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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Global: A beginner’s guide to vegan fashion (and how to spot ‘greenwashing’)

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dr Songyi Yan, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion Management, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Ksw Photographer/Shutterstock

    “Vegan” and “plant-based” are not just food labels anymore; they are fashion’s latest buzzwords. Imagine walking into a high-street fashion store, drawn to a stylish bomber jacket labelled “100% vegan”. You flip the tag, looking for material details, only to find none. Nearby, a luxury handbag proudly announces it’s made from vegan leather. A closer look reveals it’s 56% recycled polyester and 44% polyurethane – basically plastic.

    It’s easy to assume vegan clothes are more ethically and sustainably produced. While it’s evident that vegan leathers avoid animal-derived materials and can support higher animal welfare, labels can be misleading. Many vegan leathers are primarily plastic-based, with environmental consequences that aren’t always communicated clearly.

    Even when made from recycled polyester, these materials still contribute to pollution. They will shed plastic microfibres that persist in landfills and oceans for centuries, and require energy intensive recycling. In some cases, plastic-based vegan leather can be more environmentally damaging than natural alternatives such as vegetable-tanned leather, which is a by-product of the meat industry that biodegrades more easily.

    Fashion’s veganism doesn’t stop with plastics. Material innovations such as cactus leather, mushroom-based mycelium and algae-derived threads promise exciting alternatives to plastic-based and animal-derived fabrics. Brands often use terms such as “plant-based”, “bio-material”, and “100% biodegradable” to attract consumers. Unfortunately, these labels are often vague, inconsistently defined, and can hide potential issues, including synthetic coatings, unclear biodegradability or short product lifespans.

    I’m a researcher in sustainable fashion, focusing on consumer behaviour and sustainability communication. Together with colleagues, I have analysed the websites of 21 innovative materials companies and found that sustainability messaging is often carefully curated and lacking transparency. Vegan alternatives can help brands build an eco image and cut production costs, without necessarily reducing environmental harm.

    Few companies disclose important details such as product durability, recyclability or the conditions needed to biodegrade. Meanwhile, terms like “100% biodegradable” can give the impression that their algae-derived T-shirt will simply decompose in the garden – when, in reality, it requires specific industrial conditions such as sustained high heat, controlled humidity and specialised microbial environments to break down properly. Such miscommunication contributes to “greenwashing”, where marketing sounds greener than the reality.

    Often vegan products are made from plastic polymers.
    TaraPatta/Shutterstock

    To help consumers make informed choices, brand messaging about sustainability needs to be clear and consistent. Terms such as “vegan”, “plastic-free” and “biodegradable” currently lack standardised definitions and aren’t regulated rigorously in markets such as the UK and EU, making them nearly meaningless without verifiable proof. Even upcoming legislation aimed at regulating green claims faces major challenges, as legally binding definitions remain vague.

    This lack of transparency isn’t limited to fashion. I’ve seen a vegan sofa marketed without details about its materials, leaving consumers unaware of plastics and synthetic chemicals involved.

    Similarly, a computer bag is marketed as made from Banbū, a plant-based material derived from bamboo. While the exact composition isn’t disclosed, similar materials often combine natural fibres with synthetic elements for durability. Without full transparency, it’s difficult for consumers to know whether such items are entirely plastic-free or not.

    How to shop smarter

    So, what can we do as consumers? With so much greenwashing and fuzzy language, it’s easy to feel powerless. Here are some practical ways to help you question vague eco-claims:

    Read beyond the label: Don’t stop at buzzwords such as “vegan” or “plant-based”, check what the product is actually made of. Is it 100% natural or blended with plastics like polyurethane? If material details aren’t listed, that’s a red flag.

    Check for trusted certifications: Claims are stronger when backed by certifications. Look out for certifications such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), or Cradle-to-Cradle Certified™ help verify claims around recycled content, chemical safety and sustainability across products’ lifecycle.

    Think long-term: A durable product you can use for years is more sustainable than one that’s vegan but only lasts a season. Ask yourself: Will this item stand the test of time? Can it be repaired, reused, or easily recycled once it reaches the end of its wearable life?

    Prioritise transparency: Choose brands that don’t just tell feel-good stories but openly share facts. One good example is Veja – the footwear brand openly discusses its practices with vegetable-tanned leather, admitting it wasn’t durable enough for wide use. While they don’t claim perfection, Veja is relatively honest about their materials, production practices, and sustainability challenges and limitations – that transparency is still quite rare.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Dr Songyi Yan 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. A beginner’s guide to vegan fashion (and how to spot ‘greenwashing’) – https://theconversation.com/a-beginners-guide-to-vegan-fashion-and-how-to-spot-greenwashing-253770

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zombie knife attacker guilty of attempted murder at Carnival

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager who carried out at a zombie knife attack during Notting Hill Carnival has been found guilty of attempted murder.

    Rumarni Tuitt, 19 (01.12.05) of Sutherland Road, Walthamstow was charged on 29 August 2024 with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

    He stood trial at the Old Bailey and was convicted on Thursday, 8 May.

    The court heard that shortly before 20:00hrs on the Monday evening of Carnival – 26 August 2024 – Tuitt was in Canal Way, off Ladbroke Grove.

    Officers who were on duty as part of the policing operation recounted how they saw him appear agitated as he argued verbally with someone in a crowd, before taking a huge knife from his waistband and thrusting it into a group in front of him.

    A 19-year-old man who was in the crowd was stabbed no fewer than five times causing multiple serious injuries including some to his abdomen that required life saving surgery. He and Tuitt did not know each other and a motive for the attack has never been established.

    Officers intervened immediately, arresting Tuitt at the scene and providing vital medical treatment to his victim until paramedics could reach them.

    The knife used, which was at least 10 inches in length, was recovered from the scene.

    Acting Detective Inspector Sophie McLoughlin, who led the investigation, said: “This was a savage and senseless attack. The victim was very lucky to survive his injuries.

    “Hundreds of thousands of people, including the victim in this case, go to Carnival to have a good time and enjoy the music and entertainment. Those who would choose to turn up armed with a 10 inch zombie knife clearly have no such intentions.

    “It is thanks to the vigilance of officers on duty that day and the hard work of my team in the months since that we were able to build the case that saw Tuitt convicted at court.

    “It is also thanks to officers’ immediate medical intervention at the scene, as well as the specialist further care by paramedics, that we’re talking about a conviction for attempted murder and not worse.

    “I hope the victim can now move forward and begin to put this experience behind him.”

    Tuitt was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 27 June.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Stabbing Case

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing.

    According to court records, on February 4, 2023, Joey Luarkie, 25, an enrolled member of the Zuni pueblo, was at a residence in Zuni when the victim arrived, and an argument ensued. The confrontation escalated inside the home, where Luarkie stabbed the victim in the neck. The victim was found outside the residence by responding officers and died the next day after being transported to the hospital and undergoing emergency surgeries.

    At sentencing, Luarkie faces up to 15 in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Vulindlela phase 2: Focusing on key reforms

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The second phase of Operation Vulindlela, will focus on three key reforms: tackling the legacy of spatial inequality, enhancing local government performance, and accelerating digital transformation. 

    Launching the next phase of this important initiative at the Union Buildings, on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that this new phase is aimed at driving rapid and inclusive economic growth for the benefit of all South Africans. 

    “We need growth that is both rapid and inclusive. We need growth that serves the millions of people in our country who remain unemployed, and the young people who cannot see a way into the labour market. 

    “And we need growth that improves people’s daily lives by fixing the infrastructure that is broken. That is why, in the next phase of Operation Vulindlela that we are launching today, we will implement reforms in three new areas,” the President said. 

    He stressed that if these reforms are implemented swiftly and boldly, they will put South Africa firmly on the path of economic recovery and renewal. 

    He acknowledged that the process of reform is never easy, and it is often contested, especially by those with vested interests.

    “Yet we have a simple choice to make. If we do not reform our economy, it will not grow and we will not create jobs. Unemployment will rise and poverty will increase. On the other hand, if we implement these reforms – if we do so swiftly and boldly – we will place our economy on a path of growth and renewal. 

    “There is a generation of South Africans that does not know what it is to live in a country that is growing. They have never experienced rising incomes, increasing jobs, thriving businesses and expanding opportunities. 

    “It is our intention to ensure that every South African feels the benefits of rapid, sustained and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

    The first focus area: Tackling Spatial Inequality 

    The second phase will start by addressing the apartheid legacy of spatial inequality, which has forced millions of South Africans to live far from economic opportunity. 

    The President noted that the country’s urban structure must be reshaped to enable citizens to live closer to where jobs and services are located. 

    “The poorest South Africans spend as much as 40 percent of their income on transport to get to work, more than almost any other country in the world. Imagine you earn R10 000 and R4000 of it is spent on transport,” he said. 

    He emphasised that the structure of the country’s cities has to change to enable people to access work. 

    To address this, government will change housing policies to introduce demand-side subsidies for home ownership and affordable rental options, empowering people to choose where they want to live. 

    “While the millions of homes that we have built since 1994 have given families shelter and dignity at an unprecedented scale, we cannot continue to build houses on the periphery of our cities and towns.”

    Publicly-owned land and buildings, particularly in inner cities, will be released for affordable housing, and the backlog of title deeds for affordable housing will be cleared. 

    Reforms will also simplify the titling system, making it more accessible and affordable. 

    The President added that this will turn houses into an asset for poor households. It will enable these households to access credit and use this asset to advance themselves. 

    Finally, a comprehensive regulatory review will be undertaken to remove barriers to low-cost housing development and encourage investment in urban centres rather than peripheral areas.

    “These reforms will help turn our cities and towns into thriving centres of economic activity,” he said. 

    The second focus area: Strengthening Local Government

    The second area of reform during this phase of Operation Vulindlela is improving the performance of local government. 

    The President highlighted that many of the country’s municipalities are unable to deliver basic services to households and businesses. 

    “Operation Vulindlela has set out a clear agenda for local government reform, which starts with improving the delivery of water and electricity services through professional utilities. 

    “Utilities should have the right technical skills, strong regulation and oversight, and full control of their billing and revenue functions to allow them to invest in infrastructure and maintenance,” he said. 

    Another key step is strengthening local government administration.

    “We will work to ensure that capable, qualified people are appointed to senior positions in municipalities, such as municipal managers and CFOs,” he said. 

    This will be done by extending the mandate of the Public Service Commission to local government and taking action against municipalities that fail to comply with minimum competency standards. 

    The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has initiated the process to update the White Paper on Local Government, which includes a review of the institutional structure of local government. 

    Finally, the National Treasury will review the local government fiscal framework, including the design of conditional grants, to ensure that the revenue of municipalities matches their responsibilities. 

    The third focus area: Accelerating Digital Transformation

    The third new area of focus is digital transformation. 

    Last month, Cabinet approved a Digital Transformation Roadmap to drive the adoption of digital technologies in government and to build digital public infrastructure that can be used by all South Africans. 

    This will include a digital identity system, rapid payments to expand financial inclusion, and enabling people to access services like applying for an ID or passport online. 

    “We have established significant momentum. We have seen the green shoots of recovery. It is our responsibility to grow a flourishing crop and to ensure that all South Africans reap the benefits of its harvest,” he said. 

    Successes of the first phase of Operation Vulindlela

    Operation Vulindlela was established in October 2020 as a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms.

    It was initiated in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating economic impact on the country and around the world. 

    In its first phase, Operation Vulindlela focused on reforms in five key areas namely energy, logistics, telecommunications, water, and the visa system.

    “The pandemic arrived just as the country was emerging from more than a decade of stagnant economic growth and rising unemployment and from the era of state capture. 

    “When I addressed a joint sitting of Parliament in October 2020, I said in the aftermath of a fire, green shoots begin to emerge. The ashes enrich the soil, and new life takes root to replace what was lost. Over the past four years, we have seen the green shoots of economic reform,” the President said. 

    Through far-reaching reforms in the electricity sector, government has substantially reduced the severity and frequency of load shedding, relieving a constraint on growth which had strangled the economy for years. 

    These reforms have enabled private investment in energy generation, unlocking billions of Rands in new investment in renewable energy in every part of the country. 

    The country has also embarked on a major reform of its ports and rail system through the Freight Logistics Roadmap.

    Major successes include the opening of the rail network to competition and the invitation of private sector participation in port terminals, while ensuring that the network infrastructure remains state owned. 

    The completion of the spectrum auction enabled significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure while improving network quality and reducing data costs for every South African. 

    The water use license system, which once served as a barrier to investment, now works efficiently and has allowed projects in forestry, mining and other sectors to proceed. 

    As of last year, the country has implemented an entirely new framework for skilled visas to attract investment and encourage businesses to establish themselves in our country and create jobs. 

    “All of this progress has been made possible thanks to the cooperation and commitment of the relevant government departments, state owned enterprises, public entities and social partners.

    “I commend in particular, the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Directors-General and CEOs that have provided leadership to these efforts. Over the last four years, Operation Vulindlela has become a government-wide initiative. This is meaningful progress and it will enable higher growth in the years to come,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Vulindlela Phase 2 to address water woes

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that Phase Two of Operation Vulindlela will tackle the country’s worsening water crisis, while deepening reforms already underway.

    The second phase of Operation Vulindlela launched by President Ramaphosa on Wednesday, will not only prioritise new areas for implementation, but also deepen the implementation of current reforms. 

    He emphasised that the immediate priority is to follow through on those reforms that are already underway to realise their full impact. 

    On water reform, President Ramaphosa said government will establish the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency as a dedicated entity to own, manage and invest in the country’s water resources. 

    Through the Water Partnerships Office, government will support public-private partnerships in water infrastructure to reduce leaks, access new water sources, and improve wastewater treatment. 

    “To address the root causes of service delivery failures, we will amend the Water Services Act to separate the role of municipalities as water service authorities and water service providers. 

    “The days of standing by and watching while taps run dry or raw sewage runs into our rivers are over. We will take action to make sure that right of every South African to quality drinking water is protected,” he said. 

    Visa System

    On the visa system, the President said government will ensure that the recommendations of the work visa review are fully implemented and introduce an Electronic Travel Authorisation System to support growth in tourism. 

    The Minister of Home Affairs has already introduced the points-based system to make it easier for highly skilled immigrants to come to South Africa and contribute to the country’s economy, while at the same time enforcing immigration laws more effectively to combat illegal immigration. 

    “Through these measures, we will complete the reform of our network industries that we began in the previous phase and address the binding constraints on growth,” President Ramaphosa said. 

    The President acknowledged that while phase one of the programme has made meaningful progress, which will enable higher growth in the years to come, the economy continues to be held back by structural inefficiencies. 

    “Our economy needs to grow much faster to create the jobs that we need and to achieve prosperity for all. We need more rapid growth to enable government to spend more on healthcare, education, social grants, infrastructure and other key areas to improve the lives of our people.  Growth is the only way to achieve fiscal sustainability and social progress,” he said.

    The President said this is why the Government of National Unity (GNU) is committed to sustaining the momentum achieved by Operation Vulindlela on the economic reform agenda. 

    He emphasised the need for bold, far-reaching reform to revive and reshape the economy. 

    Energy sector

    In the energy sector, government will establish a competitive electricity market governed by the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which came into effect earlier this year. 

    “This will enable multiple generators to compete to produce electricity at the lowest cost and with the greatest efficiency. 

    “To support this, we will complete the restructuring of Eskom and establish an independent Transmission System Operator to create a level playing field for market competition,” he said. 

    To address the lack of grid capacity, the Minister of Electricity and Energy has launched the first round of Independent Transmission Projects to procure more than 1 000 km of new transmission lines. 

    These reforms will ultimately mean lower costs and a reliable electricity supply for all South Africans. 

    Logistics sector

    In the logistics sector, private rail companies will soon be able to operate on the freight rail network, following the publication of the Network Statement by Transnet in December last year. 

    This will enable massive investment in rolling stock and enable more goods to be transported by rail, helping the country’s export industries to grow. 

    “These reforms will generate significant capital and new revenue streams for Transnet to help stabilise its operations and enable it to invest,” the President said. 

    The implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap will continue in phase two, including the vertical separation of infrastructure and operations for both rail and ports, which will enable competition in operations and encourage private sector participation. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape Government alarmed by 18 road fatalities in one week

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Western Cape Provincial Government has expressed deep concern over the latest statistics regarding road safety in the province for the period between 29 April and 4 May 2025.

    During this time, 16 fatal crashes resulted in the tragic loss of 18 lives, highlighting the severe consequences of reckless and negligent driving.

    According to the province, a total of 267 speeding violations were recorded. Some of the highest speeds recorded included 163 km/h in a 120 km/h zone, 139 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, 124 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, 114 km/h in a 70 km/h zone, and 104 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.

    “These shocking speeds not only endanger the lives of drivers, but also those of passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. 

    “Speeding increases the likelihood of losing control of a vehicle, reduces the effectiveness of protective equipment, and increases stopping distances, ultimately raising the risk and severity of incidents,” the statement read. 

    In the past week, the Western Cape’s Provincial Traffic Services carried out 238 integrated operations, which included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, and speed control initiatives.

    During these operations, more than 36 000 vehicles were stopped and inspected, with over 8 000 fines issued for various violations, and 128 arrests made.

    “Notably, 86 of these arrests were for driving under the influence of alcohol, further compounding the danger on our roads.”

    The Western Cape Mobility Department urged all road users to take personal responsibility for road safety. 

    The provincial department believes that many crashes and fatalities recorded are preventable and stem from poor driving decisions, including excessive speed, driving under the influence, and ignoring basic road rules.

    “In the past week, 16 crashes could have been avoided, and 18 lives could have been saved. These statistics should not just shock us, they should spur us into action. The truth is that too many of these incidents are due to human error and a disregard for rules that are intended to protect us all. 

    “We each have the power to help prevent crashes and save lives,” said Western Cape Mobility Department’s Head of Communication, Muneera Allie.

    The provincial government said it remains committed to enforcement, education, and interventions to improve road safety. 

    “The success of these efforts depends on every single road user doing their part.

    “Let’s work together to make our roads safer, for our families, our friends, our communities. Every life matters.”

    Tips to avoid speeding:

    •    Plan your journey and allow extra time to reach your destination.

    •    Pay attention to speed limit signs and road conditions.

    •    Avoid distractions and stay focused on the road.

    •    Be mindful of weather and traffic, adjust your speed accordingly. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: N West takes service delivery programmes to Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The North West Provincial Government’s Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, known as Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded, was launched this week in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality. 

    This initiative focuses on areas such as Swartruggens, Derby, Redirile, and the Senthumole section in Koster.

    The weeklong service delivery programme will conclude with the provision of on-site social services at the Reagile Community Hall in Koster on Friday, 9 May 2025. 

    READ | North West leaders on drive to expedite services 

    This event will include visits to identified infrastructure projects and a community feedback session, which will be led by Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi.

    According to the provincial government, Mokgosi will be joined by MECs, and District and Local Mayors. 

    In efforts to empower local farmers and enhance food production capacity, a shade net tunnel will be handed over to the Onalerona Community Centre. 

    Meanwhile, a veteran poultry package will be provided to beneficiaries, which includes one three-tier layer cage, layer mash feed, and 120 point-of-lay chickens. 

    A veteran goat package will also be distributed, consisting of 10 Boer goat does and one Boer goat buck.

    In addition, a 10-hectare center pivot system will be handed over to a farmer in Koornfontein.

    The Premier’s team will also embark on a site inspection visit to the new Mphe Bana II Secondary School construction project in Reagile, along with an oversight visit to the special maintenance section of Roads P4/2, including Koster Town and sections of Road P34/2. 

    “Road safety will be improved through the patching of potholes, while grass cutting will be undertaken at identified roads. High-mast and streetlight repairs will also be carried out across Reagile to enhance night-time safety. 

    “Furthermore, an intensified litter picking and waste collection programme will target illegal dumping sites with the launch of the clean cities campaign,” the statement read. 

    In response to the needs of the community, sanitary towels will be issued to learners at Mphe Bana Secondary School to support hygiene and dignity. 

    The leaders will also distribute food parcels to needy families as part of the ongoing community relief efforts. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Tove Jansson’s Moomins illustrations taught us to imagine, resist and belong

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amelia Huw Morgan, Senior Lecturer Illustration, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    There is a world beyond our own, where imagination and reality meet, and where, for 80 years, Tove Jansson’s Moomins illustrations have offered readers a way to recognise themselves.

    Before Moomin books began to be published in 1945, early Moomin characters appeared, grumpily, in publications like the Finnish satirical magazine Garm. Jansson had started her career there in 1929. Her witty caricatures led to her making a name for herself, relishing the opportunity to be “beastly to Stalin and Hitler”.

    But as war engulfed the world in the 1940s, Jansson turned away from direct satire. Instead, she took the Moomins to the soft refuge of her newly imagined Moominvalley, to live more safely, simply and happily, where they continued to grapple with serious issues. She later recalled that at the time she “felt that the only thing one could do was to write fairy tales”.

    Cover of the 1950 paperback edition of Finn Family Moomintroll.
    Tove Jansson/Wikimedia

    Since then, her creations have provided a haven where melancholy, joy and wonder can exist side by side. Through their soft, contrary, strange and heavy lightness, the Moomins’ theorise and share wisdom.

    Illustrated children’s books like the Moomins can turn into our forever books. For this reason, children’s literature should always be taken seriously, as former children’s laureate Lauren Child has argued.

    But in today’s publishing world, illustrations often seem designed simply to fatten pages up. They look like something but can feel like nothing.

    Golden age

    During the golden age of illustration between 1890 and 1930, illustrators gave children a new and vital aspect of childhood. They created books that supported young readers as they grew.

    Illustrators like Kate Greenaway and Beatrix Potter who Jansson much admired, took children seriously. They met them unpatronisingly and valued their imaginations.

    Greenaway’s illustrations for songs, parlour games and nursery rhymes, as well as her famous drawings for the Pied Piper of Hamelin, and Potter’s courageous problem-solving animals, charm the child who will one day become an adult.

    Front cover of The Moomins and the Great Flood.
    Tove Jansson/Wikimedia

    Jansson’s tiny ink marks continued this tradition. As you travel through the expanse of Moominvalley, she holds the reader close, transporting them to the Moomins’ consciousness. The texture of her illustrations make them almost tangible.

    Our imaginations become fertile and awake. From the slippery feel of seaweed underfoot to the dim light of a cold room, everything is heightened by the Moomins’ glowing whiteness. Their thoughtful eyes widen to produce subtle emotions.

    Jansson’s techniques are much like the methods used by writers such as Katherine Mansfield (1888 – 1923). She was a pioneering modernist and her work is now praised for its accessible approach to writing short stories. Mansfield threw her readers into her characters’ experiences to feel their feelings and think their thoughts. Mansfield’s astute observations and empathy entwined to sustain sophisticated stories which feel fresh to this day.

    Similarly, Jansson’s drawings refuse to patronise or simplify. They respect the reader’s intelligence, offering stories that enchant and challenge in equal measure.

    Jansson placed her characters between reality and imagination. Her comic strips had spoken to a world of dictators, of vanity and class. This allowed her to form, in Moominvalley, a place also to observe, make comment, fight back, perhaps even ridicule. She kept the satirical qualities but made them more palatable to children as well as adults.

    The UK version of the Polish felt stop motion Moomins animation.

    Texture

    Perhaps the 1977 to 1982 Polish stop-motion Moomin animations captured the texture of Jansson’s world best. In these felted forms, the Moomins remained soft, slightly wobbly and imperfect, just as in the original ink lines.

    The more polished, digital and sharp-edged the Moomins become, the more their truth seems to recede. Commercialisation has pushed the Moomins into the bright, glossy world of merchandise – mugs, theme parks and endless shelf life. But in the rush to perfect and brand them, we risk losing the open, imaginative spaces Jansson drew.

    Her illustrations matter because they are portals, openings into parallel worlds that help us better understand ourselves. Early fairy tales were deliberately sparse and undetailed, leaving space for a child’s imagination to roam freely. Jansson’s illustrations do the same.

    In the penultimate chapter of her second Moomin book Comet in Moominland, Moominmama sings a lullaby to the children who have returned from their adventure:

    Snuggle up close and shut your eyes tight

    And sleep without dreaming the whole of the night

    The comet is gone and your mother is near

    To keep you from harm till the morning is near

    It’s a moment of comfort, of deep protection. A mother willing her children to forget what they’ve seen. But viewed from today’s perspective, in a world saturated with fear, uncertainty and noise, it also raises a question. Should we be lulled into forgetting, or, as Jansson’s illustrations suggest, should we remain half-awake?

    Her drawings never offer perfection. The ink lines wobble and hold tension and gentleness together, just as her stories balance safety with peril. Jansson’s illustrations invite us to embrace the vulnerability and the danger, the wholesome and the pure. They give us space to feel deeply and think clearly, in a world that often discourages both.

    Amelia Huw Morgan 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. How Tove Jansson’s Moomins illustrations taught us to imagine, resist and belong – https://theconversation.com/how-tove-janssons-moomins-illustrations-taught-us-to-imagine-resist-and-belong-254631

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Keep calm and carry on buying: how Ukrainian consumers are hitting back at Russia

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cristina Galalae, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, The Open University

    Political conflicts and global tensions always affect people on the ground and across borders. Unable to influence events such as the ongoing war against Ukraine or proposed sweeping US tariffs, people turn to whatever resources are available for defending their livelihoods, institutions and communities.

    This explains the recent surge of boycotts and “buycotts” where consumers swerve a brand or actively support it for political reasons. For example, shoppers across the world are replacing US goods with local alternatives to protect national pride and economies.

    In the early days of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, shoppers were making similar public commitments to boycott Russian products.

    But there are many other ways in which brands and consumers responded to the start of the invasion in 2014. Global and local reactions from brands included donations, divestment, the creation of new products or product names and advertising and social media content linked to the invasion. In turn, consumer responses to these brand initiatives are a form of civic action.

    In a study we undertook (along with our colleagues Carlo Mari, Verónica Martín Ruiz and Lizette Vorster), we analysed how marketing professionals and ordinary consumers create and interpret products and brands explicitly or implicitly acknowledging the war in Ukraine. To do this, we conducted in-depth interviews with marketing managers and consumers and analyses of brand and product imagery.

    Our findings highlight three ways that marketing resources and consumer responses support psycho-social and cultural resilience in war-affected communities.

    1. Using satire to ease symbolic threat

    Humour and satire have long been used for addressing pressing societal issues, and many brands in Ukraine have embraced them in response to the invasion. For example, mayonnaise brand Ukrop Style, marketed by Ukrainian firm Olkom, leant on satire to boost consumer morale.

    The term “Ukrop” (meaning “dill” in Ukrainian) has been used by Russia as a slur against Ukrainians since the beginning of the war. Several “ukrop”-themed products and services then sprang up to reclaim the word and its imagery. It was used in new product names and packaging, as Olkom did.

    Several participants in our study discussed engagement with brands like this to mobilise the public spirit of defiance. For them, the use of humour helped lessen the insult directed at their nation.

    2. National symbols for societal cohesion

    When people perceive that their society and way of life is under threat, they often turn to cultural symbols. These can help to assert connections with others.

    Several brands have incorporated symbolic references to Ukraine in their communication messages, with national flags and designs depicting vyshyvanka
    embroidery (which is specific to traditional Ukrainian shirts).

    A Samsung advert using vyshyvanka, traditional Ukrainian garments and the phrase “Evolution is beautiful” evokes Ukraine’s 2014 Revolution of Dignity and the shared Ukrainian identity built on dignity, freedom and togetherness.

    Samsung taps into Ukrainian national pride.

    3. Promoting the origin of products

    Between 2014 and 2022, Ukraine and Russia continued to trade in consumer goods. During this time, several major retail chains in Ukraine used flags to mark the origin of products.

    These marketing signals kept consumers informed, but potentially also supported boycotts and buycotts. Since 2022, Ukraine’s trade in consumer goods with Russia has ceased. But the labelling of Ukraine-made goods has grown. The Ukrainian ministry of economy has launched a “Made in Ukraine” trademark, encouraging people to support local manufacturers.

    Even when brand boycotts are no longer needed – as is the case with Ukraine and Russia, since the two countries no longer trade – consumers still use their collective power to support their local economy.

    The response of consumers

    Participants in our study shared the view that brand activism and marketing related to political shocks can offer people an outlet for a civic response. It also opens up conversations about the distressing events affecting them and their country.

    Some described these marketing activities as grassroot initiatives by fellow citizens – owners and managers of brands engaging in activism. Others stressed that their willingness to support brand activism is dependent on whether they perceive it as sincere or mere profit-seeking. Few interviewees separated private consumption from political views and actions.

    Brand activism and marketing related to conflict and political shocks could well be a trend that will grow in scale and scope. After all, consumption remains one domain where people have collective power.

    Boy/buycotting movements responding to the US tariffs are gaining momentum, while the #buyforukraine and #shopukrainian initiatives have stood the test of time.

    Brands and governments may be tempted to leverage this social sentiment, but here our research tells a cautionary tale. The consumers we interviewed were savvy in their assessment of the sincerity of brand activism. And they held different views about its appropriateness as a form of civic action.

    Brand activism merely seeking to encourage sales may backfire, evoking consumer cynicism rather than support. For example, brands like Unilever and Pepsi were criticised for appearing to be insincere in their announced suspension of sales and production in Russia.

    At the same time, brand activism increasingly requires careful, nuanced consideration. More widely, consumers are not united on whether companies should take positions on political and social issues. Whether brand activism proves to be this century’s “Keep Calm and Carry On” remains to be seen.

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

    – ref. Keep calm and carry on buying: how Ukrainian consumers are hitting back at Russia – https://theconversation.com/keep-calm-and-carry-on-buying-how-ukrainian-consumers-are-hitting-back-at-russia-256000

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister commends Eastern Cape abalone poaching bust

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has commanded a joint law enforcement operation, which led to the arrest of three suspects involved in illegal abalone possession in the Eastern Cape.

    Three male suspects, aged 27, 28, and 32, were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, following a joint operation by the Gonubie SAPS, East London Dog Unit, and Green Scorpions.

    The operation was initiated after authorities received an intelligence about illegal diving activities at German Bay Beach.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, police spokesperson, Captain Hazel Mqala said the members of the force conducted surveillance from 10pm on Tuesday, and at approximately 3:30am, spotted four males emerging from the sea carrying bags.

    “When the suspects noticed the law enforcement presence, they dropped the bags and attempted to flee back into the water. Three of the suspects were successfully apprehended, while the fourth escaped.

    “Upon inspection, the recovered bags were found to contain 693 abalone with an estimated street value of R200 000,” Mqala said.

    George commended the law enforcement for their diligent efforts in apprehending the suspects, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling environmental crime.

    The Minister warned that abalone poaching threatens marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of dependent communities.

    “This successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative law enforcement efforts in combating the illegal harvesting and trade of our marine resources. Abalone poaching poses a severe threat to the sustainability of our marine ecosystems and undermines the livelihoods of communities that depend on these resources,” George said.

    George underscored government’s firm stance against environmental crimes.

    “The arrest of these suspects sends a clear message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face the full might of the law.”

    The Minister further acknowledged ongoing surveillance of enforcement teams.

    “I am encouraged by the swift action taken by SAPS and their partners, as well as their commitment to ongoing surveillance and enforcement.”

    He reaffirmed the department’s dedication to protect South Africa’s natural heritage.

    “As the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, I remain committed to supporting initiatives that protect our natural heritage and ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources.

    “I urge communities to continue working with law enforcement by providing information that can help curb these illegal activities. Together, we can safeguard our environment for future generations,” George said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Girls’ voices are needed to tackle misogyny and the manosphere – but they are being ignored

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chiara Fehr, PhD Candidate in Gender and Sexuality Studies, UCL

    yunulia/Shutterstock

    The Netflix series Adolescence has sparked important conversations about the role of social media in spreading harmful content. It has widened the public’s understanding of the rampant uptake of digitally disseminated misogyny, the legacies of Andrew Tate and those like him, and the violence perpetuated by the manosphere. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has even supported a plan to show the series to young people in schools.

    But when the term “misogyny” is brought up in reference to the manosphere, girls and women often become abstract representations of victimhood. Their voices are missing. Conversation around Adolescence, as well as wider coverage on the online misogyny, tends to prioritise the opinions, behaviour and experiences of boys and how they can be supported.

    Very little so far has been said about how those victimised feel towards the cultural uptake of misogyny. We need to know how this is playing out in real time in and around schools for girls, and what structures of support are necessary for them.

    The crux of online misogyny lies in the systemic dehumanisation of women and girls. We need this to be a part of the discussion and to find solutions.

    In 2021, in the wake of COVID-19, an Ofsted review explored sexual abuse in schools and colleges. Girls were asked about the types of sexual behaviour they experienced among their peer group. 92% of girls mentioned sexist name calling, and 88% said that they or their peers had received unsolicited explicit pictures or videos.

    Similarly, one of us (Jessica) has carried out research with colleagues on over 600 young people on their experiences of sexual violence online and at school. The research found that 78% of all participants had experienced harms that included misogynistic, sexually harassing or homophobic comments, and image-based sexual abuse.

    For almost all the young people in the study – 98.5% – these experiences had increased during COVID-19.

    The other of us (Chiara), is conducting doctoral research into teenage girls’ online experiences. So far this research has found that most participants had been negatively affected by rhetoric of online misogyny influencers, both online and offline. For most, these negative experiences involved behaviour from their male peers at school.

    Misogyny is normalised as ‘lad banter’.
    Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

    The girls recounted seeing a lot of manosphere content online and hearing discussions at school, which they found “unsettling” and “scary” as they promoted harmful body image and toxic sexual scripts. Much of this related to the standards boys in their schools would set for girls’ appearance.

    The girls also discussed how boys at their school did not understand the seriousness of their misogynist behaviour. “They do it to wind us up, to get a reaction from us … to them it’s all a joke,” one girl said.

    This aligns with previous research by Jessica and her colleagues on manosphere messages and the sharing of nude images in school. Misogyny is legitimised as part of lad banter. “It’s normalised with boys to like to behave that way, I think,” a year-nine girl (aged 13-14) in one study said.

    An everyday reality

    Young people are already very familiar with, and regularly deal with, the mundane reality of misogyny in their everyday lives. They do not need to be shown a television show, like Adolescence, which sensationalises and dramatises misogyny through the murder of a young girl. This show was not intended for educational purposes and would do little to change misogynist attitude of boys while potentially terrify girls.

    When addressing the radicalisation of boys online, the experiences of those who have been victimised need to be included. Young people should be taught to recognise patriarchal power structures and to be critical of online media, so they can better identify manosphere type messaging that legitimises misogyny.

    Unfortunately, although relationships and sex education is now a compulsory subject in UK schools, it is often poorly resourced and low priority. It does not necessarily cover issues such as sexual violence and misogyny, nor does it typically connect the dots to how sexual violence is normalised in digital and non-digital environments. Jessica and colleagues have co-produced relationships and sex education lessons that cover the complexity of online and offline sexual harassment, abuse and misogyny.

    Politicians across the UK need to make a systematic and concerted effort to support and regulate high-quality relationships and sex education. Training for teachers is necessary to address issues of sexual violence in a wider and more comprehensive way.

    Relying on a TV show that sensationalises misogyny and the manosphere, re-centres masculinity and erases the experiences of those victimised including girls and gender diverse youth, will not solve any of the pressing contemporary issues around the influx of digitally exacerbated misogyny.

    Jessica Ringrose receives funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council

    Chiara Fehr 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. Girls’ voices are needed to tackle misogyny and the manosphere – but they are being ignored – https://theconversation.com/girls-voices-are-needed-to-tackle-misogyny-and-the-manosphere-but-they-are-being-ignored-254626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five evidence-based ways to manage chronic stress – by an expert in behavioural psychology

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tanisha Douglas, Assistant Lecturer in Psychology, , Birmingham City University

    Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    Spend too long on social media and you might start to hear the term “cortisol face” used to describe someone with supposedly puffy eyes or cheeks. The phrase describes the physical signs that some believe result from prolonged stress, particularly elevated levels of the hormone cortisol. It’s often used to encourage people to do something about their stress levels.

    Cortisol is a natural hormone that plays an essential role in regulating metabolism, inflammation, blood sugar and, most importantly, the body’s response to stress. When we’re under pressure, cortisol levels rise to help us respond to the challenge at hand. It’s part of the “fight-or-flight” response that has evolved over millions of years to keep us safe.

    But managing stress isn’t just about reducing cortisol — it’s about supporting your body and mind. And because of the wide variety of physical and mental health effects that stress can cause – particularly when it becomes chronic – stress-management strategies should focus on improving overall wellbeing, not just how you look.

    This means creating a toolkit of habits and practices that signal safety to the body, helping it shift out of survival mode. Here are five evidence-based ways to manage stress long term.

    1. Start small — and stick with it

    When life feels overwhelming, the idea of making major changes can be enough to stop us in our tracks. But science shows that meaningful improvement often begins with the tiniest of steps.

    Maybe it’s five minutes of stretching while the kettle boils, switching your phone to “Do Not Disturb” after 9pm, or simply taking a few deep breaths before starting your day.

    The key isn’t intensity — it’s consistency. Like building muscle, stress resilience grows with regular, manageable effort. Start small, and let those early wins build momentum.

    2. Set goals you can actually measure

    Saying “I want to be less stressed” is a good intention — but it’s also vague. How would you know if you succeeded? Instead, try setting clear, specific targets like: “I’ll take a 20-minute walk after dinner on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” or “I’ll turn off all screens an hour before bed this week.”

    Specific goals give your brain something to work with. They also make it easier to track your progress — and celebrate it. Achievable goals create confidence, and confidence helps calm the nervous system.

    3. Check in with yourself regularly

    Stress doesn’t stay the same — and neither should your coping strategies. What worked for you during exam season or a tough breakup might not suit your current schedule or state of mind. That’s why it’s important to reflect and recalibrate.

    Ask yourself: What’s been helpful lately? What’s felt like a chore? You don’t need a journal (though it can help). Just a few minutes of honest reflection can show you where to tweak your routine. Think of it as emotional maintenance — like checking your car’s oil, but for your mind.

    4. Don’t underestimate the basics

    The foundations of wellbeing are often the most powerful — and the most overlooked. Regular movement, a good night’s sleep, nourishing food and spending time with people you trust all buffer the effects of stress. But it’s not about perfection – it’s about patterns.

    You don’t need to hit the gym five times a week or cook gourmet meals. Even a short walk, a better breakfast, or texting a friend instead of scrolling social media can nudge your nervous system in the right direction. Small improvements in the basics can create big shifts over time).



    Read more:
    The ‘cortisol belly’ myth: when diet culture is rebranded as ‘wellness’

    5. Tame the voice in your head

    Not all stress comes from outside pressures, some of it comes from how we talk to ourselves. Maybe it’s a voice saying “you’re falling behind” or “you can’t cope.” These thoughts can feel automatic, but they’re often based on distorted beliefs, not facts.

    Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to spot and challenge these patterns. When you catch a thought like “I always mess things up,” pause and ask: is that really true? What evidence do I have?

    Reframing unhelpful thoughts won’t make stress disappear, but it can change the way you carry it.

    Stress may be a natural part of life, but how we manage it makes all the difference. By understanding the science behind stress and taking small, practical steps to support our wellbeing, we can train our bodies to move out of survival mode and into a state of balance.

    You don’t need a perfect routine or hours of free time — just a willingness to check in with yourself and make space for small, consistent change. Because in a world that rarely slows down, learning how to care for your nervous system is not just self-care — it’s a powerful act of resilience.

    Tanisha Douglas 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. Five evidence-based ways to manage chronic stress – by an expert in behavioural psychology – https://theconversation.com/five-evidence-based-ways-to-manage-chronic-stress-by-an-expert-in-behavioural-psychology-254333

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police find human remains suspected to be of missing journalist and partner

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, May 8, 2025

    The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has confirmed that the police have found human remains in an open veld in the KwaMhlanga area in Mpumalanga. 

    Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said DNA testing will be conducted to ascertain if they belong to missing Pretoria-based journalist and his partner. 

    “The area where the remains were found was pointed out by suspects as an area where they left the pair,” said Mathe on Thursday.

    The couple had been missing since 18 February 2025.

    On Sunday, a cross-province operation involving Gauteng and Mpumalanga police — led by the Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph MKhwanazi — led to the questioning and subsequent arrests of four suspects.

    The first suspect, according to investigations, is said to have been the last in the company of the missing couple.

    The second, third and fourth suspects were found with different vehicle parts believed to be that of Ndlovu. 

    One of those arrested is said to be a mechanic who builds and fixes cars in KwaMhlanga.

    Two of the Volkswagen Citi Golfs that were found in the possession of the suspects have been seized. – SAnews.govza 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan, Bacon, Merkley, Hyde-Smith Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Address Mental Health Treatment Shortages

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced legislation to address mental health and substance use disorder facility shortages during a growing mental health crisis.

    About one in five American adults live with mental illness, and over 75 percent of adults who needed substance use treatment in the past year did not receive that care. From shortages in inpatient beds to intensive outpatient programs to behavioral health providers, treatment availability has not kept up with growing demand. As a consequence, many patients go without care or are boarded in emergency departments for days to weeks until psychiatric beds become available, which can have deeply harmful impacts on patient well-being. 

    H.R. 3266, the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act would:

    • Establish a new loan and loan guarantee program within the Department of Health and Human Services to build or renovate mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities.
    • Reserve at least a quarter of the funding for pediatric- and adolescent-serving facilities.
    • Prioritize facilities located in high need, underserved or rural areas and able to provide integrated care for patients with complex needs.

    “We face a mental health crisis in this country, but have yet to meet that crisis with the necessary avenues of support that our neighbors, friends, and family members need to battle a mental health or substance use disorder,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Those bravely seeking support shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get it, and addressing these facility shortages now will help ensure that care is there when patients need it. I urge my colleagues to support the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act to invest in our nation’s well-being and ensure every American, especially our nation’s youth and underserved communities, get the care they need.”

    “At a time when one in every five U.S. adults report experiencing mental illness, we need to be investing in mental health care,” said Rep. Bacon. “The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act will expand mental health infrastructure and ensure we have the capability to treat those experiencing a mental health crisis. There is a significant shortage of available treatment, and it is crucial that we address this gap.”

    “Mental health care is essential health care,” said Senator Merkley. “This legislation is about ensuring that communities in Oregon and across the nation have the infrastructure they need to provide critical mental health and substance use disorder services. By investing in mental health care facilities, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the mental health crisis affecting so many of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”

    “This legislation recognizes that our nation faces a growing crisis in not having enough infrastructure and workforce to treat people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.  We struggle with this in Mississippi,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.  “Our goal is to use loans and loan guarantees to increase the number of facilities to provide quality mental health and substance abuse care, while lessening the burdens now placed on law enforcement and local hospitals.”

    This legislation is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, Children’s Hospital Association, Clinical Social Work Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, National Association of Social Workers, National Rural Health Association, The Trevor Project, and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
     
    Read the full bill text here. Read the one-pager here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 08, 2025 Mullin, Schakowsky & Blumenthal Call on Trump Administration to Reserve Plans to Eliminate Consumer Product Safety Commission [1] H.R. Rep. No. 92-1153, at 25 (1972) (“The Commission’s decisions under this legislation will necessarily involve a careful meld of safety and economic considerations. This delicate balance, the committee believes, should be struck in a setting as far removed as… Read More

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Mullin California (15th District)

    “Without the dedicated oversight of the CPSC, American families, especially children, will be left vulnerable in their own homes.”

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) today led 21 members of the Senate and 27 members of the House in calling on Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to reverse plans to eliminate the bipartisan, independent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC is the only government entity tasked with developing and enforcing product safety standards, facilitating recalls of unsafe products, and educating consumers and businesses about product hazards and best practices. The proposal to absorb some of CPSC’s core functions into a nonexistent division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as HHS’ budget is being cut, is unrealistic and threatens public safety.

    “Since its inception, the CPSC has played a vital role safeguarding American families, and in particular infants, children, and older Americans. Thanks to the CPSC’s critical work, residential fires and fire-related deaths have decreased by over 40 percent. Crib deaths and child poisonings have dropped by 80 percent. The Commission’s work continues today, identifying emerging threats and protecting Americans from dangerous and banned imported products,” the Members wrote.

    The Members continued, “With the rapid growth of e-commerce and imported consumer products, especially from countries with less stringent safety regulations, CPSC plays a critical role to prevent unsafe and counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. market unchecked.”

    “We strongly oppose any attempt to eliminate, defund, or weaken the CPSC and demand that you immediately roll back any efforts to dissolve the agency. Americans rightfully expect that the products they bring into their home are safe, and only the CPSC has the authority and expertise to ensure that expectation is met,” the Members concluded.

    Blumenthal, Schakowsky, and Mullin’s letter comes as more than 150 consumer protection and trade groups warned that eliminating the CPSC would undermine product safety, weaken enforcement actions, consumer education campaigns, and data collection initiatives that protect Americans.

    U.S. Senators Amby Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Martin Heinrich (D-MN) signed onto the letter.

    U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Rick Larson (D-CT), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rashida Talib (D-MI), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), André Carson (D-IN), Becca Balint (D-WA), and J. Luis Correa (D-CA) also joined the letter.

    The full text of Blumenthal, Schakowsky, and Mullin’s letter is available here and below.

    Dear Director Vought:

                We write today on behalf of American consumers to express outrage that the Administration’s draft budget includes plans to eliminate the bipartisan, independent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) and absorb some of its functions and staff into a currently nonexistent staff division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The CPSC develops and enforces commonsense product safety standards, facilitates recalls of unsafe products, and educates consumers and businesses on product hazards and best practices.  Eliminating the agency will put the physical safety of all Americans at risk. 

    Congress created the CPSC almost 50 years ago to protect Americans from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with consumer products.  The Administration does not have the authority to eliminate a Commission established by Congress, as doing so would exceed its constitutional powers and undermine the principles of the legislative process.

                The establishment of the CPSC as an independent five-member commission reflected the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee’s understanding that product safety should be “as far removed as possible from partisan influence.”[1] Since its inception, the CPSC has played a vital role safeguarding American families, and in particular infants, children, and older Americans. Thanks to the CPSC’s critical work, residential fires and fire-related deaths have decreased by over 40 percent.[2] Crib deaths and child poisonings have dropped by 80 percent.[3] The Commission’s work continues today, identifying emerging threats and protecting Americans from dangerous and banned imported products. With the rapid growth of e-commerce and imported consumer products, especially from countries with less stringent safety regulations, CPSC plays a critical role to prevent unsafe and counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. market unchecked. These protections for American families have led to a comprehensive set of product safety standards, recall processes, data collection, and public education, which cannot be transferred to a new agency by executive action.

                HHS lacks the statutory authority to carry out the CPSC’s critical functions. Moreover, HHS already carries a broad mandate, overseeing food and drug regulation, communicable disease prevention, public health emergency preparation and responses, medical research, and the administration of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Yet, your Administration’s proposed budget plans would reduce HHS’s discretionary budget by one-third and eliminate 20,000 staff positions. Adding product safety to HHS’s already vast and demanding mandate, all while slashing the department’s budget and staff, would jeopardize the lives and physical safety of American families.

                We strongly oppose any attempt to eliminate, defund, or weaken the CPSC and demand that you immediately roll back any efforts to dissolve the agency.  Americans rightfully expect that the products they bring into their home are safe, and only the CPSC has the authority and expertise to ensure that expectation is met. The CPSC’s continued existence is essential to protecting Americans from preventable injury and death. Without the dedicated oversight of the CPSC, American families, especially children, will be left vulnerable in their own homes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Modernize Short Line and Regional Railroad Tax Credit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    May 08, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has reintroduced legislation with U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, to expand the Short Line Railroad Tax Credit that provides operators with essential resources to ensure communities and small businesses can rely on safe infrastructure. 

    The bipartisan Short Line Railroad Tax Credit Modernization Act would increase the tax credit available for track rehabilitation and maintenance from $3,500 per mile to $6,100 per mile. The bill would also make more tracks eligible for the credit. Under current law, eligibility is based on maps of track owned or leased by short line railroad operators as of 2015. The bill would expand eligibility to all tracks owned or leased as of 2025 and in accordance with modern maps. 

    “Short line and regional railroads are not just a mode of transportation, they are also a vital economic tool that connects local businesses with Oregonians and other people all across the nation,” said Wyden. “For years, Senator Crapo and I worked together to make railroad tax credits permanent, and the next step is to make these tax credits better for our operators.  Our bipartisan bill will provide railroads with much needed resources to make vital upgrades that will bring our rural, suburban and urban communities and their local economies together.”

    “Short line railroads are critical infrastructure that connect Idaho’s farmers, ranchers and manufacturers to national and global markets, supporting local jobs and driving economic growth in rural Idaho,” said Crapo. “Modernizing the Short Line Railroad Tax Credit will provide railroads with necessary certainty and resources to invest in safety, efficiency and long-term infrastructure improvements in our regional areas.” 

    Text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES ON HOUSE FLOOR: “AMERICA IS NOT DOWN WITH MTG”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor in opposition to the sycophantic bill put forward by Rubber Stamp Republicans to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

    JEFFRIES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the distinguished gentleman, my good friend from the great state of California, for his tremendous leadership and for pushing back against this bill. I urge a strong no against this silly, small-minded and sycophantic piece of legislation.

    When the American people woke up this morning, they could reasonably ask the question, what are their elected representatives on the Floor of the House of Representatives going to be debating? In an environment where the Trump tariffs are costing them thousands of dollars more per year, Republicans are crashing the economy in real time, costs are being raised on hardworking American taxpayers and Republicans are driving us toward a painful recession. What might Members of Congress under this temporary Republican majority be debating on the floor today? Would it be legislation about the economy? Something about healthcare? Anything about Social Security? Perhaps something on public safety? Maybe national security matters? Anything to bring to life the American dream for hardworking American taxpayers? No? What Republicans have decided to spend this entire legislative day doing is to debate a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

    Now, in some ways, I guess the American people can be thankful because this week, what Republicans were going to try and do was visit upon the American people the largest Medicaid cut in American history. And because Republicans are on the run, they were forced to take that hearing down. That battle’s not over. So in the absence of their ability to actually jam up hardworking American taxpayers, instead of focusing on things that would make a difference in the lives of the American people, we are here on the House floor more than 400 years after the fact, debating legislation to rename the Gulf of Mexico. 

    And it turns out there’s a lot more foolishness than this particular bill. Apparently, it’s not enough simply to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Republicans have introduced an act of Congress to express support for the designation of the first-ever Gulf of America Day. That ingenious piece of legislation was introduced by Representative Mark Alford of Missouri. At a time when Americans are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, when we are grappling with the high cost of living, don’t worry, Republicans have a solution. Congressman Brandon Gill of Texas has your back with a bill to require the $100 note to include a portrait of Donald J. Trump. No thank you. Not to be outdone, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina has the Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act. Really? Hard pass. 

    Flight travel has become more dangerous. We have an air traffic control crisis ongoing this week at a major airport in the northeast, central to a lot of the commerce and the functioning of the economy, an economy that Republicans are breaking in real time. What would be the Republican response to the situation in our skies? Representative Addison McDowell of the great state of North Carolina has a bill to designate Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as the Donald J. Trump International Airport. Did Virginia even vote for Donald Trump? Families are confronting thousands of dollars more per year in higher costs thanks to Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs. And instead of pushing back the President and Congress asserting our constitutional authority as it relates to tariffs and trade in the best interests of the American people—no—Republicans have a different approach. Here’s this gem from Representative Anna Paulina Luna of the great state of Florida. She’s got legislation to arrange for the carving of the figure of President Donald J. Trump on Mount Rushmore. Are we living in the times of King Nebuchadnezzar? What are we doing, folks?

    There are serious issues that the American people want us to confront. From the very beginning of this Congress, Democrats have said we will work with anyone to lower the high cost of living, to secure the border, to fix our broken immigration system, to protect communities, to stand up for the healthcare, the safety, the well-being, the national security of the American people. Republicans have no agenda other than the toxic agenda connected to their big ugly bill that they are trying to jam down the throats of the American people. And so when they have to run away from that and push it back, this is what we’re left with. Renaming the Gulf of Mexico, which 70% of the American people reject. That’s according to Fox News, that bastion of progressive politics. And so I’m here strongly urging a no vote against this small-minded, silly and sycophantic bill. And I can say without hesitation, reservation or need for clarification that America is not down with MTG. I yield back.

    Full remarks can be watched here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Titus, Schweikert, Cohen, and Ciscomani Launch Congressional Wild Horse Caucus

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

    Congresswoman Dina Titus, a longtime advocate for wild horses, announced the formation of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus to encourage federal policies for more humane treatment of wild horses and burros.

    “Nevada is home to more than 30,000 wild horses and burros – more than half of all the wild horses and burros in the United States,” said Congresswoman Titus. “These icons of the American West deserve to be treated humanely, and the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus can lay the groundwork for better management of these herds by the Bureau of Land Management.”

    Congresswoman Titus has introduced legislation to eliminate the often harmful and fatal use of helicopters in BLM wild horse gathers. She also has proposed using fertility control as a more humane and less expensive means to control wild horse populations.

    “I am hopeful that the Wild Horse Caucus will raise awareness in Congress that there are better ways to manage wild horses and burros,” said Congresswoman Titus. “Protecting these animals from harm should be an issue we can all agree upon.”

    Joining Congresswoman Titus as co-chairs of the bipartisan caucus are Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-1), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-9), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6).

    “Growing up, I had the blessing of spending much time on several ranches and farms in Arizona. These experiences have led me to serve as an advocate for humane treatment and protection of these majestic species. I’m looking forward to the conservation initiatives that will come out of the formation of this caucus,” said Congressman Schweikert.

    “I’m proud to be a co-chairman of the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus and to work to protect these iconic symbols of our country.  Wild horses and burros are part of our national heritage. How we treat animals is a direct reflection of who we are, and I hold firm in the belief that all beings should be treated humanely,” said Congressman Cohen.

    “Wild horses and burros embody the spirit and heritage of the West and deserve to be protected and treated humanely,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “For too long, these animals have been subject to cruel and costly roundups that, at best, remove them from their natural habitat to be housed in warehouses, and at worse, result in the death of the animal. Caring for wild horses and burros is not a partisan issue, which is why I am proud to be named as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus to promote humane policies, such as fertility control and habitat preservation, to manage and care for these iconic animals.”

    “This is an important step toward reforming a broken system,” said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of American Wild Horse Conservation. “For too long, federal wild horse policy has relied on costly and inhumane roundups that remove animals from the range only to warehouse them in holding facilities. We commend the leaders of the Wild Horse Caucus for recognizing that there’s a better way to manage our wild herds that is rooted in humane treatment, science, and fiscal responsibility.”

    “Protecting America’s wild horses and burros has always been a bipartisan issue, in large part because these iconic animals hold an important place in our country’s history and because, for countless Americans, they continue to embody the spirit of freedom and resilience,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., Animal Welfare Institute’s Equine Program Director and Senior Policy Advisor. “We are grateful to Representatives Titus, Ciscomani, Schweikert, and Cohen for their outstanding leadership on this issue. The Congressional Wild Horse Caucus will help ensure these beloved animals will be protected for generations to come.”

    Background

    In efforts to control equine populations, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently directed to “humanely capture” wild free-roaming horses and burros and set them up for adoption. To assist in the roundup, or “gathering”, of wild horses and burros, the BLM contracts directly with private enterprises, including helicopter companies, to pursue equines over long distances, creating situations that can be frightening and even deadly to the animals.

    These roundup practices also come at a steep cost to taxpayers. Since 2006, the BLM’s roundup contracts have paid some $57.4 million in taxpayer dollars to helicopter companies. Scientific research has shown that more humane and cost-effective alternatives, like fertility control, are equally effective in controlling equine populations. The BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, however, currently spends less than four percent of its budget on these methods. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Delivers House Floor Speech Against Senseless Deportation of Constituents

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

    May 08, 2025

    Rep. Mike Levin speaks about Gonzalez family deportation

    Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) delivered a speech on the House Floor against the deportation of Laguna Niguel constituents, Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who were deported to Colombia in February despite living in the U.S. for 35 years, raising a family, paying taxes, and having no criminal record.

    Watch the full House Floor speech here. Full remarks below.  

    “M. Speaker, I rise today to speak for my constituents Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez.

    “Thirty-five years ago, they came to the United States from Colombia in search of a better life.

    “They tried to file for asylum but received bad legal advice from a now-disbarred attorney. 

    “They raised three daughters in Laguna Niguel, California, worked hard, paid taxes, and never got so much as a traffic ticket.

    “For decades, they checked in with ICE voluntarily and were allowed to stay in the country.

    “But this past February, while at their ICE appointment, they were detained, separated, and deported.

    “Why was a family with no criminal history, no gang affiliation, three children, a new grandchild, why were they a priority for deportation? 

    “We should be using our resources to remove dangerous individuals — not those contributing positively to our society and to our economy.

    “Not people like Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez.

    “I’m all for a secure border, but what we’re seeing today is not the America that I know.  

    “Thank you. And I yield back.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Space, advanced aviation boost economy by $2.5b

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The space and advanced aviation sectors added more than $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy last year, a report released today by Space Minister Judith Collins shows.

    The Deloitte/Space TrailBlazer Innovation for Growth, Charting the Space and Advanced Aviation Sectors report showed the space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year.

    The advanced aviation sector, which includes emerging aviation technologies and overlaps with the space sector, contributed $480 million.

    “The report showed our fast-growing space sector with revenue increasing by 53 percent in the five years to 2024 – a faster rate than the world’s space economy,” Ms Collins says.

    “This is a success story we should be proud as it shows the sector is creating jobs for New Zealanders, attracting billions of dollars of investment into New Zealand, and driving innovation and scientific advancement.

    “We want to keep up the momentum, which is why we set the ambitious target of doubling the size of New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030.”

    The space sector’s year-on-year revenue growth of nearly 9 percent since 2019 was largely driven by increases in space manufacturing, operations and applications. The report, commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, also found New Zealand’s space sector is commercially led and homegrown, with 78 percent of survey respondents saying more than half their workforce is local.

    “As the sector grows, so does the number of people and communities it supports. The space sector now supports 17,000 jobs in New Zealand’s economy, up from 12,000 in 2019,” Ms Collins says.

    “Whether it’s a research lab, a drone manufacturer, or a rocket launch pad, there are some amazing companies and an immense depth of talent working in the space and advanced aviation sectors throughout the country.

    “Last year the Government signalled our intention to support the sector through a light-touch regulatory approach. We have natural advantages of clear skies and geography, and we want to give innovators the flexibility to test their ideas and continue driving growth.”

    “It’s also important we encourage the next generation to consider careers in the space and advanced aviation sectors.  

    “Applications for the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes open on 12 May. These prizes recognise and encourage innovative expertise for professionals and students, and I’d encourage people to apply,” Ms Collins says.

    The Innovation for Growth, Charting the Space and Advanced Aviation sectors report is available on the MBIE website.

    Note to Editors

    The attached infographic (PDF) shows high-level information on the space and advanced aviation sectors from the report.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Making Homeownership More Affordable Statewide

    Source: US State of New York

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    Create $100 Million New York State Pro-Housing Supply Fund

    Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Community Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. In the State Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the “Pro-Housing Community” designation a requirement for accessing up to $650 million in State discretionary programs. To date, nearly 470 localities have submitted letters of intent, and 300 municipalities from all corners of New York State have received Pro Housing certification. To further support localities that are doing their part to address the housing crisis, Governor Hochul is creating a $100 million Pro-Housing Supply fund for certified Pro-Housing Communities to assist with critical infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing, such as sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.

    Provide Communities Technical Assistance to Become Pro-Housing

    Without resources, some communities may not have the ability to design and adopt pro-housing policies such as master plans, zoning text updates, and streamlined permitting procedures. To help ensure more localities that want to promote housing growth have the ability to do so, Governor Hochul will provide $5.25 million in new grant funding to offer technical assistance to communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    Launch New York State’s First Mixed-Income Revolving Loan Fund

    With major forthcoming economic investments in Upstate New York, such as Micron’s $100 billion investment in Clay, the state continues to need an all-of-the-above approach to the housing supply to address acute housing needs and accommodate job growth. Too often, however, Upstate communities do not have the tools to create mixed income rental housing, leaving many developments permit-ready but unable to secure financing. To bridge this gap and unlock more housing, Governor Hochul is launching the State’s first revolving loan fund to spur mixed-income rental development outside New York City. With a $50 million State investment, the fund will fill construction financing gaps by providing a lower-cost and more flexible form of capital than is generally available in market financing. The funding will revolve and self-sustain over time through repayments once projects have converted to permanent financing after construction.

    Housing Access Voucher Program Pilot

    As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul is investing $50 million for the first year of a four-year pilot program for state-funded vouchers for homeless families or families at imminent risk of losing their housing. Vouchers would be available to households making 50 percent of area median income. HCR will administer the program through local partners outside of New York City, with the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and/or the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) administering the program within New York City. The vouchers will be a critical new tool to help New Yorkers escape or evade homelessness and housing insecurity.

    Provide Starter Home Innovation Funding

    Oftentimes, homes being built by the market today are larger and therefore less affordable than a traditional starter home. An undersupply of smaller, affordable homes limits mobility within the market, preventing young families from becoming homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in capital funding to incentivize the building of more starter homes, including innovative approaches to homebuilding such as the use of factory-built and modular development.

    $40 Million to Support the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP)

    The Homeowner Protection Program is a state-wide network of housing counseling and legal services organizations serving every county in New York. The network provides critical services to at-risk homeowners struggling to maintain their housing and avoid foreclosure. HOPP is also a front line defense in gentrifying neighborhoods helping to prevent fraud and deed theft for vulnerable homeowners. This funding will ensure that this network can continue to serve thousands of homeowners, preserving millions of dollars in equity and stabilizing communities.

    Expand and Strengthen the Resilient and Ready Programs

    Severe weather events are leaving New York homeowners in need of urgent repairs and long-term resilience measures. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in new funding for the Rapid Response Home Repair Program and Resilient Retrofits Program, which have provided vital assistance, helping over 1,300 homeowners to date recover and prepare for future disasters.

    Disincentivizing Institutional Investors from Buying Up One- and Two-Family Homes

    Nationally, private equity firms own more than 500,000 homes. According to some estimates, private equity firms are expected to own up to 40 percent of the single-family rental market by 2030. When large investors hold a disproportionate share of a local housing market it removes opportunities for homeownership, exacerbating the existing scarcity and driving up prices for remaining homes on the market. These consequences are felt most intensely by first-time and low- or moderate-income homebuyers.

    To help level the playing field and increase the opportunities for everyday individuals and families to purchase a home, Governor Hochul signed legislation to disincentivize large investment entities who own 10+ single- and two-family homes and act as a fiduciary for at least $30 million in assets under management from buying single- and two-family homes en masse, and will require a 90-day waiting period for institutional investors to make an offer on one- or two-family homes.

    The prohibition would also apply to an entity that receives funding from a covered institutional investor, other than in the form of a standard mortgage. Nonprofits, land banks, community land trusts, and foreclosure sales would be exempted. With the New York State Attorney General’s enforcement, covered entities that violate the waiting period would be subject to $250,000 penalties, and to $10,000 penalties for failing to provide required notices.

    Additionally, Governor Hochul signed legislation to prohibit institutional investors from claiming depreciation tax deductions for single- and two-family homes, or claiming interest deductions with respect to such homes, to disincentivize their accumulation of single- and two-family homes. The legislation also requires the New York Department of State (DOS) to provide notice when establishing a “cease and desist zone” in which homeowners who opt into coverage are prohibited from being solicited to sell their homes. The notice requirements will require information about the zone to be posted on DOS’ website when a zone is established and annually included in a local newspaper within the area of the zone.

    A safe and affordable home is a basic human right, and the only way to help New Yorkers achieve the American dream of homeownership is to build more housing and support our local communities.”

    Governor Hochul

    Strengthen Laws and Policies To Combat Home Appraisal Discrimination

    For many New Yorkers, their largest investment and most valuable asset is their home. Homes provide families with a safe place to live and an opportunity to build generational wealth. For too long, pervasive appraisal bias throughout the housing industry has unjustly stripped families of color of this opportunity, widening racial homeownership and wealth gaps. Governor Hochul secured agreement on legislation that will make it a violation of the State’s Human Rights Law to discriminate when providing real estate appraisals or in making such services available. The law will further enable DOS to fine appraisers for violations, in addition to other existing remedies, with half of those fines going to a fund to support fair housing enforcement. Governor Hochul also will be taking other administrative actions to diversify the appraiser workforce.

    Create an Affordable Homebuyer Tax Incentive

    Even when homes are developed for the express purpose of being sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers, local property tax assessments value the homes at fair market value, presenting challenges to creating homes these homebuyers can afford to purchase. The Governor secured an affordable homebuyer property tax incentive at local opt-in for homes built with assistance from governmental entities, nonprofits, land banks, or community land trusts, and sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. This will aid such homebuyers by making their dream of homeownership more attainable by bringing down costs and increasing the supply of these homes.

    Double New York State Low Income Housing Credits Annually

    Modeled after the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the New York State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) was signed into law in 2000 and has been critical to supporting the development of housing for low-and middle-income households. Governor Hochul is building on this success by including legislation in the Enacted Budget to double the amount of the tax credits available each year through the SLIHC program, making it the largest state low-income housing tax credit program in America. This action alone will generate upwards of $210 million in private investment in affordable housing per year.

    Unlock Historic Tax Credits by Decoupling and Expanding Eligibility

    Currently, New York State law requires Federal and State Historic Tax credits to be coupled together to the same investor and be available only in certain census tracts. These factors depress the economic value of both tax credits and needlessly turn investment away from housing projects, a problem felt especially acutely in upstate New York communities. Governor Hochul signed legislation that can unlock the maximum value of the tax credits by allowing for transferring the State credit to a different entity than the federal credit, and by eliminating the census tract eligibility requirement for affordable housing.

    Empower Communities to Redevelop Vacant Properties into Housing

    Many municipalities struggle with vacant and abandoned buildings that are in a significant state of disrepair in neighborhoods that lack the local economic conditions necessary to incentivize redevelopment by the private sector. Consequently, the investment required to redevelop these properties can exceed their value and the resulting funding gap prevents the property from being rehabilitated. To help communities fight back against vacant properties and revitalize neighborhoods, Governor Hochul secured agreement to authorize localities across the state to adopt a tax exemption to incentivize redevelopment of these properties into affordable homes.

    Embedded Flickr Album

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have been certified, including the city of Syracuse.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kristofer Haken Surrenders to New Hampshire Authorities 24 Hours After Federal Arrest Warrant Issued

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) announces the arrest of Kristofer Haken, 46, on multiple state and federal arrest warrants.

    Haken was a fugitive for approximately six months evading law enforcement after the issuance of a November 8, 2024, arrest warrant from the Portland Maine Police Department on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Elevated Aggravated Assault and two counts of Elevated Aggravated Assault stemming from a July 30, 2024, incident where a woman was shot and killed.

    On May 6, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Maine obtained a federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Haken surrendered to New Hampshire Probation and Parole on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, approximately 24 hours after the arrest warrant and wanted poster were issued. Haken was transported to a New Hampshire Correctional facility where he is currently in custody. Haken will be re-indicted in Maine to face his federal and state charges.

    The United States Marshal Service would like to recognize the following agencies who assisted in the fugitive investigation for Haken; Portland Maine Police Department, York County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service Districts of New Hampshire and Northern New York, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, Barrington New Hampshire Police Department, Hartford Vermont Police Department, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

    The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

    If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive please contact the United States Marshals Service at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov or submit a USMS Tip.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick

    NB Power has selected CanREA member companies to develop four new wind energy projects

    Fredericton, May 7, 2025— The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) congratulates three member companies for signing Power Purchase Agreements representing just over 450 MW of wind energy, as announced by NB Power today.

    Each of these four new wind energy projects is being developed by First Nations communities, in partnership with CanREA members Eolectric, ABO Energy and Natural Forces. The projects, totalling 452 megawatts (MW) of new generation in New Brunswick, are expected to be in service in 2027/28. 

    “The partnership between First Nations communities and developers is a critical component of all these projects, which will help contribute to New Brunswick’s low-carbon future,” said Jean Habel, CanREA’s Senior Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.  

    Specifically:  

    CanREA Gigawatt member Eolectric was selected for a project providing 92 MW of capacity, the Astuwicuwon Wind Project, developed in partnership with the Sitansisk First Nation. 
    CanREA Gigawatt Member, ABO Energy, was selected for a project with 60 MW of capacity, the Papoqji’jg Wind Project, developed in partnership with the Pabineau First Nation. 
    CanREA Megawatt Member, Natural Forces, was selected for two projects with 300 MW of total capacity: the Salmon River Wind Project (200 MW, to be developed in partnership with Wolastoqey Resource Developments Inc., representing all six Wolastoqey communities), and the Paqt’smawei Sipu Wind Project (100 MW, which will be developed in partnership with the L’nui Menikuk First Nation (Indian Island) and Mi’gmaq United Investment Network). 
    “Wind power is an affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable electricity generation technology,” said Eddie Oldfield, CanREA’s Manager for Atlantic Canada. “CanREA will continue to work hard in Atlantic Canada to maximize the value of this tremendous energy resource.” 

    Quotes

    “The partnership between First Nations communities and developers is a critical component of all these projects, which will help contribute to New Brunswick’s low-carbon future.”  
    —Jean Habel, Senior Director, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    “Wind power is an affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable electricity generation technology. CanREA will continue to work hard in Atlantic Canada to maximize the value of this tremendous energy resource.”
    —Eddie Oldfield, Manager, Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

    For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact: 

    Communications Canadian Renewable Energy Association 613-227-5378 communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

    About CanREA 

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 

    The post STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Cortez Masto Push for Necessary Updates to Veteran Home Improvement Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the bipartisan Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act, which would help disabled veterans and their families make accessibility and safety improvements to their homes. 
    “Arkansas veterans have sacrificed tremendously in service to our nation,” said Boozman. “One of the most important ways we can support our former servicemembers is to ensure those living with a disability feel safer in an accessible home with a greater sense of independence and quality of life. I am pleased to champion commonsense improvements that will better serve those who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
    “After making countless sacrifices in service to our country, disabled veterans deserve to live in their own home with more freedom and dignity,” said Cortez Masto. “That’s why I’m proud to work alongside Senator Boozman to provide them the resources they need to make improvements to their homes for accessibility and safety. I will continue working across the aisle to stand up for Nevada veterans and their families.”
    While the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) program offers funds to help eligible disabled veterans with service-related medical issues make home alterations that accommodate their medical needs, HISA grants have not been updated to meet the current costs of materials and labor. 
    Specifically, the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act would help disabled veterans build accessible bathrooms, widen doors and install wheelchair ramps, grab bars and handrails in their homes by:
    Increasing the HISA grant from $6,800 to $10,000 for veterans with disabilities;
    Raising the grant from $2,000 to $6,800 for veterans with non-service-connected disabilities; and
    Requiring the VA to adjust the grant amounts annually based on the cost of residential construction, so the funding stays relevant as prices change.
    The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act has been endorsed by the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
    “VA’s Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant program provides modifications to a veteran or service member’s primary residence. However, years of inattention have diminished the effectiveness of this program, and it is long past time to update grant rates to realistic levels. We appreciate the efforts of Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Boozman to correct that by increasing grant rates and tying them to a formula, so they remain current for years to come,” said Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America Heather Ansley.
    The bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio, Democratic Veterans Tear Apart Trump VA for Stalling Cancer Trials, Hurting Veterans Healthcare

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    Following reporting from ProPublica, Democratic veterans in Congress highlight how much the Trump Administration is hurting veterans’ care across the country

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran Congressman Deluzio and a group of congressional Democratic veterans came together to highlight how the Trump Administration is putting veteran lives at risk and hiding it from the American people, as reported most recently by ProPublica. Especially concerning is the fact that VA clinical trials for multiple types of cancer treatment have been stalled due to staffing cuts and an ongoing hiring freeze at the Department. 

    “This Administration is putting veteran lives at risk in Western Pennsylvania and all across the country—and they are hiding it from the American people,” said Congressman Deluzio. “What else do you call staffing disruptions so intense that they are stalling cancer treatment clinical trials and disrupting suicide prevention work? These are real life, dangerous impacts on America’s veterans—all of whom signed a blank check to serve or even die for this country. My fellow veterans in Congress are here to crank up the heat on Secretary Collins: veterans see this betrayal for what it is.”

    At the press conference in Washington, Congressman Deluzio was joined by fellow veteran Members of Congress Ted Lieu (CA-36), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24,) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02). 

    Photos of the event are here, and a video recording of the press conference is here.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Gulf of America Act PASSES House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA, 14)

    Today, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Gulf of America Act passed the House of Representatives.

    Following the passage of Congresswoman Greene’s bill, she issued the following statement:

    “I’m proud to have passed my Gulf of America Act through the House.

    This bill codifies President Trump’s executive order permanently renaming the rightful Gulf of America.

    The American people are footing the bill to protect and secure the Gulf’s maritime waterways for commerce to be conducted.

    Our U.S. armed forces protect the area from any military threats, from foreign countries and from the Mexican cartels, who use the Gulf to traffic humans, drugs, and weapons into our communities.

    It’s our gulf.

    The rightful name is the Gulf of America and it’s what the entire world should refer to it as.”

    Since January 20, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard has seized over 100,000 pounds of cocaine and over 10,000 pounds of marijuana, much of it trafficked through these waters.

    Democrat policies have fueled this crisis. They opened our borders, defunded border enforcement, and prioritized illegal aliens and MS-13 gang members over American families. These same Democrats are now outraged over the idea of renaming a body of water that we protect, we patrol, and we pay for.

    Certainly, it is not controversial to rename landmarks within the United States. During the Obama administration, the EPA headquarters was renamed after President Clinton in 2013. President Obama renamed Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015.

    They’re not upset about geography. They’re upset because their America Last agenda is being exposed.

    The gulf is rightfully ours, we must make this change permanent.

    Congresswoman Greene urges all of her colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass this bill so it can be sent to President Trump’s desk.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Harshbarger Reintroduces Legislation to Support Women and Encourage Life

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger reintroduced the Pregnancy.Gov Act, legislation to create a national web application — Pregnancy.gov — that would provide comprehensive, zip code-specific information on public and private resources available to expectant mothers. This initiative can be implemented at no net cost to the federal government, using existing infrastructure and the credibility of a “.gov” domain.

    Congresswoman Harshbarger issued the following statement:

    “When you’re blessed with a pregnancy — whether expected or unexpected — you shouldn’t have to scramble for help. This bill ensures women have easy access to life-affirming resources, including prenatal care, alternatives to abortion, transportation assistance, support for victims of domestic or sexual violence, and much more.

    “This legislation has the potential to save countless unborn lives while helping families welcome God’s greatest gift into the world. I’m proud to lead this effort and continue standing as a strong voice for life.”

    Kristin Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America & Students for Life Action said the following.

    “Many people who advocate for abortion claim the pro-life movement does not care about the woman in the unexpected pregnancy nor the child after they are born. Well, this is clearly far from the truth. The Pregnancy.Gov bill would give all women who find themselves in unexpected pregnancies that there are life-affirming resources for them. According to the Guttmacher Institute, (the think tank arm for Planned Parenthood) shows that 67% of women who seek abortion were pressured or forced into an abortion. This Pregnancy.Gov site is one way to greatly reduce the number of abortions and traumatized mothers who thought they had no other option than to end the life of their own child.”

    Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America LAC, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, added the following.

    “Women facing an unexpected pregnancy need information and they need resources to know they are not alone and have the ability to choose life. 

    “Pregnancy.Gov will be a one-stop-shop listing everything from the local pregnancy resource centers to food and nutrition assistance, education opportunities, and adoption and legal services. We are delighted Rep. Harshbarger has championed this legislation and will work to help gain widespread support for women.”

    Vice President of Government Affairs for SBA Pro-Life America, Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, stated the following.

    “No mother should ever feel alone when she faces an unplanned pregnancy. There are thousands of pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and other organizations nationwide that stand ready to support her before, during, and after pregnancy. These centers provide hope and encouragement as well as practical material, medical, and educational support to millions of families every single year. We thank pro-life champion Representative Harshbarger and her colleagues for supporting moms in need by working to get them access to these critical life-affirming resources.”

    Original cosponsors include: Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), and John Rose (R-TN).

    Learn more about the legislation by clicking HERE.

    View the bill text HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Helping heroes heal

    Every day, Alberta’s first responders face danger, trauma and heartbreak to safeguard the lives, futures and well-being of Alberta’s families, communities and loved ones. That’s why it is important to honour their sacrifice by ensuring Alberta’s heroes don’t face their battles alone.

    Budget 2025 provides the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) grant program with an ongoing investment of $1.5 million per year. This grant supports non-profit organizations in delivering critical mental health services to first responders living with or at risk for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), as well as those conducting applied research to advance prevention and treatment. This funding ensures Alberta’s police and peace officers, correctional workers, paramedics and firefighters (including wildland firefighters) get the help they need, when they need it.

    “First responders and emergency workers face Alberta’s hardest moments – trauma, danger, and crisis – so others don’t have to. This grant program makes sure they get the support they need when it matters most. Alberta’s government will continue to stand with our local heroes by funding the services and research that safeguard their mental health and well-being.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    “We owe so much to the men and women on the frontlines working as first responders – police and peace officers, firefighters, paramedics and correctional workers. These jobs come with a cost, with workers often facing post-traumatic stress injuries or other mental health challenges. I am pleased to see funding go toward helping first responders heal from these challenges.”

    Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction

    “Supporting the mental health and well-being of our first responders is crucial. They bravely confront Alberta’s most challenging situations, and this grant program provides essential resources to help them heal and continue their vital work, ensuring they receive the care they deserve.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    The grant program helps organizations across Alberta offer accessible, high-impact programming that addresses the psychological risks of first response work. It also funds applied research to develop and evaluate new approaches to treatment and prevention, ensuring support systems evolve to meet the growing needs of those on the front lines.

    Applications are currently open for the 2025-26 intake of the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders grant program. The application period opened March 31, 2025, and will close on May 26.

    Some grant recipients from 2024-25 included:

    • The Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association (received $185,435):
      • For their “First Responder and Family PTSI Train the Trainer” project. Building on a previous grant for “Working Mind First Responder,” this funding will train 48 new facilitators to deliver mental health training.
         
    • Legacy Place Society (received $161,000):
      • For their 12-month “Families as Allies” project to support families of first responders recovering from PTSI. The project will offer resources and strategies to help family members care for their own well-being while supporting their loved ones.
    • The University of Alberta (received $331,000):
      • For their “Moving Forward: 3MDR Study with First Responders in Alberta.” The project will train providers in 3MDR, an emerging virtual reality therapy for PTSD.

    “The receipt of SPHIFR grant funding has been pivotal to our ongoing efforts to provide evidence-based mental health services to Alberta first responders, emergency workers and families living with or at risk for PTSI.”

    Craig Hrynchuk, CEO and executive director, Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association

    Alberta’s government is putting the well-being of first responders at the forefront because when first responders are supported, communities are safer and stronger. By investing in the mental health of first responders, Alberta’s government is helping ensure the province’s emergency workforce remains strong, supported and ready to serve.

    Quick Facts:

    • Since the program launched in 2020, 62 grants have been provided to 32 service providers and 30 for researchers, for a total of almost $7.5 million in funding.
    • In the 2024-25 intake, six service providers and six researchers received a total of $1.5 million in grants.

    Related information: 

    • First responders’ mental health grants

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PDS Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years for Gun Battle in Southeast Washington Neighborhood

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    WASHINGTON –  Isjalon Jermiah Armstead, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison in connection with a June 2023 shootout in a residential neighborhood in Southeast.

    The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

    Armstead, aka “Smaut,” was a member of the Push Dat Shit street crew. He pleaded guilty Jan. 30, 2025, to discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 120-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy B. Jackson ordered Armstead to serve four years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, on June 5, 2023, Armstead was in possession of a half-pound of marijuana and intended to sell it. About 3:15 p.m., Armstead — who was seated in the front passenger seat of a 2005 Nissan Altima near the intersection of Third and Atlantic Streets, SE — engaged in a gun battle with the driver of another car. During the shootout, Armstead fired a .300 caliber AR-Pistol from the passenger seat before the Altima he was riding in became disabled and crashed through a fence and stopped in a grassy area next to an apartment building on Atlantic Street.   

    Armstead, who suffered bullet wounds to his wrist and chest during the shootout, and the driver of the vehicle both fled on foot through a wooded area between Atlantic Street and Valley Avenue, stopping to discard the AR-Pistol in a trash receptacle. Responding MPD officers apprehended Armstead about 3:18 p.m. at the intersection of Fourth Street and Valley Avenue, SE, retraced Armstead’s steps, and found the AR-Pistol which was later determined to have Armstead’s DNA on it.

    According to court documents, PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, SE, and operated an open-air drug market outside a market. In August 2018, PDS allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang. The combined gang also conspired to carry firearms – including machine guns – to protect themselves, their drugs, their cash, and their territory from rival crews with whom they had “beefs.”

    This sentence is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has resulted in 26 convictions and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.

    The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross Border Task Force, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.

    23cr379

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Sunlight Simplify and AndDone Unite to Streamline Insurance Operations and Payments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla. and KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunlight Simplify, a leading provider of cloud-based, no-code and low-code policy administration solutions for insurance carriers and managing general agents (MGAs), and AndDone, a premier insurance-focused payments platform wholly owned by IPFS, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing the insurance industry’s operational and payment processes.

    This collaboration integrates Sunlight Simplify’s robust policy administration capabilities, tailored specifically for the Medical Professional Liability (MPL) insurance sector, with AndDone’s flexible and secure payment solutions. The synergy between the two platforms promises to deliver a seamless experience for insurers, from policy management to premium collection.

    “By partnering with AndDone, we’re enhancing our platform’s capabilities to offer a more comprehensive solution for MPL insurers,” said Bernadette Leh, President & Co-Founder of Sunlight Simplify. “This integration allows our clients to manage policies and process payments within a unified, efficient system.”

    AndDone’s suite of payment solutions—including hosted payment portals, embedded payment options, and secure APIs—complements Sunlight Simplify’s features such as customer relationship management, billing, subledger management, and reporting analytics. Together, they provide a holistic approach to insurance operations, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing customer satisfaction.

    “Our mission at AndDone has always been to simplify payment processes for insurance professionals,” said Chase Courtney, Vice President at AndDone. “Collaborating with Sunlight Simplify aligns perfectly with our goals, enabling us to offer integrated solutions that address the unique challenges of the insurance industry.”

    The partnership is set to roll out in phases, with an initial integration focusing on streamlining payment processing for MPL insurers.  Future developments will include a premium finance option powered by IPFS as well as an aim to expand these capabilities to other insurance sectors, further enhancing the value proposition for clients.

    For more information about the partnership and upcoming integrations, please visit www.sunlightsimplify.com and www.anddone.com

    About Sunlight Simplify
    Sunlight Simplify is a cloud based, no-code & low-code, Policy Administration software solution for Insurance Carriers and MGAs. The enterprise suite is tailored to support the specific requirements of the Medical Professional Liability Insurance line of business. The highly flexible, multi-language, multi-currency configurable solution allows for quick implementation across states, territories and countries.

    Contacts:

    Martin Kowal
    Sunlight Simplify
    mkowal@sunlightsolutions.com
    708-668-3794

    About AndDone

    AndDone is a leading payments platform tailored specifically for the insurance industry. Offering a range of solutions including hosted payment portals, embedded payment options, secure payment APIs, and premium financing, AndDone simplifies the premium collection process for insurance professionals. With a focus on flexibility, security, and user experience, AndDone empowers agencies to enhance their payment workflows and improve customer satisfaction. For more information, please visit www.anddone.com.

    Contacts:

    Chase Courtney
    AndDone
    chase@anddone.com
    318-664-2053

    The MIL Network –