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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets with Indonesian National Economic Council Chairman

    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, May 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indonesian National Economic Council Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in Beijing on Tuesday.

    As Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, recalled, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese-Indonesian diplomatic relations.

    The Chinese Foreign Minister pointed out that China is willing to work with Indonesia to deepen political mutual trust, efficiently promote such landmark projects as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor, strengthen cooperation in various fields including maritime activities and mining, and unleash the potential for cooperation in emerging sectors.

    Wang Yi stressed that the world is currently facing the regressive attacks of unilateralism, and trade bullying is detrimental to the interests of all countries. He said China and Indonesia should adhere to independence and self-reliance, expand cooperation for mutual benefit, and uphold fairness and justice.

    China congratulates Indonesia on its official entry into BRICS and stands ready to work with it to uphold the “Bandung spirit,” promote regional economic integration, resist the attacks of unilateralism and deglobalization, jointly build a common home in the Asia-Pacific region, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Chinese Foreign Minister added.

    Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, for his part, noted that the Indonesia-China friendship is extremely strong. Noting that Indonesia’s economic development is inseparable from mutually beneficial cooperation with China, he noted that bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, finance, technology transfer and human resource training is fruitful, and such landmark projects as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway benefit the people of both countries. Bilateral cooperation also has a positive impact on neighboring countries, the Chairman of the National Economic Council of Indonesia emphasized.

    Indonesia hopes to strengthen exchanges with China at all levels, expand areas of cooperation, strengthen cultural and humanitarian exchanges, promote the development of an Indonesia-China community with a shared future, and jointly advance solidarity and cooperation among countries in the Global South, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Feats of the human body behind Tom Cruise’s stunts in Mission: Impossible movies

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

    He’s leapt from cliffs, clung to planes mid-takeoff and held his breath underwater for as long as professional freedivers. Now, at 62, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt for one final mission – and he’s still doing his own stunts.

    With Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the saga reaches its high-stakes finale. But behind the scenes of death-defying spectacles lies a fascinating question: just how far can the human body be pushed – and trained – to pull off the seemingly impossible?

    And at what cost? In filming the eight Mission: Impossible films, Cruise has suffered a broken ankle, cracked ribs and a torn shoulder.

    Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to consider the capabilities – and limits – of the human body in being able to achieve these awesome heights. How much is it possible to train to achieve the apparently impossible?

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    Breathing underwater

    In Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Hunt navigates an underwater vault to recover a stolen ledger. Cruise wanted to film this all in one take and sought help from freediving instructors in order to hold his breath for the required time – over six minutes!

    The average human can hold their breath for about 30 to 90 seconds. That’s without training. Although there’s an innate diving reflex built into the human body that allows it to temporarily adapt to immersion underwater.

    The response is to lower the heart rate and redirect blood to the body’s core, essentially enabling it to lower its metabolic demand and preserve the function of the vital organs, like the brain and heart.

    All well and good, but consider now the need to swim, as well as resist the pressure of the water pressing on the lungs. And also while fighting that desperate urge as a result of rising CO₂ to take a deep breath – which, underwater, would be catastrophic.

    And if the diver’s oxygen levels fall too low, they might black out and lose consciousness. That’s why shallow water drowning is a real risk here.

    That’s where freediving training comes into play. With practice, there are several ways you can increase the time you’re able to remain underwater. These include mastering breathing techniques to retain the maximum amount of air in the lungs. Sustained practice might also lead to increased oxygen storage capacity in the bloodstream.

    This process takes months to years to attain and might lengthen the immersion time, on average, to around five minutes. What Cruise managed to achieve was nothing short of exceptional.

    The official trailer for Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning.

    Free climbing – and that scene

    Mission Impossible films often open with Ethan Hunt working his way up some impossibly sheer building or cliff face with the agility of a mountain goat. He appears to be free climbing without a harness, and at the start of Mission: Impossible 2, clinging on with just one hand. While Cruise used safety wires to secure himself, the climbing was 100% real.

    Then, of course, how could we forget that scene? The one in the original Mission: Impossible – where he has to suspend all limbs, centimetres from the ground, to prevent himself from setting off the alarms.

    Although Cruise hasn’t revealed his specific training regime for these stunts that I can see – performing any of these actions would require an exceptionally strong back and core.

    The muscles of our backs keep the spine straight and upright. Some span the space between back and limb, such as latissimus dorsi, or “lats”. These sheets of muscle, prized by bodybuilders, are also particularly valuable to climbers – allowing you to perform a chin-up, or pull yourself up that rock face.

    Besides this, many other muscles are needed for extreme climbing – those that enable a strong grip, allow for reaching and “push offs”, and maintain tension and hold. It’s no wonder climbing is considered one of the best whole-body workouts.

    It’s no surprise that Cruise is known to have trained extensively for this. To understand even an element of the difficulty he may have faced, you could try adopting that vault heist pose, with your belly in contact with the floor, and see how long you can hold it. I won’t tell you how pitiful my own attempt was.

    What a blast

    Hunt has also escaped a fair few explosions in his time, from a helicopter in the Channel tunnel to a detonating fish tank in Prague. In Mission: Impossible 3, on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, another helicopter launching a missile triggers an explosion that sends Hunt smashing into a car. Again, Cruise did it all himself, for the price of two cracked ribs.

    Pyrotechnics were used for the explosion, but of course, they couldn’t be used to lift Cruise up and deposit him against the car. The solution? A series of wires were used to drag him sideways. Never has the direction “brace, brace” been so apt.

    And just so you know, broken or bruised ribs are far from fun. Some describe them as one of the most painful injuries you can experience, since the simple acts of coughing, sneezing and merely breathing exacerbate the pain.

    But Tom Cruise picks himself up yet again, dusts himself off and gets on with it. His motivation? He has reportedly claimed that he wants the audience to experience what it really feels to be in that moment. And what a good sport he is.

    This article won’t self-destruct in five seconds.

    Dan Baumgardt 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. Feats of the human body behind Tom Cruise’s stunts in Mission: Impossible movies – https://theconversation.com/feats-of-the-human-body-behind-tom-cruises-stunts-in-mission-impossible-movies-256908

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: English schools to increase mental health support – why they need to get children involved in designing it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma McKenna, Fellow – Medical Sociology, University of Birmingham

    BalanceFormCreative/Shutterstock

    The UK government has announced the continuing rollout of the provision of mental health support teams in schools in England, with the intention of providing six in ten pupils with this support by March 2026.

    One in five children over the age of eight has a probable mental health condition in England today. Mental health support teams are needed to support children and young people early with their mental health and wellbeing to help prevent problems escalating.

    Mental health support teams are made up of experts who work with a number of schools in their local area. They collaborate with school staff, provide group or one-to-one sessions for pupils, parents and carers, and help schools create a culture that promotes mental health and wellbeing.

    With colleagues, I work on research investigating mental health in schools. This has involved assessing the early progress of the mental health support teams – the first ones were created between 2018-19 as part of the then Conservative government’s trailblazer initiative, which aimed to test out approaches and solutions to complex societal problems in specific regions.

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    Our research looked in particular at one of the key purposes of the mental health support teams – to help schools set up or improve a “whole school” approach to mental health support.

    A whole school approach means that all areas of the school or college work together to put mental health and wellbeing at the heart of their school community. This contrasts to standalone mental health activities that aren’t grounded within the everyday school culture. For instance, a school might hold an assembly on wellbeing but continue to implement a behaviour policy that heavily relies on punishment and therefore risks affecting children’s wellbeing.

    School culture

    Well-designed and implemented whole school approaches can have positive effects on children and young people’s wellbeing and contribute to the prevention and reduction of mental health problems. We also know that children are more likely to achieve at school if they feel like they belong, can participate and have autonomy, all fostered by the whole school approach.

    An example of a whole school approach is identifying and supporting children and young people early with mental health support. It can include “global learning”, where learning about mental health and wellbeing becomes a core part of schools’ assemblies, clubs and project-based learning. However, these are just some of a number of combined approaches to a whole school approach.

    In our research, children and young people in schools and colleges where mental health support teams had helped put whole school approach activities in place, told us that they were visible and felt seen. Teachers reached out to them about their wellbeing, either in classrooms through emotional check-ins, or through special lessons focused on mental health attached to curriculum teaching.

    Feeling like there was somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and be heard, made a clear difference to children and young people.

    However, we found that some schools were not including children and young people in their development of whole school mental health strategies. In one of the participating schools, mental health support team work was only known about by the child who had experience of the team. In this school, there was no discernible whole school work being undertaken in addition to direct support.

    The key missing ingredient to really support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is for them to feel that they have agency – some input – into the activities that help them.

    Feeling that they have agency and input into decisions that affect them is good for children’s wellbeing.
    Nadya Lukic/Shutterstock

    Also, involving children in developing activities like this can help them to feel valued and included. This in itself is good for mental health.

    Creating together

    With my colleagues at The University of Birmingham’s Institute of Mental Health Youth Advisory Group and National Children’s Bureau, we worked with children and school staff to put together England’s first guide to creating a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools with pupils. The set of resources include a structured classroom activity, introductory video and practical guide.

    The classroom activity prompts a creative conversation with children about what wellbeing means to them, how their school supports their wellbeing, and what more the school could do. The guide includes practical suggestions about how to talk to pupils about mental health and wellbeing at school in a safe, supportive and inclusive way. It also offers ideas about how to use the information from the classroom activity to support pupils.

    The activity itself asks children to reflect on where and how their wellbeing is supported at school, alongside a focus on the people, places and practices that might help them. The overall aim is to develop a child-centred, whole school approach, one which focuses on the things that matter most to children about their emotional wellbeing.

    Whole school approaches could provide schools with a more holistic way of supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Involving them in all areas of design and implementation could help to keep wellbeing and mental health at the heart of schools.

    Gemma McKenna receives funding from University of Birmingham, Impact Fund.
    Affiliations include: Health Services Research UK ,HSR UK, https://hsruk.org/
    TONIBOBANDLOU CIC https://www.tonibobandlou.com/

    – ref. English schools to increase mental health support – why they need to get children involved in designing it – https://theconversation.com/english-schools-to-increase-mental-health-support-why-they-need-to-get-children-involved-in-designing-it-252121

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: For long-tailed tits, it really does take a village

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Morinay, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sheffield

    Any parent will tell you how useful it can be to have family living nearby, giving a helping hand when raising your children. In humans, relatives and even non-relatives act as childminders. Such behaviour is widespread in other animals too, particularly birds.

    In our recent study we explored why long-tailed tits, one of the UK’s tiniest bird species, often act as foster parents instead of raising their own brood.

    Since Darwin’s musings on apparent altruism in honeybees, scientists have discovered that individuals of many species help each other, including bacteria, insects, shrimps, mammals and especially birds. We now know that almost 10% of bird species cooperate, helping to raise nestlings that are not their own. This is called cooperative breeding.

    The question that has puzzled scientists since Darwin is why do other animals (and why do we) cooperate? The answer usually lies in a shift in focus from the individual to the genes that make them. The revolutionary work of evolutionary biologist Bill Hamilton in the 1960s (popularised in Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene in 1976), showed that helping family members can improve the transmission of shared genes to the next generation.

    But when is it more advantageous to help family members than to raise your own kids? That is the question we asked of long-tailed tits, the most cooperative of the UK’s birds. In our recent study published last month, we summarised 30 years of research on the cooperative breeding system of long-tailed tits.

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    These tiny and highly social birds with their characteristic chrrr-rr-rr calls are common in UK woods and gardens. In winter, they hang out in groups of 10-20 birds. These flocks often contain close family members, such as parents with offspring and siblings. They forage together during the day and, at night, they sleep in tight huddles on branches, to keep themselves warm.

    In February or March, when they sense that spring is just around the corner, the groups disband, and each bird finds a partner. Then follows what must seem like a marathon effort. Their domed nests, usually built in spiky bushes or high in tree forks, are elaborate constructions that may take weeks to complete. Females lay 9-11 eggs that they incubate until hatching two weeks later. Nestlings are fed by both parents for 16-18 days, when they fledge.

    However, small carnivores and other bird species are waiting for this bonanza of eggs or chicks, and about 70% of long-tailed tit nests are destroyed by such predators every year. Pairs must then start all over again, building a new nest and laying eggs. No wonder that they can only raise one brood per year.

    Long-tailed tits make elaborate nests to raise their chicks in.
    Chosg/Shutterstock

    By early May, the season is too advanced to re-nest, and if a pair has lost their brood they give up for the year. Some lucky ones manage to reproduce, of course. Is it luck? Maybe, in part – but the secret for half of the successful nests is that they got help from family members.

    Birds that fail to breed often become helpers, moving to another nest and assisting that pair in raising their offspring. Around half of all broods have helpers, typically just one or two, but up to eight at a single nest. The extra food that helpers provide increases the survival of offspring. Helpers normally choose the nest of relatives, increasing the number of birds carrying their genes in the next generation. For birds that may live for just a couple of years, this is the next best option after failing to breed successfully themselves.

    Small birds with persistent family bonds

    In our study, we aimed to understand how these family bonds persist and are important for the long-tailed tits. First, they tend to stay and reproduce near where they were born, especially males. As a consequence, we observed that long-tailed tits live in “kin neighbourhoods”. Second, even when they move and decide to settle further afield, long-tailed tits do so with sisters and brothers, maintaining their family ties as they move.

    Long-tailed tits are less than half the weight of a robin.
    David OBrien/Shutterstock

    These family ties can persist over thousands of kilometres. Long-tailed tits in the UK stay in the same area all year. However, populations in the Baltics migrate and spend the winter in central Europe. By catching groups on their southward and northward journeys, we discovered that long-tailed tits travel over large distances in family groups and end up nesting next to each other. These strong family bonds enable them to keep their support network in place.

    Males help more than females, and only birds in good condition help. But, most importantly, it is the strength of the family bond – how closely related and familiar they are – that affects this decision. We also identified external factors that promote cooperation. When predation is intense there are more failed breeders seeking helping opportunities. And when the weather limits time for breeding, long-tailed tits are more likely to help others. Out of adversity comes opportunity.

    We have unpicked the web of causes and effects that explain why long-tailed tits have complex social lives and a cooperative breeding system. Now, our aim is to understand how they recognise family members, whether it is with their calls, their smells, or simply because they built strong friendships over time with them.

    Ben Hatchwell receives funding from a Horizon Europe Guarantee grant from UKRI, via EPSRC, for a project selected by the ERC.

    Jennifer Morinay 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. For long-tailed tits, it really does take a village – https://theconversation.com/for-long-tailed-tits-it-really-does-take-a-village-256128

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mike Chick, Senior Lecturer in TESOL/English, University of South Wales

    William Perugini/Shutterstock

    When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK.

    This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter to the language policies being developed across the devolved nations.

    While the UK government’s latest proposals on immigration treat English proficiency as the main pathway to integration, governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are taking different approaches.

    Immigration is a matter controlled by Westminster. But integration, including language education, is devolved. That means each UK nation sets its own direction.

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    England

    Despite frequent political emphasis on English language learning and testing as key to integration, England does not have a national strategy for migrant or refugee integration. It also does not have an England-wide policy for teaching English for speakers of other languages (Esol).

    Instead, decisions about language classes are made locally but provision is uneven. In some areas, support is well-organised and accessible. In others, it’s barely there.

    Despite the lack of national leadership, the Esol sector in England has long benefited from grassroots activism. Organisations like the National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults and English for Action have been vocal in campaigning for better funding. Researchers and teachers also continue to call for a joined-up strategy for migrant and refugee integration.

    Wales

    By contrast, the Welsh government has made language education a core part of its progressive integration policies. Its ambition to become the world’s first “nation of sanctuary” is backed up by practical measures. This includes a dedicated language education policy for migrants, focused primarily on Esol – the only one of its kind in the UK.

    The first national Esol strategy was published in 2014, revised in 2018, and will be updated this year following a review.

    The introduction of Welsh as an element of migrant language education is helping to build a more inclusive, multicultural society too. It shows learners that all languages, including their mother tongue, have a role to play in a modern, multilingual nation.

    Scotland

    Since 2014, Scotland has implemented three refugee integration strategies. The new Scots refugee integration strategy has been internationally recognised as a model of good practice. It adopts a multilingual, intercultural approach, emphasising that language learning should include home languages and the language or languages of the new community, which may include Gaelic, Scots and English.

    Scotland had two successive adult Esol strategies from 2007 to 2020. These were developed in consultation with Esol learners and detailed clear progression routes into further training, education and employment. But they were discontinued in favour of a broader adult learning strategy in 2022 which covers all adult learners rather than just the needs of migrants.

    It was a decision criticised by some due to concerns about losing focus on the specific needs of Esol learners, and reducing the voice of Esol learners and teachers in Scotland.

    Northern Ireland

    In Northern Ireland, there is no dedicated migrant language policy yet. But its draft refugee integration strategy does at least acknowledge the importance of language in helping migrants feel “valued and respected”.

    In 2022, the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act granted official status to the Irish language, and to Ulster-Scots as a minority language. Nevertheless, the Northern Ireland refugee integration strategy focuses solely on English language classes as the primary language education provision.

    Welsh for speakers of other languages.

    What all UK nations share, however, is chronic underfunding. Adult education, where Esol funding sits across all four nations, now faces yet more cuts meaning many language learners will continue to face long waiting lists for classes.

    But how language education for migrants, especially migrants seeking sanctuary in the UK is perceived, organised and provided is critical to fostering inclusion, promoting integration and bestowing a sense of belonging. Developing competency in the dominant language or languages of the host nation can enable migrants to navigate health, housing or social security systems. It can help them cope with the needs of daily life and to use their skills and knowledge to enter work or education.



    Read more:
    How the Welsh language is being promoted to help migrants feel at home

    Many people seeking sanctuary have experienced trauma from undergoing forced migration. This makes it vital that language provision is trauma-informed and recognises a learner’s existing multilingual skills. It’s also important that it is shaped around their needs, not just on externally imposed assessments of English proficiency.

    The value of multilingualism

    Multilingual education is more than just a nice thing to have.
    There is growing evidence that valuing the languages refugees already speak, and recognising their linguistic skills as assets, improves wellbeing, builds confidence and enhances social inclusion.

    Too often in the UK, language learning is treated as a condition for acceptance, rather than a right that can enable belonging. That risks undermining the very integration that policymakers claim to support.

    If the UK is serious about being a modern, inclusive and multicultural state, it must embrace the reality that it is also multilingual, and that different nations may choose different routes to welcome those seeking sanctuary.

    The authors wish to thank their respective universities for the support they have received in researching this issue. They would also like to thank their co-researchers Sylvia Warnecke and Mel Engman and their co-authors on their recently published policy briefing.

    Gwennan Higham and Sarah Cox 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. Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration – https://theconversation.com/starmer-says-migrants-should-speak-english-but-all-of-the-uks-languages-are-important-for-integration-255286

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government reacts to UK-EU deal

    Source: Scottish Government

    Fishing deal puts any benefits “at risk”.

    External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has welcomed the closer co-operation between the UK and the EU following a series of new agreements but said not involving the Scottish Government in any negotiations was “an affront to devolution”.

    In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Robertson said the removal of obstacles to food and agricultural exports, greater support for energy trading and the UK rejoining the Erasmus exchange scheme for students, were all positive aspects of the UK-EU agreement.

    But Mr Robertson criticised the lack of consultation with the Scottish Government on key aspects of the deal, particularly on fishing.

    He said:

    “The Scottish Government welcomes the agreement as it represents long-overdue momentum in rebuilding our relationship with the European Union. But no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020.

    “We argued for an ambitious package in the interests of people and businesses across Scotland, and there are some positive indicators here, including the agriculture, food and drink agreement which will reduce market barriers; and enhanced cooperation on energy and climate, and a clear intention to rejoin the Erasmus exchange programme.

    “The fact that this agreement – not least on fisheries – was reached without the explicit engagement of the devolved governments on the negotiation detail is not just an affront to devolution, it has put at risk, and will continue to put at risk, the benefits of any commitments for the people of Scotland.”

    He added:

    “We still believe Scotland’s best future lies as an independent country within the European Union but we will engage constructively and positively in the next phase of negotiations. We also hope to see the UK Government work collaboratively with devolved governments in developing its priorities – as the EU does with its Member States.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Modernising legal services

    Source: Scottish Government

    New laws passed to improve transparency and accountability of the sector.

    New laws to modernise and improve the way legal services are regulated in Scotland has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

    The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will improve how legal services are regulated and introduce a more flexible and consumer-focused system that provides clearer and swifter redress for complaints through greater transparency and accountability.   

    The Bill benefits the legal profession by simplifying regulatory structures and promoting innovation and competition, intended to increase access to justice. Also, by removing restrictions on third sector bodies, it aims to help charities better support the most vulnerable in society. 

    The legislation ensures regulation remains independent and fair by empowering The Lord President to better oversee and improve the functions of legal services within Scotland, upholding the high standards of Scotland’s legal community

    Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said:

    “Scotland’s legal sector plays an integral role in maintaining the rule of law and upholding justice. From individuals seeking advice in family law matters to businesses navigating complex commercial disputes, there will always be a need and demand for accessible, efficient and accountable legal services.

    “The Bill is about improving the everyday experience of people who need legal help and ensuring that legal services are delivered in a way that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and making it better equipped to serve the people of Scotland in an ever-evolving legal landscape.

    “The journey of this Bill has been a rigorous and collaborative process, involving extensive consultation, including with the legal sector and consumers, to ensure it reflects the interests of all those who interact with the legal system.”

    Background

    Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More sand and gravel, less red tape

    Sand, gravel and crushed stone are the backbone of Alberta’s construction economy – essential for building the roads we drive on, the homes we live in and the infrastructure that supports our communities. These critical aggregates, often sourced from private land, play a foundational role across multiple industries. While these materials are heavily regulated to protect Alberta’s environment, landowners and operators have consistently voiced frustration that excessive red tape is creating unnecessary barriers to development and slowing down the delivery of sand and gravel to market.

    To dig into these concerns and build a more efficient path forward, Alberta’s government is launching the Sand and Gravel Task Force. This dedicated group will work to streamline regulations related to sand and gravel pits located on private lands, ensuring faster project timelines while continuing to uphold Alberta’s high environmental standards.

    Led by Glenn van Dijken, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, and Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, the task force will include representatives from industry and municipalities who understand the importance of timely access to sand and gravel resources. Over the next six months, the Sand and Gravel Task Force will deliver actionable recommendations focused on reducing bureaucratic delays, supporting landowners and strengthening Alberta’s aggregate supply chain.

    By clearing away unnecessary red tape, Alberta is preparing the ground for a more responsive regulatory system – one that delivers more sand and gravel, faster and smarter.

    “With the launch of the Sand and Gravel Task Force, we’re paving the way for a faster, smoother process. It’s time to stop graveling under bureaucracy and start building Alberta’s future. MLA van Dijken and MLA Lunty will leave no stone unturned as they dig into this important work.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “Sand and gravel are foundational for building and maintaining a strong economy. From road infrastructure to industrial uses or residential housing, these resources are essential. Our government is determined to ensure the regulatory process around sand and gravel pits recognizes the need for efficiency and clarity.”

    Glenn van Dijken, Task Force Co-chair and MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock

    “This new task force will reduce red tape and answer the call to build more when Albertans need it most. With more than 1,000 sand and gravel pit registrations on private land, streamlining the applications and approvals will bring significant development benefits.”

    Brandon Lunty, Task Force Co-chair and MLA for Leduc-Beaumont

    “Rural municipalities are on the front lines of balancing the economic value of aggregate extraction with the need to protect farmland, infrastructure and the environment. I’m honoured to represent the Rural Municipalities of Alberta on this Task Force and committed to advancing a more transparent, consistent and practical regulatory process. This is an important step toward ensuring that the voices of rural communities are not only heard but meaningfully integrated into decision-making.”

    Amber Link, representative, Rural Municipalities Association

    “I’m pleased to represent the interests of our association’s 264 member communities on this task force. I look forward to finding ways to streamline and accelerate the regulatory process for sand and gravel extraction, while upholding Alberta’s commitment to environmental excellence.”

    Tara Elwood, representative, Alberta Municipalities Association

    Aggregate Pits Task Force Members:

    • Brandon Lunty, Co-Chair and MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
    • Glenn van Dijken, Co-Chair and MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock  
    • Brock Helm, Alberta Sand and Gravel Association
    • Ken Kozakewich, Consulting Engineers of Alberta
    • Amber Link, Rural Municipalities Association
    • Tara Elwood, Alberta Municipalities Association

    Quick facts

    • There are currently more than 1,000 active sand and gravel pit registrations on private land across the province.
    • Sand and gravel pits on private land are regulated under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act’s Code of Practice for Pits and the Water Act.
    • The task force will focus exclusively on sand and gravel pits located on private lands and provincial regulatory processes.

    Related information

    • Guidelines for pits and surface materials

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: Failure is Simply Not an Option

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

    WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson highlighted the key policy provisions in budget reconciliation and continued to advocate for swift passage of President Trump’s agenda and the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    “Nothing in Congress is ever easy, especially when you have small margins. But we are going to land this plane and deliver this, and we’re proud what we’ve accomplished together,” Speaker Johnson said. “Every member of the Conference can be proud of this legislation.”

    Watch the Speaker’s full remarks here

    On implementing President Trump’s America First agenda:

    From the outset of the budget reconciliation process, we have sought to enact President Trump’s full agenda, not just parts of it. And that’s why we call it the one big, beautiful bill, because really, everything is sandwiched into this. The American people were sick of wasteful spending and high inflation and open borders and weakness on the world stage. And you know what we’re working towards right now? The opposite of all those things, President Trump has used his executive authority in historic ways to stop much of the bleeding, but Congress has a role and a responsibility to step in at this stage to stitch up and mend those wounds for good, and that’s what this legislation is about. We cannot leave the American people waiting or wanting. The one big, beautiful Bill enshrines into law and funds President Trump’s promises.

    On building consensus and maintaining Republican unity:

    Our House Budget Resolution gave instructions to 11 separate committees in the House to write their portions of the budget reconciliation bill, and they did it right on target. Every instructed committee exceeded those targets, in fact, that they were given through our resolution. That means the committees that were told to spend have spent less, and the committees that were told to save, actually found more savings than they were they were targeting, and the bill delivered more than $1.5 trillion in savings mandated by the budget resolution. That is historic. There has never been anything like it before, and we’re proud to deliver it.

    This is a whole of Congress response to a whole of government problem and the results of all this work for over a year has now come to fruition. Every House Republican has engaged in the process. The White House has been involved, as you saw most recently within the last hour. The Senate has been involved. Constituent groups from around the country made their voices heard, and that’s why, as the Whip said, nearly 1,000 organizations have issued enthusiastic public endorsements about this legislation.

    On House Democrats supporting the largest tax hike in American history:

    Despite the overwhelming popularity of so many of these provisions in this bill, the guys on the other side, the Congressional Democrats, have refused to engage with us in this process at all. They’re not going to vote for anything that I just listed for you. And make no mistake about it, this week they’re going to vote for the largest increase in taxes in American history. They’re going to vote against border security, against American energy dominance, and against broadly popular policies such as work requirements to shore up Medicaid.

    By passing this legislation, wages will increase as much as $11,600, take home pay for the typical American family with two kids will increase by $13,300 a year. As many as 4.2 million full time equivalent jobs will be created because of this legislation. But if we fail, here’s the alternative, here’s what the Democrats are going to vote for. Every American citizen seen a 22% tax hike, 26 million businesses would see a tax increase to 43%, we’d lose nearly 6 million jobs in the economy and about a trillion dollars in GDP by some estimates. The Border Patrol and ICE would lack the resources to detain and deport criminal illegal aliens, and 1.4 million illegals would continue to receive taxpayer funding of health care.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida Ophthalmology Practice Agrees to Pay $615,000 to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulent Claims to Medicare and Medicaid for Cranial Ultrasounds

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. doing business as Gulfcoast Eye Care (“Gulfcoast Eye”), an ophthalmology practice with offices in Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor, and St. Petersburg, Florida, has agreed to pay $615,000 to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and an analogous Florida statute arising from its billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (“TCDs”) provided through a kickback arrangement with a third party. Gulfcoast Eye has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme.

    The settlement resolves allegations that Gulfcoast Eye knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary TCDs. Gulfcoast Eye and a third-party provider of TCD services performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, Gulfcoast Eye and the third-party provider identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis — most commonly of occlusion and stenosis of their cerebral arteries — that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD by Medicare or Medicaid. However, nearly all patients who received TCDs never had occlusion and stenosis of cerebral arteries, and that diagnosis was accordingly not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. Gulfcoast Eye paid the third-party TCD provider based on the volume or value of tests ordered and referred the patients to the TCD provider’s preferred radiology group for the TCD’s professional component. 

    The United States alleged that, as a result of this scheme, Gulfcoast Eye submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law. Of the $615,000 total settlement amount, $602,046 is to be paid to the United States, and $12,953 is to be paid to the State of Florida for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program.

    “Patients trust their healthcare providers to administer reliable and competent care consistent with their medical needs and ethical standards,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “When this relationship is exploited for personal gain or greed, the integrity of our healthcare system is compromised. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect patients from potential harm and maintain the integrity of our federal programs.”

    “Kickback schemes will always be an investigative priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “Our mission is to protect the American people which includes safeguarding them from deceitful actions threatening our nation’s federal healthcare system.”

    “Kickback arrangements can corrupt legitimate medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan P. Lynch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate improper billing and kickback schemes to protect both Medicare and Medicaid as well as those served by these programs.”

    The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive $116,850 in connection with the settlement.

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved allegations that another ophthalmology practice in Florida engaged in a similar scheme with the same third-party TCD provider.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AppTech Payments Corp. Begins Trading on OTCQB® and has Director and Officer Departures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARLSBAD, Calif., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AppTech Payments Corp. (“AppTech or the “Company”) (OTCQB: APCX), a fintech company, today announced the Company was notified by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that as a result of the Company’s previously disclosed noncompliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), Nasdaq has determined to delist the Company’s common stock and warrants from the Nasdaq Capital Market and, accordingly, has suspended trading in the Company’s common stock and warrants effective at the open of business, May 20, 2025.

    The Company’s common stock and warrants are quoted on the OTC Markets’ OTCQB® market tier, an electronic quotation service operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. for eligible securities traded over the counter. The Company’s common stock and warrants began trading on the OTCQB® market tier at the open of business on May 20, 2025, under its current trading symbols, APCX and APCXW.

    APCX share price can now be tracked at the following link: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/APCX/quote

    APCXW share price can now be tracked at the following link: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/APCXW/quote

    The transition to the quotation of the Company’s common stock and warrants on the OTC Markets will have no effect on the Company’s operations. It will continue to file all required reports with the SEC under applicable federal securities laws, which will be available on the SEC’s website, www.SEC.gov.

    Tom DeRosa, CEO of AppTech Payments Corp., commented:
    “While we are naturally disappointed by the delisting, our focus remains firmly on our growth strategy. We are increasingly confident in our revenue outlook.”

    On May 19, 2025, Luke D’Angelo resigned as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and as an employee of AppTech Payments Corp. (the “Company”). Mr. D’Angelo’s resignation was not due to a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. A replacement has not been determined at this time.

    On May 19, 2025, Virgilio Llapitan resigned as President, Chief Operating Officer & Director of AppTech Payments Corp. (the “Company”). Mr. Llapitan’s resignation was not due to a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. A replacement has not been determined at this time.

    About AppTech Payments Corp.

    AppTech Payments Corp. (NASDAQ: APCX) provides digital financial services for financial institutions, corporations, small and midsized enterprises (“SMEs”), and consumers through the Company’s scalable cloud-based platform architecture and infrastructure. For more information, please visit apptechcorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should, will” and similar expressions as they relate to AppTech are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in methods of marketing, delays in manufacturing or distribution, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to any of these factors. AppTech is under no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    AppTech Payments Corp.
    760-707-5959
    info@apptechcorp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Exposes The Costs Of Republicans; “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” Slams Republicans For Slashing Medicaid, Snap To Pay For Tax Breaks For Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 19, 2025
    In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin spoke about the real costs of passing the Republicans’ “one, big, beautiful bill,” including 13.7 million Americans potentially losing health care coverage
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill for what it truly is – legislation that will pay for tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of 13.7 million Americans’ health care coverage.  In his remarks, Durbin reiterated that Republicans’ “one, big, beautiful bill” will further push the American Dream out of reach for working families.
    “Let me tell you a story.  It’s one of the oldest in our country.  It’s the story of the American Dream.  It’s one of perseverance, where anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work and determination.  It means a job that pays a fair wage, a school that prepares our kids for a better life, a doctor who sees you when you are sick, and a roof over your head at night,” Durbin began.
    “[Republicans’ reconciliation bill] dismantles the American Dream and strips our institutions of essential services that help the most vulnerable people in our country.  All so the ultimate goal can be served… to give major tax breaks to wealthy people,” Durbin said.  “If you don’t have time to read the more than 1,000 pages of these cuts in this reconciliation bill, let me give you a shortened version.  It isn’t pretty.  Billionaires will win.  And American families will lose.”
    In order to finance massive tax cuts, Republicans are proposing $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid.  Earlier this month, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report showing that Republicans’ plan would result in 13.7 million Americans losing their health insurance, marking the largest Medicaid cut in history.  These cuts will damage Americans’ ability to access health care as Medicaid covers nearly half of all births, two-thirds of nursing homes residents, and the majority of patients with mental health counseling.  Further, children’s hospitals and rural hospitals depend on Medicaid funding to remain operational.  If Medicaid funding is slashed, these hospitals are in danger of closing.
    “President Trump asked Republicans in Congress to provide a massive giveaway to the richest Americans, and they want to use programs like Medicaid, food and nutrition programs, and medical research funding as a piggy bank for these tax cuts for wealthy people… Medicaid insures one in four people in my home state of Illinois… 3.4 million people on Medicaid, including 1.5 million children,” Durbin continued.
    “Knowing how unpopular it is to deprive Americans of health care, for months, Republicans have said, ‘Democrats have it all wrong.  We’re not cutting Medicaid benefits.  We’re simply focusing on ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’  Now, if there is a program that’s wasteful or fraudulent, put me in line to do something about it… But that’s not what’s happening here, and I’m afraid my colleagues on the other side of the aisle know it,” Durbin said.  “With their plan, Republicans are taking a chainsaw to our health care system and ripping health insurance away.”
    “The reconciliation plan of the Republicans buries eligible patients in complex paperwork requirements that will wrap them in so much red tape they will never get the care they need.  Just think if you have a serious illness and you have to go through a high stakes government red tape gauntlet, another government form, another telephone recording when you need a helping hand,”Durbin said.
    In addition to eviscerating Medicaid funding, Republicans’ will also gut SNAP, cutting up to $290 billion from the program, the largest cut to anti-hunger funding in the country’s history.
    “Republicans are also targeting food and nutrition programs like SNAP, [which] 40 million Americans rely on to put on the table, including nearly two million in Illinois,” Durbin said.  “That’s right.  Republicans are looking to take food off the tables of seniors and children so they can pay for their beautiful billionaire tax cuts.  It is shameful.”
    While Republicans are also expanding tax exemptions for the richest Americans, they refuse to expand the child tax credit to lift millions of children out of poverty.  However, Democrats have long supported an extension of the child tax credit and successfully passed a provision to extend it in the American Rescue Plan, leading to a historic 5.2 percent reduction in child poverty, the lowest level on record.
    “In their bill, Republicans give huge tax breaks to multibillion-dollar corporations.  They exempt up to $28 million in taxes from estates where the wealthiest Americans pass on to their children.  In the same breath, they fail to expand the child tax credit, which is one of the most effective tools to reduce poverty and put money back in the pockets of working families,” Durbin said.
    “Republicans are also planning to eliminate the clean energy tax credits enacted in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, which would derail efforts to strengthen U.S. energy security and lower costs.  This would hurt American families and small businesses by hitting them with higher energy bills and the loss of nearly 800,000 jobs over the next five years,” Durbin said.  “Some states could see double-digit percentage increases in electricity bills, which means hundreds of dollars out of Americans’ pockets each year.”
    Claiming to be fiscally responsible, Republicans have tried to downplay the harm of their “one, big, beautiful bill,” yet the legislation will add more than $3 trillion to the national deficit.
    “Just a few hours ago, the White House claimed that their reckless plan ‘does not add to the deficit’… but in reality, it explodes the deficit under the guise of fiscal responsibility.  The White House and Republican reconciliation plan would add $3.3 trillion to the nation’s deficit over the next 10 years,” Durbin said.  “America’s small businesses, workers, farmers, and families are hurting because of this Administration’s tariffs while the President continues to weaken America’s credibility and alienate us from our biggest trading partners.”
    However, some conservative Republicans are not satisfied with draining Medicaid and SNAP funding, excluding the child tax credit, eliminating clean energy tax credits, and adding more than $3 trillion to the deficit.  To garner more support in his caucus, Speaker Johnson has suggested moving up the implementation of red tape requirements for Medicaid coverage from the originally proposed 2029 to 2027. 
    “It is reported that they [Speaker Johnson and the House Freedom Caucus] discussed accelerating the plan to condition Medicaid health coverage on red tape requirements.  These were originally set for 2029, they now want to end people’s insurance as soon as possible… as well as a quicker phase-out of clean energy tax credits that were put into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act,”Durbin said.  “That’s right.  The package isn’t bad enough for conservative Republicans to support, so they are considering making it even worse for American families.”
    Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on his Republican colleagues to recognize the harm this bill will do to health care access and the well-being of children and working families. 
    “I’ve heard my colleagues give speeches about tough choices.  Well, let me tell you, choosing to line the pockets of people like Elon Musk while cutting life-saving medical research isn’t tough, it’s shameful,” Durbin said. 
    “American families aren’t asking for special treatment.  They’re asking for a fair shot at the American Dream.  They’re asking us to remember this country works best when we invest in its people.  We need four Republicans with the good sense to join Democrats and say ‘no’ to this disaster,” Durbin concluded.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Exports Continue to Reach New Markets in 2024

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 20, 2025

    Provincial Exports Achieved the Third Highest Year on Record, Valued at $45.4 Billion in 2024

    Today, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) released the province’s annual State of Trade report. The report, which outlines provincial trade highlights for 2024, reveals that it was the third-highest export year for Saskatchewan, with the total value of exports reaching $45.4 billion.

    “Saskatchewan is providing much needed certainty as we move through a time of global trade shifts,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “Our exporters, manufacturers, and producers remain suppliers of choice as we bring food and energy security to countries around the world. This creates jobs, economic opportunities and a high standard of living for all who call our province home.”

    Uranium saw impressive growth, with the value of exports increasing by 50 per cent. Total uranium exports reached $2.8 billion, surpassing the Saskatchewan Growth Plan target of $2 billion. Potash also reached a record volume of exports, totaling 22,807,489 metric tonnes.

    Saskatchewan continues to be an exporter of choice internationally. Goods from the province reached 161 countries in 2024. India became the province’s third-largest export market behind the U.S. and China, with the value of exports to the country increasing by 12.2 per cent in 2024.

    “Amid the unprecedented trade uncertainties in 2024, Saskatchewan demonstrated resilience and growth across key sectors, with many major commodities maintaining or increasing their volumes,” STEP Interim CEO Angela Krauss said. “The province’s export foundation remains strong, and we are committed to diversifying our markets and strengthening essential trade relationships.”

    According to the report, the volumes of most major exports maintained or increased from 2023 levels. In terms of volume, exports of canola seed increased 25 per cent from 2023 to 2024. Canola meal exports increased 14 per cent in volume from 2023 to 2024. The top export products for the province include crude petroleum oil, potash, canola seeds and oil, wheat, uranium, lentils and dried peas. 

    The provincial economy continues to see substantial growth. In 2007, the value of Saskatchewan exports was $19.8 billion, which has since climbed to nearly $50 billion on average over the past three years. 

    STEP is a membership driven, government/industry partnership, designed to promote the growth of Saskatchewan’s export industry.

    Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2024 real GDP reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion, increasing by $2.6 billion, or 3.4 per cent from 2023. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

    For more information on opportunities in Saskatchewan, visit: investSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tonko Calls Out EPA Administrator Zeldin for Slashing Protections to Environment & Public Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko, Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin during an Environment Subcommittee hearing on the EPA’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

    Listen to Rep. Tonko’s opening remarks HERE and see below as prepared for delivery.

    President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for EPA has been called “problematic,” “an unserious proposal,” and “maybe a bridge too far to be achievable.”

    These were the reactions of Republican Appropriators last week, and I expect you will hear even less charitable reviews from Democrats on this Subcommittee today.

    This proposal includes a 55% reduction from FY25 levels, resulting in agency funding levels not seen since the mid-1980s.

    If enacted, this would fundamentally dismantle the EPA as we know it and cripple the agency’s ability to carry out its core mission of protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink.

    The request includes devastating cuts that will undermine states’ efforts to protect public health and carry out their obligations, including a $2.46 billion reduction to the State Revolving Funds for water infrastructure and a $1 billion reduction for categorical grants, which are critical to supporting staffing of state environmental agencies.

    I believe this is part of a disturbing trend we are seeing to force more costs onto state governments, as is being done with the proposed cuts to Medicaid in the majority’s reconciliation bill.

    Similar to these funding cuts, earlier this year the Administration expressed a desire to reduce EPA staffing levels by 65%, which would return the agency to 1971 personnel levels — the agency’s second year in existence.

    It is not credible to suggest that the agency can fulfill its statutory requirements — including all the major environmental laws and amendments to those laws that have been enacted since the 1970s — with these proposed staffing levels.

    Cuts of this magnitude would not only hollow out the agency’s expertise and capacity, but they are insensitive to the public servants who have dedicated their lives to supporting the agency’s mission.

    And it is worth reminding everyone of what that mission is: To protect human health and the environment.

    In just a few short months, I believe the agency, under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, has lost sight of this mission.

    Mr. Zeldin launched the “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative focused on American energy, auto manufacturing, and artificial intelligence dominance.

    And broadly speaking, I am not necessarily opposed to aspects of that agenda, but I also do not believe it is the appropriate role for our nation’s environmental regulator to be leading this effort.

    Because EPA’s contributions to those goals more or less translate to how can we reduce environmental protections and enforcements of those protections for the benefit of energy producers, the auto industry, and Big Tech, even if ordinary Americans will pay the price by breathing harmful air pollution, drinking contaminated water, and being exposed to dangerous chemicals.

    We have already seen a slew of agency actions that will result in greater pollution and reduce our scientific capacity to understand how that pollution will impact Americans’ health and well-being.

    This includes reconsidering rules that protect Americans from pollution from power plants, vehicles, and industrial facilities, and weakening standards to keep PFAS out of our drinking water.

    Each of these public health protections up for reconsideration went through robust rulemaking processes and economic analyses, which found that every one of these rules delivers greater benefits to the American people, in public health and economic benefits, than they cost.

    I am also concerned by EPA’s efforts to terminate previously awarded grants without producing any evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse.

    For each of those awards, the previous administration carried out competitive selection processes based upon requirements enacted by Congress.

    Whether or not Administrator Zeldin personally believes Congress was wasting taxpayer dollars when it directed EPA to carry out those funding opportunities is irrelevant.

    No Administrator should be the sole arbitrator of what is a good use of Congressionally-directed taxpayer dollars, and yet we have seen billions of dollars impounded without justification.

    Finally, I am very concerned by reports that EPA is planning to eliminate the Energy Star program, which is a voluntary, non-regulatory labeling program with strong support from industry and consumers.

    Energy Star has been incredibly effective at supporting American manufacturing, enabling people to lower energy bills, and reducing strain on our electricity system.

    This seems obviously in line with the President’s energy and economic agenda, and yet, there may be an effort underway to terminate the program.

    If we cannot even find common ground on a broadly popular, voluntary, low-cost program to benefit consumers, I have serious doubts that we will be able to find anything to agree upon this year.

    Mr. Administrator, I appreciate you being here, and I hope we can work together to ensure that your agency and this committee have a productive, transparent relationship that honors the critical public health and scientific mission of the EPA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Anthony Blumberg Plans to Attend Famed Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in July

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global investor, philanthropist, and head of Blumberg Family Office Anthony “Tony” Blumberg plans to attend The Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, a renowned invitation-only annual gathering of business leaders and media moguls. The 2025 retreat, which draws the ultrawealthy, will take place from Wednesday, July 9, to Sunday, July 13.

    Commonly known as the summer camp for billionaires, the Sun Valley Conference is where finance, technology, and media industry titans, politicians, venture capitalists, and economists converge each year in Idaho’s high country to discuss and shape the future of global business and potentially make deals. A go-to, by invitation only event for global power figures for more than 40 years, the Conference features an array of meetings, lectures, cocktail parties, dinners, and a host of outdoor recreational activities like hiking, rafting, and golf.

    Boutique investment firm and financial advisor Allen & Company has been hosting the Sun Valley Conference since the early 1980s. Many credit the annual conference as the birthplace not only of numerous billion-dollar business deals but also of many pivotal economic discussions and strategizing that have shaped the direction and future of the global economy.  

    Last year’s conference included many high-profile attendees, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Bloomberg LP Majority Owner Michael Bloomberg, IAC Chair Barry Diller, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and more. Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Tony Blumberg, Anderson Cooper and Shari Redstone were also among the movers and shakers at the gathering. Top-of-mind discussions included the rise of rapid technological changes like cutting-edge AI developments, the future of entertainment in the streaming age, global business strategies, and ongoing uncertainties worldwide. Guests at the 2024 event are said to possess a cumulative wealth of more than $1 trillion.  

    “I am excited to return to the Sun Valley Conference,” said Tony Blumberg. “This gathering is a valuable opportunity to network and connect with others in tech and finance. It’s part reunion, part think tank, and part deal room.”

    Anthony Blumberg oversees his family office investments and global mining interests, where he is responsible for operational, commercial, technology, and strategy functions. His disciplined approach to investment focuses on capital allocation in hard assets, technology, commodities, and risk management, with an emphasis on transformational investment for medium to long-dated cycles.

    Blumberg also brings a wealth of global business experience, including deep insights into commercial operations, corporate restructuring, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Tony Blumberg’s ability to transform megatrends into growth opportunities is bolstered by his strong grasp of innovation, strategy, technology, and data.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Safeguard U.S. Manufacturing, Transit Operations Against Chinese Influence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 05.20.2025

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped introduce the Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act, which would protect domestic transit operations and help level the playing field for American manufacturers, suppliers, and workers by preventing any federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of transit buses or rail cars made by Chinese-controlled companies. The bill would help ensure that American taxpayer dollars are invested in American manufacturers, like those in Michigan, not China. 
    “China is actively working to undermine American workers and our economic success, particularly in the transportation industry, by flooding global markets with artificially cheap vehicles, from electric vehicles to buses,” said Senator Peters. “These vehicles could also pose a serious national security threat. This bipartisan bill would address these concerns and help level the playing field for Michigan manufacturers, suppliers, and workers as we continue to lead the world in mobility innovation by preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to support companies owned and operated by the Chinese Communist Party.”
    The Stop China Act would prohibit any federal funds from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses or rail cars. It seeks to close loopholes in the previously enacted Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act that have allowed Chinese entities to continue competing for U.S. Government funds. It also requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, to produce a list of prohibited entities headquartered or affiliated with China. 
    The legislation is endorsed by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, Steel Manufacturers Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Transport Workers Union of America.
    Peters has made strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chains a top priority. Peters helped author and pass into law the CHIPS and Science Act to boost U.S. manufacturing of semiconductor chips, strengthen critical domestic supply chains, and create good-paying American jobs. The CHIPS and Science Act additionally authorized increased funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which has been a priority for Peters. Peters additionally supported and helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will strengthen domestic manufacturing, onshore our supply chains, combat the climate crisis, and create millions of American jobs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Sanders, Wyden Open Investigation Into Whether Paramount Is Engaging in Bribery With Trump for Approval of $8 Billion Megamerger

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 20, 2025
    Yesterday, President of CBS News, Subsidiary of Paramount, Departed Amid Tensions with Trump and Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone
    “If Paramount officials make these concessions in a quid pro quo arrangement to influence President Trump or other Administration officials, they may be breaking the law.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote to Shari Redstone, Chair of Paramount Global (Paramount), with concerns regarding whether Paramount may be engaging in potentially illegal conduct involving the Trump Administration in exchange for approval of its megamerger with Skydance Media (Skydance).
    In October 2024, President Trump, in his capacity as a private citizen, sued Paramount subsidiary CBS over alleged “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference.” In March 2025, CBS filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, calling the suit “an affront to the First Amendment and … without basis in law or fact.” Now, Paramount appears to be walking back its commitments to defend CBS’s First Amendment rights. Paramount is reportedly in talks to settle the lawsuit, with President Trump potentially profiting from the settlement.
    The senators are pushing Paramount to answer why the company has suddenly changed its tune with respect to the lawsuit, concerned that it may be because Paramount and Skydance’s agreement to merge for $8 billion hinges on the Trump Administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has an opportunity to block it. 
    “Paramount appears to be attempting to appease the Administration in order to secure merger approval,” wrote the senators. 
    In addition to reportedly attempting to settle the suit, Paramount also appears to have begun meddling with CBS’s content, “presumably in order to screen it for content that could anger the Trump Administration.”
    A 60 Minutes correspondent told viewers, “Our parent company Paramount is trying to complete a merger. The Trump Administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways.” This has prompted CBS resignations, including by the CBS News President, Wendy McMahon, who resigned just yesterday.
    “If Paramount officials make these concessions in a quid pro quo arrangement to influence President Trump or other Administration officials, they may be breaking the law,” wrote the senators.
    Under the federal bribery statute, it is illegal to corruptly give anything of value to public officials to influence an official act. To determine whether Paramount is acting in accordance with anti-bribery laws, the senators are requesting answers from the company.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Burlison Opens Hearing on the IRA’s Threat to Energy and Medicine

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered opening remarks at today’s hearing on “Mandates, Meddling, and Mismanagement: The IRA’s Threat to Energy and Medicine.” In his remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison highlighted how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) increased energy subsidies that cost taxpayers billions, funneled money into the Democrats’ radical energy agenda, and stifled free market competition that would have lowered energy prices. At today’s hearing, the panel will hear from experts on how the IRA failed to curb inflation and created corruption.

    Below are Subcommittee Chairman Burlison’s remarks as prepared for delivery.

    Today we are here to provide critical oversight of the policies and subsidies instituted through the Inflation Reduction Act, or the “IRA.”  

    Signed into law under the Biden Administration in 2022, this misleadingly-named legislation passed with zero Republican votes. 

    Three years later, the projected costs continue to balloon—with rounding errors in the billions—all while creating runaway subsidies and unnecessary distortions within energy and health care markets. 

    In January of this year, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the IRA’s energy subsidies would increase U.S. budget deficits by $825 billion over the next ten years. 

    That is more than three times the initial ten-year estimate of roughly $270 billion rendered by CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation.  

    How did CBO and the JCT get these numbers so wrong? 

    Other estimates show an even grimmer picture of the IRA’s long-term economic impacts on the federal budget. 

    Recent analysis by the Cato Institute shows that energy subsidies included in the IRA may cost “between $936 billion and $1.97 trillion over the next ten years, and between $2.04 trillion and $4.67 trillion by 2050.” 

    These are chilling estimates that extend far beyond what was previously projected. 

    I would like to enter this report, entitled “The Budgetary Cost of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Energy Subsidies,” from the CATO institute into the hearing record so that others may review these findings. 

    Without objection, so ordered. 

    These subsidies didn’t just happen to create distortions in energy markets: they distorted markets by design. 

    The IRA funnels money to so-called “clean” energy organizations that would not be able to compete on their own without these subsidies.  

    The Biden Administration was blatantly picking winners and losers in the economy. 

    The federal government slammed a fist on the economic scale to stifle free market competition that allows for the most reliable, cost-effective sources to compete on an open playing field—all in the name of unproven, hyperbolic, and extreme climate alarmism.  

    The kicker? These IRA subsides, coming from the party that purports to be “against the oligarchy” and fighting the billionaires, created tax loopholes that carved out eleven thousand dollars, on average, for the top 1% through tax credits, while failing to demonstrate tax savings of more than $100 for the bottom quintile of American taxpayers.  

    The IRA paid out to the rich, all under the guise of climate change.  

    There are also implications for the future of our tax code and prescription drug costs. 

    The IRA has already led to a more convoluted web of tax subsidies, creating additional burdens for compliance. 

    For health care under the IRA, the Biden Administration’s “pill penalty” will ultimately increase drug costs and federal expenditures on Medicare. 

    We have an opportunity to take a hard look at these provisions to carefully evaluate whether these tax credits and programs are achieving their intended results, and whether taxpayer dollars would be better spent elsewhere. 

    Doing so has the potential to save taxpayers over $1 trillion dollars, ease inflation, stimulate economic growth by allowing for free market competition, and make energy affordable again. 

    This Republican majority is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars, instituting necessary health care reforms, and stopping wasteful “Green New Deal” energy policies that are out of touch with the every-day needs of Americans. 
     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Leads Colleagues in Legislative Push to Combat DOGE’s Unsafe Retention of Personal Information

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, led a group of colleagues in introducing the Defending Our Government’s Electronic data: Bolstering Responsible Oversight & Safeguards (DOGE BROS) Act, legislation to hold Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accountable for their continued efforts to improperly access, and retain, individuals’ personally identifiable information (PII) including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and other financial information.

    “As unvetted and unqualified DOGE employees continue to recklessly access the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans, it’s important that we take steps to better protect this data,” Sen. Warner said. “For too long, our privacy laws have sat outdated, barely serving as a deterrent for improper handling or potential release of information. This legislation would enforce that privacy must be a priority when handling the data of the American public.”

    Joining Sen. Warner in introducing the DOGE BROS Act are U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    “Elon Musk and his ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ are wreaking havoc across the government and gaining access to Americans’ sensitive information without proper authorization, which poses significant privacy and national security concerns,” Sen. Kaine said. “That’s why I’m introducing this bill to increase the penalties for violating privacy laws and help safeguard Americans’ personal information.”

    “Elon Musk and his DOGE cronies have been illegally ransacking federal agencies to gain access to troves of Americans’ sensitive personal data – from Social Security numbers to medical records to bank account information. Strengthening penalties for the theft of this data will help further deter these illegal abuses and keep Americans’ private information safe,” Sen. Van Hollen said.

    “The American people do not want Elon Musk knowing their Social Security numbers and sifting through their financial information. Musk and his team of wildly unqualified DOGE employees have gone too far – and we are sick of it. The Senate needs to prove we care more about those we serve than Elon Musk. Let’s immediately pass this legislation to protect the data and privacy of the American people,” Sen. Alsobrooks said.

    “From day one, Elon Musk’s DOGE has taken a wrecking ball to the federal government and critical services for the American people, all while carelessly pursuing their sensitive personal data,” Sen. Luján said. “Congress must do more to protect that information and keep it out of the wrong hands. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to strengthen our privacy laws and put Americans’ privacy first.”

    “Elon Musk’s so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ and his DOGE agents are wreaking havoc on the federal government and the programs millions of Americans rely on. There’s no reason DOGE should gain access to Vermonters’ personal information, and I’m working with my colleagues to hold DOGE accountable and protect peoples’ privacy and data,” Sen. Welch said. 

    The United States has existing laws that are designed to protect personal information held by the government. However, the penalties established in these various laws have not been properly adjusted or increased to account for inflation, making them far less impactful today. The DOGE BROS Act would increase five penalties for violation of federal privacy laws to better protect the sensitive information that DOGE is accessing in their reckless purge of the federal government. Specifically, the DOGE BROS Act would increase the following existing penalties for the unauthorized release of the following information:

    1. Individually Identifiable Information Contained Within Any Agency Record  
      • Code Section: 5 U.S.C. §552a(i)(i, ii, iii)
      • Current Penalty: up to $5,000
      • Proposed Penalty: up to $30,000
      1. Information from Any Department or Agency of the United States Obtained Using a Computer Without Authorization
        • Code Section: 18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(2)(B)
        • Current Penalty: up to $250,000
        • Proposed Penalty: up to $750,000
        1. Social Security and Medicare Data
          • Code Sections: 42 U.S.C. §1306
          • Current Penalty: up to $10,000
          • Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000
          1. Tax Return Information
            • Code Section: 26 U.S.C. §7213
            • Current Penalty: up to $5,000
            • Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000
            1. Census Data
              • Code Section: 13 U.S.C. §214
              • Current Penalty: up to $5,000
              • Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000

              Copy of the bill text is available here.

               

              MIL OSI USA News –

            1. MIL-OSI Canada: Community-led service supports people in crisis in Comox Valley

              Source: Government of Canada regional news

              People experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis in the Comox Valley now have access to more services to help them stabilize and connect to the support they need.

              “This service in the Comox Valley is helping people in crisis get timely, compassionate support from those who truly understand their experience,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By combining clinical expertise with the knowledge of people who have lived through similar challenges, this community-led approach offers a more empathetic and effective response that can make a real difference in someone’s path to recovery.”

              Crisis Response, Community-Led (CRCL, pronounced “circle”), formerly known as Peer Assisted Care Teams, is a mobile, community-led crisis service that serves people 13 and older experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis, which might include thoughts of suicide or self-harm, feelings of grief, panic or anxiety, and/or acting or feeling in ways that are distressing.

              “In the Comox Valley, we have witnessed CRCL represent a transformative approach to mental-health crisis response, centred around compassion and lived experience,” said Sarah Delaney-Spindler, senior director, AVI Health and Community Services. “By meeting individuals where they are, CRCL has provided immediate, person-centred support that fosters healing and connection within our communities. We have seen in action the impacts of CRCL and its low-barrier, compassionate approach connecting individuals in community with resources and support.” 

              A person in crisis may contact CRCL for support directly, or friends, family members or bystanders may reach out if concerned about the well-being of someone else. The team is made up of responders with a combination of mental-health professionals and people with lived experience who are trained in providing trauma-informed, culturally safe crisis support.

              “We’ve lost too many of our people to trauma, addiction and a system that wasn’t built for us,” said Nicole Rempel, Elected Chief Councillor, K’ómoks First Nation. “Our communities are grieving and asking for help, but what we’re met with is silence, delay or criminalization. The CRCL program is a step toward something different: a trauma-informed, culturally safe approach that recognizes the strength and wisdom already in our communities. We are not just piloting a program, we are decolonizing a system that has failed our people. This is how we reclaim care: by building something our communities can trust, and that other Nations can build upon too. This is not just a pilot, it’s a path forward.”

              The CRCL team helps de-escalate the situation, ensures and plans for the safety of the person in crisis, and connects them to services to support their long-term needs. This service also helps free up policing resources to focus on crime and prevents demand on hospital emergency departments by supporting people in the community.

              The Comox Valley CRCL is operated by AVI Health and Community Services in partnership with K’ómoks First Nation, with oversight and support from the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. The service soft-launched in October 2024, focusing on providing care to the K’ómoks First Nation. In December 2024, it expanded to serve people in Cumberland, Courtenay and Comox. Since the service launched, more than 100 people have been supported.

              In addition to the Comox Valley service, there are four CRCLs in operation in Victoria, North and West Vancouver, New Westminster and Prince George.

              Expanding CRCL is part of the Province’s Safer Communities Action Plan and supports the plan’s goal of creating safe, healthy communities for everyone. Enhancing supports for people living with mental-health and addiction challenges is an integral part of government’s work to build a full continuum of mental-health and substance-use care that works for everyone.

              Quotes:

              Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions –

              “Everyone deserves to feel supported and safe during a mental-health or substance-use crisis. CRCL offers a person-centred approach that meets people where they are, providing care that is rooted in compassion, understanding and community. This model helps reduce stigma and ensures people get the help they need, when they need it most.”

              Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division –

              “By providing a mental-health response to a mental-health crisis, CRCL teams are changing and saving lives in the communities they serve. Collectively, teams have responded to more than 10,000 calls since January 2023, resolving almost 99% of calls without the need for police involvement. We are grateful to the Province of B.C. and CRCL teams for helping to create this network of support.”

              Quick Facts:

              • CRCL launched in North and West Vancouver in 2021 and expanded to Victoria and New Westminster in January 2023.
              • In July 2023, government announced the expansion of CRCL to Comox Valley, Prince George, where it launched in August 2024, and to Kamloops, where it is in development.
              • CRCL teams have responded to more than 10,000 calls since January 2023.
              • In 2024, teams responded to almost 6,000 calls, 99% of which did not require police involvement.
              • CRCL is creating a growing, specialized workforce of crisis responders in B.C., employing more than 100 people in six communities in B.C.

              Learn More:

              To learn more about CRCL, visit: https://crcl.ca/

              To learn more about mental-health and substance-use supports in B.C., visit: https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/

              MIL OSI Canada News –

            2. MIL-OSI USA: Growing Colorado’s Semiconductor Industry: Gov. Polis Announces Okika Devices Expansion in Colorado

              Source: US State of Colorado

              COLORADO SPRINGS – Today, Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Okika Devices, a producer of chips and software that enable custom and cutting-edge analog solutions and computing, has selected Colorado Springs for its new headquarters and research and development (R&D) center. 

              “We are thrilled to welcome Okika Devices to Colorado, the best place to live and do business. Okika will bring 20 new, good-paying jobs to Colorado Springs while advancing our state’s growing contributions to the semiconductor industry,” said Governor Polis. 

              In Colorado, Okika joins a semiconductor industry poised for growth. The Semiconductor Industry Association places Colorado in the top 10 states with the resources and business ecosystem to support a strong semiconductor industry. In addition to major fabrication facilities, Colorado businesses support the entire value chain from chip design and materials to fabrication and packaging. 

              Okika develops Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA) integrated circuit products to deliver state-of-the-art analog integrated circuit solutions that address complex challenges from sensor processing to machine learning. In Colorado Springs, the company recognized an opportunity to connect to a strong workforce, build on local relationships established through previous industry experience, and establish new partnerships within the local ecosystem. 

              The company expects to create 20 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $104,250, which is 160% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. Hiring is underway for applications and quality engineers, sales, and procurement. 

              “Relocating Okika’s headquarters to Colorado Springs marks an exciting new chapter for our company. The business-friendly environment, along with the unwavering support from the city, county, and state—who truly bent over backwards to make this transition seamless—made our decision an easy one. Colorado Springs offers a rich pool of talented and committed professionals, and we’re proud to join a community known for innovation and excellence. Many of our senior executives, formerly of Ramtron, are thrilled to return and help launch Okika in a place that feels like home. We are looking forward to being back,” said William Staunton, Chairman and CEO of Okika.

               “Okika Device’s dedication to cutting-edge analog solutions and commitment to innovation will undoubtedly strengthen and advance our state’s growing semiconductor ecosystem, further solidifying Colorado’s position as a leader in the advanced industries, technology and strategic economic development,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman. 

              The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $398,756 in a performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit for the company over an eight-year period. These incentives are contingent upon Okika Devices, referred to as Project Kokua throughout the OEDIT review process, meeting net new job creation and salary requirements. 

              Colorado Springs City Council approved $66,500 over a four-year period in performance-based incentives. The sales and use tax rebates apply to the purchases of construction materials, equipment, machinery, furniture, and fixtures. The City’s Economic Development Department also offered to support the company through its Rapid Response Program, as well as talent and workforce development support. 

              “Okika’s decision to establish its headquarters in Colorado Springs shows the confidence investors have in our region and speaks to Colorado Springs’ position as a dynamic hub for advanced manufacturing and semiconductor technology,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. This expansion will enhance our region’s capabilities in the analog integrated circuit market and strengthen our semiconductor supply chain, making Colorado Springs an ideal location for manufacturing businesses.” 

              “We are honored to welcome Okika Devices to Colorado Springs,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “Their investment brings high-quality jobs, cutting-edge innovation, and strengthens our role in advancing technologies critical to national security. Choosing to expand in Olympic City USA speaks volumes about our city’s growing reputation as a hub for skilled workforce, business-friendly environment, and as a premier destination for tech companies looking to grow and thrive.” 

              “We are excited to welcome this innovative semiconductor company to the Pikes Peak region,” said Commissioner Carrie Geitner, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “Their expansion not only positions our region at the forefront of advanced technology but also brings high-quality jobs and new opportunities for our local workforce. El Paso County offers a supportive, business-friendly environment that enables companies like this to grow and thrive. We look forward to the positive impact they will have on our community and economy for years to come.” 

              El Paso County is the administrator for the Pikes Peak Enterprise Zone (EZ), which offers state income tax credits to encourage business investment and job creation in economically distressed areas. Through this state program, Okika Devices may be eligible for up to $402,532.50 in EZ incentives, contingent upon final site selection within a designated Enterprise Zone and compliance with all program requirements. 

              In addition to Colorado, Okika Devices considered California and Arizona for expansion. Previously headquartered in California, the company has six employees, one of whom is in Colorado. 

              About Okika 

              Okika Devices Corporation (Okika) is an analog integrated circuit products manufacturing company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, analog processing solutions. By tackling the most complex analog challenges, Okika aims to unlock new frontiers for sensor processing, machine learning, control system and power management applications. For more information visit okikadevices.com. 

              About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

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

              ###

              MIL OSI USA News –

            3. MIL-OSI: WISeKey International Holding Ltd Announces Agenda Items to be Approved by Shareholders at its 2025 Annual General Meeting Scheduled for June 19, 2025

              Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

              WISeKey International Holding Ltd Announces Agenda Items to be Approved by Shareholders at its 2025 Annual General Meeting Scheduled for June 19, 2025

              Zug, Switzerland, May 20, 2025 – Ad-Hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 of SIX Listing Rules – WISeKey International Holding Ltd. (“WISeKey” or the “Company”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity and IoT company, announced today that the Board of Directors has submitted its proposals for shareholder approval at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (“AGM“). The 2025 AGM will be held at 2:00 p.m. CEST on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at the offices of Homburger AG, Prime Tower, Hardstrasse 201, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland.

              Key items that the Board of Directors recommends shareholders to approve include, among other things:

              • Approval of the Annual Report 2024, including the audited consolidated and statutory financial statements;
              • Discharge of the Board and Executive Management for their activities during the financial year ended December 31, 2024;
              • Increase of the capital band
                • Amendment of Article 4a of the Articles of Association to increase the upper limit of the capital band from CHF 585,875.16 to CHF 636,095.10, thereby authorizing the Board of Directors to increase the share capital within a revised band of CHF 391,700.96 to CHF 636,095.10;
              • Increase of the conditional share capital:
                • Amendment of Article 4b letter a of the Articles of Association to increase the Company’s conditional share capital for convertible and similar financial instruments from CHF 31,917.40 (319,174 Class B Shares) to CHF 168,031.70 (1,680,317 Class B Shares);
                • Amendment of Article 4b letter b of the Articles of Association to increase the conditional share capital for share-based compensation plans from 176,430 Class B Shares to 400,000 Class B Shares;
              • Re-election of all eight current members of the Board of Directors for a term extending until the conclusion of the next AGM;
              • Re-election of the Nomination & Compensation Committee; and,
              • Re-election of the statutory auditor and the Independent Proxy.

              Shareholders may attend the AGM in person at the venue. Shareholders may also exercise their voting rights by giving electronic or written voting instructions to the independent voting rights representative, as further described in the Company’s invitation to the 2025 AGM published on the date of this press release, or by giving proxy to a representative.

              About WISeKey

              WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

              Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

              Disclaimer
              This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

              This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

              Press and investor contacts:

              WISeKey International Holding Ltd 
              Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
              Chairman & CEO
              Tel: +41 22 594 3000
              info@wisekey.com              		 WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
              Contact:  Lena Cati
              The Equity Group Inc.
              Tel: +1 212 836-9611
              lcati@theequitygroup.com

              The MIL Network –

            4. MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS, Partners Highlight Importance of HIV Work Amid Federal Funding Cuts

              Source: US State of North Carolina

              Headline: NCDHHS, Partners Highlight Importance of HIV Work Amid Federal Funding Cuts

              NCDHHS, Partners Highlight Importance of HIV Work Amid Federal Funding Cuts
              hejones1

              Today the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services joined the NC AIDS Action Network for an event to raise awareness about the important work underway to end the HIV epidemic in North Carolina. State leaders and advocates highlighted the progress at-risk due to expected cuts at the federal level.  

              “Over the past few decades, we have made tremendous progress together toward the goal of eliminating HIV both globally and here in North Carolina,” said North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Sustained funding is essential, not only to prevent the spread of HIV but also to support the health and well-being of North Carolinians living with the virus. Cuts would reverse hard-won gains and increase long-term costs for our state. Now more than ever, we must renew our commitment to supporting people living with HIV and protecting the public health of our communities.”

              HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. It’s often spread through sexual contact or sharing needles, syringes or other drug injection equipment. While there is currently no effective cure, those who receive HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and will not transmit infection.

              As of December 31, 2024, there were 38,634 people living with HIV in North Carolina with 1,385 people newly diagnosed with HIV last year. While it’s estimated that 85% of those living with HIV across the state are aware of their diagnosis, there are still thousands who are unaware. Proposed budget cuts would decrease access to HIV testing, meaning more people would remain unaware of their status and be unable to take the actions needed to protect their own health and avoid further transmission. 

              For those living with HIV, care is prevention. People who receive treatment and are virally suppressed don’t transmit the disease. NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health conducts individualized outreach to people living with HIV and HIV care providers to improve access to supportive and culturally appropriate care. Additional efforts include reducing stigma associated with HIV care and testing, ensuring access to free testing options, and improving awareness and access to the range of tools that are now available to prevent the spread of HIV — including condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP,” the medication that prevents HIV infection. Access to these prevention options that contribute to decreased potential for disease spread are threatened by budget cuts.

              NCDHHS’ most recent award from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Ryan White Program, received in April, was approximately half of what had been awarded in previous years. Future funding is currently uncertain, and the proposed federal budget suggests no funding for HIV prevention activities. 

              If cuts proceed, impacts could include: 

              • An increase in HIV transmission due to decreasing investment in promising new HIV prevention methods (like long-acting PrEP), decreased access to care that prevents transmission, and increased time with undiagnosed disease.
              • Increase in HIV transmissions because individualized outreach that helps people with HIV access care and helps exposed partners get testing will end.
              • Decreased ability to detect outbreaks early and prevent tragic outcomes.

              Cuts to this vital funding in North Carolina would be detrimental to all parts of the state, particularly in rural counties. Additionally, congressional proposals to reduce Medicaid funding and implement eligibility restrictions could jeopardize state public health infrastructure and infectious disease programs in North Carolina. Medicaid is the single-largest provider of insurance coverage for people living with HIV. Eroding access to Medicaid coverage could result in increased HIV cases and deaths. In North Carolina, Medicaid Expansion has given many people with HIV access to comprehensive health care, some for the first time.

              Hoy, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte se unió a la Red de Acción contra el SIDA de Carolina del Norte para un evento para crear conciencia sobre el importante trabajo en curso para poner fin a la epidemia de VIH en Carolina del Norte. Los líderes y defensores estatales destacaron el progreso que se encuentra en riesgo debido a los recortes esperados a nivel federal.  

              “En las últimas décadas, hemos logrado un progreso tremendo juntos hacia el objetivo de eliminar el VIH tanto a nivel mundial como aquí en Carolina del Norte”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Es esencial que la financiación sea sostenida, no solo para prevenir la propagación del VIH, sino también para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de los habitantes de Carolina del Norte que viven con el virus. Los recortes revertirían los logros conseguidos con tanto esfuerzo y aumentarían los costos a largo plazo para nuestro estado. Ahora más que nunca, debemos renovar nuestro compromiso de apoyar a las personas que viven con el VIH y proteger la salud pública de nuestras comunidades”.      

              El VIH, o virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, es un virus que ataca el sistema inmunitario del cuerpo. A menudo se propaga a través del contacto sexual o compartiendo agujas, jeringas u otro equipo de inyección de drogas. Si bien actualmente no existe una cura efectiva, aquellos que reciben tratamiento contra el VIH pueden vivir vidas largas y saludables y no transmitirán la infección.

              Al 31 de diciembre de 2024, había 38,634 personas viviendo con VIH en Carolina del Norte con 1,385 personas recién diagnosticadas con VIH el año pasado. Si bien se estima que el 85 % de las personas que viven con el VIH en todo el estado son conscientes de su diagnóstico, todavía hay miles que no lo saben. Los recortes de presupuesto propuestos disminuirían el acceso a las pruebas del VIH, lo que significaría que más personas desconocerían su estado y no podrían tomar las medidas necesarias para proteger su propia salud y evitar una mayor transmisión. 

              Para quienes viven con el VIH, la atención es la prevención. Las personas que reciben tratamiento y tienen supresión viral no transmiten la enfermedad. La División de Salud Pública del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) lleva a cabo un alcance individualizado a las personas que viven con el VIH y a los proveedores de atención del VIH para mejorar el acceso a la atención de apoyo y culturalmente apropiada. Los esfuerzos adicionales incluyen reducir el estigma asociado con la atención y las pruebas del VIH, garantizar el acceso a opciones de pruebas gratuitas y mejorar la conciencia y el acceso a la variedad de herramientas que ahora están disponibles para prevenir la propagación del VIH, incluidos los condones y la profilaxis previa a la exposición o “PrEP”, el medicamento que previene la infección por VIH. El acceso a estas opciones de prevención que contribuyen a disminuir el potencial de propagación de enfermedades se ve amenazado por los recortes de presupuesto.

              El premio más reciente del NCDHHS del Programa Ryan White de la Administración de Servicios de Recursos de Salud (HRSA, por sus siglas en inglés), recibido en abril, fue aproximadamente la mitad de lo que se había otorgado en años anteriores. El financiamiento futuro es actualmente incierto, y el presupuesto federal propuesto sugiere que no habrá fondos para actividades de prevención del VIH.

              Si los recortes continúan, los impactos podrían incluir: 

              • Un aumento en la transmisión del VIH debido a la disminución de la inversión en nuevos métodos prometedores de prevención del VIH (como la PrEP de acción prolongada), la disminución del acceso a la atención que previene la transmisión y el aumento del tiempo con enfermedades no diagnosticadas.
              • Aumento de las transmisiones del VIH porque terminará el alcance individualizado que ayuda a las personas con VIH a acceder a la atención y ayuda a las parejas expuestas a hacerse la prueba.
              • Disminución de la capacidad para detectar brotes a tiempo y prevenir resultados trágicos.

              Los recortes a este financiamiento vital en Carolina del Norte serían perjudiciales para todas las partes del estado, particularmente en los condados rurales. Además, las propuestas del congreso para reducir los fondos de Medicaid e implementar restricciones de elegibilidad podrían poner en peligro la infraestructura de salud pública estatal y los programas de enfermedades infecciosas en Carolina del Norte. Medicaid es el proveedor más grande de cobertura de seguro para personas que viven con el VIH. Reducir el acceso a la cobertura de Medicaid podría resultar en un aumento de los casos y muertes por VIH. En Carolina del Norte, la expansión de Medicaid ha dado a muchas personas con VIH acceso a atención médica integral, algunas por primera vez.

              May 20, 2025

              MIL OSI USA News –

            5. MIL-OSI Global: Is Donald Trump doing the world a favour by isolating the United States?

              Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Shaun Narine, Professor of International Relations and Political Science, St. Thomas University (Canada)

              United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs against most of the world tanked stock markets, disrupted the U.S. bond market and destabilized the global economy.

              Trump has economically and politically threatened American allies, shattering the unity of the western world. But Trump’s chaos may have inadvertently produced an opportunity to create a better world.

              Some western commentators argue that the U.S. has been a benevolent superpower.

              That may have been true for a small group of mostly western states that have benefitted from American domination. But much of the Global South was victimized by American military, economic and political interventions.

              Losing dominance?

              The West could be in the midst of losing its dominant position in the global order. This is probably inevitable, but it may not be the tragedy some western commentators assume it to be.

              In most of the world, there is a desire for a more equitable world order that doesn’t feature the moral, racial and cultural double standards of the western-dominated system. A world where American and western power is limited and contained could not only end up being more peaceful but, over time, more prosperous.

              Without the co-operation of the allies alienated by Trump, it may be harder for the U.S. to initiate conflict around the world as it often has since the end of the Cold War.

              In a recent Foreign Affairs article, American political scientist Stacie Goddard argues the emerging multipolar, post-American world will be one in which great powers — primarily the U.S., Russia and China — will divide the globe into “spheres of influence.”

              The U.S. is seeking to maintain disproportionate power in Asia. Closer to home, neighbours of the U.S. have reason to fear American expansionism.

              By contrast, even if it has imperialist ambitions, Russia doesn’t have the military might to dominate Europe. It’s a country of 144 million people with one-sixth the GDP of the European Union. Russia can cause trouble within countries with sizable Russian minorities, but its ability to project power is limited, as demonstrated by its grinding war in Ukraine.



              Read more:
              After another call with Putin, it looks like Trump has abandoned efforts to mediate peace in Ukraine

              China’s stance

              The Chinese have scored a win against Trump’s tariffs with a 90-day tariff pause that’s being hailed as vindication of China’s defiant negotiating strategy. China called Trump’s bluff and won as global stocks soared.



              Read more:
              China-US trade war: the next 90 days are a big deal for Beijing as it seeks long-term solutions

              This has bolstered China’s goal to have a sphere of influence. However, Chinese foreign policy is largely non-interventionist and, compared to the U.S., remarkably restrained.

              China may intimidate its rivals in the South China Sea, Senkaku Islands, and Taiwan, but it does not easily resort to military force. China has not resorted to military force since its war with Vietnam in 1979.

              China is committed to most of the guiding structures of the current international system and values a stable and mutually beneficial global economic order that enables it to focus on and improve its domestic development.

              Its export-oriented economic sectors need customers abroad. Unlike the West, China has a vested interest in helping the Global South develop and prosper in order to create those customers.

              Asian trade alliance?

              The Chinese are using their resources to promote economic and technological development in the Global South.

              As China spreads its renewable energy technologies globally, some of the poorest countries may leapfrog carbon-based fuels and go directly to renewable energy to make development affordable and attainable, and to mitigate climate change.



              Read more:
              What Canada can learn from China on effectively engaging with Africa

              In response to Trump’s tariffs, China, South Korea and Japan have discussed a renewed free-trade arrangement. President Xi Jinping has toured Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia to encourage a common front against American actions.

              Asian states are wary of China, but they remain committed to global trade. The U.S. may be retreating from globalization, but the rest of the world is not, though China’s manufacturing dominance concerns many states.

              Emerging international order

              New institutions may help to manage the evolving world order. The BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates — have created the New Development Bank (NDB). China has created the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

              The United Nations remains the favoured instrument of global diplomacy, even if western states have been accused of undermining its authority and efficacy.

              The European Union will continue as a major global power in the emerging international order, but on a more even footing with the rest of the world.

              Europe is reconsidering its trade war with China. In the words of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission: “The West as we knew it no longer exists.”

              Western states will undoubtedly continue to try to exercise disproportionate global influence. Canada has suggested that “like-minded states” form an alliance to promote international trade and institutions that remain dominated by western interests. This idea seems designed to continue marginalizing the Global South in the international decision-making process.

              Most Global South states are not high-functioning liberal democracies. Many struggle with the legacies of colonialism while managing an international system dominated by the West that keeps them subservient. Others have created governments that fit their particular circumstances, cultures and levels of development.

              But many weaker countries generally share a commitment to international law that is seemingly stronger than the West. They need a stable, predictable, fairly applied set of global rules more than stronger nations. Ironically, the decline of the U.S. may facilitate a much more genuine and legitimate rules-based international order.

              America’s loosening grip

              Readjusting the world economy away from the U.S. to a more diverse, evenly distributed economic model will be difficult and disruptive.

              Nonetheless, loosening the American grip on global power is an essential first step towards achieving a more just and balanced international order.

              For putting this process in motion, the world may owe Trump a measure of thanks.

              Shaun Narine is affiliated with Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East and Jewish Voice for Peace.

              – ref. Is Donald Trump doing the world a favour by isolating the United States? – https://theconversation.com/is-donald-trump-doing-the-world-a-favour-by-isolating-the-united-states-252671

              MIL OSI – Global Reports –

            6. MIL-OSI Global: Financial firms are driving up rent in Toronto — and targeting the most vulnerable tenants

              Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Cloé St-Hilaire, PhD Candidate in Planning, University of Waterloo

              In recent years, Canadians have increasingly seen financial firms — such as private equity firms and real estate investment trusts (REITs) — buying up apartment buildings. The largest 25 financial landlords in Canada hold nearly 20 per cent of the country’s private, purpose-built rental stock.

              At the same time, Canada’s housing affordability crisis has exploded. A 2022 report found that in 93 per cent of Canadian neighbourhoods, a full-time minimum wage worker cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment.

              Many observers have connected this financialization of housing to rising unaffordability. But until recently, a lack of data has made it challenging to prove it.

              Our recent study, based on building-level rent and ownership data in the Greater Toronto Area, is the first to decisively show that financial firms charge higher rents and raise them more quickly than other landlords. We also found that financial firms raise rents most aggressively in lower-income areas with more racialized residents.

              Why does financialization raise rents?

              Financialization refers to the growing role of the finance sector in various parts of the economy. In the rental housing market, it involves the purchase of rental buildings by financial firms like asset managers, REITs and pension funds.

              These “financial landlords” treat housing as an investment product, not as a basic human need.



              Read more:
              Housing is both a human right and a profitable asset, and that’s the problem

              Financial landlords act differently from other landlords. Unlike smaller landlords, they are guided by the “shareholder value maximization” principle, which means their primary goal is to maximize returns for their shareholders.

              While smaller landlords are most likely also motivated by profit, they do not have a duty to external investors like financial firms do and they do not have access to the same strategies to manage their properties. Financial landlords have the scale and sophistication to pursue these profits in ways that smaller-scale landlords cannot.

              Research shows that financial landlords in Canada are associated with increased cost burdens for renters, higher eviction filing rates and higher rates of building disrepair. Our study adds to this evidence by showing they also charge higher rents.

              Financial firms openly promote higher rents

              Even before conducting our analysis, we had reason to believe financial firms would charge higher rents, in part because many of them have publicly said so.

              In a 2018 investor presentation, Minto REIT wrote that they charged “the highest in-place rent” among their public peers.

              Similarly, Centurion REIT published a report in 2020 featuring a graph demonstrating that its rent increases were outpacing both inflation and average rents.

              In a 2019 white paper, Canada’s largest private landlord, Starlight Investments, wrote about how their “value add strategy” for upgrading apartments sets them apart from other types of landlords. In the same publication, they reported increasing the monthly rent in one property by $411 — a 31 per cent increase.

              Financial firms charge the highest rent premiums

              Our analysis reveals that financial firms do indeed charge more.

              Our study compared building-level quarterly rent data to average rents from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for 1,602 buildings between 2022 and 2024.

              We found that when landlords advertise a unit to rent, they typically charge more than the average neighbourhood rent. We call this upcharge a rent “premium” — the dollar or percentage difference between the rent posted for an available unit and the average neighbourhood rent for a unit of the same size.

              We found that financial firms charged the highest premiums across the GTA, posting 44 per cent higher rents — or $670 more — than local averages. By comparison, non-financial chain landlords — those with multiple buildings but not classified as financial firms — charged a 30 per cent, or $477, premium.

              Meanwhile, smaller-scale owners owners of just a few buildings charged a smaller rent premium of 15-22 per cent. We found financial firms charged the highest premiums regardless of whether the building was brand new or in need of repairs.

              Algorithmic pricing and rent inflation

              One of the landlords with the highest rent premiums is private equity firm Woodbourne, which said they used RealPage’s YieldStar platform, an algorithmic pricing software.

              This software is at the centre of a lawsuit alleging more than a dozen landlords and property managers conspired to artificially inflate rents across Canada.

              The use of AI-driven pricing tools in Canada’s rental market is now under investigation by the Competition Bureau.

              Our study also found that, over time, financial firms raised rents more aggressively than other landlords. On average, they increased asking rents by five per cent — or $96 — every quarter. By comparison, smaller-scale landlords owning just one property raised asking rents by 3.6 per cent, or $59.

              Using a regression model, we demonstrated that out of all ownership types, financial ownership was the strongest predictor for higher rents and higher rent premiums. Using our model, we estimated that a tenant would pay 13 per cent more for their unit if it was owned by a financial firm instead of a single property owner.

              Low-income, marginalized tenants are exposed

              Our study also found that the highest rent premiums were being charged in Toronto’s “neighbourhood improvement areas.” These are areas the city has identified as having inequitable social and economic outcomes.

              While we found that all landlords charge higher premiums in these neighbourhoods, financial landlords were the most aggressive, charging a 49 per cent premium compared to 41 per cent elsewhere.

              We also identified a spatial connection between high rent premiums and the number of racialized residents in a neighbourhood: areas with higher rent premiums often had a greater percentage of racialized residents.

              These findings suggest that financial firms are complicit in driving gentrification in marginalized neighbourhoods, targeting areas with lower-income and racialized renters for the most aggressive rent increases.

              Reining in financial landlords

              While financial firms report on record breaking annual returns and “rental uplifts” of 15 per cent, Canada faces a dire housing affordability crisis.

              Financialization is detrimental to the right to adequate housing. We show that financialization is worsening affordability in Toronto: a trend that will continue, especially since financial landlords are the largest acquirers of suites in the city and the country’s largest landlords.

              To address this issue, we support recent policy recommendations aimed at reining in the power of financial landlords. These include better tracking of who landlords are, stricter tenant protections and more social housing.

              If left unchecked, financialization will continue to deepen the affordability crisis, with the greatest harms falling on those who can least afford it.

              Cloé St-Hilaire receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship). She previously received funding from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec.

              Martine August receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Government of Ontario Early Researcher Award.

              – ref. Financial firms are driving up rent in Toronto — and targeting the most vulnerable tenants – https://theconversation.com/financial-firms-are-driving-up-rent-in-toronto-and-targeting-the-most-vulnerable-tenants-255935

              MIL OSI – Global Reports –

            7. MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on the Passing of North Dakota Representative Cindy Schreiber-Beck

              US Senate News:

              Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
              05.20.25
              WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement honoring the life and legacy of North Dakota Representative Cindy Schreiber-Beck:
              “Cindy Schreiber-Beck was a titan in the field of aviation, an innovator, entrepreneur and a dedicated public servant. From starting a successful business with her husband Gerry to her leadership in the state legislature and at the North Dakota Agricultural Aviation Association, she approached her life and career with passion and determination. Our state will benefit from her hard work and the quality of her character for years to come. Among her many accomplishments, she played an essential role in our working group that established the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, which is foundational to our state’s growing unmanned aviation industry. Mikey and I send our deepest condolences to all of Cindy’s family and friends and join with them in mourning her passing, while honoring the tremendous life she lived.”

              MIL OSI USA News –

            8. MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 May 2025 News release Director-General’s Award for Global Health given to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood

              Source: World Health Organisation

              In recognition of their lifetime achievements in global health, specifically in malaria elimination and beyond, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given his Award for Global Health this year to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood.  

              The Director-General’s Award for Global Health, established in 2019, was conferred during the High-Level segment on Tuesday, 20 May, at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly and this year included an honorary lifetime achievement award to each recipient.  

              “Their invaluable contributions have helped to alleviate the burden of malaria and other vaccine-preventable diseases and to build sustainable health system capacity in Africa,” said Dr Tedros.

              Noting Professor Coll Seck’s achievements, Dr Tedros said, “While serving as Senegal’s Minister of Health, Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck led landmark reforms, expanded universal access to care and integrated disease control programmes.” 

              In addition to making significant contributions to scientific literature, Professor Coll Seck was, from 2004–2011, the Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria (RMB) partnership, where she mobilized political will to accelerate malaria interventions in low-income countries.  

              She has also been active on several high-profile boards and advisory groups, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, PATH, and other international NGOs and initiatives working on health financing, vaccines, and health system strengthening. She is currently the President of Forum Galien Afrique.

              Professor Coll Seck was born in Senegal and trained as a physician with a specialization in infectious diseases. She earned her medical degree from the University of Dakar and pursued further specialization in bacteriology and virology in France.

              “I’ve had the privilege of contributing to notable progress but I’ve also borne witness to ongoing challenges and emerging emergencies whether they be in terms of climate, demography or technology. This prize is all the more important in that it symbolizes trust in the values that I defend: solidarity between peoples, science in the service of humanity and the leadership of women in the health system,” said Professor Coll Seck.

              Professor Greenwood is best known for his pivotal work in malaria control. He has also played a central role in shaping global health policy and research strategies, serving on numerous advisory boards, including those of WHO.

              “Over the last five decades, Professor Sir Greenwood performed pioneering research and made major contributions to infectious disease control. His work on malaria has been instrumental in shaping modern approaches to control this devastating disease. His contributions range from the introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets to groundbreaking trials for the RTS,S malaria vaccine, the first vaccine to be recommended for widespread use,” said Dr Tedros.

              Professor Greenwood’s early career focused on infectious disease research in Nigeria and The Gambia, where he lived for decades and led a multidisciplinary programme targeting diseases like malaria, pneumonia, measles, and HIV2. In The Gambia, he demonstrated the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets in reducing child mortality and morbidity and contributed to malaria control through seasonal antimalarial drug administration.

              In 1996, Professor Greenwood returned to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, continuing his research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He contributed to the successful use of the MenAfriVac vaccine in the African meningitis belt, which helped stop epidemics in Chad. He also advocated for combining seasonal vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention. 

              Reflecting on his career, which began in Nigeria as a young doctor about 60 years ago, Professor Greenwood said, “The pediatric wards were full of measles, meningitis, malaria, polio, there were still even occasions with smallpox coming to hospital. The under-5 child mortality was about 400 per thousand in parts of west Africa. So, how that’s changed in one person’s lifetime. Many of those diseases are not gone but are much reduced and there has been a dramatic improvement in under-5 child mortality. In The Gambia where I also worked, that’s now 40, a 10-fold drop.”

              MIL OSI United Nations News –

            9. MIL-OSI USA: Florida Democrats Call on Trump Admin to Reinstate Nearly $2.5 Billion in Terminated Florida Public Health Funding

              Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

              Washington, DC  — This week, Rep. Frankel (FL-22) and Florida Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Darren Soto (FL-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) sent a letter to President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy, calling on them to reverse the sudden termination of nearly $2.5 billion in federal public health funding to Florida. This dangerous and disruptive cut is part of a nationwide rollback happening in every state across the country, jeopardizing lifesaving care and threatening the health and well-being of millions of Americans.

              In the letter, the Florida Democratic Congressional Members expressed deep concern about the impact these cuts will have on crucial health services across the state.

              “As Members of Congress representing the State of Florida, we write with deep concern about the recent termination of nearly $2.5 billion in critical federal public health grant funding to our state,” said the Members. “These grants support vital public health initiatives, including childhood immunizations, infectious disease control, mental health programs, and HIV prevention and treatment.”

              “Public health should never be a casualty of political ideology,” continued the Members. “While we support transparency and accountability in government spending, abruptly terminating billions of dollars in grants creates confusion, undermines public health goals, and jeopardizes years of bipartisan investments in research and innovation.”

              The Members urged the Trump Administration to immediately review and reinstate the grants, warning that failing to do so will have serious consequences for communities across Florida and the country.

              “We urge an immediate review of the terminated grants and a reinstatement of funds. Our communities are counting on you to help them provide life-saving research, treatment, and care,” the Members concluded.

              For full text of the letter, click here. 

              ###

              MIL OSI USA News –

            10. MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hospitals need to be prepared for war – report

              Source: Anglia Ruskin University

              Ambulances parked near a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine

              Hospitals need to learn lessons from Ukraine and Syria as they increasingly become targets for military activity during times of conflict, according to research carried out by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and published by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

              The 96-page guidance document for underground shelters in hospitals, informed by research led by Dr Nebil Achour, is the first of its kind ever published and is based on the experiences of 617 Ukrainian hospitals during the ongoing war and other international health facilities in warzones.

              The research draws on lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine as well as Syria, and cites an urgent need for renovations, structural upgrades and adherence to standards in hospitals across the world.

              Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) has documented more than 2,300 attacks on health care facilities across Ukraine, severely disrupting the delivery of services and endangering the lives of patients and staff.

              Despite the shelling, damaged infrastructure, and lack of essential equipment, health professionals have continued to provide care under emergency conditions.

              Many hospitals have been forced to repurpose older underground shelters, many built during the Cold War, as makeshift health-care facilities to continue serving the population amidst the conflict.

              While the majority (82%) of hospitals in Ukraine have shelters, approximately 70% of hospitals have 20 or fewer beds in their shelters, therefore giving them very limited capacity and ability to deal with mass casualties.

              A quarter of shelters had modifications such as new ventilation systems, water and power supply networks, and showers and toilets. A total of 57% reported minor modifications such as flooring, painting and furniture, and 19% did not report any work at all.

              Findings suggest that there are many difficulties facing the renovation and improvement of shelters, such as shortage of human resources, time, know-how and finance.

              Irina Stanislavovna Tkachenko, medical director at Mykolaiv Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital, stated in the report: “One of our biggest challenges has been converting our old Soviet-era basements into makeshift shelters. These shelters were not originally intended for such use, so we had to quickly adapt them – cleaning out debris, installing water supplies, and creating spaces for incubators and medical equipment.

              “The situation became even more complicated when people from the nearby community sought refuge during air raids. While we couldn’t turn them away, we simply didn’t have enough room to accommodate everyone.”

              Iryna Dyuzhnyk, Deputy Director of General Affairs at Children’s Hospital #5 in Zaporizhzhia, said: “When the war began, we quickly realized that while we had a functioning shelter, it was not in a condition to handle the demands of this situation. We had to act swiftly.

              “With support from international partners and funds allocated by our city council, we were able to transform it into a fully autonomous anti-radiation shelter. Now, it’s supported by a diesel-powered generator, a ventilation system, patient rooms, an operating theatre, sanitary facilities and a stockpile of necessary medical supplies.”

              The WHO report provides actionable steps and a detailed checklist for repurposing existing structures and operating shelters to maintain health services during challenges such as structural damage, infectious diseases, cases of radiation poisoning and significant increase in patient numbers.

              “With political uncertainty growing across the world, this first-ever guidance of its kind is timely. Even countries such as the UK should be prepared to learn lessons from Ukraine and Syria during these times.

              “Our research is designed to assist hospitals and health authorities in enhancing and expanding their underground shelters to offer protection and maintain health services during crises, including those involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear events.

              “Hospital shelters are very important in a world of turbulent political environment and high risk of conflicts. These must be designed and operated according to stricter resilience standards to allow health services to continue.

              “Hospital staff, no matter of their professions and hierarchical level, also need to be trained to deal with disasters of all types, natural and manmade.”

              Dr Achour, Associate Professor in Disaster Mitigation at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

              MIL OSI United Kingdom –

            11. MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Short term let renewals extended from one to three years

              Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

              Where there have been no complaints, the renewal period for secondary short term let licences in Edinburgh is being extended from one to three years.

              Short term let renewals extended from one to three years

              The change was agreed yesterday (Monday, 19 May) by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Regulatory Committee. Earlier this year the committee made other changes following a consultation with residents and the industry last summer on how the new licensing scheme is working in the Capital.

              Cllr Neil Ross Regulatory Convener said:

              We had always committed to reviewing the licensing scheme after it had been operating for a year and we did that last summer. We made some improvements to our policy at the beginning of year, following feedback from residents and the industry, and this is the final change agreed at Committee. The intention is to make our scheme as fair and reasonable as we can for residents, visitors and operators.

              I will also be writing to the Scottish Government’s Minister of Housing to ask for greater clarity on short term let licensing condition MC13 (planning permission), which some residents and  short term let operators find confusing, and to see how this might be addressed.

              Published: May 20th 2025

              MIL OSI United Kingdom –