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Category: Trade

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at Nominations Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nominations of William Kimmitt to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and Kenneth Kies to serve as the Assistant Treasury Secretary for Tax Policy.
    As prepared for delivery:
    “This meeting will come to order.  Thank you to our nominees, Mr. Kimmitt and Mr. Kies, for being here today.  Congratulations on your nominations and thank you both for your willingness to serve.
    “Today, we will first hear from William Kimmitt, who is nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.
    “If confirmed, Mr. Kimmitt will oversee the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration—or ITA.  Importantly, the ITA promotes market access and redresses unfair trade practices.  Both functions are critical to American prosperity.
    “In terms of market access, American farmers and manufacturers win when they have a chance to compete.  ITA helps to facilitate those opportunities. 
    “Our manufacturing and agricultural industries are second to none and we need to make sure they have opportunities to fairly compete at home and abroad.   
    “Mr. Kimmitt, given your background, I am confident that you will make important contributions to trade.  I look forward to working with you, if confirmed.
    “Moving to the other nominee before us today, Kenneth Kies, who is nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department.
    “The Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy is the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury for analyzing, developing and implementing federal tax policies and programs.  Mr. Kies, if confirmed, will be a vital partner in Congress’ efforts to enact pro-growth tax policy and ensure it is properly implemented.
    “My Republican colleagues and I are committed to preventing a $4 trillion-plus tax hike on American families and businesses, and to delivering additional tax relief for middle-class workers and families who have struggled to keep up due to historic inflation over the last four years. 
    “We are also committed to making permanent the proven tax policy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).  Making this tax policy permanent will provide the certainty that businesses need to make long-term investments that drive growth, and will also provide the stability that families need as they save and plan for the future.
    “Fear-mongering and mischaracterization aside, the generational reforms we made in 2017 strengthened investment, boosted economic growth, increased take-home pay and reduced poverty.
    “The TCJA made the tax code more progressive, helped all Americans keep more of their hard-earned money, and fostered a growing economy that powered median household income to an all-time high. 
    “Permanently extending and building upon our current tax framework is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for working families.
    “Mr. Kies’ wealth of experience in the world of tax policy makes him eminently qualified to assist us in this effort.  
    “Mr. Kies spent a total of 47 years as a tax attorney.  His experience covers every aspect of the Internal Revenue Code and, since 1981, he has been involved in every significant piece of federal tax legislation.  He also has a first-hand understanding of the legislative process, having served as Chief Tax Counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee and as Chief of Staff on the Joint Committee on Taxation.
    “Mr. Kies, if confirmed, I look forward to working with you to deliver on President Trump’s economic agenda.
    “Thank you again, Mr. Kimmitt and Mr. Kies, for your time today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Targa Resources Corp. Declares Increase to Quarterly Common Dividend and Announces Timing of First Quarter 2025 Earnings Webcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) (“Targa” or the “Company”) announced today that its board of directors has declared an increase to its quarterly cash dividend to $1.00 per common share, or $4.00 per common share on an annualized basis, for the first quarter of 2025, consistent with previously disclosed expectations. This dividend represents a 33 percent increase over the common dividend declared with respect to the first quarter of 2024. This cash dividend will be paid May 15, 2025 on all outstanding common shares to holders of record as of the close of business on April 30, 2025.

    The Company will report its first quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens for trading on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and will host a live webcast over the internet at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its 2025 first quarter financial results.

    Event Information
    Event: Targa Resources Corp. First Quarter 2025 Earnings Webcast and Presentation
    Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
    Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
    Webcast: https://www.targaresources.com/investors/events or directly at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/waa5bt3q

    Replay Information 
    A webcast replay will be available at the link above approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event. A quarterly earnings supplement presentation and updated investor presentation will also be available at https://www.targaresources.com/investors/events.

    About Targa Resources Corp.

    Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent infrastructure companies in North America. The Company owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets and its operations are critical to the efficient, safe and reliable delivery of energy across the United States and increasingly to the world. The Company’s assets connect natural gas and NGLs to domestic and international markets with growing demand for cleaner fuels and feedstocks. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, and purchasing and selling natural gas; transporting, storing, fractionating, treating, and purchasing and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling, and purchasing and selling crude oil.

    Targa is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.targaresources.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our projected financial performance, capital spending and payment of future dividends. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Company’s control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and non-OPEC oil producing countries, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of our completion of capital projects and business development efforts, the expected growth of volumes on our systems, the impact of significant public health crises, commodity price volatility due to ongoing or new global conflicts, the impact of disruptions in the bank and capital markets, including those resulting from lack of access to liquidity for banking and financial services firms, and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Targa Investor Relations
    InvestorRelations@targaresources.com
    (713) 584-1133

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Hanna, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Planning, University of Waikato

    Christina Hanna, CC BY-SA

    Once floodwaters subside, talk of planned retreat inevitably rises.

    Within Aotearoa New Zealand, several communities from north to south – including Kumeū, Kawatiri Westport and parts of Ōtepoti Dunedin – are considering future relocations while others are completing property buyouts and categorisations.

    Planned retreats may reduce exposure to harm, but the social and cultural burdens of dislocation from land and home are complex. Planning, funding and physically relocating or removing homes, taonga or assets – and even entire towns – is challenging.

    Internationally, research has focused on why, when and how planned retreats occur, as well as who pays. But we explore what happens to the places we retreat from.

    Our latest research examines 161 international case studies of planned retreat. We analysed what happens beyond retreat, revealing how land use has changed following withdrawal of human activities.

    We found a wide range of land use following retreat. In some cases, comprehensive planning for future uses of land was part of the retreat process. But in others we found a failure to consider these changing places.

    Planned retreats have happened in response to various climate and hazard risks, including sea-level rise and coastal erosion, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides.

    The case studies we investigated range from gradual transitions to sudden changes, such as from residential or business activities to conservation or vacant lands. In some cases, “sea change” is evident, where once dry land becomes foreshore and seabed.

    Through our research, we identified global “retreat legacies”. These themes demonstrate how communities across the world have sought similar outcomes, highlighting primary land-use patterns following retreat.

    Case studies reveal several themes in what happens to land after people withdraw.
    Hanna,C, White I,Cretney, R, Wallace, P, CC BY-SA

    Nature legacies

    The case studies show significant conversions of private to public land, with new nature and open-space reserves. Sites have been rehabilitated and floodplains and coastal ecosystems restored and reconnected.

    Open spaces are used for various purposes, including as nature, community, stormwater or passive recreational reserves. Some of these new zones may restrict structures or certain activities, depending on the risk.

    For example, due to debris flow hazard in Matatā in the Bay of Plenty, only transitory recreation or specific low-risk activities are allowed in the post-retreat environment because of the high risk to human life.

    Planning and investment in new open-space zones range from basic rehabilitation (grassed sites) to established parks and reserves, such as the Grand Forks riverfront greenway which borders rivers in the twin US cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. This area now hosts various recreational courses and connected trails as well as major flood protection measures.

    Project Twin Streams has transformed former residential sites to allow rivers to roam in the floodplain.
    Wikimedia Commons/Ingolfson, CC BY-SA

    Nature-based adaptations are a key function in this retreat legacy. For example, Project Twin Streams, a large-scale environmental restoration project in Waitakere, West Auckland, has transformed former residential sites into drainage reserves to make room for rivers in the floodplain.

    Importantly, not all retreats require significant land-use change. Continued farming, heritage preservation and cultural activities show that planned retreats are not always full and final withdrawals from a place.

    Instead, they represent an adapted relationship. While sensitive activities are relocated, other practices may remain, such as residents’ continued access to the old village of Vunidogoloa in Fiji for fishing and farming.

    Social and economic legacies

    Urban development in a small number of retreated sites has involved comprehensive spatial reorganisation, with planning for new urban esplanades, improved infrastructure and cultural amenities.

    One example is the comprehensive infrastructure masterplan for the Caño Martín Peña district in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which involves communities living along a tidal channel. The plan applied a community-first approach to retreat. It integrated infrastructure, housing, open space, flood mitigation and ecological planning.

    Alternatively, the decision to remove stopbanks and return the landscape to a “waterscape” can become a tourism feature, such as in the marshlands of the Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. A museum is dedicated to the transformed environment.

    The Biesbosch marshland nature reserve was created following historic flooding.
    Shutterstock/Rudmer Zwerver

    Where there was no post-retreat planning or site rehabilitation, ghost towns such as Missouri’s Pattonsburg leave eerie reminders of the costs of living in danger zones.

    Vacant and abandoned sites also raise environmental justice and ecological concerns about which retreat spaces are invested in and rehabilitated to avoid urban blight and environmental risks. Retreat sites may include landfills or contaminated land, requiring major site rehabilitation.

    The 12 case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrate a range of new land uses. These include new open-space reserves, the restoration of floodplains and coastal environments, risk mitigation and re-development, and protection measures such as stopbanks.

    Moving beyond retreat

    Our research highlights how planned retreats can create a transition in landscapes, with potential for a new sense of place, meaning and strategic adaptation.

    We found planned retreats have impacts beyond the retreat site, which reinforces the value of spatial planning.

    The definition and practices of “planned or managed retreat” must include early planning to account of the values and uses the land once had. Any reconfigurations of land and seascapes must imagine a future well beyond people’s retreat.

    Christina Hanna received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa and from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.

    Iain White received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa, from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. He is New Zealand’s national contact point for climate, energy and mobility for the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program.

    Raven Cretney received funding from the national science challenge Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa.

    Pip Wallace 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. As more communities have to consider relocation, we explore what happens to the land after people leave – https://theconversation.com/as-more-communities-have-to-consider-relocation-we-explore-what-happens-to-the-land-after-people-leave-253653

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Mitchell, Professor of Nursing and Health Services Research, University of Newcastle

    Annie Spratt/Unsplash

    Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didn’t have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

    These can have a big impact for patients, often increasing their time in hospital, requiring additional treatment and causing discomfort. Unfortunately, some people who sustain an infection in hospital don’t recover. In Australia, there are an estimated 7,500 deaths associated with hospital-acquired infections annually.

    It’s important to prevent such infections not only for the benefit of patients, but also because of their cost to the health system and to reduce antibiotic use.

    Even though patients don’t usually come into contact with each other directly in hospitals, there are many ways bacteria can be transmitted between patients.

    Our own and other research suggests medical equipment (such as blood pressure machines, dressing trolleys and drip stands) could be a common source of infection.

    In recent research, we’ve shown that by regularly disinfecting shared medical equipment, we can help reduce infections picked up in hospitals – and save the health system money.

    We introduced a new cleaning package

    We conducted an experiment in a New South Wales hospital where we introduced a package of extra cleaning measures onto several wards.

    The package consisted of designated cleaners specifically trained to clean and disinfect sensitive medical equipment. Normally, the cleaning of shared equipment is the responsibility of clinical staff.

    These cleaners spent three hours a day disinfecting shared medical equipment on the ward. We also provided regular training and feedback to the cleaners.

    The start date for the cleaning package on each ward was randomly selected. This is known as a “stepped wedge” trial (more on this later).

    We monitored the thoroughness of cleaning before and after introducing the cleaning package by applying a florescent gel marker to shared equipment. The gel cannot be seen without a special light, but is easily removed if the surface is cleaned well.

    We also monitored infections in patients on the wards before and after introducing the cleaning package. Over the course of the experiment, more than 5,000 patients passed through the wards we were studying.

    Finally, we looked at the economic costs and benefits: how much the cleaning package costs, versus the health-care costs that may be saved thanks to any avoided infections.

    Shared hospital equipment such as IV drip stands can harbour infections.
    Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    What we found

    Before the intervention, we found the thoroughness of cleaning shared equipment, assessed by the removal of the gel marker, was low. Once we introduced the cleaning package, cleaning thoroughness improved from 24% to 66%.

    After the cleaning package was introduced, hospital-acquired infections dropped by about one-third, from 14.9% to 9.8% of patients. We saw a reduction in a range of different types of infections including bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections.

    To put this another way, for every 1,000 patients admitted to wards with the cleaning package, we estimated there were 30 fewer infections compared to wards before the cleaning package was introduced. This not only benefits patients, but also hospitals and the community, by freeing up resources that can be used to treat other patients.

    Treating infections in hospital is expensive. We estimate the cost of treating infections before the cleaning intervention was around A$2.1 million for a group of 1,000 patients, arising from 130 infections. These costs come from extra time in hospital and treatment costs associated with infections.

    We estimated the 30 fewer infections per 1,000 patients reduced costs to $1.5 million, even when factoring in the cost of cleaners and cleaning products. Put differently, our intervention could save a hospital $642,000 for every 1,000 patients.

    Some limitations of our research

    Our experiment was limited to several wards at one Australian hospital. It’s possible the cleaning was particularly poor at this hospital, and the same intervention at other hospitals may not result in the same benefit.

    For various reasons, even with trained designated cleaners we didn’t find every piece of equipment was cleaned all the time. This reflects common real-world issues in a busy ward. For example, some equipment was being used and not available for cleaning and cleaners were sometimes absent due to illness.

    We don’t know whether even more cleaning might have resulted in an even greater reduction in infections, but there is often a law of diminishing returns when assessing infection control interventions.

    In the real world, hospital cleaning isn’t perfect. But we could do better.
    aguscrespophoto/Shutterstock

    A limitation of looking at infection rates before and after the introduction of an intervention is that other things may change at the same time, such as staffing levels, so not all the difference in infections may be due to the intervention.

    But the stepped wedge model, where the cleaning package was introduced at different times on different wards, increases our confidence the reduction in infections was the result of the cleaning package.

    Improving hospital cleaning is a no brainer

    Shared medical equipment harbours pathogens, which can survive for long periods in health-care settings.

    Like our study, other research has similarly suggested a clean hospital is a safe hospital. Importantly, cleaning needs to include thorough disinfection to reduce the risk of infection (not just removing visible dirt and stains).

    Our work is also consistent with other research that shows improving cleaning in hospitals is cost-effective.

    Cleaning services and products have often been subject to cuts when hospitals have needed to save money.

    But prioritising effective cleaning of medical equipment appears to be a no brainer for health system administrators. We need to invest in better cleaning practices for both the health of patients and the financial bottom line.

    Brett Mitchell receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. Brett is Editor-in-Chief of Infection, Disease and Health for which he is paid an honorarium by the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett has appointments at Avondale University, Monash University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. GAMA Healthcare Australia provided cleaning wipes used in a study referenced in this article.

    Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee advising the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare.

    – ref. Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money – https://theconversation.com/better-cleaning-of-hospital-equipment-could-cut-patient-infections-by-one-third-and-save-money-251917

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cortez Masto Reintroduce Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Theft

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on flash mob robberies and intricate retail theft schemes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 would establish a coordinated multi-agency response and create new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft.

    “Retail crime has cost Iowa billions, and it’s even worse across the nation. Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces. Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers,” Grassley said.  

    “Large criminal organizations are constantly evolving their tactics to steal goods from retailers and the supply chain in communities across the Silver State,” said Cortez Masto. “The rise in organized retail crime has left businesses scrambling, and it is time for Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement agencies keep our communities safe.” 

    According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 84 percent of retailers report that violence and aggression from criminal activities has become more of a concern since 2022, resulting in injuries and deaths among employees, customers, security officers and law enforcement personnel. NRF also estimates that larceny incidents increased by 93 percent in 2023 compared to 2019. In recent years, criminal organizations have increasingly turned to retail crime to generate illicit profits, using internet-based tools to organize flash mobs, sell stolen goods and move money.  

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security that combines expertise from state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as retail industry representatives. The bill would also create new tools to assist in federal investigation and prosecution of organized retail crime, and help recapture lost goods and proceeds.

    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is supported by the National Retail Federation (NRF), United Postal Service (UPS), Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), Association of American Railroads (AAR), Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), American Trucking Associations, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), the Home Depot, Iowa Soybean Association and National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).

    “NRF applauds Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., for their continued leadership to address one of retail’s biggest challenges, the rise of organized retail crime. ORC is a multibillion-dollar crisis impacting retailers, their associates and the customers they serve. ORC is occurring across the retail enterprise – supply chains, bricks-and-mortar stores, warehouses and online – with stolen product sold for a profit, oftentimes to fund other crimes. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 will align efforts within a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center to ensure that resources and information-sharing will be available across local, state, federal and private-sector partners to bring cases and prosecutions against organized theft groups. This legislation is an important step to help prevent ORC from infiltrating local communities across the country,” said NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French.

    “UPS supports the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act as it provides the necessary resources and coordination to protect the movement of American goods throughout our country while safeguarding the integrity of our national supply chain from rail to road, to retail,” said President of UPS Global Public Affairs Michael Kiely.

    “Organized cargo theft and fraud disrupt intermodal freight supply chains, risk the safety of our workforce, and harm the U.S. economy. The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) applauds Senator Grassley, Senator Cortez Masto, Congressman Joyce, and Congresswoman Lee for their leadership in championing critical legislation to address this urgent threat. The bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act will provide important resources to detect and fight organized crime throughout the supply chain, ensuring that our industry can continue delivering goods to American consumers safely and efficiently,” said Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) President & CEO Anne Reinke.

    “Highly motivated and sophisticated criminal networks continue to wreak havoc on communities, retailers and employees across America. They are targeting retailers through brazen organized retail crime schemes, defrauding customers via gift card scams and attacking our supply chains by hijacking our rails and truck shipments. Dismantling these organized criminal rings requires cooperation and collaboration. RILA applauds Sens. Grassley and Cortez Masto for their leadership and commitment to enacting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which brings federal, state, and local law enforcement together to intercept and prosecute these criminal enterprises. RILA looks forward to working with them to get this critical piece of legislation signed into law,” said Retail Industry Leaders Association Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Michael Hanson.

    “Organized criminal operations continue to evolve and escalate their targeted attacks against our nation’s supply chain and retailers,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “This alarming trend affects every industry — including the nation’s largest railroads, which experienced a 40% spike in cargo theft last year. Disrupting these organized crime networks requires a unified, federally led response. Chairman Grassley and Rep. Joyce’s bipartisan legislation provides the strategic framework necessary to disrupt these criminal networks and safeguard our supply chain.”

    “The trucking industry takes great pride in delivering America’s freight safely and on time; however, the billions of tons of goods transported by trucks from coast to coast have increasingly become a prime target for organized crime rings, including transnational organizations, putting truck drivers at risk and raising costs for consumers,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “ATA commends this bipartisan group of leaders for addressing this alarming trend and safeguarding our supply chain. By empowering federal agencies to improve cooperation across jurisdictions and ramp up enforcement actions, this bill would strike an effective blow against organized crime.”

    “Across the United States, communities small and large are facing an unprecedented number of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) incidents. The Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act would provide the necessary resources to bring the people and organizations behind this nationwide problem to justice by establishing formal coordination between law enforcement and the private sector,” said ICSC President and CEO, Tom McGee. “We applaud Senators Grassley and Cortez Masto for reintroducing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act. We believe the bill represents a huge step in the right direction towards addressing this growing issue.”

    “We welcome the bipartisan action led by Senators Grassley and Cantwell and Representatives Bacon, Gottheimer, Hurd and Meeks to reassert Congressional authority over the tariff process. While we support the Administration’s efforts to grow our economy, we also believe that Congress has a critical role to play in setting trade policy and has clear Article 1 authority to set duties and taxes,” said National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith.

    Background:

    Grassley and Cortez Masto introduced similar legislation in 2022 and 2023. On Fight Retail Crime Day in 2023, Grassley held a press conference alongside the National Retail Federation and congressional cosponsors to push for passage of the legislation. 

    At a roundtable in Iowa, Grassley met with a group of local, state and federal officials to explore the shadowy ties between a spike in organized retail crime and the illicit drug trade.

    In December of 2021, Grassley called on the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to prioritize a response to organized retail crimes.  

    Legislative text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Pushes Toward Recession, Heinrich & Luján Demand Answers on Cuts to New Mexico Manufacturing Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are demanding answers on the Administration’s decision to cancel funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country, including in New Mexico. The action came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports that tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession. 

    New Mexico MEP is part of a national network of 51 MEPs that have helped boost the productivity and competitiveness of thousands of small American manufacturers across the country for decades. The economic impact of these centers has been substantial. Last year, New Mexico MEP worked directly with 134 small manufacturers in advanced manufacturing, lean manufacturing, product development, and market expansion. This helped create or retain 700 jobs and generate $40 million in new sales. The administration’s action to cut this program and other MEP centers across the nation will raise costs on consumers, harm small businesses, and weaken businesses’ ability to recruit and retain employees.

    “Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance,” the senators wrote. “These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    A report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEPprogram generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs nationwide.

    The letter was led by Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member of the Science, Manufacturing and Competitiveness Subcommittee Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maizie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

    The letter can be found here and below: 

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.

    According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.

    Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers.  Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025. 

    Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the work of the laboratories of MIREA – Russian Technological University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    At MIREA – Russian Technological University (RTU MIREA) in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko familiarized himself with the key educational and scientific projects of the university and also assessed the work of the laboratories.

    The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Andrey Omelchuk and Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh.

    “Today, when we are faced with the national goal outlined by President Vladimir Putin – technological leadership, the development of universities is becoming especially important. MIREA – Russian Technological University uses government support tools. The university participates in the Priority-2030 program of the national project “Youth and Children”, conducts research based on the Advanced Engineering School. Cooperation with industrial partners allows us to obtain specific developments, which we saw today in the university’s technological laboratories,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    In total, more than 30 thousand students study at RTU MIREA, including more than 1.8 thousand representatives from 80 countries.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, together with the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Rector, assessed the modern digital prototyping laboratory and got acquainted with the educational and scientific testing complex “Import Substitution of Information Technologies”, created jointly with Rostelecom. Also, in the motion capture laboratory and the immersive technology laboratory, equipment was shown that allows recording the movements, movements and facial expressions of actors with high positioning accuracy, followed by the recreation of their actions in digital models of characters and animation objects.

    In addition, the guests assessed the work of the Departmental Situation Center for Monitoring the Sphere of Education and Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

    “RTU MIREA is an active participant in the national project “Youth and Children”. The University creates a comprehensive infrastructure for training highly qualified personnel. I would like to separately note the work of the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia for monitoring the sphere of education and science, operating on the basis of the University, which ensures the collection and verification of relevant data. Today, the results of its work help the Ministry and the heads of scientific and educational organizations to promptly respond to modern challenges and make effective management decisions,” said Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Andrey Omelchuk.

    Rector of RTU MIREA Stanislav Kudzh spoke in detail about the work of the Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science, where monitoring of the educational sphere is carried out in real time.

    “We strive to make our university a driver of technological sovereignty: from digital prototyping laboratories and immersive technologies to large-scale projects such as the educational and scientific complex with Rostelecom and the Departmental Situation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science. These solutions are the basis for training personnel capable of responding to the challenges of the time. I am confident that the support of the Russian Government will allow us to further develop the innovative ecosystem, where education, science and the real sector of the economy are creating the future today,” said RTU MIREA Rector Stanislav Kudzh.

    The visit ended with a discussion of the university’s development prospects and its role in implementing state programs for digitalization and training personnel for high-tech industries.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Supports Disaster Recovery from March Storms, Secures Release of Federal Funds Owed to Missouri Task Force 1

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Following the devastating March 14-15, 2025, storms that hit Missouri, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) secured the release of federal funding for Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1). MO-TF1 is managed by the Boone County Fire Protection District and is one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams in the United States.

    “When disaster strikes, the first responders of Missouri Task Force 1 put themselves on the line to assist in rescue and recovery efforts,” said Congressman Alford. “They play a vital role in disaster response in Missouri and communities across America. After storms devastated Missouri last month and the Task Force was at risk of being unable to assist in future disasters, my team sprang into action. We were proud to ensure this heroic team and the Boone County Fire Protection District got access to the money they were owed by the federal government. These efforts, combined with our formal support for Governor Kehoe’s request for a major disaster declaration, show we will always go the extra mile to ensure the Show Me State has the resources it needs for disaster recovery.”

    After the March storms hit Missouri, causing significant loss of life and property damage, Congressman Alford took action, using his new role on the House Appropriations Committee to secure the release of up to $1.57 million in FEMA funding for the Boone County Fire Protection District, the sponsoring agency of MO-TF1, which was owed to it for previous Task Force deployments and preparedness cooperative agreement expenses.

    Read Congressman Alford’s letter to FEMA here.

    “Missouri Task Force 1 had its busiest year in 2024, and while we had received some federal reimbursements, we were still owed over $1.5 million for both disaster response costs and ongoing task force maintenance costs,” said Boone County Fire Protection District Fire Chief and MO-TF1 Sponsoring Agency Scott Olsen. “Not receiving full financial reimbursements from prior deployments and not being able to access monthly funding from our federal cooperative agreement was taking a financial toll on the Fire District. We were at the point that I didn’t think our Board of Directors would authorize another federal disaster deployment unless we got some financial relief and with the severe weather that was forecasted for central and southeast United States, I knew a deployment was likely soon. One phone call to Congressman Alford and 12 hours later the funding log jam was broken apart and we began to receive reimbursements shortly thereafter. Missouri Task Force 1 is forever grateful for the quick, decisive actions that Congressman Alford took to restore access to our funding.”

    Congressman Alford also joined Missouri’s federal delegation in a letter—led by Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)—respectfully requesting President Donald J. Trump grant Governor Mike Kehoe’s request to immediately authorize a federal disaster declaration in 28 Missouri counties impacted by those storms and make available federal assistance to support Missouri’s recovery efforts.

    Background:

    Missouri Task Force 1 is a part of the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System which is made up of 28 task forces across 19 states nationwide. Each task force is managed by a Sponsoring Agency. The Boone County Fire Protection District is the Sponsoring Agency for Missouri Task Force 1.

    Missouri Task Force 1 is proud to represent Missouri as one of the nation’s premier FEMA Type 1 US&R Task Forces, comprised of members from all over the State of Missouri. For 30 years, Missouri Task Force 1 has deployed to tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, terrorist incidents, wildfires and building collapses. When a disaster overwhelms local emergency response capabilities, US&R task forces, like MO-TF1, are designed to supplement and enhance local rescue efforts.

    Missouri Task Force 1 has played a critical role in the most devastating disasters in our nation’s history, including the 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin EF5 Tornado and recent disasters like Hurricane Helene, and this year the Kentucky floods and Missouri’s severe weather and flooding event.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Offerings and Registrations of Securities in the Crypto Asset Markets

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    As part of an effort to provide greater clarity on the application of the federal securities laws to crypto assets,[1] the Division of Corporation Finance is providing its views[2] about the application of certain disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws to offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets. These offerings and registrations may involve equity or debt securities of issuers whose operations relate to networks, applications, and/or crypto assets. These offerings and registrations also may relate to crypto assets offered as part of or subject to an investment contract (such a crypto asset, a “subject crypto asset”).[3] The Division recognizes that Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda formed the Crypto Task Force to help the Commission develop a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets, including addressing applicable registration and disclosure requirements.[4] The Division is issuing this statement to provide its views during the pendency of these deliberations.

    The disclosures required in connection with offerings and registrations under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and promote fair, orderly, and efficient markets. In recent years, some issuers in the crypto asset markets have registered or qualified[5] offerings of securities under the Securities Act or registered a class of securities under the Exchange Act. This statement reflects our observations regarding disclosures provided in response to existing disclosure requirements. It also addresses our views about certain specific disclosure questions that market participants have presented to the staff. While disclosures should be based on an issuer’s specific facts and circumstances, we believe that issuers may benefit from the identification of common issues we have identified during our reviews.

    This statement addresses our views about certain disclosure requirements set forth in Regulation S-K as they apply to Securities Act registration forms (such as Form S-1) and Exchange Act registration forms (such as Form 10).[6] This statement also addresses our views about certain disclosure requirements of Form 20-F when used by foreign private issuers to register classes of securities under the Exchange Act, and Form 1-A for offerings exempt from registration under Regulation A.[7] This statement does not address all material disclosure items, and the disclosure topics addressed below may not be relevant for all issuers. Each issuer should consider its own facts and circumstances when preparing its disclosures. Each issuer also should consider whether it is permitted to provide “scaled disclosure” with respect to any applicable disclosure requirements.[8] Moreover, issuers should note that disclosure is not required where a particular disclosure requirement is not applicable, or they otherwise do not have responsive information.[9]

    In this statement, we sometimes address the same or similar disclosure items in more than one place. This should not be read to suggest providing duplicative disclosure in multiple places throughout filings. Rather, issuers should use their judgment in determining the location for any relevant disclosures.

    Description of Business

    SEC rules require issuers to provide a narrative description of the material aspects of their business.[10] Issuers are required to disclose information material to an understanding of the general development of their business, and, in the case of the business done and intended to be done by the issuer, only information material to an understanding of the business taken as a whole (or with respect to each segment, if applicable).[11]

    Disclosure should be tailored to the issuer’s business and presented in clear, concise, and understandable language, without overly relying on technical terminology or jargon. For example, we have observed disclosure that:

    • Specifically relates to the material aspects of the issuer’s current or proposed business, rather than to crypto networks, crypto assets, or other technologies that are not specific or material to the issuer’s current or proposed business.
    • Addresses the current stage of development of the business and clearly delineates any forward-looking or future plans of development.
    • Is consistent with the issuer’s public statements and promotional materials (including, without limitation, white papers, and developer documentation) relating to material aspects of the business.

    We also have observed the following disclosure with respect to current or proposed business plans:

    • The issuer’s specific business activity, such as operating or developing a network or application, and the current stage of development of the business.
    • Whether the issuer intends to continue to operate the business following the launch of a network or application, and, if so, a description of the issuer’s contemplated business activities. If not, a description of how the business will be operated following launch and whether another entity will be involved in such operations.
    • To the extent the business has not been fully implemented, milestones (including technology development milestones) needed to fully implement the business.
    • How the issuer generates or expects to generate revenue or increase profitability and/or value.
    • Whether the security or crypto asset has any function(s) in the operation of the business, including whether it has any intended use or role in an associated network or application.

    Where an issuer is developing or acquiring or intending to develop or acquire a network or application, we have observed issuers tailoring their disclosure to provide a narrative description of the purpose of the network or the application, and its operation, including the following:

    • Whether the initial development team is developing a network and/or application and/or a crypto asset for the network or application.
    • The current state and timeline for the development of the network and/or application to show how and when the initial development team intends to achieve network maturity or deploy the application.
    • Milestones needed to fully develop the network, application, and/or crypto asset, including an estimated timeline, the estimated costs to reach key milestones, and the source of funds for the development of the network, application, and/or crypto asset.
    • The objectives of the network and how the technology of the network or application functions and accomplishes its objectives, including its architecture, software, cryptographic key management, and functionality.
    • Whether the technology is derived from proprietary or open-sourced software, and a description of any licenses or intellectual property rights relating to the technology.
    • The process for validating transactions, the consensus mechanism, the block size, the transaction speed, the transaction (or “gas”) fees, and reward mechanism, if any.
    • A description of any products and services that will be offered through the network and/or application.
    • The various roles that exist or are intended to exist in connection with the network and/or application, such as users, onchain[12]  and offchain[13] service providers, developers, transaction validators, and governance participants.
    • The process of how network and application upgrades and updates are disclosed, proposed, developed, reviewed, and ultimately deployed.
    • The measures, if any, taken to ensure network and/or application security.
    • A description of the network or application’s governance system, as applicable.

    Risk Factors

    SEC rules require a discussion of the material factors that make an investment in the registrant or the offering speculative or risky.[14] In the context of offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, the content and scope of an issuer’s disclosure will depend on the nature of the security and the issuer’s business, and may include factors that address the development and implementation of the issuer’s business and the particular characteristics of the security, such as its features, price volatility, limited rights of holders, valuation and liquidity risks, technological risks, cybersecurity risks, business, operational, and network risks, and legal and regulatory risks. Disclosure should address risks relating to an associated network or application if material.

    The following are examples of risks that have been disclosed:

    • Risks relating to the issuer’s planned business operations, such as risks relating to technology and cybersecurity, and implementation of the issuer’s business, as well as reliance on another network or application.
    • Risks relating to the security, such as the risks relating to any unique characteristics of the security including its form, price volatility, the rights of holders or their lack of rights, valuation and liquidity, supply, and custody.
    • Risks related to other applicable laws and regulations, such as whether the issuer’s activities may require it to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or certain state financial services agencies under money transmission laws, or to register with another regulatory authority, such as federal or state banking regulators or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

    Description of Securities

    SEC rules require an issuer to provide a materially complete description of its securities.[15] The specific disclosure depends on the particular type of security, with these rules setting forth requirements for specifically identified types of securities, such as traditional capital stock and debt securities. These rules also include a general category for securities that are not specifically identified, referring to them as “other securities” or “other kinds of securities.” In the context of offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, we have observed disclosure where issuers have considered how this requirement applies in the context of their particular security, such as where an offering or registration involves a subject crypto asset. In these cases, issuers have provided a description of the terms, rights, and characteristics of the security in their specific context. It is important for investors to understand what the security represents.

    Examples of disclosure we have observed in the context of describing a security in the crypto asset markets include, among others, the following:

    Rights, Obligations, and Preferences

    • How the rights of holders and characteristics of the security are memorialized, how such rights and characteristics convey when the security is transferred, and whether, when and by whom such rights and characteristics can be modified.
    • The rights that holders have and do not have, such as with respect to dividends, payments, profit sharing, distributions, and voting rights, as well as the rights holders have to enforce their rights, preferences, and obligations.
    • If the holders have voting rights, how the issuer intends to comply with applicable proxy rules.
    • The rights that holders have and do not have with respect to transactions that impact the issuer or the network, such as liquidation, bankruptcy, sale, merger, network forks or other similar events.
    • The characteristics of the security, such as term, maturity, restrictions on transferability, how the security or subject crypto asset can be accessed, held and transferred, redeemed, retired, or burned, whether the security can be loaned or pledged and by whom, and whether the security will be certificated or uncertificated, and eligible for deposit at a securities depository.

    Technical Specifications

    • The network or application associated with the security or subject crypto asset, and whether the underlying code can be modified, how, when, and by whom, and what effect(s) that may have on the rights of a holder of the security or subject crypto asset.
    • The technical requirements for holding, accessing and transferring the security or subject crypto asset, such as the requirements and characteristics as to wallets and keys, whether the wallet addresses of the sender and receiver must be included in an approved list of participants, and any network transaction fees required for the transfer of the security or subject crypto asset and who is responsible for those fees.
    • Where the definitive record of ownership exists and who maintains it.
    • Whether the security or subject crypto asset is divisible, and, if so, whether there are any limits on its division.
    • Whether the security or subject crypto asset and the smart contract(s) and/or code on which it is/are based, if applicable, have been subjected to a third-party security audit (i.e., an independent assessment to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry standards), and if, so who conducted the audit and the results of the audit.

    Supply

    • The rules governing the total supply of the security or subject crypto asset, including the total supply, whether it is fixed at a maximum possible supply, the method for minting or generating the security or subject crypto asset, whether the supply will be created at initial generation or continuously or from time to time, whether there is a process for redeeming, retiring, freezing or burning the security or subject crypto asset, whether any of the supply is reserved for the network’s treasury, particular uses or participants, and whether any portion of the supply is subject to vesting and/or lock-ups.
    • Whether any entity or person (or group of persons) is responsible for implementing rules governing the total supply and/or has the authority or ability to change the rules.
    • Whether the issuer intends to enter into any arrangements with market makers or similar firms to distribute and/or provide liquidity for the security or a subject crypto asset and the terms of such arrangement.

    If the issuer’s business involves crypto assets that themselves are not securities, whether offered as part of or subject to an investment contract or otherwise, similar disclosures, if material, may be relevant to the section of the registration or offering statement discussing the issuer’s business.[16]

    Directors, Executive Officers, and Significant Employees

    SEC rules require disclosure of information relating to the identity and experience of those entrusted with the management of the issuer, including executive officers, directors, and certain significant employees who are (or are expected) to make a significant contribution to the issuer’s business.[17] SEC rules also require such disclosure for persons who do not hold formal titles or positions as executive officers or directors but who perform policy-making functions typically performed by executive officers or perform similar functions as directors.[18] Further, if a third party is performing the policy-making functions typically performed by executive officers and directors, we have observed disclosure addressing the third party that satisfies the applicable disclosure requirements. For example, certain trusts – such as the spot crypto exchange-traded products – have a sponsor with directors and executive officers who perform functions similar to directors or executive officers of the trust. In these cases, disclosure has been provided with respect to the directors or executive officers of the sponsor. Although disclosure regarding executive compensation of the issuer would not be applicable in this situation,[19] disclosure may be required of any fees paid to the third party for performing such functions.[20]

    Financial Statements

    SEC rules require issuers to provide financial statements that comply with applicable requirements.[21] Issuers with requests for assistance regarding the form and content of financial statements and other financial information required to be included in Commission filings should contact the Division’s Office of Chief Accountant.[22] Issuers may also consult with the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant on accounting and financial reporting questions, especially those involving unusual, complex, or innovative transactions.[23]

    Exhibits

    SEC rules require an issuer to file as an exhibit any instrument defining the rights of security holders.[24] In connection with offerings and registrations of securities in the crypto asset markets, to the extent that the rights, preferences, and obligations of holders of the securities are memorialized in smart contract(s) or otherwise programmed into the code of a network or application, we have observed filings include as an exhibit the code of the smart contract(s) and/or the network or application, with the issuer updating any such exhibit in response to subsequent changes in such code.[25]

    Contacting the Division

    The Division welcomes questions about the application of the SEC’s disclosure rules to offerings and registrations, as well as any ongoing reporting obligations. We also welcome requests for other assistance (including requests for interpretive or no-action letters) relating to these issues and questions. Information about how to contact the Division is available on our website.[26]

     

    [1]     For purposes of this statement, a “crypto asset” is an asset that is generated, issued, and/or transferred using a blockchain or similar distributed ledger technology network (“crypto network”), including, but not limited to, assets known as “tokens,” “digital assets,” “virtual currencies,” and “coins,” and that relies on cryptographic protocols. References in this statement to “network” refer to a crypto network, and references to “application” refer to an application running on such a crypto network.

    [2]     This statement represents the views of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Division”). It is not a rule, regulation, guidance, or statement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”), and the Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. This statement, like all staff statements, has no legal force or effect: it does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.

    [3]     Nothing in this statement is intended to suggest that registration or qualification is required in connection with an offering of a crypto asset if the crypto asset is not a security and not part of or subject to an investment contract.

    [5]     Offerings of securities in the crypto asset markets can be, and have been, qualified under Regulation A.

    [6]     See 17 C.F.R. §229.10 et seq. Form F-1 is a Securities Act registration form that can be used by foreign private issuers. Certain of the disclosure topics discussed in this statement may apply differently to foreign private issuers using Form F-1

    [7]     See 17 C.F.R. §239.90. Form 20-F is an Exchange Act form that can be used by foreign private issuers. Certain of the disclosure topics discussed in this statement may apply differently to foreign private issuers using Form 20-F and issuers conducting exempt offerings using Form 1-A.

    [8]     Scaled disclosure refers to disclosure accommodations that the federal securities laws sometimes provide for smaller or newly public companies, such as smaller reporting companies, non-accelerated filers, or emerging growth companies. These accommodations apply to a qualifying company’s registered offerings and its ongoing public company reporting. Scaled disclosure permits these companies to provide less extensive disclosure than other companies.

    [9]     See, e.g., Rule 404(c) under the Securities Act, and General Instruction II.B. of Form S-1, and General Instruction C of Form 20-F. For example, disclosure regarding dilution to stockholders, market price and dividends, and certain other stockholder matters only is required if the securities being offered are equity securities. See Items 201 and 506 of Regulation S-K, Items 8.A., 9.E., and 10 of Form 20-F, and Items 4 and 7 of Part II of Form 1-A. In addition, disclosure regarding properties only is required where issuers have material physical properties. See Item 102 of Regulation S-K, Item 4.D. of Form 20-F, and Item 8 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [10]     See Item 101 of Regulation S-K, Item 4 of Form 20-F, and Item 7 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [11]     The SEC, upon written request of the registrant and where consistent with the protection of investors, may permit the omission of any required information relating to the issuer’s business or the furnishing in substitution thereof of appropriate information of comparable character. See Instruction 3 to Item 101 of Regulation S-K.

    [12]     An “onchain” transaction occurs directly on a network and is validated in accordance with the protocol of the network, with the transaction recorded on the network’s public ledger.

    [13]     An “offchain” transaction occurs outside the network where the parties agree that a third party will validate and authenticate the transaction.

    [14]     See Item 105 of Regulation S-K, Item 3.D of Form 20-F, and Item 3 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [15]     See Item 202 of Regulation S-K, Item 12 of Form 20-F, and Item 14 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [16]     See footnote 10 above and accompanying text.

    [17]     See Item 401 of Regulation S-K, Items 1 and 6 of Form 20-F, and Item 10 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [18]     See Rule 405 under the Securities Act and Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act. As noted above, disclosure is not required where a particular disclosure requirement is not applicable, or the issuer otherwise does not have responsive information. For example, certain trusts do not have a board of directors or persons performing similar functions and, therefore, do not provide disclosure regarding members of a board of directors.

    [19]     See Item 402 of Regulation S-K, Item 6 of Form 20-F, and Item 11 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [20]     See Item 404 of Regulation S-K, Item 7 of Form 20-F, and Item 13 of Part II of Form 1-A.

    [21]     See Item 11 of Form S-1, Items 8, 17, and 18 of Form 20-F, and Part F/S of Form 1-A.

    [22]     See footnote 26 below and accompanying text.

    [24]     See Item 601 of Regulation S-K, Item 19 of Form 20-F, and Part III of Form 1-A.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mode launches AI-native perpetuals DEX powered by Orderly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mode, an AI-focused Ethereum Layer 2 focused on user growth and composability, has launched Mode Trade, its native perpetuals DEX, powered by Orderly’s unified trading infrastructure.

    This marks the first time a Layer 2 chain has vertically integrated and launched a perpetuals exchange directly on its platform, combining Mode’s seamless user experience with Orderly’s deep liquidity and backend systems.

    “Layer 2 chains are increasingly taking a more active role in building their products, and Mode is a strong example of that shift,” said Arjun Aurora, Chief Operating Officer of Orderly Network.

    “By building Mode Trade on top of Orderly’s infrastructure, they were able to launch quickly while leveraging deep, cross-chain liquidity from day one. It’s a smart strategy for emerging chains to drive adoption, demonstrate value, and set a clear direction for their ecosystem,” Aurora further explained.

    “In today’s highly volatile market, retail traders often lack access to the predictive analytics and advanced tools that institutional traders rely on. Mode Trade closes this gap by integrating predictive AI directly on the platform, giving everyday traders the ability to stay competitive.

    We built Mode Trade to help retail traders navigate market uncertainty with smarter insights and accessible education, allowing them to make informed decisions through simple, text-based commands,” said Nikita Monastyrskiy, Growth Lead at Mode.

    Mode Trade combines the AI Terminal for executing trades and managing positions with simple text commands, and Synth, a decentralized forecasting layer built on Bittensor that provides predictive market insights. This AI-powered integration enables users to make smarter decisions and gain a competitive edge in volatile markets.

    Mode Trade offers access to over 100 trading pairs with up to 50x leverage, supported by deep liquidity and a synthetic proactive market-making engine (sPMM) from Orderly.

    Mode Trade is live now for early users, with exclusive AI features available to Giga stakers holding 400,000 veMODE or more. A limited trader whitelist will roll out in the coming weeks.

    About Mode

    Mode is an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) building at the intersection of AI and decentralized finance (DeFi). Built using Optimism’s OP Stack, Mode aims to scale DeFi to billions of users through onchain agents and AI-powered financial applications. For more information, visit: mode.network.

    About Orderly

    Orderly is the infrastructure that lets people trade anything, anywhere via a permissionless liquidity layer that delivers deep, unified liquidity across all blockchains through a single orderbook. Orderly ensures robust liquidity across major chains such as Solana, Sonic, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle, Ethereum Mainnet, OP, and Polygon, and grants traders and exchanges access to over 100 markets through their unified trading infrastructure.

    Learn more: https://orderly.network/

    Anabela Rea
    PR Manager
    anabela@orderly.network 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SPS Commerce Announces Date of First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPSC), a leader in retail supply chain cloud services, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, after the market close on Thursday, April 24, 2025. SPS Commerce will host a call to discuss the results at 3:30 p.m. Central Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) on the same day.

    To access the call, please dial 1-833-816-1382, or outside the U.S. 1-412-317-0475 at least 15 minutes prior to the 3:30 p.m. CT start time. Please ask to join the SPS Commerce conference call. A live webcast of the call will also be available at http://investors.spscommerce.com under the Events and Presentations menu. The replay will also be available on our website at http://investors.spscommerce.com.

    About SPS Commerce

    SPS Commerce is the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners. We support data-driven partnerships with innovative cloud technology, customer-obsessed service, and accessible experts so our customers can focus on what they do best. Over 45,000 recurring revenue customers in retail, grocery, distribution, supply, manufacturing, and logistics are using SPS as their retail network. SPS has achieved 96 consecutive quarters of revenue growth and is headquartered in Minneapolis. For additional information, contact SPS at 866-245-8100 or visit www.spscommerce.com.

    SPS COMMERCE, SPS, SPS logo and INFINITE RETAIL POWER are marks of SPS Commerce, Inc. and registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, along with other SPS marks. Such marks may also be registered or otherwise protected in other countries.

    SPS-F

    Contact:
    Investor Relations
    The Blueshirt Group
    Irmina Blaszczyk
    Lisa Laukkanen
    SPSC@blueshirtgroup.com
    415-217-4962

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Alerts Californians to Job Recruitment Scams

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, April 10, 2025

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

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert asking Californians to be aware of job recruitment scams. Job recruitment scams occur when bad actors trick job seekers into providing money or personal information by posing as employers, recruiters, or job placement agencies. These scams often promise high-paying jobs with urgent hiring, little qualifications, or the opportunity to work from home — and can sometimes be a front to recruit job seekers to assist with criminal activity. Scams can occur through various forms of communication including text messages, phone calls, and postings on online job sites. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), job and fake employment agency scams are one of the top forms of fraud. Losses from these scams have nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with consumers losing $501 million in 2024. 

    “As job recruiting scams become more popular, I urge Californians to exercise caution and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Remember if a stranger offers you a job you didn’t apply for, it’s most likely a scam.”

    Learn the Warning Signs

    There are many potential signs of a job scam. Be wary if the job posting or email exhibits any of these signs:

    • Asks for money.
    • Asks for you to make purchases on their behalf — such as gift cards.
    • Asks you to share your credit card number or bank details.
    • Asks you to receive or send money or packages for people you don’t know or haven’t met in person.
    • Promises easy money – especially if it involves sending or receiving money or packages.
    • Asks you to open a bank account or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction.
    • Claims to offer a “secret” list of government jobs or a chance to get on an inside track for government employment for a fee. Government job listings are always free —find them at jobs.ca.gov, usajobs.gov, or about.usps.com/careers.
    • Lists a company without an established physical office. 
    • Gives a short timeline or puts pressure on you to urgently respond.  

    Spot the Scam: What are Money Mules?

    Job recruitment scams can also be used to recruit unsuspecting job-seekers, sometimes called money mules, to assist with criminal activity. If someone you don’t know sends you money and asks you to forward or transfer the money, you could be fueling fraud. Transferring money on behalf of others not only furthers criminal activity, but it could also lead to consequences for consumers, like losing money or serving jail time. 

    Protect Yourself from Job Scams

    If you receive a possible scam message: 

    • DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK. If you think a text or message could be legitimate, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is real — not the information in the text.
    • Do some research. Search online for the name of the company and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” If you can’t find the company online, steer clear.
    • File a complaint. File a complaint with the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and our office. Be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated, and the website listed within the text.
    • Delete any scam texts or messages received. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty for Illegally Importing and Selling Sperm Whale Teeth and Bones

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. —Lauren H. Deloach, 69, of Saint Helena Island, has pleaded guilty to Lacey Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) charges for importing and selling sperm whale teeth and bones.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, DeLoach admitted to, from September 2021 through September 2024, importing sperm whale parts to South Carolina, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine. Records showed that DeLoach instructed suppliers to label the items as “plastic” so they would not be seized by U.S. customs authorities. From July 2022 through September 2024, DeLoach acknowledged selling the teeth and bones in violation of the Lacey Act. He sold at least 85 items on eBay worth over $18,000, and agents seized approximately $20,000 worth of sperm whale parts from DeLoach’s residence during a search warrant.

    The MMPA prohibits importing any marine mammal, which includes whales, except for limited public display, scientific research, or enhancement of a species survival. The Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife protection law and makes it unlawful to sell any wildlife that was illegally imported.

    The sperm whale is the largest species of toothed whale, reaching up to 78 feet and 45 tons. Individuals prize their teeth and bones as decorations or as a scrimshaw or painting medium. Sperm whale have been listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered since 1970 and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and the countries from which imported DeLoach are signatories to CITES, an international agreement to protect fish, wildlife, and plants that are or may become threatened with extinction.

    “Illegal wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar global business that endangers protected animals and fuels organized crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to enforce the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act so vulnerable species like the sperm whale are not killed and sold for parts.”

    “Whales are among the world’s most iconic species, and they’re also among the most vulnerable to illegal harvest driven by commercialization. The illicit trade in sperm whale teeth and ear bones contributes to the monetization of at-risk marine mammal populations that America protects through federal laws and international treaties,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Doug Ault. “As part of ‘Operation Raw Deal’ — a nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade in whale parts — this investigation demonstrates our commitment to bringing justice to those who exploit protected wildlife for profit.”

    DeLoach faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the felony Lacey Act charge and a maximum sentence of one year in prison for the misdemeanor MMPA violation. United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted the guilty plea and will sentence DeLoach after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case with Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Jimmy Gomez Grills Trump Trade Chief Over $4,600 “Tariff Tax” on Families as Trump Caves on $6 Trillion Trade Agenda

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    Gomez: “You imposed tariffs on an island inhabited by penguins. Consumer confidence is plummeting—and you’re saying, ‘Trust us?’”

    **VIDEO AVAILABLE**

    Watch his full remarks HERE.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Trump Administration’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) delivered a powerful rebuke of the Trump administration’s reckless tariff policy, calling out its devastating impact on working families and exposing the out-of-touch economic priorities driving it. In a pointed exchange with Trump’s top trade official, Gomez demanded answers, accountability, and clarity for everyday Americans feeling the squeeze.

    During his five-minutes of questioning, Rep. Gomez:

    • Confronted Greer on the skyrocketing costs of Trump’s tariffs and their impact on food, clothes, cars, and basic household goods
    • Blasted the administration’s misleading claims of “short-term pain,” equating it to economic gaslighting
    • Exposed Greer’s multiple overlapping roles — including USTR, acting ethics chief, and whistleblower overseer — and questioned who’s really running the trade agenda
    • Mocked the administration’s incompetence, citing reports of tariffs on an island inhabited only by penguins

    KEY MOMENTS FROM THE HEARING:

    On tariffs as a hidden tax on working people: “Do you agree that tariffs are a tax—yes or no? …Economists say that 98 to 99% of that tax is passed on to the American consumer in higher prices… and it’s going to fall disproportionately, especially on working Americans.”

    On the real cost of Trump’s trade war: “Yesterday, it was said there’d be a $3,800-a-year increase for working families. Today it’s $4,600. What’s the increase going to be tomorrow—$5,200?”

    On the disconnect between Trump’s advisors and American families: “My constituents don’t make $1.5 million a year like you did at King & Spalding. We check our budgets every month to decide what we have to cut back on. That’s the reality for working families.”

    On hypocrisy at the top: “You also have a Cabinet of billionaires. Lucknick, Bescent, Elon Musk—I mean Donald Trump himself. For them, $4,600 doesn’t mean anything. But for the average worker, it does.”

    On lack of credibility and leadership in the trade agenda: “You’re the USTR, the acting ethics chief, the chief whistleblower, and the lead trade negotiator—so who’s actually running the show? Even Donald Trump said it was the Commerce Secretary.”

    On the administration’s failure to level with the American people: “You’re saying, ‘Trust us, trust us—there’ll be short-term pain.’ But we see a plan that doesn’t make sense, a flawed formula, the stock market crashing, and red lights blinking on a recession.”

    On calling out absurdity and demanding accountability: “You imposed tariffs on an island inhabited by penguins. Consumer confidence is plummeting—and you’re saying, ‘Trust us’? That doesn’t pass the smell test.”

    Rep. Gomez concluded: “We’ve worked on other issues before, and I hope we can work on others moving forward—but you need to be straight about who’s running the show, because this is going to fall and hurt the American worker.”

    You can read the full transcript HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Lawmakers Call for Transparency on Member Stock Trading During Trump’s Economic Chaos, Demand Ban be Considered by House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    April 10, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Democratic Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and David Min (CA-47) penned a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson requesting that he call on every member of the House of Representatives to immediately file and release their Periodic Trading Reports (PTR) for any transactions conducted between April 2, 2025 and April 9, 2025 – the window in which President Donald Trump and his administration plunged the United States into a reckless trade war, issuing on-again, off-again tariffs on nearly 90 countries, and immediately schedule for a vote legislation to ban stock trading by representatives. 

    The lawmakers’ correspondence called to attention that Members closest to the President, including many of whom met or were in his presence throughout the course of the whiplash on Wall Street, were in position to profit from the unstable changes in policy. 

    “It would be unconscionable for any Member of Congress to use their personal position to benefit financially, especially in a time where Americans across the country are experiencing financial chaos,” wrote Reps. Levin, Neguse, Magaziner, Horsford, Ocasio-Cortez, and Min. “Therefore, we respectfully request that you join us in requesting that Members of Congress immediately release their PTRs, rather than the customary 45-day deadline. The American people deserve to know if any representatives took advantage of their positions for personal gain.” 

    The lawmakers’ request is the latest in a series of commonsense efforts to ensure Members of Congress are effectively representing the interests of the American people, not their own stock portfolios. Neguse and his fellow co-signers have also championed a number of legislative and oversight measures that would require both representatives and their families to place investments, like individual stocks, in a blind trust during their tenure in Congress – effectively banning Members of Congress from trading individual stocks. 

    The full text of the letter is available HERE and below: 

    Dear Speaker Johnson, 

    We write to urge that you join us in requesting every Member of the House of Representatives immediately file and release their Periodic Trading Reports (PTR) for any transactions conducted between April 2, 2025, and April 9, 2025. The public has the right to know whether anyone in the Congress profited from the considerable market instability and economic chaos caused by President Trump and his administration over the past week. 

    As you are well aware, President Trump’s widespread imposition of tariffs across the world sent the market into a tailspin and placed the country’s economic stability at risk. In response to the outcry from Americans and our allies, President Trump paused some of these tariffs, opening a ripe opportunity for Members — particularly those close to the President — to personally profit from the change in policy. Over the past week, House Republicans met with President Trump at the White House, attended the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner (mere hours before pausing the tariffs), and were in regular communication with the President ahead of the vote on the budget reconciliation resolution. 

    It would be unconscionable for any Member of Congress to use their personal position to benefit financially, especially in a time where Americans across the country are experiencing financial chaos. Therefore, we urge you to join us in requesting that Members of Congress immediately release their PTRs, rather than the customary 45-day deadline. The American people deserve to know if any representatives took advantage of their positions for personal gain. Further, it is with that in mind that we reiterate our request for immediate consideration of legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks.

    We look forward to your prompt attention and action on this matter. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Plastics Dialogue midpoint review charts path towards MC14

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Guatemala expressed appreciation for the Dialogue’s progress on the workplan and signalled its readiness to contribute its domestic perspectives.

    Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Omar Zniber, from Morocco. Stressing trade’s role as a force for good in combating pollution, he emphasized the significant progress made since last summer and reiterated the goal of achieving “concrete, pragmatic, and effective outcomes” as mandated by ministers at MC13. He said that the stocktaking meeting provided an opportunity to consolidate members’ views and chart the course ahead in the remaining time before MC14.

    Morocco highlighted the success of the regional workshop for Africa held on 8 April, which brought together representatives from African member governments, businesses and international organizations. The workshop aimed to facilitate DPP discussions ahead of MC14 in Cameroon by addressing Africa-specific challenges and solutions.

    The workshop revealed that, despite accounting for just 4 per cent of global plastics production, Africa suffers disproportionately from the environmental, social and economic impacts of plastic pollution. Key challenges identified included high costs for plastics alternatives, limited access to technologies, and competition from low-cost plastics. Opportunities included reducing tariffs on eco-friendly products, promoting local innovation, and improving technology transfer for waste management and alternatives.

    Participants at the workshop also underscored the importance of regional and multilateral cooperation, with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) highlighted as a platform for regulatory alignment. Calls were made for harmonized standards, capacity building and tailored technical assistance — especially for least developed countries (LDCs).

    Morocco and Australia provided a recap of discussions on the eight focus areas, on behalf of the coordinators, which also include Barbados, China, Ecuador and Fiji. With regard to engagement in the UN-led negotiation process (Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, or INC ) to develop a global plastics treaty, members acknowledged its expected impact on the DPP’s future work and highlighted the Dialogue’s potential role in supporting implementation.

    On transparency of plastics trade flows, strong support was expressed for leveraging existing tools such as those provided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In the area of technical assistance and capacity building, members welcomed continued experience-sharing, with some proposing a more structured matchmaking mechanism. On the transparency of trade-related plastics measures (TrPMs), delegates expressed support for enhancing existing data tools, such as the WTO’s Environmental Database (wto.org/EDB).

    On best practices for TrPMs, members demonstrated some support for compiling guidance aligned with WTO rules and adaptable to local contexts. Regarding harmonization and interoperability, many backed regional cooperation on single-use plastics, while emphasizing the need to tailor approaches to domestic waste management capacities.

    Discussions on access to technologies and services underscored the role of trade in enabling technology diffusion for sound waste management. On non-plastic substitutes, members suggested identifying gaps in international standards and conducting practical mapping exercises to facilitate sustainable alternatives.

    Participants then engaged in an open discussion guided by questions related to the three overarching workstreams — cross-cutting issues, plastics reduction, and sustainable plastics trade — which encompass the eight focus areas. These discussions aimed to generate suggestions on the future direction of work and next steps.

    Many co-sponsors emphasized the importance of aligning DPP activities with the anticipated outcomes of the ongoing INC negotiations. While data tools provided by the UNITAR and UNEP were appreciated, some participants proposed referencing additional data sources. Various proposals were made on the way forward, including continued thematic discussions and the organization of a dedicated matchmaking event to support enhanced technology transfer.

    Delegates also explored work on standards at both regional and global levels. There was strong interest in addressing both upstream and downstream aspects of plastics production, as well as services within the environmental trade sector. The importance of technology transfer and capacity building — particularly for developing members — was widely reaffirmed.

    Co-sponsors welcomed the Africa-themed workshop as a valuable platform for focused dialogue on regional perspectives. They expressed support for organizing more regional workshops to further deepen cooperation and shared understanding. Participants also highlighted the need to maintain balance across the three DPP workstreams. Some called for sufficient time to assess progress before determining possible outcomes for MC14. Stakeholders from other organizations also contributed suggestions during the session.

    In conclusion, Australia and Ecuador noted that they would reflect on members’ input when developing the agenda for the next three meetings, scheduled for 19 May, 22 July and 30 September. These meetings will be critical to laying the groundwork for the November meeting, where members could shape a clearer vision for outcomes at MC14. Additional regional workshops will also be organized alongside these upcoming meetings.

    Launched in November 2020 by a group of WTO members, the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution currently consists of 83 co-sponsors, representing almost 90 per cent of global trade in plastics.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Marking 30th anniversary, the WTO reflects on historic achievements and future challenges

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization was signed by 123 countries on 15 April 1994, leading to the birth of the WTO on 1 January 1995. Over the past 30 years, the WTO has helped to bring about a major expansion in global trade, with the objective of raising living standards, increasing employment and promoting sustainable development.

    General Council Chair, Ambassador Saqer Al Moqbel of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, opened the event highlighting the WTO’s role over the last three decades in raising living standards through trade, fostering cooperation, and maintaining a rules-based trading system. He underlined the importance of the multilateral trading system as a platform for co-operation and the place where members can build a better world through trade. “Let us not lose sight of that, particularly in the light of recent developments in global trade and the overall economic situation,” he said.

    Director-General Okonjo-Iweala stressed the importance of marking this anniversary, particularly in the light of recent tariff-related developments and the speed at which events are unfolding, adding uncertainty and instability to world trade and the world economy.

    “The uncertainty around global trade has reminded many members why they value the WTO as a bedrock of predictability in the global economy — and as a platform for dialogue and cooperation on trade,” DG Okonjo-Iweala said. She also noted that the understandable and legitimate concerns about the WTO and the multilateral trading system expressed by several members in recent times should be seen as an opportunity to “change the system for the better.”

    She noted that “a far-reaching reform agenda” for the organization should be seen as an important opportunity to improve what does not work and position the WTO for the future. She also pointed out the suggestions brought forward by many members for forward-looking corrective action and reforms to monitoring and transparency, negotiations, and dispute settlement.

    “We need to formulate the right questions to be answered to reform us, and put in place a member-owned process to drive it.” That work should start in Geneva and culminate with a ministerial debate and endorsement of a way forward at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) to be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 26-29 March 2026.

    Highlighting the “incalculable value for money” of an organization with an annual budget of CHF 205 million that ensures that trillions of dollars’ worth of global trade are based on rules and trust, DG Okonjo-Iweala recalled that the WTO is much more than tariffs and emphasized that the organization is functioning and providing many of the benefits it was set up to provide.

    “I remain convinced — I am the ever optimistic — that a bright future awaits global trade and the WTO if we do the right thing. Let us do the right thing and bring this organization to where it should be,” she added. Her full statement is here.

    The keynote address of the event was delivered by the former Prime Minister of Portugal and President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso, who highlighted the WTO’s role in lifting 1.5 billion people out of extreme poverty since 1995. Mr Barroso emphasized the need for the WTO in a complex global economy, noting its historic successes like lowering tariffs and increasing global trade to over U$ 30 trillion in 2023.

    Advocating for cooperation, dialogue and pragmatism, Mr Barroso stressed the importance of open trade for global prosperity and peace, as exemplified by multilateral organizations and regional integration processes like the European Union in the post-World War II era.

    The former EC President noted that the WTO “is going through what my kids would call a quarter life crisis — it has had big successes, but faces big existential challenges, and also needs to change to meet the demands of a changing world.” At the same time, he stressed the WTO is probably even more necessary today than it was when it was established in 1995.

    He recalled that 30 years ago, the United States, Europe and Japan dominated the global economy and that today global economic power is much more widely distributed. “The world is much more complex today than it was at that time. Sidelining the WTO or allowing it to slide into irrelevance through inaction or deadlock would be a costly error, one that history will not look upon kindly,” he added.

    The keynote address was followed by a plenary session on “Looking back” that brought together former Directors-General and former General Council Chairs to reflect on the work of the last 30 years and how the WTO has contributed to lifting over a billion people out of extreme poverty. The panel featured former Directors-General Supachai Panitchpakdi (2002-2005) and Roberto Azevêdo (2103-2020) as well as former General Council Chairs Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme of Botswana and Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand.

    A second session on “Looking forward” provided the opportunity for trade ministers, business and civil society leaders from around the world to reflect on the key emerging areas that will shape the WTO’s work over the next 30 years. Speakers included the Minister of Trade of Cameroon Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the former Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada Mary Ng, the former Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider, the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization Mario Mujica, and the Executive Director of the South Centre Carlos Correa.

    To close the event, the group of “Friends of the System” issued a statement in support of the rules-based multilateral trading system on the occasion of the 30th anniversary. The communication, supported by 39 members, recognizes the value and achievements of the WTO since 1995. It also reaffirms the central and indispensable role of the organization at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory and open global trading system.

    As the WTO charts a path forward, the group called for a recommitment to pursuing reforms so that the organization will continue to respond to the needs of its diverse membership, reinforce its relevance by responding to the challenges it faces and facilitate free and fair trade. It also emphasized the need to uphold the principles of inclusivity and cooperation, including by enhancing trade capacities.

    The event was closed with a statement from State Councillor Anne Hiltpold on behalf of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

    This portal highlights some of the WTO’s achievements over the last three decades and the events planned to mark its 30th anniversary.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Dialogue with Mauritius, Experts of the Committee against Torture Praise the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment, Ask about the Minimum Penalty for Torture and Prison Conditions

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Mauritius, with Committee Experts praising the prohibition of corporal punishment through the children’s act of 2020, and raising questions about the minimum penalty for torture offences, prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners.

    Naoko Maeda, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the children’s act of 2020, which prohibited corporal punishment in all settings and established a special court for children.  Would the State party establish a time limit for pre-trial detention of children that was in accordance with the Beijing Rules?  How many children were in pre-trial detention?

    Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the section of the Criminal Code on police brutality had been amended to increase the upper threshold of fines and prison sentences for the offence.  However, it did not set lower thresholds for these punishments. Would this section apply to acts of torture and were the punishments sufficient?

    Ms. Maeda expressed concern regarding reports of inadequate food and material conditions in prisons, insufficient access to medical and rehabilitation services and family visits, and the number of detainees who died in police custody. How were these issues being addressed?

    She further noted with concern that the provisional charges system was still in place, under which persons could be detained on suspicion of commission of a serious offence. How did the State party ensure detainees’ rights from the moment of detention, including the right to be presented before a judge?

    Introducing the report, Gavin Patrick Cyril Glover, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said the children’s act of 2020 prohibited the infliction of corporal or humiliating punishment on a child as a discipline measure.  The act also set the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years and stressed that the detention of a juvenile suspected of having committed a criminal offence was imposed only as a measure of last resort.

    On the minimum penalty for torture, the delegation said prosecutors typically called for the highest penalty in cases of torture, but judges had the ability to issue lesser penalties.  The State party would address the lack of minimum penalties for torture crimes in its legislation.

    Mr. Glover said Mauritius’ Constitution, the reform institutions act, and prison regulations provided for the safe and humane treatment of prisoners.  The National Preventive Mechanism Division examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, and police and prison officers received training on international and regional human rights standards prohibiting torture.

    The delegation added that there had been some worrying reports of abuse of authority by police officers.  The Independent Police Complaints Commission had taken on the burden of investigating these cases and determining accountability.  The delegation cited four cases of deaths in custody for which judicial inquiries had been launched.

    The police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be adopted, the delegation said, but it would likely be adopted within a year. It set a time limit for the detention of persons awaiting trial, and stated that arrests could not be carried out without sufficient evidence.

    In closing remarks, Claude Heller, Committee Chair, said the Committee was encouraged by the dialogue and expressed hope that the rule of law was being strengthened in the State.  The Committee hoped that its recommendations would have a positive impact on the human rights situation in Mauritius.

    In his concluding remarks, Mr. Glover said that the Committee’s review would help to ensure that deficiencies in Mauritius’ legal and policy framework would be addressed.  The State party would ensure that the winds of change that started to blow with the election of the new Government in November 2024 would continue.

    The delegation of Mauritius consisted of representatives from the Attorney-General’s Office; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade; and the Permanent Mission of Mauritius to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of Mauritius at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 May.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session’s webpage.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next convene in public on Monday, 14 April at 11 a.m. to hear the presentation of the annual report of the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth periodic report of Mauritius (CAT/C/MUS/5).

    Presentation of Report

    GAVIN PATRICK CYRIL GLOVER, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said Mauritius had always strived to uphold its obligations under international law.  This could be seen through the ratification of seven core United Nations human rights treaties and five Optional Protocols to these treaties, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.  The provisions of these instruments had been incorporated in the domestic legislative framework through various legislation.  The provisions of the Rome Statute had also been domesticated, thus providing national courts with universal jurisdiction over war crimes, including torture.

    Last December, the Government translated the Convention into the widely spoken dialect of Kreol Morisien and published this translation online to raise awareness about its content.  Police and prison officers were directed to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Convention.  In addition, in order to promote the universal accession of the Convention, Mauritius had joined the Convention against Torture Initiative.

    Last year’s general elections in Mauritius demonstrated the vibrancy of the State’s democracy, with a very high turnout of almost 80 per cent of voters.  The new Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, had embarked on a mission to strengthen democratic principles and access to justice.  The new Government would set up a Constitutional Review Commission to make recommendations for constitutional reforms that enhanced the protection of fundamental rights.

    On 4 April 2025, the Cabinet agreed to the introduction of the Constitution (amendment) bill and the Criminal Code (amendment) bill into the National Assembly. The first bill aimed to repeal section 7 (2) of the Constitution to ensure the absolute prohibition of torture in all circumstances, and the second bill would bring the Criminal Code provisions on homicide, wounds and blows under lawful authority in line with the absolute ban on torture.  The Cabinet had also approved an amendment to the Criminal Code that removed provisions excusing manslaughter committed on spouses found committing the act of adultery. These revisions were in line with Committee recommendations.

    The police and criminal evidence bill would soon be adopted. This would become one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the criminal justice system, impacting the work of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.  Additionally, the Government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy and a victim-oriented approach to domestic abuse and human trafficking. Consultations were ongoing for the introduction of a new domestic abuse bill, which would define marital rape as a specific criminal offence with appropriate penalties.

    The children’s act of 2020 promoted the best interests of the child and prohibited the infliction of corporal or humiliating punishment on a child as a discipline measure. The offence carried, as penalty, a fine not exceeding 200,000 rupees and a prison term not exceeding five years. The act also set the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years and stressed that the detention of a juvenile suspected of having committed a criminal offence was imposed only as a measure of last resort.  A Children’s Court had been set up and was operational.  The 2020 child sex offender register act aimed to reduce and prevent the risk of sexual offences against children, as recommended by the Committee.

    Mauritius had developed a National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons 2022-2026, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.  Following amendments in 2023, the combatting of trafficking in persons act provided for a victim-centred approach, allowing for more rigorous identification and prosecution of cases of trafficking in persons. It established an effective institutional framework and provided additional legal powers to the police to protect victims.

    The Constitution of Mauritius, the reform institutions act, the prison regulations, and the prison standing orders provided for the safe and humane treatment of prisoners in Mauritius.  The Mauritius Prison Service adhered to the Nelson Mandela Rules.  The National Preventive Mechanism Division examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty with a view to ensuring their protection against torture and made recommendations regarding the improvement of prison conditions.  Officers from police and prison departments regularly received training courses on international and regional human rights standards prohibiting torture, and national and international codes of conduct for law enforcement.

    Mauritius was committed to upholding its obligations towards human rights treaty bodies, including the Convention, as demonstrated by its serious endeavours to comply with the Committee’s recommendations.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    BAKHTIYAR TUZMUKHAMEDOV, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the State’s Constitution upheld the right to be free from “torture or inhuman or degrading punishment or other such treatment” but did not mention “cruel” treatment.  Why was this?  The Committee hoped that the planned amendments to the Constitution were successful. Was the right to be free from torture non-derogable and absolute, including in states of emergency?  Did the Convention take precedence over domestic legislation?  Were the provisions of the Convention that referenced “cruel treatment” deemed to be contrary to the Constitution?

    The definition of torture in the Criminal Code made exceptions for offences committed by public officials carrying out punishments determined by law.  Why was this?  Did the State’s legislation address the offence of planning to commit torture? Could the Convention be invoked in domestic courts?  Why was the Supreme Court reluctant to cite applicable provisions of the African Charter?

    The section of the Criminal Code on police brutality had been amended to increase the upper threshold of fines and prison sentences for the offence.  However, it did not set lower thresholds for these punishments.  Would this section apply to acts of torture and were the punishments sufficient?  The penalty for acts of corporal torture in the Code was far higher.  Why was this?  If police officers committed acts of torture, under what provision were they investigated?

    Who appointed judges in Mauritius, how were they selected and how independent and impartial was the process? Were judges required to continue their education throughout their careers?  How ethnically diverse was the judiciary and law enforcement?  How were elements of traditional justice harmonised with the ordinary legal system?

    The displacement of the inhabitants of the Chagos islands amounted to inhuman treatment by a foreign State. What measures were in place to support them?  What were their chances of obtaining full redress and compensation, including relocation to their native islands?

    What measures had the State party taken under the Prevention of Terrorism Act?  How did the Government ensure that these measures complied with its obligations under international law, including the Convention?  Would the State party consider acceding to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees?  Mauritius was not a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, or to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.  Did Mauritius intend to complete accession to those instruments?

    Did the Constitution allow for the potential reinstatement of capital punishment?  What percentage of police and prison officers completed training programmes on preventing torture?  Did this training address the revised Istanbul Protocol of 2022?

    NAOKO MAEDA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the National Human Rights Commission of Mauritius had “A” status under the Paris Principles.  How was the State party promoting the participation of civil society in the Commission and ensuring that the appointment process for members was transparent?  What resources were provided to the Commission over the reporting period?

    The Committee was concerned that the police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be introduced in the National Assembly and the provisional charges system was still in place, under which persons could be detained on suspicion of commission of a serious offence.  How did the State party ensure detainees’ rights from the moment of detention, including the right to be presented before a judge and the right to access a lawyer and free legal aid where applicable?

    The Committee commended increases in the numbers of judges and magistrates and measures to reduce lengths of trials and pre-trial detention.  However, there was still a high rate of lengthy pre-trial detention. What measures were in place to reduce the length and use of pre-trial detention, and to introduce alternatives to detention, in accordance with the Tokyo Rules?

    The Committee commended the creation of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which investigated complaints against the actions of police officers.  However, the three members of this body continued to be appointed by the President.  What measures were in place to ensure the independence of this Commission?  How did the State party ensure that the Commission’s investigations were conducted in a timely manner?  There was a low rate of investigated and prosecuted cases as of 2021. How many investigations had resulting in findings of torture by the police?  How did the State party ensure that complainants did not face reprisals?

    The Committee welcomed training for police officers on topics such as the inadmissibility of evidence obtained under duress.  How many officials had been prosecuted for extracting evidence under duress, and in how many cases had courts rejected such evidence?

    The Committee was concerned by reports of inadequate food and material conditions in prisons, as well as insufficient access to medical and rehabilitation services and family visits. How were these issues being addressed? The Committee was concerned by the number of detainees who died in police custody.  What measures were in place to investigate and prevent such deaths? The National Human Rights Commission had also raised concerns about remand detainees being held with convicted detainees, contrary to the Mandela Rules.  What measures were in place to address this?  There were 140 women in prison in Mauritius, the majority of whom were foreigners.  What were foreign detainees charged with?  How did the State party ensure that prison conditions for women detainees were appropriate?

    The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment’s report on its last visit to Mauritius had not been made public by the State party. The Committee called on the State party to do so, and to present measures taken to address the report’s recommendations.

    The Committee commended the children’s act of 2020, which prohibited corporal punishment in all settings and established a special court for children.  However, the Committee was concerned about the lack of progress in establishing the juvenile justice system prescribed by the Act.  Would the State party establish a time limit for pre-trial detention of children that was in accordance with the Beijing Rules? How many children were in pre-trial detention?  Could children be tried in the absence of their legal guardian?

    There were no legal provisions banning marital rape.  What steps had been taken to develop such provisions?  There had reportedly been an increase in sexual and gender-based violence in the State and under-reporting of such cases by victims due to fear of stigmatisation.  Had the State party taken actions to improve the mechanism for reporting violence against women?  What support services were available for victims?  The Criminal Code criminalised all acts related to the provision of abortions, even in cases of sexual violence.  Would the State party reconsider its blanket ban?

    What policy reforms were being made to protect asylum seekers from non-refoulement and create a more supportive environment for asylum seekers?  The State party did not have an established procedure for dealing with statelessness.  Did it plan to accede to international conventions on statelessness?

    Another Committee Expert asked how asylum seekers were treated while waiting for processing of their asylum applications.  Were they detained and did they have access to healthcare and education services?

    One Committee Expert noted the steps taken to amend the Constitution and the Criminal Code, including to set the age of minimum criminal responsibility to 14 years.  What steps had been taken to enable victims of torture to access redress and rehabilitation programmes?  Could the delegation provide statistics on court cases concerning redress and alleged violations of rights under article 14 of the Convention?  Had measures been taken to incorporate elements of the Convention on redress into domestic legislation?

    Another Committee Expert said it was commendable that in October 2023, the Supreme Court made a historic decision to decriminalise same-sex relations between consenting adults.  However, there were still reports of hate crimes against individuals based on their perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, and a lack of investigations into such cases.  How was the State party addressing this issue?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the 2024 elections gave the Government the majority in the National Assembly needed to push through amendments to the Constitution and the Criminal Code related to torture. The State party aimed to completely overhaul its justice system to enhance access to justice.  The Constitutional Review Commission would consider revising the Constitution to address acts of cruelty.  The State party aimed to bring the Constitution and its legislative framework in line with the international treaties to which Mauritius was a party.

    Criminal Code provisions on “conspiracy offences” specified that there was a possibility to prosecute for “wrongful” acts that did not breach specific laws.  Planning to commit serious offences such as torture could be prosecuted under this provision.  Prosecutors typically called for the highest penalty in cases of torture, but judges had the ability to issue lesser penalties.  The State party would address the lack of minimum penalties for torture crimes in its legislation.

    There was a case concerning a death in detention that was before the Supreme Court, and three other cases on deaths in custody before other courts.  There had been some worrying cases of abuse of authority by police officers. The Independent Police Complaints Commission had taken on the burden of investigating these cases and determining accountability.  The Public Prosecutor had opened a judicial inquiry to find out the facts in one case, responding to the recommendations of the Commission.

    Judges of the Supreme Court were appointed from State Law Offices based on seniority.  Judges typically had at least 20 years of experience at the time of their appointment.  This system did not involve the executive; the chief judges of the Supreme Court were responsible for appointments.  There were no ethnicity considerations in appointments.  Continuous training on human rights was provided to members of the judiciary.  The State party was considering opening a magistracy school, but this had not been achieved yet.

    The death penalty was abolished in the Criminal Code in 1995, but a motion to amend the reference to the death penalty in the Constitution was rejected by the Parliament at that time. This was why the State party had not ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  All death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment after the abolition.  The Constitutional Review Committee would consider amending the Constitution to remove the reference to the death penalty.

    The police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be adopted, but it would likely be adopted within a year. Its name would be changed to the police and criminal justice bill.  The bill would regulate police officers’ powers to investigate, arrest and detain suspects, set a time limit for the detention of persons awaiting trial, and guarantee the human rights of detainees.  The bill stated that arrests could not be carried out without sufficient evidence and had provisions to govern the admissibility of confessions. The limit for pre-trial detention was set by the bill at 48 hours but could be extended to a maximum of 72 hours for serious offences.

    Domestic courts had not cited recent international court cases related to the Chagos islands.  Mauritius’ position was that the United Kingdom owed redress and compensation to native Chagossians and their descendants.  The Government of Mauritius had developed measures to promote the integration of the Chagossian community into Mauritius, including scholarships, housing services, food distribution, and recreational activities.  Negotiations related to sovereignty of the islands and resettlement were ongoing with the United Kingdom, but the Government believed that the relocation of Chagossians had to occur at some point in time.

    Mauritius was previously a French and English colony, and its laws on human rights were inspired by the European Convention of Human Rights.  This was why courts often referenced this Convention.  However, many courts had also referred to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    Current thresholds for legal aid were ridiculous; legal aid was currently only available to persons who earned less than 15,000 rupees a month, even though the minimum wage was 20,000 rupees a month.  The Government was reviewing legislation to promote better access to legal aid for persons with low incomes.  The Criminal Procedural Act and other legislation had also been amended to ensure that courts gave persons full credit for time spent in pre-trial detention when issuing prison sentences.

    The delegation cited four cases of deaths in custody for which judicial inquiries had been launched.  In one case, the inquiry found that blows to the victim were not made to extract a confession, while in another, nine police officers were being prosecuted for offences including bodily harm to the victim and the hiding of evidence.  In a 2022 case, a citizen was reportedly taken to a police station and tasered while completely naked.  The police officers who allegedly engaged in this act were now being prosecuted. There were several cases of victims seeking damages for alleged human rights violations by public officials that were pending before the Supreme Court.  One case had been settled out of court without an admission of guilt by the State.

    There were currently 18 refugees and 80 asylum seekers in Mauritius.  Persons who were not lawful residents of Mauritius did not have access to public education services.  However, Caritas provided private education to the children of asylum seekers.  The previous Government had decided in 2023 not to implement an asylum processing system proposed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  Mauritius had not ratified international conventions on statelessness or refugees, as doing so would have serious implications on the State’s limited resources. The Prime Minister had the authority to grant nationality to any stateless persons; currently, the State was not aware of any stateless persons on its territory.

    The Criminal Code provided for a minimum period of three years imprisonment for unlawful arrests.  The probation of offenders act was last amended 15 years ago, and there was a need to modernise it.  Probation was currently rarely used in Mauritius, but courts had alternatives to detention such as community service.

    There was legislation that allowed for lawful abortions when specialists determined that the pregnancy endangered the mother’s life, would result in malformation of the foetus, resulted from rape, or when the mother was aged 16 or under.  The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare conducted awareness raising campaigns on domestic violence.  There were around 500 cases of domestic violence reported in the past few weeks thanks to efforts to raise awareness of reporting channels.  Victims were supported by the State and non-governmental organizations to access temporary shelter, legal advice, psychosocial support, and other services.  In 2024, the Government introduced a policy on workplace sexual harassment.

    Children aged 14 and under who were in conflict with the law were not detained but could be placed in “places of safety” if necessary.  The criminal division of the Children’s Court had exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving child offenders aged 14 to 17.  If the detention of juveniles was necessary, they were detained in the youth detention centre, where juveniles under pre-trial detention were separated from those serving sentences.  While there were over 50 arrests of children in 2022, there were only 12 in 2024 and thus far four in 2025.  This demonstrated that the new laws were working.

    A digital interview recording system was operational in eight places of deprivation of liberty in Mauritius. Interviewees had the right to refuse digital recording of statements.  Thus far, courts had found evidence to be inadmissible in only a small number of cases, due to legal limitations.  The police did not work within a rigid protocol and had pushed back against the police and criminal justice bill.  The new police and criminal justice bill would address these issues.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    NAOKO MAEDA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the involuntary hospitalisation of persons with disabilities, including children, was still allowed in Mauritius.  How many cases of involuntary hospitalisation had oversight bodies reviewed and what were their outcomes?  Could the national preventive mechanism conduct unannounced visits to residential care homes and hospitals?  Had there been reports of ill-treatment in these institutions?

    Could the delegation comment on reports of increased arbitrary arrests, threats and attacks experienced by human rights defenders, a worsening environment for human rights lawyers, and intimidation and harassment of journalists?

    Despite the State party’s efforts, including through training for police officers and the 2023 amendments to the combatting in trafficking persons act, human trafficking was reportedly still prevalent, notably sex trafficking of women and children and trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation in the manufacturing and construction sectors. What measures were in place to tackle difficulties in gathering evidence of trafficking and to provide support services to all victims?

    The presence of civil society from Mauritius in the reporting process was relatively low.  How did the State party encourage civil society organizations to participate and disseminate the Convention and the Committee’s recommendations?

    BAKHTIYAR TUZMUKHAMEDOV, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that the State party was seemingly preparing to make constitutional amendments to address the issues raised in the dialogue.  Was the minimum punishment for police brutality three years imprisonment? Persons under suspicion of an offence relating to terrorism could be detained for a period of up to 36 hours, which could amount to incommunicado detention.  Was the denial of bail act still being applied? 

    The Committee welcomed that Mauritius was participating in the Convention against Torture Initiative. Was it taking measures to prevent the trade of equipment solely used for torture?

    Another Committee Expert asked if the State party had taken initiatives such as training to better control the police.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the last 10 years in Mauritius had been very difficult for its citizens.  The resounding victory of the current Government in the most recent elections was evidence that things were changing in the country.  The Government was working to strengthen training for police officers on human rights and regulation of the police force.  It would push for the adoption of the police and criminal justice bill as quickly as possible.

    The National Human Rights Commission had the power to conduct unannounced visits of residential homes. The Government would call on the Commission to exercise this power to protect the rights of the elderly.

    There were around 10 human rights lawyers in Mauritius, who had had great difficulty in accessing their clients. Some had been arrested in the exercise of their duties.  The police now knew that they needed to respect the rights of these human rights defenders.  Since November 2024, human rights lawyers had not complained about their treatment by police officers.  Planned legislation would prevent police from obstructing human rights defenders.

    The Government had a zero-tolerance policy to trafficking in persons.  Much had been done to fight trafficking, underpinned by the national action plan on trafficking, which was developed in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.  The Director of Public Prosecutions had set up a taskforce to investigate trafficking cases and support victims. There were 48,000 migrant workers in Mauritius, many of whom were working without permits.  The Government aimed to protect these workers from trafficking and ensure that employers educated workers on their rights.

    Suspects could be held under the terrorist act in incommunicado detention for up to 36 hours.  There were only two drug-related cases in which suspects had been held in incommunicado detention in the last 10 years.  The denial of bail act had been declared unconstitutional but was still on the law books; it needed to be removed.

    Mauritius did not trade in goods for capital punishment.  It imported equipment for police officers that was meant exclusively to protect police officers when they were being violently attacked.  The firearms act prohibited the manufacturing or purchase of noxious liquids.

    Concluding Remarks

    CLAUDE HELLER, Committee Chair, said that the Committee appreciated the delegation’s frank approach to the dialogue.  It was encouraged by the winds of change described by the delegation and expressed hope that the rule of law was being strengthened in the State.  The Committee would consider the difficulties faced by the State party in changing the mindsets of law enforcement officials. Based on the dialogue, it would select priority recommendations that the State party could implement within a year. It hoped that these recommendations would have a positive impact on the human rights situation in Mauritius.

    GAVIN PATRICK CYRIL GLOVER, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said the Committee’s review would help to ensure that deficiencies in the State’s legal and policy framework would be addressed.  Mauritius looked forward to the Committee’s observations.  The dialogue had been frank and positive.  The State party would work to ensure that the winds of change that started to blow with the election of the new Government in November 2024 would continue.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CAT25.003E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Melise Panetta, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    In recent months, the “Buy Canadian” movement has gained significant momentum, driven by a collective push to support domestic products and services, strengthen local businesses and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

    Escalating trade tensions and tariff disputes with the United States and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Canada have played a pivotal role in fuelling this shift toward economic nationalism.

    Though still in its early stages, the movement has already gained strong support from Canadians, with both consumers and businesses prioritizing homegrown products to strengthen the local economy.

    Early results are promising

    The “Buy Canadian” movement is already delivering promising results across the retail sector. Major retailers such as Loblaws Companies have reported a 10 per cent increase in sales of Canadian-made products. Sobey’s parent company Empire also noted a decline in sales of U.S.-sourced goods.

    Importantly, the shift isn’t limited to big retailers or headline product categories. Smaller retailers and established brands are also seeing tangible benefits.

    Ice cream producer Chapman’s, long known for its strong Canadian brand identity, has seen a 10 per cent increase in sales. E-commerce platform giant Shopify has reported a spike in sales for Canadian merchants across a long list of categories including mattresses, row boats, ribbons, armchairs and more.

    Some provinces have pulled U.S. alcohol from store shelves to prioritize selling homegrown options, putting Canadian wineries, breweries and distillers in a position to grow substantially.

    Though more data will emerge in the months ahead, early indications show that Canadians are backing the “Buy Canadian” movement not just in spirit, but with their wallets.

    Helping Canadians choose Canadian

    One of the most noticeable effects of the “Buy Canadian” campaign has been a nationwide effort to make it easier for consumers to identify Canadian-made products.

    Demand for clear labelling has surged, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to issue a notice to industry urging producers to improve transparency.

    Consumers are becoming increasingly proactive in educating themselves, with searches for “Buy Canadian” related terms skyrocketing in the past few months. Websites such as Madeinca.ca have seen a large uptick in traffic, peaking at 100,000 visits in a single day.

    Retailers have been offering more in-store and online signage highlighting Canadian products. Loblaws has introduced a “Swap & Shop” tool in its Optimum app that helps users find Canadian-made alternatives for items on their shopping list. It has seen a 75 per cent week-over-week growth.

    Home improvement retailer RONA has launched the “Well Made Here” campaign that provides staff training and partners with non-profits to educate consumers about Canadian-made alternatives.

    Celebrity endorsements have also amplified the movement. Actor and comedian Mike Myers showcased the colloquial expression “elbows up” on Saturday Night Live, while Michael Bublé used his platform at the Juno Awards to deliver the message that “Canada is not for sale.”

    #TheMoment ‘Elbows Up’ became a rally cry against Trump (CBC News).

    Pushing the movement forward

    Consumers have been turning to social media to further propel the Buy Canadian movement. Hashtags like #ShopLocalCanada and #MadeInCanada have gained significant traction, with nearly three million posts across major social media channels Facebook and Instagram.

    A newly launched web browser plug-in called Support Canadian is also gaining attention. It works by bringing Canadian products to the top of search results on retailers such as Amazon. In its first week, it attracted 500 users. Although these numbers may appear small, early analytics suggest it could keep over a million dollars inside the Canadian economy.

    Mobile apps designed to help consumers determine the origin of their purchases are gaining popularity. The BuyBeaver app, which crowd-sources product origins, reached 100,000 downloads in just five weeks.

    Meanwhile, OScanAda, which uses AI and barcode scanning to provide detailed insights into Canadian ownership and sourcing, has been downloaded 160,000 times. MapleScan, which currently is ranked second in the shopping category on the Apple App Store, uses AI to scan products and suggest Canadian alternatives.

    Brands are leveraging their Canadian roots

    In response to growing national sentiment, a number of Canadian brands are using marketing strategies to underscore their national identity for consumers.

    Kicking Horse Coffee, for example, has humorously rebranded the Americano as the “Canadiano” in a nod to Canadian pride. Black Diamond recently launched a campaign with the cheeky tagline “Made with 0% American Cheese.”

    Meanwhile, Moosehead Brewery has launched a limited-edition “Presidential Pack” containing 1,961 beers — one for each day of the U.S. presidential term.

    Other companies have modified existing campaigns to better align with the movement. Sobeys recently debuted a new “So Canadian” campaign, a new iteration of its long-running “So.be.it.” campaign.

    Healthy Planet has expanded its #Healthyplanetswap campaign to include #HealthyCanadianSwap, which focuses on providing domestically sourced options.

    Whether through packaging that clearly marks country of origin or marketing campaigns that play on national pride, Canadian brands are leveraging their national identity to resonate with consumers.

    A smart choice in uncertain times

    The early momentum behind the Buy Canadian movement is promising. While Canada was largely spared from Trump’s most recent tariffs under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy and broader global tensions make it more important than ever to build long-term economic resilience at home.

    The early days of the movement show a strong desire among Canadians to support local industries, protect jobs and reinforce national self-sufficiency. Even as higher costs and global disruptions remain real challenges, buying Canadian serves as both a practical and symbolic choice, one that reduces dependency on volatile foreign markets and strengthens the domestic economy.

    This is a pivotal moment. The foundations of the movement are in place, and its early success is encouraging. For the “Buy Canadian” effort to have lasting impact, it needs sustained commitment from consumers, businesses and policymakers alike.

    By continuing to prioritize homegrown goods and services, Canadians can help shield their economy from future shocks and chart a more independent, stable path forward.

    Melise Panetta 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. Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement – https://theconversation.com/canadian-retailers-are-seeing-a-surge-in-domestic-sales-amid-the-buy-canadian-movement-253502

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government steps up support for enterprises in coping with US tariffs (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) today (April 10) announced that in view of the reckless tariff imposition by the United States (US), including the further increase in the so-called reciprocal tariffs, the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) will introduce a new round of enhanced measures to support the export trade in Hong Kong and help enterprises in expediting expansion into new markets.
     
    The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Mr Algernon Yau, said, “The US has been repeatedly changing its policies, increasing tariffs within days and imposing the so-called reciprocal tariffs against Hong Kong notwithstanding that we have never implemented any tariffs. It is totally illogical and ungrounded, once again showing the US’s bullying act for suppressing its competitors. I call upon the business community to unite and face the challenges together with a view to jointly counteracting the unreasonable coercion of the US. Further to the Policy Address initiative on increasing the maximum indemnity percentage of the ECIC to 95 per cent, the three enhanced measures introduced by the ECIC will help accelerate Hong Kong enterprises’ expansion into new and diversified markets.”
     
    To support Hong Kong enterprises (especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs)) in coping with the current challenges, the ECIC will, with immediate effect, introduce three enhanced measures, including (1) extend the free pre-shipment cover for holders of the Small Business Policy (SBP) which is tailor-made for the SMEs until June 30, 2026; (2) offer a 50 per cent discount on pre-shipment risks to cover premiums for non-SBP holders; and (3) reduce the premium rates for new markets to be in line with those for traditional major markets to reduce the costs and support exporters in tapping into the ASEAN market.
     
    Since the US’s announcement of the so-called reciprocal tariffs last week, the SCED has separately met with the representatives of major local chambers of commerce, SME associations, and representatives of industries that are more affected by the tariffs (including jewellery, textiles and garment, food and aluminium industries) to listen to their views and discuss measures in response to the incident. The CEDB will continue to maintain close liaison with the business community to jointly respond to the unreasonable coercion of the US and provide support to the SMEs through various funding schemes and support measures, including the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme and the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales, etc in managing cash flow, enhancing competitiveness and expanding into more diversified markets.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SDEV on planning and lands policy areas at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following are the opening remarks (English translation) by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, on planning and lands policy areas at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 10):
     
    Chairman,
        
    In 2025-26, the total estimated expenditure of the Development Bureau’s Planning and Lands Branch and the departments under its purview (mainly including the Buildings Department, the Lands Department, and the Planning Department) is approximately $8.037 billion, a decrease of approximately $23 million over the revised estimate for the previous year, and the number of civil service posts will decrease by 168. We will continue to put resources to more effective use through measures such as reprioritisation of work, internal redeployment and streamlining of procedures, and will take forward the following priority tasks under the principle of enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.
     
    Enhancing speed and efficiency in increasing land supply
     
    On land supply, we will continuously create land to support the development of new industries, and improve citizens’ quality of life. When land creation is completed, we will roll out such land for various types of development in an orderly manner in light of the latest situation.
     
    The Government will continue to accord high priority to devoting resources and spare no effort to take forward the Northern Metropolis (NM) development. It is estimated that 600 hectares of private land will be resumed in the next five years, and at least 570 hectares of land be formed. In the coming five years, it is estimated that a total of 60 000 public and private residential units will be completed and 1 million square metres of economic floor space be provided in the NM. Moreover, we will complete the rezoning procedures for a data park site in Sandy Ridge within this year to facilitate early disposal of the site in the market by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau. During the year, we will also finalise the land use proposals for Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories North New Town and Ma Tso Lung.
     
    We will adopt more diversified development approaches. We are analysing the expressions of interest (EOIs) received for the three pilot areas of large-scale land disposal in the NM, and will commence the tendering work progressively from the second half of this year. We will invite land owners to submit applications for in-situ land exchanges in respect of the San Tin Technopole later this year. Moreover, we have invited tenders under the “two-envelope” approach for two sites in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu for developing multi-storey buildings for modern industries. The Government has recently fine-tuned the tender conditions in response to constructive market feedback and extended the tender closing date to end-July accordingly.
     
    To facilitate market participation and enhance investment incentives, we are exploring land administration work in several areas. Firstly, we will consider allowing land owners to voluntarily surrender land planned to be resumed by the Government in the NM to offset the premium payable for in-situ land exchange or large-scale land disposal in new development areas (NDAs). Secondly, wider application of the “pay for what you build” approach will be explored, including allowing developers to pay premium for lease modifications, which is not based on the maximum floor area but is determined according to the actual construction floor area. Thirdly, consideration will be given to tenancies with a long tenure, which will be longer than the current maximum fixed term of seven years for short-term tenancies.
     
    We will also continue to explore a wide array of other measures to further streamline the approval process, in particular various administrative approval processes at construction stage, to reduce construction costs.
     
    We announced the Government’s 2025-26 Land Sale List in end-February. Taking into account the eight residential sites available for sale and other sources, the potential private housing land supply in 2025-26 is estimated to have a capacity to produce about 13 700 flats, similar to the target for annual supply of the Long Term Housing Strategy. The Government has indicated that it will not roll out any commercial sites for sale in the current financial year, and will consider rezoning some of the commercial sites expected to be ready and available for sale in the next few years into residential use or allowing greater flexibility of land use.
     
    In line with the “industry-led” planning approach, we invited the market to submit EOIs for three island and coastal tourism projects last week. This is the first time in recent years that the Government takes forward the creation of new land parcels for tourism and recreation purposes, and intends to make the best use of participation of enterprises and the market force for developments to be realised. As regards the marina development at the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, we are inviting the market to submit EOIs. The exercise will conclude by the end of this month. In addition, we will announce in around mid-2025 the land use proposals for Lung Kwu Tan and Tuen Mun West, including the River Trade Terminal, which will provide sites for developing key industries including new energy, modern logistics, advanced construction and circular economy.
     
    Work on enhancing quality
     
    In respect of “enhancing quality”, urban renewal and building safety are among our key priorities. With the amended Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance in force since December last year, the Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale commenced operation in August last year. We are working with the Urban Renewal Authority to conduct district planning studies on Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po, with renewal master plans to be released within this year. We are also exploring the use of land in NDAs to create more favourable conditions for future urban redevelopment projects by the public and private sectors, with a view to driving redevelopment. Preliminary proposals will be put forward within this year.
     
    In respect of amending the Buildings Ordinance to strengthen building safety, tackle unauthorised building works and enhance safety of construction works, we are consolidating public views, and a bill is expected to be introduced in the first half of next year.
     
    On leveraging harbourfront resources, we will set up refreshment stalls at harbourfront locations with higher visitor flow in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui this year to enrich visitors’ experiences. We will consult stakeholders, including the Legislative Council Panel on Development, on the proposals for residential and commercial developments and a marina in the waterfront site in the vicinity of Hung Hom Station this month. Separately, we have just completed the scrutiny of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill, and the second reading will resume next month. We will make good use of the streamlined mechanism to take forward works conducive to public enjoyment of the Victoria Harbourfront.
     
    The above is a brief report. My colleagues and I will be happy to respond to any further questions that Members may wish to raise.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unfair competition from Chinese pushchair manufacturers – need for EU action to protect the internal market – E-002790/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Pushchairs, whether imported or manufactured in the EU, are not subject to origin marking. The Union Customs Code (UCC) establishes that imported products originate in the country where they underwent their last substantial, economically justified transformation[1].

    Usually, simple assembly does not confer origin. Were the Commission to propose a label certifying EU origin, it could take into consideration the origin criteria set out in the UCC.

    The EU has several trade defence instruments, such as anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties, to protect European production against unfair international trade.

    EU industry can contact the complaints office of the Directorate-General for Trade for advice[2]. The increase of the EU customs duties for pushchairs may not be the appropriate policy tool, especially since the maximum bound rates authorised for the EU under its World Trade Organisation commitments for pushchairs correspond to the applied most favoured nation rates.

    On 17 May 2023 the Commission proposed a comprehensive Customs Reform package[3] to strengthen EU customs’ capacity to monitor the import of goods from third countries .

    This includes the creation of a new EU Customs Authority and an EU Customs Data Hub, which will centralise data to improve , amongst others, targeting of unsafe products.

    The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)[4] introduces a digital product passport to store sustainability information on products, accessible electronically, helping economic actors take informed decisions and proving regulatory compliance.

    The first ESPR working plan, p rioritising products, will be adopted in April 2025, but pushchairs are not prioritised[5].

    • [1] Article 60(2) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code.
    • [2] https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/glossary/single-entry-point
    • [3] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52023PC0258
    • [4] Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, amending Directive (EU) 2020/1828 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj/eng
    • [5] Based on the Joint Research Centre’s preparatory work, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: Study on new product priorities, https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC138903

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cancer hijacks your brain and steals your motivation − new research in mice reveals how, offering potential avenues for treatment

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Adam Kepecs, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis

    Many patients with late-stage cancer slip into a profound apathy as the disease ravages their bodies − and brains. demaerre/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    A cruel consequence of advanced cancer is the profound apathy many patients experience as they lose interest in once-cherished activities. This symptom is part of a syndrome called cachexia, which affects about 80% of late-stage cancer patients, leading to severe muscle wasting and weight loss that leave patients bone thin despite adequate nutrition.

    This loss of motivation doesn’t just deepen patients’ suffering, it isolates them from family and friends. Because patients struggle to engage with demanding therapies that require effort and persistence, it also strains families and complicates treatment.

    Doctors typically assume that when late-stage cancer patients withdraw from life, it is an inevitable psychological response to physical deterioration. But what if apathy isn’t just a byproduct of physical decline but an integral part of the disease itself?

    In our newly published research, my colleagues and I have discovered something remarkable: Cancer doesn’t simply waste the body – it hijacks a specific brain circuit that controls motivation. Our findings, published in the journal Science, challenge decades of assumptions and suggest it might be possible to restore what many cancer patients describe as most devastating to lose – their will to engage with life.

    Untangling fatigue from physical decline

    To unravel the puzzle of apathy in cancer cachexia, we needed to trace the exact path inflammation takes in the body and peer inside a living brain while the disease is progressing – something impossible in people. However, neuroscientists have advanced technologies that make this possible in mice.

    Modern neuroscience equips us with a powerful arsenal of tools to probe how disease changes brain activity in mice. Scientists can map entire brains at the cellular level, track neural activity during behavior, and precisely switch neurons on or off. We used these neuroscience tools in a mouse model of cancer cachexia to study the effects of the disease on the brain and motivation.

    We identified a small brain region called the area postrema that acts as the brain’s inflammation detector. As a tumor grows, it releases cytokines − molecules that trigger inflammation − into the bloodstream. The area postrema lacks the typical blood-brain barrier that keeps out toxins, pathogens and other molecules from the body, allowing it to directly sample circulating inflammatory signals.

    When the area postrema detects a rise in inflammatory molecules, it triggers a neural cascade across multiple brain regions, ultimately suppressing dopamine release in the brain’s motivation center − the nucleus accumbens. While commonly misconstrued as a “pleasure chemical,” dopamine is actually associated with drive, or the willingness to put in effort to gain rewards: It tips the internal cost-benefit scale toward action.

    Researchers measured effort through two tests.
    Reprinted with permission from XA Zu et al., Science 388:eadm8857 (2025)

    We directly observed this shift using two quantitative tests designed with behavioral economics principles to measure effort. In the first, mice repeatedly poked their noses into a food port, with progressively more pokes required to earn each food pellet. In the second task, mice repeatedly crossed a bridge between two water ports, each gradually depleting with use and forcing the mice to switch sides to replenish the supply, similar to picking berries until a bush is empty.

    As cancer progressed, mice still pursued easy rewards but quickly abandoned tasks requiring greater effort. Meanwhile, we watched dopamine levels fall in real time, precisely mirroring the mice’s decreasing willingness to work for rewards.

    Our findings suggest that cancer isn’t just generally “wearing out” the brain − it sends targeted inflammatory signals that the brain detects. The brain then responds by rapidly reducing dopamine levels to dial down motivation. This matches what patients describe: “Everything feels too hard.”

    Restoring motivation in late-stage disease

    Perhaps most exciting, we found several ways to restore motivation in mice suffering from cancer cachexia − even when the cancer itself continued progressing.

    First, by genetically switching off the inflammation-sensing neurons in the area postrema, or by directly stimulating neurons to release dopamine, we were able to restore normal motivation in mice.

    Second, we found that giving mice a drug that blocks a particular cytokine − working similarly to existing FDA-approved arthritis treatments − also proved effective. While the drug did not reverse physical wasting, it restored the mice’s willingness to work for rewards.

    While these results are based on mouse models, they suggest a treatment possibility for people: Targeting this specific inflammation-dopamine circuit could improve quality of life for cancer patients, even when the disease remains incurable.

    The boundary between physical and psychological symptoms is an artificially drawn line. Cancer ignores this division, using inflammation to commandeer the very circuits that drive a patient’s will to act. But our findings suggest these messages can be intercepted and the circuits restored.

    Cancer treatment can demand tremendous effort from patients.
    FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

    Rethinking apathy in disease

    Our discovery has implications far beyond cancer. The inflammatory molecule driving loss of motivation in cancer is also involved in numerous other conditions − from autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis to chronic infections and depression. This same brain circuit might explain the debilitating apathy that millions of people suffering from various chronic diseases experience.

    Apathy triggered by inflammation may have originally evolved as a protective mechanism. When early humans faced acute infections, dialing down motivation made sense − it conserved energy and directed resources toward recovery. But what once helped people survive short-term illnesses turns harmful when inflammation persists chronically, as it does in cancer and other diseases. Rather than aiding survival, prolonged apathy deepens suffering, worsening health outcomes and quality of life.

    While translating these findings into therapies for people requires more research, our discovery reveals a promising target for treatment. By intercepting inflammatory signals or modulating brain circuits, researchers may be able to restore a patient’s drive. For patients and families watching motivation slip away, that possibility offers something powerful: hope that even as disease progresses, the essence of who we are might be reclaimed.

    Adam Kepecs receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Cancer hijacks your brain and steals your motivation − new research in mice reveals how, offering potential avenues for treatment – https://theconversation.com/cancer-hijacks-your-brain-and-steals-your-motivation-new-research-in-mice-reveals-how-offering-potential-avenues-for-treatment-254043

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the inaugural session of the Annual Trade Expo 2025 of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry via video conferencing

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the inaugural session of the Annual Trade Expo 2025 of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry via video conferencing

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has progressed in every sector through various systems, development initiatives, and efforts to become a global leader

    Gujarat, acting as the gateway to the global economy, has made a significant contribution to the country’s development

    Today, Gujarat has emerged as a pioneer in many sectors that will shape the global economy over the next 25 years

    The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has played a crucial role in Gujarat’s development

    GCCI has inspired youth with entrepreneurship, courage, and the zeal to do business in any corner of the world

    GCCI should integrate the tradition of small-scale industries with startups and modernise it for the benefit of the youth

    In Gujarat, industries are provided with a conducive, industry-friendly environment, free from political interference and strikes

    GCCI has worked hard to realize the vision of ‘Grow Business and Transform Gujarat’ and has established excellent dialogue with the government

    Posted On: 10 APR 2025 4:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today addressed the inaugural session of theAnnual Trade Expo 2025 of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry via video conferencing. On this occasion, several dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, were present.

    In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has played a very important role in the development of Gujarat. He mentioned that the foundation of the Chamber was laid under the leadership of Kasturbhai Sheth. Shri Shah said that the Chamber has inspired the youth with entrepreneurship, courage, and the enthusiasm to do business anywhere in the world. He further stated that for 75 consecutive years, the Chamber has upheld that tradition, maintained dialogue with the government, cared for public interest, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the people during natural calamities.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the Chamber, having completed its 75-year journey, is now moving toward the milestone of 100 years. He emphasized that the leadership of the Chamber should professionally prepare a roadmap for this journey from 75 to 100 years and align it with Gujarat’s development to take it forward. He stated that to ensure the spirit of industrial entrepreneurship remains alive and is further encouragedamong Gujarat’s youth, the Chamber should formulate a plan.

    He pointed out that MSMEs are our greatest asset, and if we look back, every major industry has once begun as a small-scale enterprise. Shri Shah said that Gujarat’s small industries have made a significant contribution to the nation’s industrial growth. He added that the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry should integrate the tradition of small industries with startups and modernize it to create a comprehensive ecosystem for the youth. He said, the Chambershould act as a bridge between the government, small industries, and aspiring young entrepreneurs.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that if the Chamber wants to remain relevant in the times to come, it must go beyond just organizing events and instead establish a permanent mechanism within the Chamber to support industries, industrial entrepreneurs, and industrialists. He stated that if the Chamber’s office bearers create such a system in collaboration with professionals, the relevance of the Chamber can be sustained for the next 25 years. He further added that the Chamber can easily serve as a bridge between the government and new industrialists, the government and the youth, and the government and the industrialists who are eager to contribute to development.

    Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah stated that Gujarat today showcases a vibrant and diverse industrial ecosystem—ranging from traditional industries to cutting-edge technology, IT, infrastructure, MSMEs, startups, and pioneering sectors. He emphasized that entrepreneurs looking to establish industries in Gujarat are assured of a business-friendly environment, free from political interference, supported by efficient systems and a strike-free atmosphere. Shri Shah recalled that during Shri Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister, the Gujarat government prioritized inclusive decision-making by engaging in meaningful dialogue with traders, industrialists, and small business owners through the Chamber of Commerce. He noted that Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has further strengthened this pro-industry environment. He also highlighted Shri Modi’s visionary policy that robust infrastructure is the foundation of a strong economy, and a strong economy, in turn, enhances the quality of life for every citizen. As a result, Gujarat today plays a vital role in India’s growth story and is emerging as a gateway to the global economy.

    Union Home Minister said that the Chamber is advancing with the motto of ‘Gujarat’s Vision – Global Ambition’. He highlighted that over 300 individuals from diverse sectors and fields of innovation have been invited to participate in the expo that commenced today. He said that since its inception in 1949, the Chamber has made an exceptional contribution to Gujarat’s development. With more than 75 institutions and over 2.5 lakh small industrial organizations associated with it, the Chamber has played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s industrial landscape. The Home Minister emphasized the Chamber’s dedicated efforts toward realizing the motto ‘Grow Business and Transform Gujarat’, and its consistent, effective dialogue with the government. He also acknowledged the Chamber’s significant contribution to the global recognition and success of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative. Shri Shah remarked that the Chamber has been instrumental in Gujarat’s remarkable journey—from the devastating earthquake of 2001 to its emergence in 2025 as a hub for pioneering industries.

    Shri Amit Shah highlighted that Gujarat has been a pioneer in launching several transformative initiatives across the country. He stated that the concept of smart infrastructure was first envisioned in Gujarat, and the state led the way by ensuring 24-hour electricity supply in villages. Gujarat also took the early initiative to position itself as a global financial hub. He added that in 2009, Gujarat launched the e-Gram project, bringing inter-connectivity and digital services to rural areas. The state also made significant strides in reducing maternal mortality rates. Shri Shah emphasized that all these achievements were made possible under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has made remarkable progress over the past 11 years, advancing in various sectors and emerging as a global leader across multiple domains. He emphasized that these achievements have been possible due to the holistic, multidimensional, and whole-of-government approach adopted under Shri Modi’s leadership. He also acknowledged that Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has played a key role in firmly upholding and continuing this tradition of development and good governance in Gujarat.

    Shri Amit Shah stated that Gujarat has emerged as a pioneer in all the key sectors that will shape the global economy over the next 25 years. He highlighted that the world’s largest renewable energy park has been established in Kutch, while the largest greenfield project—Dholera Smart City—is taking shape in the state. He also mentioned that the Surat-Chennai Expressway, India’s second-longest expressway, originates in Gujarat. Moreover, India’s first international financial hub, GIFT City, has been developed in Gujarat, along with the country’s first bullet train project and the first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. Shri Shah further emphasized that Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has provided Gujarat with a robust industrial development infrastructure, progressive policies, and an industry-friendly governance model.

    *****

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    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Acting Chairman Pham Statement on Confirmation of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    Acting Chairman Pham Statement on Confirmation of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins | CFTC

    /PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/phamstatement041025
    Skip to main content

    April 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham today issued the following statement: 
    “Congratulations to Paul Atkins on his confirmation as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I have known and worked together with Paul and his team for over a decade. His outstanding leadership is inspiring. I look forward to continuing to work together on smart regulation that drives U.S. economic growth and greater opportunity for the American people.”

    -CFTC-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Spare developing countries from new US tariffs: UN trade chief

    Source: United Nations 4

    By Conor Lennon

    Economic Development

    As governments and global markets struggle to deal with the massive upheaval unleashed by the United States’ unilateral trade tariffs, Rebeca Grynspan, the head of the UN trade agency (UNCTAD) told UN News on Thursday that the poorest countries – which have a negligible effect on the US trade deficit – should be exempt.

    Ms. Grynspan was speaking in the wake of growing UN concern at the effect on-going uncertainty could have on the most vulnerable developing economies.

    On Tuesday, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that “trade wars are extremely negative,” and warned that the impact of tariffs could be “devastating.”

    Tariffs are a tax on imports coming into a country which are usually charged to the exporter as a percentage of value – an extra cost which is normally passed on to the consumer.

    In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday morning, the UNCTAD chief appealed for the US to reconsider its strategy, noting that the 44 Least Developed Countries contribute less than two per cent of the US’s trade deficit, and that higher tariffs would only make their existing debt crisis much worse.

    Speaking to UN News, Ms. Grynspan laid out the ways that UNCTAD is supporting developing nations, and advocated for closer regional trade ties, which can strengthen their hand in international trade negotiations.

    UN News: The world’s two biggest economies, the US and China, are in the process of imposing or threatening huge trade tariffs on each other. How worried do you think we should all be?

    Rebeca Grynspan: When you the two main global economies impose tariffs, it will affect everybody, not only the economies engaged in the tariff war. We are already in a “new normal” of low growth and high debt, and we are worried that the global economy will slow down.

    Our emphasis has been to put attention on what can happen to countries that are more vulnerable, such as the Least Developed Countries, and small island developing States. What is happening to those countries is what really worries us.

    © ADB/Deng Jia

    A factory in inner Mongolia, China (file)

    UN News: Some experts are saying that this could be the end of the post-war international financial system. Are those fears warranted?

    Rebeca Grynspan: We still don’t know where we will end up. One of the things that we are doing is trying to give the public a real account of what is actually taking place, and what is still just talk.

    The most important point is the problem of the uncertainty. If we know the final position, we will adjust, we will have strategies and we can see how to live with the decisions that are being taken. But if we have a prolonged period of uncertainty, where things change all the time, this is damaging because we don’t know what to do. Investment is paralyzed because CEOs are deciding to sit and wait, which means investment will not come back at the scale the world needs.

    Our first call is for rational decisions to be taken, so we can plan, strategize and adapt to change – but we still don’t know what that change will entail.

    UN News: You’ve made the case for poorer countries to be spared tariff hikes imposed by the US administration. Are your concerns being heard?

    Rebeca Grynspan: I haven’t seen anybody making the analysis that we have made, proving that these countries really are making no contribution to the US trade deficit. Most of the exports that they send to the US are commodities and many of these are exempt from tariffs under the new rules. These commodities don’t compete with the US, rather they help in production processes.

    The point I want to make is that there are a number of countries that don’t really contribute to the deficit, are not important in terms of the revenue [that the US can collect from tariffs] and are not competition or a national security threat to the US.

    So, maybe we can avoid starting new bilateral agreements and negotiations and spare them the pain of the tariffs.

    ILO Asia-Pacific

    Women workers at a textile factory in Viet Nam stitch puffer jackets, destined mostly for Western markets.

    UN News: What advice could you give to a manufacturing worker in a developing country like Viet Nam or Madagascar?

    Rebeca Grynspan: It’s difficult to say, because some countries are receiving higher tariffs than others, and so you don’t know what competitive impact this will have.

    Madagascar is a good example of what we’re talking about, because the country’s main export to the US is vanilla. Their contribution to the US trade deficit is so small it doesn’t even register, so it makes no sense to penalise a country like this.

    UN News: Explain the role that UNCTAD plays in supporting developing countries?

    Rebeca Grynspan: As an organization, we analyse trade, investment, financing and technology from the point of view of development, which means we help countries to take advantage of the opportunities of trade.

    We are not involved in trade negotiations – these take place at the World Trade Organization – but we will help developing countries to get a better deal in trade and help their economies to perform better globally.

    UN News: You have advocated for developing countries to trade more within regional blocs where they can have more say in negotiations with richer countries. Would that be useful in this kind of situation?

    Rebeca Grynspan: Africa has a huge opportunity with the African Free Trade Area. According to our numbers, this could add around $3 trillion to the African economy.

    It’s a huge opportunity, and if they can accelerate the pace, they could take advantage of a bigger market and make economies of scale. African nations need to diversify their economies because, if they continue to be dependent on commodities, they won’t be able to provide their populations with the services and the income they deserve.

    There is also a deepening of trade relationships in Southeast Asia with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and in parts of Latin America with Mercosur (the Southern Common Market).

    These partnerships could be very important, particularly at this precise moment.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Crossing borders and closing deals: Alberta’s Q1 update

    As trade threats escalate, Alberta is taking decisive action to secure new global markets, driving diversification and growth to protect the province’s economic future. Alberta is broadening its trade horizons – to reduce risk and build a more resilient economy, ready to weather any storm.

    Despite U.S. tariffs, Alberta’s economy is outperforming expectations, driven by its robust oil production, increased home construction and a diversified economic base.

    Alberta’s economy is built to last, anchored by three powerful pillars – diversifying trade, breaking down barriers and attracting investment. Together, they are driving future success for an economy that leads and outperforms.

    “During challenging economic times, Alberta is strengthening its economy by opening new global markets, eliminating trade barriers, and securing investments that generate jobs and ensure sustained growth.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    Unlocking Global Trade

    As the U.S. continues to introduce new barriers to trade, Alberta is focused on expanding its economic pathways elsewhere, such as in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

    In 2024, Alberta’s total trade with non-U.S. countries totalled almost $36 billion, an increase of 10 per cent over 2023. Alberta’s government will continue investing in this growth for the future. Between 2023 and 2024, Central Asia, South and East Asia, South America and Europe all increased the amount of goods they are buying from Alberta. This proves the world relies on Alberta’s high-quality goods and products. Alberta’s top-tier export performance fuels economic growth, creates high-paying jobs and enhances Canada’s global competitiveness, benefiting all Canadians.

    “Expanding our markets is critical to the future of oil and gas in Alberta and we are actively working towards this. The Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission is exploring selling our oil and gas throughout Asia and Europe. Countries like Japan and Korea view our natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia as key to their future economies and transitioning from thermal coal.”

    Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals

    Alberta also doubled the 2025-26 budget for the Alberta Export Expansion Program, funding small- and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to promote their products globally. In 2024-25, the program helped more than 450 Alberta companies and organizations join 28 government-led trade missions to countries like Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Philippines and Germany. In 2024-25, Alberta’s government facilitated more than 800 business-to-business meetings on trade missions that connected Alberta companies to global partners, to make substantial international deals.

    Leading Interprovincial Trade

    Alberta remains Canada’s leader in interprovincial trade and continues to lead the way by cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burdens, making it easier for businesses and workers to thrive across provincial borders. Since 2019, Alberta has eliminated almost 80 per cent of its party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, unlocking smoother interprovincial trade and securing better opportunities for Albertans.

    Alberta is tearing down trade barriers to boost both the province’s and Canada’s economies. In February 2025, Alberta joined counterparts across the country in endorsing bold new commitments to further reduce regulatory barriers, implement mutual recognition for goods and services and create new economic opportunities for businesses and consumers. Alberta’s government is bulldozing internal trade barriers – turning roadblocks into smooth highways for Alberta industry.

    Attracting Job-Creating Investments

    When investors set their sights on Alberta, it is a win-win for companies, workers and Alberta’s economy. For example, thanks to the Investment and Growth Fund (IGF), Alberta’s government has secured more than $820 million in capital, created 1,250 jobs and leveraged $25 in private investment for every $1 spent. The IGF is attracting global giants like Lufthansa Technik from Germany, which is bringing 330 new jobs and $120 million in investment, along with NewCold from the Netherlands, which is adding 250 jobs and a $222 million boost to Alberta’s economy.

    “NewCold’s multi-million investment is a direct result of Alberta’s targeted approach to attracting global businesses through tools like the Investment and Growth Fund. With this support, we’re building one of the most advanced cold storage facilities in North America – right here in Alberta.”

    Jonas Swarttouw, executive vice-president commercial, NewCold

    Through strategic investment, Alberta is securing its future by diversifying export markets and expanding global partnerships, because when opportunity knocks, Alberta always answers.

    Alberta’s plan goes beyond braving changing trade-winds – it is about driving economic growth with a strategy built to endure any storm. By diversifying its international trade partners, tearing down barriers to internal trade and bringing in substantial investments, Alberta’s government is forging ahead on a path to an economically unstoppable future.

    Quick facts

    • Alberta’s exports to international markets in 2024 saw a 4.3 per cent increase year-over-year, with a total value of $182 billion.
    • Despite representing less than 12 per cent of Canada’s population, Alberta ranks second in exports nationwide, accounting for more than 25 per cent of the country’s total exports.
    • In 2024, Alberta exports, imports, and total trade with non-U.S. countries totalled $20.7 billion, $15.1 billion, and $35.8 billion, respectively.
    • Between 2023 and 2024, Alberta’s exports to Central Asia increased by 42.8 per cent, Southeast Asia increased by 41.4 per cent, South Asia increased by 39.9 per cent, East Asia increased by 15.9 per cent to $11.2 billion, Europe increased to $2.2 billion and South America increased by 6.1 per cent to $1.4 billion.
    • Alberta’s government has doubled the Alberta Export Expansion funding from $1 million to $2 million to support more businesses in their efforts to expand into global markets.
    • Recently, the IGF provided $2 million to Crust Craft, a high-capacity bakery company, to support its $51-million expansion in Alberta.
      • In this case, Alberta was competing with a U.S. jurisdiction for Crust Craft’s expansion.

    Related information

    • Alberta Export Expansion Program
    • Export, trade and international relations
    • Trade mission calendar
    • Latest Alberta investment – bringing in the dough

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 108-2025: Services Restored: Friday 04 April 2025 – AAMP, DAFF messaging

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    4 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

    All clients submitting the below declarations:

    • Full Import Declaration (FID)
    • Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
    • Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
    • Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
    • Cargo Report…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dina Titus Joins Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Theft

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1) joined Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) today in introducing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act to target the rise in theft, fraud, and other organized crimes against retail stores and various components of the supply chain across America. This bipartisan, bicameral bill establishes a coordinated multi-agency response and creates new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft to combat these criminal operations.

    “By establishing a coordinated federal response, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would target the criminals who endanger consumers, local businesses, and transportation networks, along with the nefarious transnational groups that fund their operations,” said Congresswoman Titus. “This legislation will help law enforcement better pursue and prosecute these bad actors, while protecting businesses and saving consumer dollars.’

    “Businesses throughout my district are facing the burdens of a rise in organized retail crimes and fraud schemes that are sweeping the nation,” said Congressman Joyce. “These criminal organizations are not only harming small businesses and retailers in our communities, but are also putting American consumers at risk of violence and fraud. These crimes also have more widespread consequences for public safety, as these organized groups often resell stolen goods to finance other illicit activities, including drug and human trafficking operations. Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation will give law enforcement the tools they need to put a stop to these rampant crimes.”

    Congresswoman Titus joined six other members of the House in co-leading the legislation. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is supported by the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, Home Depot, UPS, the Intermodal Association of North America, the Association of American Railroads, the International Council of Shopping Centers,  the American Trucking Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Reusable Packaging Association, DHL, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the National Milk Producers Foundation, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, the PASS (Protect America’s Small Sellers) Coalition, the International Downtown Association, Amazon, the World Shipping Council, Pirate Ship, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Walgreens Co., CVS Health, Kroger, Walmart, and Target.

    Background

    The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This Coordination Center will allow increased collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, along with retail crime associations and subject matter experts, to create a cohesive strategy to combat these crimes and share valuable resources.

    According to the National Retail Federation, retail larceny incidents increased by 93 percent from 2019 to 2023, including a 90 percent increase in actual dollar loss. Stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, compared to $93.9 billion in 2021, $61.7 billion in 2019, and $46.8 billion in 2017. In 2023, 84 percent of retailers reported that violence and aggression were a greater concern than in 2022. At the same time, product manufacturers and the supply chain are experiencing a rise in organized cargo theft across rails, roads, and the various distribution points across the United States. CargoNet reported a 27 percent increase in cargo theft incidents in 2024 over 2023. These crimes are often orchestrated by organized groups that resell stolen goods through physical and online marketplaces, further fueling illicit profits and financing additional criminal enterprises. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act seeks to address these challenges by enhancing legal frameworks, improving enforcement capabilities, and fostering coordination across federal, state, and local agencies. The legislation responds to the limitations of state-level efforts, which struggle with resource constraints and the interstate and international nature of organized retail and supply chain crime, and it aims to safeguard commerce, consumer confidence, and national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 112-2025: Scheduled Outage: Thursday 10 April to Friday 11 April 2025 – Multiple Systems

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    08 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry web-based applications during this planned maintenance period.

    All users of the Seasonal Pests (SeaPest) system.

    All clients required to use the eCertificate exports portal who will be required to view or download export certification during this planned maintenance period.

    All clients required to use the Export / Next Export Documentation (…

    MIL OSI News –