lethality, not only endangering Americans, but costing billions of dollars in taxpayer money in service of a political stunt meant to attack a small, extraordinarily brave group of people. Servicemembers’ privacy is being invaded, their livelihoods are being threatened and they are being used as a political tool to appeal to a minority of Americans.”

    “Mr. Secretary, do not implement this ban.”

    In addition to Duckworth, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The letter is endorsed by SPARTA, Modern Military Association of America, Minority Veterans of America and Out in National Security.

    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:

    Secretary Hegseth:

    We write to express our ongoing opposition to the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) destructive and foolhardy ban on transgender servicemembers, as outlined in the May 15, 2025, memorandum entitled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness: Implementation Guidance.” We have already written to condemn the ban itself. Transgender servicemembers are not political props; they are patriotic Americans serving honorably. Banning them from service will compromise good order and discipline, take deployable servicemembers out of the fight and create national security risks felt for years to come. Your recent implementation guidance makes matters worse.

    The May 15th memorandum compromises commanders by making them informers on their own troops in areas outside of their expertise. Per that guidance, commanders of servicemembers who, in their judgment, display “gender dysphoria, a history of gender dysphoria, or symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria will direct individualized medical record reviews of such Service members.” Generally, commanders are not trained in medicine, psychology or mental health and are therefore not qualified to assess the members of their units for symptoms of mental health diagnoses. By stating that unit commanders “will direct” reviews of the medical records of servicemembers under their command, despite the fact that they are not equipped to do so, you are requiring them to perform a duty—for purely political reasons—that is far outside the scope of their normal operational and warfighting-centric responsibilities. This burden is corrosive to unit cohesion, trust and the wellbeing of the servicemember and the commanders, who are being failed by their chain of command. This is not leadership.

    Additionally, the Department’s discharge guidance punishes those who have volunteered to serve. The guidance, which mandates separating transgender officers using the JDK separation code “on the basis that their continued service is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security,” is unjustifiable.  There is ample evidence that these servicemembers, many of whom are decorated with years of honorable service and all or nearly all of whom are otherwise deployable, are assets to their units and to the force.  Your DoD has failed to produce any meaningful evidence to suggest otherwise, much less to prove that transgender servicemembers threaten national security. Using this discharge code is not only cruel; it’s stupid. Beyond insulting brave individuals who have sacrificed to serve their country, this further ensures that the DoD or other security agencies will not be able to hire these individuals in a civilian capacity, robbing the national security establishment that protects everyday Americans of any opportunity to benefit from the skills and expertise these unreasonably separated servicemembers have gained at great expense to the taxpayer.

    Beyond those process failures, your last response declined to answer several critical questions, answers to which are vital for Congress’ ability to oversee your Department. Ongoing litigation is no excuse; the taxpayers have a right to know your reasons and evidence. Please explain:

    1. What is the anticipated cost of implementing this policy, including all costs for separation, legal defense, investments made in these brave servicemembers that will no longer be recouped and the cost to train their replacements? How much more expensive is it than retaining these servicemembers?
    2. What specific information, data or evidence, if any, serve as the basis for the statement that allowing transgender troops to serve is “not clearly consistent with the interests of national security”?
    3. What consultations, studies and/or assessments were conducted (internally or externally) to evaluate the impact of this policy prior to implementation?

    We trust that you will either include copies of all such reports, briefs or findings with your response, or specify that no such evidence exists.

    Your policy will harm our armed services’ operational readiness and lethality, not only endangering Americans, but costing billions of dollars in taxpayer money in service of a political stunt meant to attack a small, extraordinarily brave group of people. Servicemembers’ privacy is being invaded, their livelihoods are being threatened and they are being used as a political tool to appeal to a minority of Americans.

    Mr. Secretary, do not implement this ban.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to science and tech R&D package announced ahead of the full Spending Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the £86bn R&D package unveiled by the Chancellor ahead of the Spending Review. 

    Sharon Todd Chief Executive at historic science charity SCI, said:

    “We very much welcome the government’s commitment to putting science at the heart of the forthcoming industrial strategy. At £86bn, this is real money targeted at the right scientific and technological advances, such as new drug treatments and AI.

    “However, what is critical is that a significant proportion of funds are dispensed to actively support the scale up of new technologies to full scale manufacture in the UK. Our research has shown significant ‘innovation leakage’ and the investment we make in science needs to feed back into the economy.”

    Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI Chief Executive, said:

    “This multi-year settlement confirms the government’s continued commitment to the critical role of research and innovation in delivering a high-productivity, high-growth economy, improving public services and creating high-quality jobs across the UK. 

    “The new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund is a welcome boost for this endeavour, ensuring that local communities across the UK can contribute to and benefit from a thriving research and innovation ecosystem.”

    John-Arne Røttingen, chief executive of Wellcome, the UK’s biggest non-governmental research funder, said:

    ‘The government rightly acknowledges that investing in science and technology is a key way to boost the economy.

    ‘But while it’s positive under the financial circumstances, a flat real-terms science budget, along with continuing barriers such as high visa costs for talented scientists and the university funding crisis, won’t be enough for the UK make the advances it needs to secure its reputation for science in an increasingly competitive world.

    ‘The UK should be aiming to lead the G7 in research intensity, to bring about economic growth and the advances in health, science and technology that benefit us all. We look forward to seeing the full details at the spending review.’

    Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities commented: 

    “Today’s announcement of £86 billion for research and innovation is a welcome vote of confidence in the UK’s R&D sector, and the role it plays in driving economic growth right across the country. 

    “We know government faces difficult decisions on spending with tight fiscal constraints. We’re therefore pleased to see investment in the critical contributions that science and innovation can make to the lives of people throughout the UK – from breakthrough medicines and next-generation batteries, to AI technologies and advanced manufacturing. We await the full details of the settlement, but it’s encouraging to see recognition of the existing R&D strengths in different parts of the UK, with plans to go further to transform regional prosperity. 

    “Our universities are already delivering in the high-growth sectors that will drive the Industrial Strategy, boost productivity and improve public services. We will continue using our research, innovation and skills as engines for growth, ensuring this new investment pays dividends for the national economy and for local communities for decades to come”. 

    Adrian Smith, President the Royal Society, said:

    “We have to be cautious as there is very little detail in the announcement but it does look like the core science budget could increase by 10% over the next four years. In difficult financial circumstances, that would be a vote of confidence in research and innovation and in the people and ideas that will increase productivity, drive growth and improve lives across the UK.

    “Such an uplift would protect science from real terms cuts in the coming years and hopefully lay the ground for real terms increases once the country’s finances improve.

    “This looks to be a positive outcome, but we must await the full details in the Chancellor’s speech on Wednesday.”

     

    Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

    “Given the tough financial climate and many competing priorities, it’s fantastic to see the Government backing research and innovation. This is a smart investment – it will not only drive economic growth and productivity, but will also benefit patients across the country and unlock new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. We look forward to seeing more detail and, most importantly, how this funding will secure the fundamental building blocks that underpin UK R&D.”

    Professor Andrew Morris, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

    “This is exactly the kind of long-term thinking our healthcare sector and economy need. The investment signals the UK’s commitment to remaining a global leader in medical research and innovation. By backing science, the Government is investing in a healthier, more prosperous future that will bring economic growth and benefit generations to come.”

     

    Tony McBride, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institute of Physics, said:

    “It’s good to see the government recognise the power of science and innovation to transform lives and grow prosperity in every part of the UK.

    “But to fully harness the transformational potential of research and innovation – wherever it takes place – we need a decade-long strategic plan for science. This must include a plan for the skilled workforce we need to deliver this vision, starting with teachers and addressing every educational stage, to underpin the industrial strategy.

    “We hope that the Chancellor’s statement on Wednesday will set out such a vision.”

     

    Dr Alicia Greated, Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said:

    “It is pleasing to see the Government continue to recognise UK R&D as a driving force behind economic growth.  Based on OBR forecasts for inflation, the spending plans announced today would appear to be broadly flat in real terms.  While not the ambitious settlement we called for, in these difficult fiscal circumstances it is positive that the R&D budget has been protected.  However, the detail is important, and we will need to wait for the full spending review announcement on Wednesday before we can offer a considered analysis.”

    Embargoed press release from DSIT entitled ‘Transformative £86bn boost to science and tech to turbocharge economy, with regions backed to take cutting-edge research into own hands’, was under embargo until 00:01 UK time on Sunday 8 June 2025

    Declared interests

    The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: CarGurus Launches AI-Powered Car Shopping Experience

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Intelligent search integration unlocks a more personalized and intuitive experience for drivers to discover their best deal with greater confidence

    BOSTON, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG), the No. 1 visited digital auto platform for shopping, buying, and selling new and used vehicles1, today announced the release of its AI-powered search experience. This innovation delivers a more personalized and intuitive car shopping experience, embedded directly into the CarGurus website. Buyers can now harness conversational search, paired with expert auto intelligence and real-time vehicle data, to research, compare, and shop the largest selection of new and used cars in the U.S.2

    “For nearly two decades, CarGurus has supported drivers through one of the biggest purchase decisions of their lives. This update aims to advance that mission even further, enabling them to shop in ways that weren’t possible before by having an open dialogue right on our site,” said Ben Kasdon, Vice President, Product at CarGurus. “No matter what phase of the journey they’re in, shoppers can now search on their own terms to uncover their best match more efficiently and with greater confidence. Early pilot users have shown strong engagement, with AI search users spending more time on site compared to typical site traffic.”

    The AI-powered shopping experience allows consumers to use conversational language to find the best options for their needs, compare models, and refine listing results based on their location and preferences. The experience is designed to help buyers at any stage of their journey, from early research to final selection. As a shopper’s search journey evolves, they can also revisit their unique URL to continue the conversation.

    Shoppers can discover their ideal car using intuitive prompts, such as the following examples:

    • “I have three kids under 3. Help me find a car with high safety and reliability ratings.”
    • “Show me the best cars with plenty of space for tall drivers.”
    • “Show me reliable SUVs with blind spot monitoring under $30,000.”
    • “Compare the best all-wheel drive vehicles for any terrain.”

    This release is the latest chapter in CarGurus’ long history of leveraging AI and machine learning to bring more trust, transparency, and efficiency to car buying and selling. AI and machine learning underpin the platform’s vehicle recommendation engine, its Instant Market Value tool, and on-site merchandising. For dealers, CarGurus provides actionable insights and predictive analytics that enable more informed decision-making across workflows, from pricing and merchandising to inventory acquisition.

    To see the AI shopping experience in action, visit: www.cargurus.com/discover or watch a demo here: https://cargur.us/1dB1cP.

    About CarGurus, Inc.

    CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in-person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire, and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms, and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S. 1

    CarGurus also operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the U.K. In the U.S. and the U.K., CarGurus also operates the Autolist and PistonHeads online marketplaces, respectively, as independent brands.

    To learn more about CarGurus, visit www.cargurus.com, and for more information about CarOffer, visit www.caroffer.com.

    CarGurus® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    1Similarweb: Traffic Report [Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic)], Q1 2025, U.S.
    2Compared to Autotrader.com, Cars.com, TrueCar.com (YipitData as of December 31, 2024), and CarFax (Joreca as of December 31, 2024)

    Media Contact:
    Maggie Meluzio
    Director, Public Relations & External Communications
    pr@cargurus.com

    Investor Contact:
    Kirndeep Singh
    Vice President, Head of Investor Relations
    investors@cargurus.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de81b41e-d38e-4f9b-8aa7-09e4fe2655d7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SpEC Awards JAM Prototypes to Accelerate Satellite Access

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), managed by the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL), has awarded two contracts under the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Joint Antenna Marketplace (JAM) initiative to Boecore LLC (doing business as Auria) and Sphinx Defense. The awards were made through the SpEC Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement in support of USSF’s Space Systems Command (SSC).

    JAM is a secure, cloud-based scheduling system that helps connect satellite operators to the antenna resources they need, automating matches across commercial and government-owned infrastructure. The program supports the USSF’s Commercial Space Strategy and aims to deliver scalable, flexible tools for space operators to dynamically assign bandwidth, improve resiliency, and enhance mission speed.

    “JAM demonstrates how OTAs can lower barriers and speed up the delivery of critical capabilities,” said Doug Crowe, Senior Vice President of Program Management at NSTXL. “It’s a reminder that innovation follows when acquisition policy creates space for flexibility and competition. When the door is open, the defense innovation base shows up.”

    Each prime contractor will deliver a JAM prototype designed to improve scheduling agility, reduce communication bottlenecks, and enable the rapid integration of commercial capabilities into hybrid space architectures. Boecore was awarded $8.1 million, and Sphinx Defense was awarded $9.5 million. Their teams include a mix of non-traditional and traditional performers with expertise in satellite mission planning, secure communications, and antenna interoperability.

    The JAM solicitation reflects SpEC and NSTXL’s commitment to acquisition that is faster, more transparent, and more collaborative. Fourteen prime submissions were received, all from non-traditional defense contractors. The evaluation process was conducted through an open, competitive framework designed to surface the most capable and scalable solutions. Nine teaming arrangements were formed, including contributors based in Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. SpEC and NSTXL supported teaming efforts through Project TALX and Innovator NETWORX—drawing more than 130 combined participants across both events.

    JAM aligns with the Department of Defense’s March 2025 directive on modern software acquisition and is currently in the Planning Phase of the Software Acquisition Pathway. Awardees will participate in NSTXL’s milestone-based oversight process to ensure delivery timelines, mission alignment, and technical performance stay on track. The prototypes will help define an operational baseline for enterprise-wide satellite scheduling and could become a core component of the Space Force’s hybrid space architecture moving forward. For more information, read SSC’s press release here.

    About SpEC
    The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) was created in 2017 through the Air Force Space Systems Command to bridge the gap between military buyers and commercial space startups and small businesses through OTAs. Companies interested in joining the Space Enterprise Consortium can find more information about the organization, including how to join at https://www.space-enterprise.org/.

    For media inquiries contact:
    press@nstxl.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enserva hosts discussion with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to discuss North American energy security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    PHOTO OP: Photo opportunities with Premier Danielle Smith, Premier Scott Moe and Gurpreet Lail, CEO, Enserva.
       
    WHAT: Media are invited to attend an energy leadership event hosted by Enserva, featuring a joint conversation with the Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta and the Honourable Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan to discuss the provinces’ roles in advancing Canadian energy growth and long-term economic security.
       
      Drawing on conversations from the recent First Ministers’ Meeting and ongoing national energy policy discussions, the event will address how Alberta and Saskatchewan are working to align their policy and infrastructure agendas with national interests—including LNG development, egress solutions, trade diversification, and energy security.
       
      Gurpreet Lail, President & CEO, Enserva, will host a fireside chat with the premiers outlining their provinces’ commitments to growing energy production in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB).
       
      This candid conversation will highlight how collaboration with federal and provincial governments can support Canadian and North American energy security in a time of political and market uncertainty.
       
    WHO: Gurpreet Lail, President & CEO of Enserva
      Honourable Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan
      Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta
       
    WHEN: Monday, June 16, 2025
      11:15 a.m. Media registration opens
      12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Presentation
       
    WHERE: Exhibition Hall E, Telus Convention Centre
      136 8 Ave SE
      Calgary, AB
      T2P 0K6
       
    RSVP: Media are asked to RSVP no later than Thursday, June 12, 2025
       

    Media RSVP Contact:
    Shauna MacDonald
    Brookline Public Relations, Inc. 
    403-585-4570; smacdonald@brooklinepr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MicroAlgo Inc. Integrates Quantum Image LSQb Algorithm with Quantum Encryption Technology to Build a More Secure Quantum Information Hiding and Transmission System

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    shenzhen, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MicroAlgo Inc. Integrates Quantum Image LSQb Algorithm with Quantum Encryption Technology to Build a More Secure Quantum Information Hiding and Transmission System

    Shenzhen, Jun. 09, 2025––MicroAlgo Inc. (the “Company” or “MicroAlgo”) (NASDAQ: MLGO), today announced that by integrating the quantum image LSQb algorithm with quantum encryption technology, they have proposed a brand-new information hiding and transmission scheme, aiming to build a more secure and efficient data protection mechanism.
    The LSQb algorithm, namely the Least Significant Quantum Bit algorithm for quantum images, is an innovative quantum image processing technology. It achieves secure information hiding by embedding secret information into the least significant quantum bits of a quantum image. Building on this foundation, MicroAlgo further integrates relevant theories from quantum information theory and cryptography, comprehensively expanding the application scope and functionality of the LSQb algorithm. This integration not only enhances the security of information hiding but also improves the efficiency and reliability of information transmission in quantum networks.
    The core of MicroAlgo’s technological innovation lies in utilizing the Least Significant Quantum Bit (LSQb) algorithm for efficient information encoding and decoding, combined with quantum encryption technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to ensure data security during transmission. The LSQb algorithm can identify and select key quantum bits critical to image representation, reducing the number of quantum gate operations by optimizing the embedding and extraction processes, thereby lowering algorithm complexity. Meanwhile, quantum encryption technology provides unconditional security for information transmission, ensuring that information leakage is prevented even in a quantum computing environment.
    Original Image Preprocessing: First, the original image undergoes compressed sensing and sparse representation to extract key features and convert them into quantum bit form. Further analysis is conducted using machine learning or deep learning models to ensure the retention of important visual elements of the image, reduce the amount of encoded information, and lower algorithm complexity.
    Quantum Bit Selection and Embedding: An improved Least Significant Quantum Bit (LSQb) algorithm is employed to embed selected key quantum bits into quantum states. Each quantum bit generates a corresponding quantum state and is embedded into a larger quantum state structure through quantum gate operations. Quantum error correction codes and quantum entanglement properties are introduced to enhance the system’s robustness and stability, reducing unnecessary quantum gate operations.
    Quantum Key Distribution and Encryption: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology is utilized to generate a shared key, ensuring the security of data transmission. The sender and receiver exchange correlated quantum states to generate the key, and any attempt to read the states will alter them and be detected, preventing information leakage.
    Information Transmission and Protection: The encrypted quantum state information is transmitted through a quantum channel, and even if eavesdropping occurs, attackers cannot obtain useful information. By combining protocols such as quantum teleportation, the system’s security and flexibility are further enhanced.
    Information Decryption and Recovery: The receiver uses the shared key to decrypt the quantum state information and applies inverse quantum gate operations to restore the original quantum bit sequence. Key feature information is extracted through a decoding algorithm and reassembled into a complete image, with error correction mechanisms introduced to ensure high-fidelity recovery. The entire process validates the effectiveness and accuracy of information hiding and transmission, establishing an efficient and secure quantum information processing system.
    MicroAlgo integrates the Least Significant Quantum Bit (LSQb) algorithm for quantum images with other related theories, such as quantum information theory and cryptography, to further expand its application scope and functionality. Combined with quantum encryption technology, it constructs a more secure quantum information hiding and transmission system, ensuring the secure transmission of information in quantum networks. On one hand, it significantly reduces the demand for quantum resources, minimizing the involvement of unnecessary quantum bits and the number of quantum gate operations, thereby increasing the algorithm’s execution speed. On the other hand, leveraging the unconditional security provided by quantum encryption technology ensures a high level of confidentiality for data during transmission. This not only enhances the efficiency of information processing but also greatly improves the system’s resilience to interference, maintaining high information fidelity even in noisy environments. Additionally, by simplifying quantum circuit design, it reduces the cost and technical complexity of hardware implementation, making large-scale commercial applications feasible.
    In practical applications, MicroAlgo’s novel information hiding and transmission system has already been applied in multiple fields. For example, in medical image encryption, patient privacy data receives a higher level of protection; in financial transaction systems, customers’ sensitive financial information is similarly safeguarded effectively. Through this approach, not only is information security enhanced, but processing efficiency is also improved, meeting the modern society’s demand for high-speed and efficient data processing.
    In the future, with continuous advancements in quantum computing and quantum encryption technologies, MicroAlgo’s novel information hiding and transmission system is expected to expand beyond its current application scenarios to more emerging fields, such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis. For instance, in the field of artificial intelligence, leveraging the advantages of quantum computing can accelerate the training process of machine learning models; in big data analysis, quantum image processing technology can help extract valuable information from massive datasets more quickly. Through ongoing exploration and practice, quantum image processing technology will become more mature and refined, contributing to the construction of a more secure and efficient information society.

    About MicroAlgo Inc.

    MicroAlgo Inc. (the “MicroAlgo”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is dedicated to the development and application of bespoke central processing algorithms. MicroAlgo provides comprehensive solutions to customers by integrating central processing algorithms with software or hardware, or both, thereby helping them to increase the number of customers, improve end-user satisfaction, achieve direct cost savings, reduce power consumption, and achieve technical goals. The range of MicroAlgo’s services includes algorithm optimization, accelerating computing power without the need for hardware upgrades, lightweight data processing, and data intelligence services. MicroAlgo’s ability to efficiently deliver software and hardware optimization to customers through bespoke central processing algorithms serves as a driving force for MicroAlgo’s long-term development.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of MicroAlgo, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of MicroAlgo’s periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 8-K filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, MicroAlgo’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the business transaction.

    MicroAlgo undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as may be required by law.

    Contact

    MicroAlgo Inc.

    Investor Relations

    Email: ir@microalgor.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Philip Harrison, Professor School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand

    South African president Cyril Ramaphosa met senior leaders of Johannesburg and Gauteng, the province it’s located in, in March 2025 to discuss ways to arrest the steep decline in South Africa’s largest city.

    Ramaphosa announced a two-year-long presidential intervention to tackle some of the city’s most pressing issues. It is to be led by the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group with eight cross-governmental and multi-stakeholder workstreams.

    Johannesburg was established 130 years ago, where the world’s largest-ever gold deposits were discovered. It grew rapidly in the early 20th century and became the country’s economic heartland and largest population centre. Like all South African cities, it was deeply scarred by apartheid policies. People were divided by racially defined groups. Good services and a strong economy benefited a minority, and a black majority were pushed into impoverished ghettos.

    But, for about the first two decades of post-apartheid rule from 1994, Johannesburg led the country with innovation and progressive change. It pioneered the new local government system, institutional reforms, new practice on city strategy and planning, pro-poor service delivery, and modern transport infrastructure.

    Today, however, the city is in a dire state. Over the past decade, roughly coinciding with the arrival of messy coalition governance in 2016, sound political leadership, administrative stability and financial management have crumbled. Underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance has led to collapsing services. Public trust is deteriorating among increasingly frustrated communities. This was evident in local election results. It also shows up in recent data released by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory on public trust in local government.

    The local economy has stagnated. The city’s official unemployment rate of 34.3% is higher than the national average of 32.9%. Mounting joblessness and dwindling incomes have intertwined with depleted trust to knock levels of payment for property rates and service charges. In turn this has deepened the financial and service maintenance crisis.

    Corruption in many parts of the city is an endemic complicating factor.

    The presidential intervention is designed to address this complex interplay between embedded legacies and failings post-apartheid. The workstreams involving city officials and concerned stakeholders are generating ideas for priority actions. There is also a new energy in the city government, with the executive mayor and members of his mayoral committee making turnaround promises.

    This long overdue attention is heartening. But some caution is called for. While some “quick wins” are needed, there will be no easy turnaround. The best prospect is likely to be a process of recovery that will require patience and methodical attention over the long term. A city cannot be repaired in the way an automobile can. A city has a trillion moving parts and is in a constant state of makeover, as dynamics of economy, technology, demography, environment, society, politics, and more, interact and produce change.

    The question is not whether a city is fixed – it can never finally be – but rather what trajectory it is on. For Johannesburg, the question is how to exit the downward spiral and begin the process of reconstruction.

    We are a group who previously worked in the City of Johannesburg as officials, who are now academics with decades of experience observing local governance trends and dynamics, or scholars engaged in civil society coalitions or communities mobilising around the crisis. Some of us have been involved in the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group over the last few months.

    Our view is that there are four areas needing urgent but sustained attention.

    Focus areas

    The first is the need for a joint effort across national, provincial and municipal government to resolve the crisis. We are pleased that this has begun. The political leadership in the city (and of the province) failed to grasp the opportunity provided by the post-2024 election national compromises to put together a broad-based government of local unity to lead reconstruction. There is no option now but to pursue an inter-governmental initiative led by national government with the committed involvement of the other spheres.

    Only genuine collaboration will succeed.

    In this respect, the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group holds promise. But what will be needed is careful, concerted work focused first on short-term priorities. Then, over years, on key structural challenges facing the city.

    Second, the city needs civil society in all its forms to hold a careful balance between keeping up the pressure on municipal government, constantly holding it accountable to its residents, and working with government to help it solve problems. The Joburg Crisis Alliance, Jozi-my-Jozi, WaterCAN and similar initiatives are claiming well-recognised and respected voice in the affairs of the municipality.

    Johannesburg needs a city government that is open to this scrutiny, accepting the need for transparency, and open to the help that civil society can offer.

    To raise the level of accountability and collaboration, a clear programme of restoration has to be communicated openly to the public. Milestones and expenditure requirements need to be set that allow for constant monitoring. There must be open council meetings, and regular online and in-person briefings.

    Also required are new mechanisms for citizen-based monitoring. These may include trained citizen monitors reporting on service delivery. Alternatively, the establishment of a sort of “Citizen’s Council” which meets regularly to receive reports from these monitors and the city administration.

    International examples include the Bürgerrat model. This is now fully institutionalised in parts of Germany and Austria to strengthen local democracy and accountability. In this model, citizens are randomly selected to sit on a council which monitors performance of local government and provides new ideas.

    Another approach could be for civil society organisations to be invited to a Citizen’s Council that would act in support of the oversight processes of the elected Municipal Council.

    Third, there has to be a solution to unstable coalition governments. These seem to be structured to facilitate separate political fiefdoms where spoils can be divided in the allocation of portfolios. At minimum, the presidential intervention must provide for a check and balance on processes where bureaucratic appointments and budgetary allocations may serve the interests of cronyism. For example, there should be transparency and rigour in appointments to the boards of Johannesburg’s municipally owned companies.

    Regulatory reforms are required in the political arena. This should include rules for the distribution of seats on the municipal executive and the election of mayors. Between January 2023 and August 2024 a tiny minority party held the mayoralty because the larger parties could not agree on a mayoral selection or, more cynically, to ensure that the executive mayor could not call large parties to account.

    More importantly, though, there has to be a change in political culture. This is a longer-term process.

    Fourth, the problems run far deeper than what bureaucratic reorganisation can achieve.

    The longer-term project is to build a capable administration with clear political direction and oversight but insulated from personal agendas and factional battles. The administration became confused and demoralised because of the political instability over an extended period. There are, however, still many capable and committed public servants in the city bureaucracy. The focus should be on working with them to rebuild the administration, making it a place where talent and initiative are recognised and rewarded.

    Restored political leadership and a rejuvenated administration is needed for a long term process, extending far beyond the quick wins. This process will involve refurbishing the decaying network infrastructure, restoring financial stability, reestablishing social trust and returning confidence to the city’s economy.

    2025 marks 30 years since the first democratic local elections. National government is looking seriously at sweeping municipal reforms. And the next municipal election – likely to be held at the end of 2026 – is an opportunity to make a deep transformation effort. Citizens can ensure that parties contesting the election place Johannesburg’s recovery at the heart of their agenda.

    Philip Harrison has received funding from South Africa’s National Research Foundation in support of the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning.

    The Gauteng City-Region Observatory receives core grant funding from the Gauteng Provincial Government.

    Lorena Nunez Carrasco received funding from the National Research Foundation in support of research on the South African response on COVID-19

    Rashid Seedat receives funding from Gauteng Provincial Government for the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. He is affiliated with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees.

    – ref. Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse – https://theconversation.com/johannesburgs-problems-can-be-solved-but-its-a-long-journey-to-fix-south-africas-economic-powerhouse-256013

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alex Ezeh, Dornsife Endowed Professor of Global Health, Drexel University

    The Lancet has released its second global commission report on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Adolescents are defined as 10- to 24-year-olds. The report builds on the first one, done in 2016. The latest report presents substantial original research that supports actions it recommends to be taken across sectors as well as at global, regional, country and local level. The co-chairs of the commission, Sarah Baird, Alex Ezeh and Russell Viner, together with the youth commissioners lead, Shakira Choonara, give a guide to the report’s findings.

    What were the key findings?

    The report noted significant improvements in some aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing since the 2016 report. These include reductions in:

    • communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, particularly among female adolescents

    • the burden of disease from injuries

    • substance use, specifically tobacco and alcohol

    • teenage pregnancy.

    It also found that there had been an increase in age at first marriage and in education, especially for young women.

    Despite this progress, adolescent health and wellbeing is said to be at a tipping point. Continued progress is being undermined by rapidly escalating rates of
    non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, accompanied by threats from compounding and intersecting megatrends. These include climate change and environmental degradation, the growing power of commercial influences on health, rising conflict and displacement, rapid urbanisation, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These megatrends are outpacing responses from national governments and the international community.

    What’s unique about today’s cohort of adolescents?

    Born between 2000 and 2014, this is the first cohort of humans who will live their entire life in a time when the average annual global temperature has consistently been 0.5°C or higher above pre-industrial levels.

    At roughly 2 billion adolescents, they are the largest cohort of adolescents in the history of humanity. And this number will not be surpassed as populations age and fertility rates fall in even the poorest countries.

    They are the first generation of global digital natives. They live in a world of immense resources and opportunities, with unprecedented connectedness made possible by the rapid expansion of digital technologies. This is true even in the hardest-to-reach places.

    Growing participation in secondary and tertiary education is equipping adolescents of all genders with new economic opportunities and providing pathways out of poverty.

    These opportunities, however, are not being realised for most adolescents. Increasing numbers continue to grow up in settings with limited opportunities. In addition, investments in adolescent health and wellbeing continue to lag relative to their population share or their share of the global burden of disease.

    Investments in adolescents accounted for only 2.4% of the total development assistance for health in 2016-2021. This was despite the fact that adolescents accounted for 25.2% of the global population in that period and 9.1% of the total burden of disease. We use development assistance as a measure because, while governments also invest in adolescents, it’s difficult to account for how much this is. For example, when a government supports a health facility, it serves the entire population.

    Yet, the report provides evidence to show that the return on investments in adolescent health and wellbeing is highly cost-effective and at par with investments in children.

    What’s the news for adolescents in Africa?

    The report recognises the special place of Africa in the global future of adolescents. It notes that, by the end of this century, nearly half of all adolescents will live in Africa.

    Currently, adolescents in Africa experience higher burdens of communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, at more than double the global average for both male and female adolescents. They also have a higher prevalence of anaemia, adolescent childbearing, early marriage and HIV infection. They are much less likely to complete 12 years of schooling and more likely to not be in education, employment, or training.

    Female adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest adolescent fertility rate at 99.4 births per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15-19 (the global average is 41.8). They have also experienced the slowest decline between 2016 and 2022.

    Globally, there was progress in reducing child marriage between 2016 and 2022. But in eight countries in 2022, at least one in three female adolescents aged 15–19 years was married. All but one of these eight countries were in sub-Saharan Africa. Niger (50.2%) and Mali (40.6%) had the highest proportion of married female adolescents.

    The practice of child marriage is declining in south Asia and becoming more concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. As the report notes:

    it continues because of cultural norms, fuelled by economic hardships, insurgency, conflict, ambiguous legal provisions, and lack of political will to enforce legal provisions.

    What should be Africa’s focus areas?

    Beyond adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, obesity is increasing fastest in the region. This illustrates the vulnerability of adolescents to the power of commercial interests.

    Since 1990, obesity and overweight has increased by 89% in prevalence among adolescents aged 15–19 years in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the largest regional increase.

    The absence of data on adolescents is a problem. Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are absent in many data systems. For example, data on adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa is virtually absent.

    Stronger data systems are needed to understand and track progress on the complex set of determinants of adolescent health and wellbeing.

    Another area of concern is the massive inequities within countries, often gendered or by geography. While female adolescents in Kenya are experiencing substantial declines in the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, adolescent males are experiencing increasing burdens. In South Africa, years of healthy life lost to maternal disorders show more than 10-fold differences between the Western Cape and North West provinces.

    Where there’s been strong political leadership, remarkable changes have been seen. Take the case of Benin Republic. The adolescent fertility rate in the country declined from 26% in 1996 to 20% in 2018 and child marriage from 39% to 31% over the same period. Strong political leadership has also led to substantial reductions in female genital mutilation or cutting. This fell from 12% of girls in Benin in 2001 to 2% in 2011–12 among 15–19-year-old girls in Benin Republic. Political leadership also facilitated the expansion, by the national parliament in 2021, of the grounds under which women, girls, and their families could access safe and legal abortion.

    But for every country that takes positive steps to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescents, several others regress.

    The last decade has witnessed regression in several countries. In 2024, The Gambia attempted to repeal a 2015 law criminalising all acts of female genital mutilation or cutting. In 2022, Nigeria’s federal government ordered the removal of sex education from the basic education curriculum.

    What are the recommended courses of action?

    The report calls for a multisectoral approach across multiple national ministries and agencies, including the office of the head of state, and within the UN system.

    Coordination and accountability mechanisms for adolescent health and wellbeing also need to be strengthened.

    Laws and policies are needed to protect the health and rights of adolescents, reduce the impact of the commercial determinants of health, and promote healthy use of digital and social media spaces and platforms.

    Strong political leadership at local, national, and global levels is essential.

    The report also calls for prioritised investments, the creation of enabling environments to transform adolescent health and wellbeing, and the development of innovative approaches to address complex and emerging health threats.

    It calls for meaningful engagement of adolescents in policy, research, interventions and accountability mechanisms that affect them.

    Without these concerted actions, we risk failing our young people and losing out on the investments being made in childhood at this second critical period in their development.

    The current adverse international aid climate is particularly affecting adolescents as much development assistance relates to gender and sexual and reproductive health. Concerted action in addressing adolescent health and wellbeing is an urgent imperative for sub-Saharan Africa.

    Alex Ezeh is a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias).

    Russell Viner and Sarah Baird do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends – https://theconversation.com/a-quarter-of-the-worlds-population-are-adolescents-major-report-sets-out-health-and-wellbeing-trends-257282

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Harrison, Professor School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand

    South African president Cyril Ramaphosa met senior leaders of Johannesburg and Gauteng, the province it’s located in, in March 2025 to discuss ways to arrest the steep decline in South Africa’s largest city.

    Ramaphosa announced a two-year-long presidential intervention to tackle some of the city’s most pressing issues. It is to be led by the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group with eight cross-governmental and multi-stakeholder workstreams.

    Johannesburg was established 130 years ago, where the world’s largest-ever gold deposits were discovered. It grew rapidly in the early 20th century and became the country’s economic heartland and largest population centre. Like all South African cities, it was deeply scarred by apartheid policies. People were divided by racially defined groups. Good services and a strong economy benefited a minority, and a black majority were pushed into impoverished ghettos.

    But, for about the first two decades of post-apartheid rule from 1994, Johannesburg led the country with innovation and progressive change. It pioneered the new local government system, institutional reforms, new practice on city strategy and planning, pro-poor service delivery, and modern transport infrastructure.

    Today, however, the city is in a dire state. Over the past decade, roughly coinciding with the arrival of messy coalition governance in 2016, sound political leadership, administrative stability and financial management have crumbled. Underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance has led to collapsing services. Public trust is deteriorating among increasingly frustrated communities. This was evident in local election results. It also shows up in recent data released by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory on public trust in local government.

    The local economy has stagnated. The city’s official unemployment rate of 34.3% is higher than the national average of 32.9%. Mounting joblessness and dwindling incomes have intertwined with depleted trust to knock levels of payment for property rates and service charges. In turn this has deepened the financial and service maintenance crisis.

    Corruption in many parts of the city is an endemic complicating factor.

    The presidential intervention is designed to address this complex interplay between embedded legacies and failings post-apartheid. The workstreams involving city officials and concerned stakeholders are generating ideas for priority actions. There is also a new energy in the city government, with the executive mayor and members of his mayoral committee making turnaround promises.

    This long overdue attention is heartening. But some caution is called for. While some “quick wins” are needed, there will be no easy turnaround. The best prospect is likely to be a process of recovery that will require patience and methodical attention over the long term. A city cannot be repaired in the way an automobile can. A city has a trillion moving parts and is in a constant state of makeover, as dynamics of economy, technology, demography, environment, society, politics, and more, interact and produce change.

    The question is not whether a city is fixed – it can never finally be – but rather what trajectory it is on. For Johannesburg, the question is how to exit the downward spiral and begin the process of reconstruction.

    We are a group who previously worked in the City of Johannesburg as officials, who are now academics with decades of experience observing local governance trends and dynamics, or scholars engaged in civil society coalitions or communities mobilising around the crisis. Some of us have been involved in the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group over the last few months.

    Our view is that there are four areas needing urgent but sustained attention.

    Focus areas

    The first is the need for a joint effort across national, provincial and municipal government to resolve the crisis. We are pleased that this has begun. The political leadership in the city (and of the province) failed to grasp the opportunity provided by the post-2024 election national compromises to put together a broad-based government of local unity to lead reconstruction. There is no option now but to pursue an inter-governmental initiative led by national government with the committed involvement of the other spheres.

    Only genuine collaboration will succeed.

    In this respect, the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group holds promise. But what will be needed is careful, concerted work focused first on short-term priorities. Then, over years, on key structural challenges facing the city.

    Second, the city needs civil society in all its forms to hold a careful balance between keeping up the pressure on municipal government, constantly holding it accountable to its residents, and working with government to help it solve problems. The Joburg Crisis Alliance, Jozi-my-Jozi, WaterCAN and similar initiatives are claiming well-recognised and respected voice in the affairs of the municipality.

    Johannesburg needs a city government that is open to this scrutiny, accepting the need for transparency, and open to the help that civil society can offer.

    To raise the level of accountability and collaboration, a clear programme of restoration has to be communicated openly to the public. Milestones and expenditure requirements need to be set that allow for constant monitoring. There must be open council meetings, and regular online and in-person briefings.

    Also required are new mechanisms for citizen-based monitoring. These may include trained citizen monitors reporting on service delivery. Alternatively, the establishment of a sort of “Citizen’s Council” which meets regularly to receive reports from these monitors and the city administration.

    International examples include the Bürgerrat model. This is now fully institutionalised in parts of Germany and Austria to strengthen local democracy and accountability. In this model, citizens are randomly selected to sit on a council which monitors performance of local government and provides new ideas.

    Another approach could be for civil society organisations to be invited to a Citizen’s Council that would act in support of the oversight processes of the elected Municipal Council.

    Third, there has to be a solution to unstable coalition governments. These seem to be structured to facilitate separate political fiefdoms where spoils can be divided in the allocation of portfolios. At minimum, the presidential intervention must provide for a check and balance on processes where bureaucratic appointments and budgetary allocations may serve the interests of cronyism. For example, there should be transparency and rigour in appointments to the boards of Johannesburg’s municipally owned companies.

    Regulatory reforms are required in the political arena. This should include rules for the distribution of seats on the municipal executive and the election of mayors. Between January 2023 and August 2024 a tiny minority party held the mayoralty because the larger parties could not agree on a mayoral selection or, more cynically, to ensure that the executive mayor could not call large parties to account.

    More importantly, though, there has to be a change in political culture. This is a longer-term process.

    Fourth, the problems run far deeper than what bureaucratic reorganisation can achieve.

    The longer-term project is to build a capable administration with clear political direction and oversight but insulated from personal agendas and factional battles. The administration became confused and demoralised because of the political instability over an extended period. There are, however, still many capable and committed public servants in the city bureaucracy. The focus should be on working with them to rebuild the administration, making it a place where talent and initiative are recognised and rewarded.

    Restored political leadership and a rejuvenated administration is needed for a long term process, extending far beyond the quick wins. This process will involve refurbishing the decaying network infrastructure, restoring financial stability, reestablishing social trust and returning confidence to the city’s economy.

    2025 marks 30 years since the first democratic local elections. National government is looking seriously at sweeping municipal reforms. And the next municipal election – likely to be held at the end of 2026 – is an opportunity to make a deep transformation effort. Citizens can ensure that parties contesting the election place Johannesburg’s recovery at the heart of their agenda.

    Philip Harrison has received funding from South Africa’s National Research Foundation in support of the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning.

    The Gauteng City-Region Observatory receives core grant funding from the Gauteng Provincial Government.

    Lorena Nunez Carrasco received funding from the National Research Foundation in support of research on the South African response on COVID-19

    Rashid Seedat receives funding from Gauteng Provincial Government for the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. He is affiliated with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees.

    – ref. Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse – https://theconversation.com/johannesburgs-problems-can-be-solved-but-its-a-long-journey-to-fix-south-africas-economic-powerhouse-256013

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rutherford Statement on NOAA’s Amendment 59

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rutherford (4th District of Florida)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Amendment 59:

    “The release of Amendment 59 by NOAA, without the proposed three-month bottom fishing closure, is a major victory for Florida, especially for our more than 4 million anglers, coastal communities, and families whose livelihoods depend on reliable access to these waters and fisheries.

    “This outcome proves what anglers have been saying all along, the proposed bottom closure was a politically motivated attempt by the Biden Administration to shut down access to our fisheries and not rooted in actual data. 

    “Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for listening to the concerns of anglers across the South Atlantic and pushing for accurate data. The final rule reflects what anglers are seeing and catching, which is more red snapper than ever before.

    “I am proud to have introduced the Red Snapper Act in the House and secured funding for the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count to ensure we’re using independent, peer-reviewed data in future management decisions. Today is a huge step in the right direction and I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to ensure recreational anglers voices are heard in Washington, D.C.”

    Read more about NOAA’s announcement here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese says the government’s focus on delivering commitments is essential to reinforce faith in democracy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his second term government is “focused on delivery” of its commitments, declaring this is important not only for the economy but also for Australians’ faith in our democracy.

    In a speech to the National Press Club on Tuesday, partially released ahead of delivery, Albanese warns that the present era of global uncertainty reaches beyond just economic uncertainty.

    “It is the more corrosive proposition that politics and government and democratic institutions, including a free media, are incapable of meeting the demands of this moment.

    “Some simply dismiss such sentiment. Others cynically seek to harvest it. Our responsibility is to disprove it.

    “To recognise that some of this frustration is drawn from people’s real experience with government – be it failures of service delivery, or falling through the cracks of a particular system.

    “And to counter this, we have to offer the practical and positive alternative.To prove that a good, focused, reforming Labor government can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

    Albanese’s speech comes ahead of his departure later this week for the G7 summit in Canada, where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines.

    Their talks are set to cover, in particular, the Albanese government’s bid for relief from the Trump tariffs and the president’s desire for Australia to significantly boost its spending on defence.

    Australia is subject to both the general US 10% tariff and the separate tariff on steel and aluminium, which the president has just increased to 50%.

    Australia will put on the table a proposal for arrangements on access to our critical minerals and rare earths, that will favour the US. The government has also been examining a way to give access to US beef, which currently faces an effective ban on biosecurity grounds.

    Albanese has stressed that any change would not compromise Australian biosecurity.

    The Trump administration has flagged it would like to see Australia boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP. Albanese has said Australia makes its own defence decisions and that spending should be based on capability needs rather than a set percentage.

    Albanese’s stress, in his speech, on “delivery” of commitments is partly to manage expectations in the wake of the government’s massive majority.

    The unexpected election result has led to some pressures on the government to use its position to undertake a more radical agenda than the one it put at the election.

    Albanese says: “Our government’s vision and ambition for Australia’s future was never dependent on the size of our majority.

    “But you can only build for that future vision if you build confidence that you can deliver on urgent necessities.

    “How you do that is important too – ensuring that the actions of today, anticipate and create conditions for further reform tomorrow.”

    He says the government’s second-term agenda has been shaped by Australians’ lives, priorities and values.

    “It is the mission and the measure of a Labor government to give those enduring ideals of fairness, aspiration and opportunity renewed and deeper meaning, for more Australians.

    “To deliver reforms that hold no-one back – and drive progress that leaves no-one behind.

    “This is no small task. It demands we aim high and requires us to build big.”

    He points to the government’s promised big investment in Medicare as well as its commitments on housing and the energy transition.

    “Our vision is for a society that is a microcosm for the world – where all are respected and valued and our diversity is recognised as a strength.

    “Where our international relationships in the fastest growing region of the world in human history benefit us, but also provide a platform for us to play a stabilising global role in uncertain times.”

    Michelle Grattan 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. Albanese says the government’s focus on delivering commitments is essential to reinforce faith in democracy – https://theconversation.com/albanese-says-the-governments-focus-on-delivering-commitments-is-essential-to-reinforce-faith-in-democracy-257331

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –