NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 4BC Brisbane, Breakfast with Peter Fegan

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    PETER FEGAN:  Now, you’ll remember last year we reported it here on 4BC and it made headlines nationally, the states were officially put on notice by the Federal Government. The states were saying, show me the money and the Federal Government was simply saying, well, prove what it’s worth. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King told state premiers if they wanted cash, they needed good business cases. It’s pretty smart politics, really. The good news is we’ve passed the test here in Brisbane. Today, we’ll be handed a cheque for $200 million, and it includes funding for one of Brisbane’s oldest icons. The Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, joins me on the line. Minister, great to have your company this morning.

    CATHERINE KING: So lovely to be with you, Peter. It’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, one of our landmarks, our most famous landmarks, will be getting some cash. Can you reveal it on the program please?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. So we’re working with the Brisbane City Council to start to investigate what the cost of and scope of work that are needed to restore and to future maintenance of what is obviously the most iconic bridge, one of the most iconic bridges in the country, apart from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, of course. But it’s- you know, it’s a landmark. And so we’re putting in alongside Brisbane City Council together, $5 million to really get that work done, to see what is it that we’re going to need to do. It’s going to need more cash into the future. But this is really starting the process of working with the council to look at what do we need to make sure this bridge stays there into the future and is as strong as it possibly can be, and we keep it there for many, many generations to enjoy.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, there was also $1 million that’s been put aside to investigate a bridge from West End to Toowong. Well, Minister, I’m going to do you a favour here this morning. I’m going to save you that $1 million, and I’m going to say this, just build it because we’ve wanted it for so long. 

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Well, unfortunately we have to work out the cost of these things first. And part of what you do with the business case and the planning is you do the geotech work. You have a look at what services need to be moved so that you can then- the city council can come to me and say, well, look, we need this amount of money to actually build it. So that’s really just the start of the process. And I was at the opening, obviously, of Kangaroo Point Bridge. I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of people have been using that. We want to see people being able to access all parts of the city. And so this is again, just working with the Brisbane City Council, doing that planning work, finding out how much- you know, we really need to understand how much it costs and then sort of getting on with it once we’ve got that understanding.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, no more footbridges. We need cars to go across. We drive here in Brisbane. We don’t get transport, unfortunately.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, we do lots of things. I think people catch buses.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs]

    CATHERINE KING: So obviously, there’s the Brisbane Metro [indistinct], there’s people do that. People will cycle. I’ve seen people everywhere doing that. I’ve seen people walking across footbridges and then I’ve obviously seen- in terms of lots of cars as well. Everyone does all of those things. But cars are obviously pretty important here in Queensland.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, I found this one very interesting, being somebody that grew up in the western suburbs of Brisbane, plenty of people listening to me from the west this morning, they’ll find this interesting. $78.5 million towards cost pressures on the Moggill Road Corridor upgrade project, replacing Indooroopilly roundabout with an overpass over Moggill Road. Now that’s great, but what about the Moggill Road corridor in particular? And then that’s further out towards Moggill. And I’m talking about land that had been put aside. Government land, Crown land that’s been put aside since Malcolm Fraser’s days. And yet people that live out in those western suburbs are still struggling to get to work, because we haven’t used that parcel of land. Can you give a guarantee that one day we may use it?

    CATHERINE KING: What again, we do is work in partnership with councils. So obviously Brisbane City Council is in a really unique position across the country that it has such a substantial road and obviously public transport network that it has to fund and build itself. So we work closely with Brisbane City Council and also state governments. They bring projects forward to us in budget and we make considerations of those. We’ve got to do the planning work first, make sure we understand it, but know if the council or the state government want to bring that forward. I, of course, will give it due consideration in the budget process.

    PETER FEGAN: $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce Highway. I think this is the most contentious topic here in Queensland. And I got to say, Minister, when it comes to the election, this will be one of the most divisive topics and I think you’ll either win or lose votes here. $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce, right? That’s one hell of an obligation to Queenslanders in particular. But I’ve got to say this, Minister, we are reluctant to believe either government, particularly this Labor Government at the moment, because it was this government that had turned its back on the Bruce and had switched the funding arrangement around. $7.2 billion sounds fantastic. I’ve got to say, on behalf of all Queensland, Minister, we just need to get on with it. We need this highway to be safe.

    CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. And that’s why, you know, the earliest possible opportunity we did, we’ve made the announcement at that $7.2 billion. Money will flow this year and every subsequent year.  We’ve said we’ll get it done in eight years. We’ve asked the Queensland Government to deliver that …

    PETER FEGAN: [Talks over] But it’s been 50.

    CATHERINE KING: … then obviously [indistinct].

    PETER FEGAN: 50 or 60 years, Minister. It’s 50 or 60 years and not one government can fix it.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, this Government has made the single biggest contribution to the Bruce Highway ever. And this is a Labor Government that has done that. And if you look back when we were last in office, prior to that, it was the then infrastructure minister, now Prime Minister, who then made the single biggest commitment to this.

    This is a Labor legacy, and we are absolutely committed to making the Bruce Highway safer. We’ve been in government obviously two and a half years. And I do want to make it really clear, no money has ever been cut from the Bruce Highway. What we have said is-

    PETER FEGAN: But the funding agreement- the funding- hang on, Minister, the funding agreement, that’s not true. The funding agreement was an 80/20 split…

    CATHERINE KING: [Talks over] That’s true…

    PETER FEGAN: … and you- but you changed that. So that’s funding cutting. Hang on, Minister, you changed that. It was an 80/20 split, but you say no funding has ever been cut. If you change- if you go from 80/20 to 50/50, that to me- I’m not a mathematician, but that’s a 30 per cent cut in funding.

    CATHERINE KING: So no, it isn’t. And so I want to make that really clear. I think there’s some confusion about that and been a bit of mischief about that. So first thing is not a single dollar has been cut from the Bruce Highway. In fact, the commitment that we’ve got, there’s $10 billion that has already been spent on the Bruce Highway. That has remained, and then we’ve put in an additional 7.2 billion. We’ve recognised on the Bruce Highway, in particular because of the safety concerns, 41 deaths just last year alone, that we will continue to fund that on an 80/20 basis.

    But what we did announce is that because the Commonwealth is now increasingly funding suburban roads, public transport and has stepped into the space of the state governments, largely, we’re now on other roads, particularly across the country, now requiring the state to also step up its commitment. We’re not dropping any of our funding. There’s still $125 billion worth of Commonwealth funding going to states and territories. We’re not dropping that. We’re just asking the states to step up with their contribution as well. So it’s not a cut to our funding. We’re asking the states to step in in the same way we’re stepping in on suburban roads now, but generally were 100 per cent of the state to fund.

    PETER FEGAN: It’s bang on quarter after eight. My guest this morning is the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King. $200 million being announced today in funding for our roads here in Brisbane and in the South East. Minister, I’ve got to say this. It’s smart politics to ask the states to present you a case study because money is really, really tight, particularly on a federal level. So I like it. I think it’s good politics, and I think that that’s what the states should have to do. The reason I’m asking you about this, though, is because we need a really nice, new shiny stadium here in Queensland and particularly in Brisbane. We’ve got the Olympics coming. Now, if there was a case study put forward by David Crisafulli for a brand-new stadium, you’d be on board, wouldn’t you?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the thing that we have put money towards, so there’s $3.5 billion capped from the Commonwealth going into the Olympics. We have said the Commonwealth’s contribution will go towards the Brisbane Arena. $2.5 billion is going towards that, we think, will leave a really significant legacy for an entertainment venue here in the heart of Brisbane – really necessary. We’ve also said we will 50/50 share the minor venues. Obviously, the Queensland Government is undertaking a review of those venues at the moment, but the Commonwealth has done- we’ve done the work, we’ve done the business case, the work is ready to go on the Brisbane Arena and that remains- you know, remains there on the table to build that arena for Brisbane. We think it’s needed and it will leave a great legacy for the community.

    PETER FEGAN: Let’s hope they’re listening, because it’s next month that we announce whether we’re going to get a new stadium or not. Before I let you go, Minister, what did you make of today’s announcements? I want to get your thoughts on this because your government has approved a deal between Virgin and Qatar Airways. Now, this is a deal that would see Qatar be able to invest in Virgin. It means there’s going to be more Qatar flights. It means we can spread our wings a little bit. Should hopefully cheapen flight prices here in Australia. But I’ve got to think back, if my memory serves me correctly, it was you that clipped Qatar’s wings in the first place.

    CATHERINE KING: So what we’ve had announced today is that the Treasurer has approved the Foreign Investment Review Board’s decision that Qatar Airways, the Qatari government, can invest in Virgin, and that obviously allows Virgin to do a number of things in terms of it going forward. Obviously, Bain Capital is wanting to withdraw and have Qatar now come in as the major investor. What it’s allowed us also to do is ensure that there are some Australians on the board of Virgin to make sure that we’ve got that in place and that they’re in fact opportunities to train Australian pilots, as again, Qatar has been granted through Virgin some wet leases to increase its flights, its international flights and create that competition. And I think that’s a good thing.

    PETER FEGAN: Before I let you go, we’ve got some breaking news. The election, 12 April. Is that right?

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Very nice try there. What a sneaky way to do it, you cheeky thing.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs] I should have just – I shouldn’t have laughed.

    CATHERINE KING: You should have just- I know, I nearly believed you then. You just got me. I’ve got three brothers who do that to me all the time.

    PETER FEGAN: What would you have said, though?

    CATHERINE KING: I don’t know, I have absolutely no idea. [Indistinct] to the Prime Minister, but very cheeky. You nearly got me.

    PETER FEGAN: Good on you, Minister. We’ll chat again very soon.

    CATHERINE KING: Lovely to talk to you, Peter.

    PETER FEGAN: There she is. That’s the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC Radio Melbourne, Mornings with Rafael Epstein

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I mentioned that extra money from the Federal Government for airport rail. Does that mean we will actually get airport rail? Catherine King is the Infrastructure Minister. She is the MP in Ballarat as well. Morning, Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. It’s great that you’re out at St Albans. It’s a beautiful part of the world.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I haven’t yet sampled all the food. I’ve been to the market, I’m impressed. I’m going to go back there. An extra $2 billion from your government. Does this mean airport rail actually will happen?

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, it does. What this money does, if you remember a year ago, we got a mediator to come in and say, what are the things we can do now to unlock airport rail? And there were three things that were recommended. The first was that the airport, if it wanted to have the station underground, it needed to do the work. That meant the station then said, suddenly said, we don’t want it to go underground, we’re going to go overground. So that’s good. That’s been settled. He then said that we needed to redo the modelling for the Tullamarine Freeway-that’s about to start. And it then said we need to invest and build the Sunshine Precinct, which really is making Sunshine Station, pretty much the Southern Cross of the west. So a really big transport hub that is the centre of rail coming in. And then you build the SRL line out to the airport. So what we’re doing is unlocking the 5 billion that’s already on the table. And then we’ve put 2 billion in to get that Sunshine Precinct started. The Victorians are on board with us. You’ve seen Melbourne Airport yesterday, working constructively with us. We’ve got a little way to go just in terms of settling some of the stuff with the airport. But I am very confident that this will now happen.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. I think the devil in the detail might be a little way to go with the airport. Is the airport the problem?

    CATHERINE KING: I think that we’ve still got to work through issues about- obviously, the airport leases its land from the Commonwealth. It’s got a lease that allows it to have quiet an enjoyment of its leasehold. And so it will come to us and obviously seek an understanding of what the impact is going to be …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] They want money, don’t they?

    CATHERINE KING: … But- they may well do. But again, that is, I understand that they are now talking very closely with the Victorian Government. We’ll also come to the, come in and talk with them as well and let you know. My view is we’re all on the same page to try and get this settled. Obviously there’s, as I said, a little way to go just in terms of the detail of that, but everyone is on the same page of saying, we want to get this done. We’re keen to get it done. Let’s try and break the deadlock as best we can. I know my department secretary and the Victorian department new transport secretary, Jeroen, have been talking over the last couple of days. I think they’re both pretty determined people. And we want to get this done. It’s time for Melbourne to have an airport rail.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yes. It was described as the train line to the jetport in the Victorian Parliament in 1965. So that’s six years before I was born. But you just- you’re the minister federally responsible for this. You used the word deadlock. Are you sure the deadlock is going to be unlocked?

    CATHERINE KING: We’re going to do everything we can. I know the airport wants that to happen. Victorian government does, as does the Federal Government. So when you’ve got will and I think we’ve got a moment in time to get this done now, given that we’ve got all three parties very keen to get this done, we’ve got a, moment in time and that’s going to be up to all of us to do the work, because I think Victorians are a bit sick of the wait, the long wait. I’m a little bit older than you, so I also know how long this has been on Victoria’s books, and we’ve got a moment in time to really get this done. And I’m very determined that we should do it.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Brimbank Council, and that’s St Albans council. They want the rail line to come before the third runway. So that’s been approved, the third runway. Do you think we will get a rail line before the third runway is built?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is I’ve just got to be a bit careful here because I have approved as the minister for planning for the airport, the third runway. And Brimbank has now taken that to the- to appeal. So I just have to be a bit careful here. The airport is wanting to build the third runway. I have approved that. It now has to go through the appeal process. They’ll be responsible for building that. My view is we are responsible as transport ministers-Victorian government, Federal government in terms of getting airport rail done. And we are starting the work to make sure that we’ve got everyone on the same page in terms of where it’s going to finish at the airport. And we’ll have timelines when we’ve got all of that agreed, and we’ll make those public when we can.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: It’s about 18 minutes to 9 on 774. Catherine King is part of Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. I do want to know what you want from your politicians. You can text or call. If you’re texting in, by the way, text your say, we’ll send you a link. There’s a whole lot of stuff going on the ABC webpage about the impending federal election. Catherine King, as a minister in and part of a Labor Party that’s vying for re-election, there was two and a bit billion for the airport. There was more than a billion for roads. I think there was another 300 million for rail work around Melton. Would that money have come if there hadn’t been a big protest vote against state Labor in Werribee?

    CATHERINE KING: No, it was in planning for quite some time. Danny Pearson, the previous minister and I had been talking about, as we do every budget cycle… what are the investments that are needed? And these have been talked about for a while. So I think it …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] It does look a bit reactive.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, it- that’s your call, to say that. But I can absolutely guarantee, what I do when I look at budgets, when I look at the investments that are needed, I work closely with state governments about where they want to see investment. And this has been in discussion literally since the middle of last year. So that happens every budget cycle. The Victorian and every other government in the country all come to me with their wish list. It’s often, billions of dollars over what we can fund because they all want money. And then we make a decision about what we’re going to invest in. So really, this- these decisions are actually made last year that we’re announcing now as part of our budget, our lead up into the budget cycle. And they’re important investments for the state. But what you’ve also seen us do is unlock over in the east, the $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I’m glad you mentioned it, minister, because I was going to ask you about that. Can I just- can I let everyone know the seat I’m in is a safe Labor seat – the seat of Fraser. There are- I know there are people who share your party room, Catherine King, who are nervous about Labor’s vote in a suburb like St Albans, all the way out to places like Melton. Is there a little part of you- is there a little part of you that dies every time they talk about the Suburban Rail Loop because it’s money in the east, not the west?

    CATHERINE KING: What I see is a state in Victoria who basically… were pretty much abandoned for the last decade, who’ve had to go it alone on building these really big infrastructure projects. I live in the west, I live in Ballarat, and I have to drive- you know every single day I go to- when I go to Melbourne, I’m going through that incredible work that’s been done on the West Gate Tunnel. That is game changing for us over in the west. That will be huge for people like myself who live in Ballarat. I see the North East Link. I’ve stood on that side as well. Both of those projects, not a single federal dollar has gone into either of those. The state has had to 100 per cent fund those. We’ve stepped in other- sorry, other than a small amount in the North East Link, we’ve had- we’ve stepped in and put some more money into the North East Link to bring that, recognising that Victorian taxpayers on their own are paying for these big projects that will be game changing for the way in which we move around the state. Suburban Rail will be a similar sort of project. It’s a big scale project I’ve seen over in the west of the- Western Australia. What these big scale rail projects can do in terms of really opening up new housing opportunities, new business opportunities, new ways in which people actually move around cities. And so that’s really what the Victorian government has been doing, is doing those investments pretty much on its own. And it’s time that the Commonwealth actually helped out a bit with those.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Well, we’ll see what everybody makes of that both the people here in St Albans and on the phone. Just- Peter Dutton, it’s been revealed how much money he’s made buying and selling properties. Doesn’t that mean he actually really understands the property market and maybe he’ll know how to fix it?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, I think the issue- it’s not so much- I don’t begrudge anyone being able to do that, but I think it’s being upfront about it. I think that we saw him, not necessarily make disclosures about that and money in trusts and the like. So I think really he just needs to be open about that. And, it’s aspirational. But it’s really- it’s up to him to sort of explain why these weren’t properly disclosed to people …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Interrupts] But do you reckon he understands the property market?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, as someone who doesn’t understand the property market, particularly myself, I don’t know. That’s a matter for him. But I think that again, really, it’s up to him to make sure he’s disclosing all of those things appropriately.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Thank you for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you. Lovely to- hopefully you get a good chance to have a chat to the people of St Albans. My brother in law doesn’t live far from there. It is a fantastic multicultural part of the world.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Stolen motor vehicle and pursuit – Greater Darwin Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five males in relation to multiple property offences across the Greater Darwin Region area overnight.

    Around 8:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report that a group of males were allegedly attempting to start a white Toyota Landcruiser located in the staff car park at the Darwin Airport.

    A short time later, the JESCC received further reports of the same vehicle being used to ram the gates of the long-term carpark at the airport.

    Around 10:40pm, police received reports of a group allegedly attempting to steal a car from an address in Jingili, significantly damaging the vehicle in the process. The owner of the vehicle confronted the group who fled the scene in a white Toyota Landcruiser.

    The JESCC subsequently received two reports of stolen vehicles, one of which identified as a Toyota Landcruiser from a carpark at a shopping centre on Roystonea Avenue and the other from an address on Casuarina Drive.

    Strike Force Trident sighted the Land Cruiser stolen from the airport on Vanderlin Drive and attempted to apprehend the vehicle. The Landcruiser failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated throughout the Northern Suburbs.

    A tyre deflation device was successfully deployed on Vanderlin Drive, Karama before the occupants drove into nearby bushland where they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

    The Dog Operations Unit (DOU) deployed and located four males aged 13, 15, 18 and 20.

    The males were arrested and remain in police custody.

    A short time later, police received intelligence that two of the stolen vehicles were located in a community in Johnston.

    SF Trident, DOU and Palmerston general duties attended the location and recovered the two Landcruiser’s and arrested a 13-year-old male who was inside one of the vehicles.

    Six remaining offenders fled the area before police arrival.

    At around 5:20am, the JESCC received a report that a Toyota Hilux Utility had been stolen from a unit complex in Coolalinga. The Hilux was then observed travelling south on the Stuart Highway with a group of males in the tray.

    During the search for the Hilux, a DOU vehicle was rammed by the stolen vehicle before it again fled the scene. Four other Police vehicles were damaged when occupants of the stolen Hilux threw projectiles at police.

    The officers inside the vehicle were not injured during the incident.

    Investigations are ongoing. 

    Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said, “The actions of these individuals are despicable.

    “The officers in the vehicle that was rammed were thankfully unharmed, but the outcome could have been very different.

    “Not only are these offenders damaging and stealing from hard working people, but they are also driving erratically throughout Darwin, risking themselves and other road users.

    “We will continue to work tirelessly to bring the offenders before the courts.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Natural Dior LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Vitafer-L Gold Liquid Due to Presence of Undeclared Tadalafil

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    February 25, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    February 26, 2025
    Product Type:
    Dietary SupplementsDrugs
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Undeclared Tadalafil

    Company Name:
    Natural Dior LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Natural Dior LLC

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Dietary Supplement

    Company Announcement
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Natural Dior LLC (USA) – February 25, 2025 – Natural Dior LLC, is voluntarily recalling the affected lots of Vitafer-L Gold Liquid, a dietary supplement with iron and vitamins, to the consumer level. The product has been found to contain undeclared tadalafil, an ingredient in FDA approved products for treatment of male erectile dysfunction in the family of drugs known as phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitors. Products containing tadalafil cannot be marketed as dietary supplements. Vitafer-L Gold Liquid is an unapproved new drugs for which safety and efficacy have not been established and, therefore, subject to recall.
    Risk Statement: Consumption of products with undeclared tadalafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may cause a significant drop in blood pressure that may be life threatening. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. Among the adult male population, who are most likely to use this product, adult males who use nitrates for cardiac conditions are most at risk. To date, Natural Dior LLC has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.
    The product is used as a state indication(s) and is packaged in 16.9 fl oz (1.06 pt) 500 mL bottles in a folding cardboard box.

    Lot Numbers and Expiration Dates:

    Lot 7021-2304 – Exp. April 2025
    Lot 7017-2304 – Exp. April 2025
    Lot 7040-2305 – Exp. May 2025
    Lot 10020-2402 – Exp. February 2026
    Lot 10011-2404 – Exp. April 2026
    Lot 7695-2307 – Exp. Not specified
    Lot R6715-2303 – Exp. March 2025
    Lot 7292-2305 – Exp. May 2025
    Lot 9669-2403 – Exp. March 2025
    Lot 10060-2404 – Exp. April 2026

    The product was sold nationwide via Amazon and Walmart and distributed through wholesale accounts. The product was also exported to Miami, Florida, through an importer (Laboratorio Natural Dior LLC).
    Consumers who have purchased this product should stop using it immediately and dispose of it properly or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
    Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Natural Dior LLC at +57 315 2814091 from 10AM – 5PM or via email at vitafer.original@gmail.com.
    Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product.
    Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail, or by fax. No adverse reactions have been reported to Natural Dior LLC (USA) as of February 20, 2025

    This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
    Natural Dior LLC is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of its products and is taking all necessary steps to remove the affected product from the market.

    Company Contact Information

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    02/26/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech – Bridgetown Research raises $19M from Lightspeed and Accel to deploy AI business research agents

    Source: Stockwood Strategy

    Bridgetown Research is building the first AI agents focussed on research and analysis using primary and secondary data for verticals including private equity, consulting and strategy

    Seattle, Washington – February 26, 2025: Strategic business decisions have traditionally been expensive and slow for a fundamental reason: they don’t happen enough. This means companies lack both historical data to learn from and experts who have seen enough similar cases. Bridgetown Research is changing that. Today, the AI decision science startup announced $19 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed and Accel, with participation from a leading research university.
     
    Bridgetown Research has developed AI agents that autonomously execute research. Most notable amongst these agents are voice bots trained to recruit and interview industry experts, gathering primary data that can be analyzed alongside alternative data sourced from their partners.
     
    Founded by Harsh Sahai, who previously led machine learning teams at Amazon before leading strategy engagements at McKinsey & Co., Bridgetown Research was born from a simple observation: the majority of business analyses are a permutation of a small number of automatable tasks. The founding team, comprising former professionals from McKinsey, Bain, Amazon, and leading tech startups, brings together extensive experience across strategy consulting and technology.
     
    “We are excited to be a catalyst for change. We are working with multiple private equity firms, management consulting firms, and corporate teams to help make strategic decisions better and faster. This in turn is driving up demand for advisory and information services downstream. We enable $10+ of advisory and information services revenue for every $1 we make. Together with leading institutions, we’re building something bigger than ourselves—an ecosystem where everyone thrives,” commented Harsh Sahai, CEO & founder of Bridgetown Research.
     
    While many AI solutions focus on searching and summarizing information using LLMs, real world business decisions require much more than synthesising the open web. They need proprietary data such as primary data from experts and customer surveys, along with frameworks to understand markets, what Harsh Sahai calls “ontologies”. Moreover, outputs need to be repeatable and auditable for a business to use them to make decisions with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Bridgetown Research is the only player using agents to gather primary data and systematically find patterns in it to generate original insights.
    “AI is causing widespread disruptions across many enterprise functions, and Bridgetown Research is riding that wave by assisting executives in making important strategic decisions. We are pleased to see Bridgetown serving several marquee customers, with users likening its platform to having a team of top-tier consultants at their fingertips. We are excited to partner with Harsh, who, with his background as an ace AI research scientist turned management consultant, blends a unique combination of skills and insight needed to imagine this whole new category of applied AI,” said Anagh Prasad, Investor at Accel.

    Bridgetown Research started with a focus on private equity deal screening diligence. Multiple top-tier PE & VC firms already use Bridgetown Research for deal screening and deeper commercial diligence. They’re able to screen their pipeline much faster with initial analysis taking 24 hours instead of weeks without Bridgetown enabling teams to focus on actual decision making instead of research and analysis. For other customers Bridgetown has enabled voice of customer conversations that cover hundreds of respondents in parallel, and within days.
     
    Ishaan Preet Singh, Investor at Lightspeed added “Companies are built on the quality of strategic decisions, and the research and analysis behind it. Bridgetown Research enables the smartest executives and investors to make these decisions with an order of magnitude more information, and at a pace that was earlier impossible. Harsh and Bridgetown are already creating immense value for their customers, but are still just scratching the surface of the leverage that AI can create.”

    As global markets become increasingly complex, the demand for efficient and effective decision-making tools continues to rise. With this funding round, Bridgetown Research plans to invest further in training its AI agents to perform a broader set of analyses across a broader range of domains, and deepening industry partnerships to enhance access to domain-specific intelligence.

    About Bridgetown Research
    Bridgetown Research builds AI agents for decision research. Its voice agents and web crawlers find and clean data, while its analyses agents produce repeatable, auditable, and reliable analyses. The team consists of computer scientists, econometricians, software engineers, investors and business consultants, working across geographies. For more information please visit https://www.bridgetownresearch.com/

    About Accel
    Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere (Facebook, Flipkart, etc.), from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, Browserstack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra.Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit: www.accel.com
     
    About Lightspeed
    Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox, Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Physics Wallah, Razorpay, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Rooms, Ultima Genomics, Zepto and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia. www.lsip.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israel begins to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A released Palestinian prisoner gestures while getting off a bus in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Photo]

    Israeli authorities on Thursday began releasing more than 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, according to Palestinian sources.

    Palestinian sources told Xinhua that buses carrying the prisoners departed from Ofer Prison in the central West Bank, heading toward a reception center in the Beitunia area.

    The Hamas-linked Prisoners’ Information Office said that the seventh and eighth batches of prisoner releases were merged, bringing the total number to 642.

    This release is part of the first phase of the deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States. Hamas described this release as the largest so far under the ceasefire arrangement.

    “We are witnessing one of the achievements of the Palestinian people with the release of the seventh and eighth batches of prisoners, which is the largest so far within the ceasefire agreement arrangements,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a press statement.

    He added that Hamas prioritizes the release of Palestinian prisoners in any exchange deal. He also noted that the group had responded to mediators’ requests regarding new mechanisms for exchanging bodies, ensuring Israel’s commitment to the process.

    On Tuesday, Hamas announced it had resolved a dispute over the delayed release of Palestinian prisoners, which was originally scheduled for last Saturday. The resolution followed talks between a Hamas delegation and Egyptian officials in Cairo.

    The delay occurred after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded assurances from mediators that there would be no repeat of what he described as “provocative military parades” organized by Hamas during previous handover operations, which he considered “insulting to the rights of Israeli hostages.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Archaeologists begin to restore northeast platform of Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Archaeologists on Wednesday started to restore the northeast platform of Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower in Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park, said an APSARA National Authority (ANA)’s news release.

    A religious ceremony was held at the site to pray for safety and success in the restoration work, the news release said.

    Long Kosal, deputy director-general of the ANA, a government agency responsible for managing, protecting and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, said at the event that nearly all parts of the Bakan Tower have been restored, with the exception of this northeast corner.

    He said the restoration work is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

    Kosal said during the restoration process, certain areas of the Bakan Tower were closed to visitors for safety reasons, but access to the entire site remained open, albeit with some restrictions in place.

    “To ensure visitor safety during the restoration process, barriers have been erected around the work areas, and signage has been provided to inform tourists about ongoing repairs and any changes to access routes,” he said.

    The restoration work is carried out by the ANA in partnership with the Korean Heritage Agency, the news release said.

    Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is a major temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the country’s northwest Siem Reap province.

    The 401-square-kilometer Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

    The ancient park, which is the kingdom’s most popular tourist destination, attracted a total of 1.02 million international tourists in 2024, generating a gross revenue of 47.8 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says to impose 25% tariffs on EU products

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House via Marine One in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration has made a decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on products from the European Union (EU), including cars.

    “We have made a decision. We’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25 percent generally speaking, and that’ll be on cars and all other things,” Trump told reporters at a White House cabinet meeting.

    Trump claimed that the European Union has “taken advantage of” the United States. “They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept, essentially, our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not. And we accept everything of them, and we have about a 300 billion dollar deficit with the European Union,” he said.

    Politico previously reported that the 300-billion-U.S.-dollar deficit is overstated. “In 2023, the U.S. goods trade deficit with the bloc was 155.8 billion euros, according to EU data. In services, however, the U.S. had a surplus of 104 billion euros, bringing the overall trade balance to 51.8 billion euros (roughly 56 billion U.S. dollars),” according the report.

    When asked by a reporter whether he would continue to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada due to progress on border control, Trump said he would not prevent the tariffs from taking effect and claimed that the influx of fentanyl had caused “millions of deaths.”

    “I’m not stopping the tariffs. No,” Trump said.

    U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick explained two key deadlines related to the tariffs. Previously, the tariffs on Mexico and Canada had been delayed for one month and is set to take effect on March 4, and the two countries needed to prove to the president before the deadline that they had taken satisfactory actions in controlling the entry of fentanyl. Trump said that “it will be hard to satisfy.”

    Lutnick also noted that the overall tariff actions against more countries would be implemented on April 2.

    On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, with a 10 percent tariff increase specifically for Canadian energy products. On Feb. 3, Trump announced that the additional tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would be deferred for one month, allowing more time for negotiations.

    On Monday, Trump said that tariffs on Mexico and Canada will “go forward.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tech and Security – New Zealand coming second in the region in the number of malware incidents, new analysis shows – NordVPN

    Source: NordVPN

    According to new research by the cybersecurity company NordVPN, over 83 million malware incidents have been recorded in 2024 in New Zealand, emphasizing the growing cybersecurity threats.

    Internet users should be extra careful when clicking links seemingly sent by Big Tech companies – there’s quite a big chance it might be a deliberately misspelled phishing link. Data shows that Google, Facebook, and Microsoft are the top three brands most likely to be impersonated for credential harvesting.

    “In fact, the majority of all phishing attacks use around 300 brand names for deception. The brands themselves are not at fault – such fakes hurt their reputation as well, forcing companies to actively hunt them down. However, high brand awareness can lull victims into a false sense of security and get them to lower their guard,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN.

    According to the same research, last year there were almost 85,000 fake URLs that impersonate Google websites and services. With more than 6,000 fake URLs online, Facebook takes second place as the scammers’ favorite. Microsoft is in third place, with almost 5,000 fake URLs. Fake AT&T, Yahoo!, and Netflix links should be evaluated more carefully as well. In each of those cases there were around 4,000 fake URLs online.

    New Zealand experienced more than 83 million malware incidents in 2024 – the second number in Oceania, with Australia leading the region with more than 351 million incidents per year.

    An array of security threats

    Data analysed by NordVPN suggest you should also stay away from free video hosting sites (yes, that includes anime hosting websites) and a few other categories. Throughout 2024, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro feature blocked more than 1.5 billion malware infection attempts on video hosting sites. Other domain categories with the most malware are: entertainment (almost 1 billion malware blocked) and sports (124 million). Just a little behind are adult content sites (109 million malware blocked) and file sharing and storage websites (almost 74 million).

    “The above mentioned categories, free video hosting sites in particular, tend to contain a variety of  security and privacy threats. Not only malware, but intrusive ads and trackers as well. Over the past year, Threat Protection Pro blocked almost 7 billion ads and more than 119 billion trackers on video hosting sites alone. This accounts for 25% off all blocked trackers by Threat Protection Pro in 2024,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven.

    Know your enemy

    Web trackers are a broad category of privacy-invading tools that collect information on user activity. Trackers typically take the form of special scripts, browser cookies, or tracking pixels. Businesses use trackers to paint an accurate picture of you for targeted advertising – but if they suffer a data breach, the stored tracker data could end up falling into the hands of cybercriminals.

    Warmenhoven adds that websites often share or sell data collected by trackers to third parties. Those who want to protect their privacy can use several tools to become less trackable, such as tracker blockers, which prevent websites and advertisers from collecting data about your online activity.

    Malware refers to any kind of programming that was deliberately designed to harm you or your device. This includes malicious software like viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Malware can steal sensitive data, encrypt important files, or even take over the machine, putting the criminal in complete control.

    “It is important to know that malware must be actively brought onto your device, such as by downloading an infected file. One of the most common ways to get infected with malware is through phishing attacks. Scammers use deceptive misspellings of popular brands (such as spelling “Amazon” as “Arnazon”) to trick victims into clicking phishing links and downloading infected files. So you should always check the spelling before clicking,” notes Warmenhoven.

    Intrusive advertising refers to ads that actively interfere with your online experience. Intrusive ads aren’t content to just stay on the sidelines – they may distract you by popping up randomly while you’re scrolling, open additional browser tabs, hog bandwidth with lengthy videos, or even hijack the page you’re on. Even worse, some intrusive ads may try to infect your device or redirect you to malicious websites.

    Cybersecurity expert advice on how to protect yourself

    To protect yourself from common cybersecurity threats like malware, trackers, and intrusive ads, Adrianus Warmenhoven advises to take these precautions:

    Avoid a “free lunch.” Certain web domain categories are much more likely to host malware that could compromise your device than others. One of the most prominent categories is free video hosting sites.

    Be wary of unsolicited emails and messages. Phishing scams are one of the main methods used by criminals to steal personal and financial data. Emails promising too-good-to-be-true promotions, invitations, or gifts, are probably not true. Messages asking you to update your data or just click on a link may also be versions of phishing.

    Don’t get scared and check the links. Cybercriminals prey on confusion and ignorance. They try to scare people, hoping that victims will act on emotion. Don’t do that. Try not to click on links that try to scare you or promise you riches – check the spelling first.

    Verify downloads. Malware executables may be disguised as or hidden in legitimate files. Always verify the website you want to download from, and always use anti-malware tools like Threat Protection Pro to inspect the files you download.

    Limit data exposure. Information such as location, full name, and other personal details can be used by criminals for scams and cyberattacks. Adjust your privacy settings and avoid sharing sensitive data publicly, such as on social networks.

    Keep your devices updated. Outdated software is an easy target for cyberattacks. Make sure to keep your operating system, applications, and antivirus software up to date to fix vulnerabilities and ensure greater protection.

    Methodology: The statistics mentioned above were acquired by analyzing aggregated data gathered by NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro service from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025. NordVPN is not endorsed by, maintained, sponsored by, affiliated, or in any way associated with the owners of the mentioned brands. Brands are indicated solely for the purpose of accurately reporting information related to brands that were most likely to be impersonated for spreading malware.

    ABOUT NORDVPN

    NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, used by millions of internet users worldwide. NordVPN provides double VPN encryption and Onion Over VPN and guarantees privacy with zero tracking. One of the key features of the product is Threat Protection , which blocks malicious websites, malware during downloads, trackers, and ads. The latest service by the Nord Security team is Saily — a new global eSIM. NordVPN is very user friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, and has over 6,200 servers covering 111 countries worldwide. For more information: https://nordvpn.com.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – Connecting New Zealand Businesses Globally; Airwallex Expands Cross-Border Payment Capabilities for Kiwi Businesses

    Source:  Airwallex

    • Airwallex launches in New Zealand, appointing Lowry Gladwell as Associate Director and first local employee.
    • Commitment to local growth, with plans to expand the team to 10 employees on ground by the end of 2025.
    • New product rollouts, including corporate cards, online payments and expanded Airwallex for Startups offerings, to support Kiwi businesses.
    • Partnering with top NZ brands, already working with Rodd & Gunn, Tracksuit and Auror.

    Auckland, New Zealand, 26 February, 2025 – Global fintech leader Airwallex has officially launched in Aotearoa, marking a significant milestone in its mission to provide businesses with faster, cost-effective, and more innovative financial solutions.

    With a firm commitment to supporting New Zealand’s thriving business ecosystem, Airwallex has appointed Lowry Gladwell as its Associate Director of New Zealand, the company’s first local employee, to lead its ambitious expansion plans. Gladwell will be joined by Matt Sek, a key regional leader, as Airwallex aims to grow its New Zealand team to 10 employees by the end of 2025.

    “With New Zealand businesses increasingly looking for agile, cost-effective financial solutions, Airwallex is here to challenge the status quo,” said Gladwell. “Our entry into this market represents more than just expansion — it’s about providing Kiwi businesses with the tools they need to grow globally without the friction and high costs of traditional banking.”

    A New Era of Financial Solutions for New Zealand Businesses

    As part of its expansion, Airwallex is rolling out several new product offerings tailored to the needs of New Zealand businesses. The company’s corporate cards offering will be bolstered with a physical card version to complement the existing virtual option. These solutions will empower Kiwi companies to manage expenses more efficiently, reducing high transaction fees and improving financial control. In addition, online payments  will sit alongside existing FX, global accounts and company and employee cards.

    “Managing business spending shouldn’t be a hassle,” said Matt Sek, VP SME & Growth, ANZ. “Our new corporate card solution makes it easier for teams to handle expenses while ensuring greater transparency and efficiency, while payment acceptance allows businesses to accept payments from customers around the globe with fast, flexible settlements and a seamless checkout experience. This is just the beginning of our commitment to providing smarter, more intuitive financial tools for New Zealand businesses.”

    A Tailored Approach for New Zealand’s Unique Market

    New Zealand’s business environment, while dynamic, has long been dominated by a concentrated banking sector, leading to high fees and sluggish international transactions. Airwallex is set to disrupt the market by offering lower costs, competitive FX rates, and faster payments — critical advantages for businesses operating globally, particularly in New Zealand’s high-growth SaaS and export sectors.

    With the country’s economic recovery underway following a challenging period, Airwallex’s presence comes at a crucial time. The company’s solutions will provide much-needed financial agility for businesses looking to scale, particularly as New Zealand strives to double its export growth over the next decade.

    Empowering New Zealand Startups and “Soonicorns”

    Airwallex has already demonstrated strong support for startups in New Zealand, with significant sign-ups under its Airwallex for Startups initiative. By offering streamlined international payments, global accounts, and competitive FX rates, Airwallex is positioning itself as a vital partner for the country’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

    “We see huge potential in New Zealand’s startup space,” added Gladwell. “We want to support the next wave of ‘soonicorns’ by providing them with the financial infrastructure needed to scale globally.”

    Industry Expertise and Established Partnerships

    “We understand that the key industries of growth in New Zealand include Tourism,  eCommerce, and Tech,” said Gladwell. “Airwallex is already working with some of the country’s most innovative and well-established brands, including Rodd & Gunn, Tracksuit and Auror. Our deep knowledge of these industries allows us to tailor our solutions to meet the unique needs of Kiwi businesses, helping them navigate global expansion with ease.”

    Looking Ahead

    Airwallex’s entry into New Zealand marks a long-term investment in the country’s business landscape. As the company continues to grow its local team and expand its offerings, it remains committed to helping Kiwi businesses navigate the evolving financial landscape with confidence.

    “Our goal is simple,” concluded Gladwell. “We’re here to provide New Zealand businesses with better experiences, lower fees, and faster payments in a market that’s crying out for competition. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”

    About Airwallex

    Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With our proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 150,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as AS Colour, Rodd & Gun, Tracksuit and many more. For more information, visit http://www.airwallex.com

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: IHC – Disability survey data highlights inequities that could last generations

    Source: IHC

    New Government figures released today show further evidence of widespread disadvantage for people with intellectual disability.

    IHC New Zealand Director of Advocacy Tania Thomas says data from Stats NZ’s Household Disability Survey, collected following the 2023 Census, paints a concerning picture of the everyday challenges faced by disabled people.

    “This data underscores the systemic disadvantage faced by people with an intellectual disability,” says Tania. “Our own research shows what we already know – disabled people, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, are being left behind in nearly every measure of wellbeing.

    “More than half of disabled New Zealanders are struggling to find adequate housing, put food on the table and meet other basic needs, compared to a third of non-disabled people.

    “While these stats for disabled people are tough, we know it’s even tougher for people with intellectual disability.”

    IHC is set to release a new report in the coming months highlighting the significant hardship experienced by intellectually disabled people, using data from Stats NZ. The report will provide a stark look at the extreme hardship faced by people with an intellectual disability, reinforcing the urgent need for targeted policy responses.

    Tania says these reports aim to ensure policymakers, service providers and the public understand the realities facing some of New Zealand’s most marginalised citizens.

    “Without urgent action, these inequities will persist for generations.”

    In particular, IHC notes from today’s statistics:

    Financial Hardship: More than half (53 percent) of disabled New Zealanders report struggling to meet basic needs like food, housing, and clothing, compared with 33 percent of non-disabled people. Disabled children are also more likely to experience material hardship.
    Poor Health and Wellbeing: 39 percent of disabled adults rate their health as poor, compared with just 6 percent of non-disabled adults. Life satisfaction scores are significantly lower, and disabled adults are more likely to experience discrimination, loneliness, and limited social contact.
    Housing Inequality: Disabled people are more likely to live in poor-quality housing, with 29 percent saying their home is colder than they would like in winter and 25 percent reporting damp living conditions.
    Unmet Support Needs: 62 percent of disabled people report an unmet need for support in areas such as healthcare, education, work accommodations, and accessibility modifications at home.
    Barriers to Employment: 72 percent of unemployed disabled adults want to work, but face barriers such as inflexible workplaces, lack of accommodations, and difficulties accessing training and transport.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-interview-ABC Radio Melbourne, Mornings with Rafael Epstein

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I mentioned that extra money from the Federal Government for airport rail. Does that mean we will actually get airport rail? Catherine King is the Infrastructure Minister. She is the MP in Ballarat as well. Morning, Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. It’s great that you’re out at St Albans. It’s a beautiful part of the world.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I haven’t yet sampled all the food. I’ve been to the market, I’m impressed. I’m going to go back there. An extra $2 billion from your government. Does this mean airport rail actually will happen?

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, it does. What this money does, if you remember a year ago, we got a mediator to come in and say, what are the things we can do now to unlock airport rail? And there were three things that were recommended. The first was that the airport, if it wanted to have the station underground, it needed to do the work. That meant the station then said, suddenly said, we don’t want it to go underground, we’re going to go overground. So that’s good. That’s been settled. He then said that we needed to redo the modelling for the Tullamarine Freeway-that’s about to start. And it then said we need to invest and build the Sunshine Precinct, which really is making Sunshine Station, pretty much the Southern Cross of the west. So a really big transport hub that is the centre of rail coming in. And then you build the SRL line out to the airport. So what we’re doing is unlocking the 5 billion that’s already on the table. And then we’ve put 2 billion in to get that Sunshine Precinct started. The Victorians are on board with us. You’ve seen Melbourne Airport yesterday, working constructively with us. We’ve got a little way to go just in terms of settling some of the stuff with the airport. But I am very confident that this will now happen.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. I think the devil in the detail might be a little way to go with the airport. Is the airport the problem?

    CATHERINE KING: I think that we’ve still got to work through issues about- obviously, the airport leases its land from the Commonwealth. It’s got a lease that allows it to have quiet an enjoyment of its leasehold. And so it will come to us and obviously seek an understanding of what the impact is going to be …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] They want money, don’t they?

    CATHERINE KING: … But- they may well do. But again, that is, I understand that they are now talking very closely with the Victorian Government. We’ll also come to the, come in and talk with them as well and let you know. My view is we’re all on the same page to try and get this settled. Obviously there’s, as I said, a little way to go just in terms of the detail of that, but everyone is on the same page of saying, we want to get this done. We’re keen to get it done. Let’s try and break the deadlock as best we can. I know my department secretary and the Victorian department new transport secretary, Jeroen, have been talking over the last couple of days. I think they’re both pretty determined people. And we want to get this done. It’s time for Melbourne to have an airport rail.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yes. It was described as the train line to the jetport in the Victorian Parliament in 1965. So that’s six years before I was born. But you just- you’re the minister federally responsible for this. You used the word deadlock. Are you sure the deadlock is going to be unlocked?

    CATHERINE KING: We’re going to do everything we can. I know the airport wants that to happen. Victorian government does, as does the Federal Government. So when you’ve got will and I think we’ve got a moment in time to get this done now, given that we’ve got all three parties very keen to get this done, we’ve got a, moment in time and that’s going to be up to all of us to do the work, because I think Victorians are a bit sick of the wait, the long wait. I’m a little bit older than you, so I also know how long this has been on Victoria’s books, and we’ve got a moment in time to really get this done. And I’m very determined that we should do it.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Brimbank Council, and that’s St Albans council. They want the rail line to come before the third runway. So that’s been approved, the third runway. Do you think we will get a rail line before the third runway is built?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is I’ve just got to be a bit careful here because I have approved as the minister for planning for the airport, the third runway. And Brimbank has now taken that to the- to appeal. So I just have to be a bit careful here. The airport is wanting to build the third runway. I have approved that. It now has to go through the appeal process. They’ll be responsible for building that. My view is we are responsible as transport ministers-Victorian government, Federal government in terms of getting airport rail done. And we are starting the work to make sure that we’ve got everyone on the same page in terms of where it’s going to finish at the airport. And we’ll have timelines when we’ve got all of that agreed, and we’ll make those public when we can.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: It’s about 18 minutes to 9 on 774. Catherine King is part of Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. I do want to know what you want from your politicians. You can text or call. If you’re texting in, by the way, text your say, we’ll send you a link. There’s a whole lot of stuff going on the ABC webpage about the impending federal election. Catherine King, as a minister in and part of a Labor Party that’s vying for re-election, there was two and a bit billion for the airport. There was more than a billion for roads. I think there was another 300 million for rail work around Melton. Would that money have come if there hadn’t been a big protest vote against state Labor in Werribee?

    CATHERINE KING: No, it was in planning for quite some time. Danny Pearson, the previous minister and I had been talking about, as we do every budget cycle… what are the investments that are needed? And these have been talked about for a while. So I think it …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] It does look a bit reactive.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, it- that’s your call, to say that. But I can absolutely guarantee, what I do when I look at budgets, when I look at the investments that are needed, I work closely with state governments about where they want to see investment. And this has been in discussion literally since the middle of last year. So that happens every budget cycle. The Victorian and every other government in the country all come to me with their wish list. It’s often, billions of dollars over what we can fund because they all want money. And then we make a decision about what we’re going to invest in. So really, this- these decisions are actually made last year that we’re announcing now as part of our budget, our lead up into the budget cycle. And they’re important investments for the state. But what you’ve also seen us do is unlock over in the east, the $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I’m glad you mentioned it, minister, because I was going to ask you about that. Can I just- can I let everyone know the seat I’m in is a safe Labor seat – the seat of Fraser. There are- I know there are people who share your party room, Catherine King, who are nervous about Labor’s vote in a suburb like St Albans, all the way out to places like Melton. Is there a little part of you- is there a little part of you that dies every time they talk about the Suburban Rail Loop because it’s money in the east, not the west?

    CATHERINE KING: What I see is a state in Victoria who basically… were pretty much abandoned for the last decade, who’ve had to go it alone on building these really big infrastructure projects. I live in the west, I live in Ballarat, and I have to drive- you know every single day I go to- when I go to Melbourne, I’m going through that incredible work that’s been done on the West Gate Tunnel. That is game changing for us over in the west. That will be huge for people like myself who live in Ballarat. I see the North East Link. I’ve stood on that side as well. Both of those projects, not a single federal dollar has gone into either of those. The state has had to 100 per cent fund those. We’ve stepped in other- sorry, other than a small amount in the North East Link, we’ve had- we’ve stepped in and put some more money into the North East Link to bring that, recognising that Victorian taxpayers on their own are paying for these big projects that will be game changing for the way in which we move around the state. Suburban Rail will be a similar sort of project. It’s a big scale project I’ve seen over in the west of the- Western Australia. What these big scale rail projects can do in terms of really opening up new housing opportunities, new business opportunities, new ways in which people actually move around cities. And so that’s really what the Victorian government has been doing, is doing those investments pretty much on its own. And it’s time that the Commonwealth actually helped out a bit with those.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Well, we’ll see what everybody makes of that both the people here in St Albans and on the phone. Just- Peter Dutton, it’s been revealed how much money he’s made buying and selling properties. Doesn’t that mean he actually really understands the property market and maybe he’ll know how to fix it?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, I think the issue- it’s not so much- I don’t begrudge anyone being able to do that, but I think it’s being upfront about it. I think that we saw him, not necessarily make disclosures about that and money in trusts and the like. So I think really he just needs to be open about that. And, it’s aspirational. But it’s really- it’s up to him to sort of explain why these weren’t properly disclosed to people …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Interrupts] But do you reckon he understands the property market?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, as someone who doesn’t understand the property market, particularly myself, I don’t know. That’s a matter for him. But I think that again, really, it’s up to him to make sure he’s disclosing all of those things appropriately.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Thank you for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you. Lovely to- hopefully you get a good chance to have a chat to the people of St Albans. My brother in law doesn’t live far from there. It is a fantastic multicultural part of the world.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fire risk remains for parts of Victoria this autumn

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Large parts of western and central Victoria, as well as south and west Gippsland, are facing an increased risk of fire in early autumn, according to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn, released today.

    A lack of rain over the past 12-24 months has led to increased fuel in forests and heathlands. This has already resulted in large, fast-running fires in the Grampians and the Little Desert over summer.

    With average rainfall expected in Autumn, the availability of fuels in forests, woodlands and heathlands is expected to remain high. Forecast warmer than average maximum temperatures may also further increase fuel availability in western and central Victoria. This will make it easier for fires to start and spread.

    Across the rest of the state, Victorians can expect normal fire potential. However, fast running fires are possible on dry and windy days in areas with dry or cured vegetation.

    Conditions may delay planned burning in some parts of the state, but may also increase opportunities to target areas not typically available for burning in autumn.

    Emergency services will continue to monitor conditions to identify key risk areas leading into the autumn period.

    Victoria remains well prepared for the potential of fires, with a mix of water bombing aircraft, air supervision and air intelligence gathering aircraft positioned across the state to support our dedicated volunteer and career firefighters on the ground.

    The Outlook for Autumn is developed by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council and supported by the Bureau of Meteorology along with state and territory fire and land managers.

    It’s important for communities to understand their local risks. Keep up to date with the Fire Danger Ratings on the VicEmergency app and VicEmergency website.

    Quotes attributable to Country Fire Authority Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan

    ‘While conditions remain dry with little rain forecast in certain parts of the state over coming weeks, the fire risk will continue but our crews are ready and will adapt to changes as they develop through autumn.

    ‘Victorians should continue to maintain their properties and stay informed of their local risks so they can take action to protect their families in the event of a fire’

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech and Business – Oracle Services Power IT Modernization in Asia Pacific

    Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

    Enterprises embrace providers with GenAI tools to improve enterprise cloud migrations, optimize Oracle investments, ISG Provider Lens report says.

    A growing number of enterprises in Asia Pacific are seeking Oracle ecosystem services to help them carry out digital transformations to remain competitive in rapidly changing markets, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific finds many large Oracle customers are modernizing legacy systems, navigating cloud migrations and evaluating hyperscale cloud options. Service providers are helping clients optimize their Oracle investments, often with the use of AI tools, while Oracle is increasingly investing in talent development and collaboration in the region, including partnerships with governments in Singapore, Australia and India for large-scale training programs.

    “Companies in Asia Pacific need digital transformation to stay relevant,” said Michael Gale, partner and regional leader, ISG Asia Pacific. “Oracle and its partners are rising to the challenge by strengthening their expertise and developing talent in the region.”

    Large organizations in manufacturing, retail, financial services, consumer packaged goods and the public sector are increasing their use of Oracle services, the report says. In addition to modernization planning and execution, many seek help addressing regional nuances such as data sovereignty and compliance requirements, especially in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

    Outdated legacy systems are holding back many organizations in the region, leading to rising demand for both consulting and advisory services to plan modernization initiatives, ISG says. To reach strategic goals and maximize Oracle investments, enterprises seek providers that demonstrate domain expertise and the ability to innovate. Carrying out transitions with minimal disruption and consistent data integrity is a key requirement.

    Companies seeking to maintain Oracle performance and uptime amid cost, compliance and complexity challenges are driving up demand for managed services in Asia Pacific, the report says. Comprehensive services allow clients to optimize resource management, enhance productivity and focus on strategy.

    More enterprises in the region are adopting Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), often leveraging local data centers and integrating advanced tools, ISG says. A key requirement is the availability of generative AI for process automation and management of multicloud environments. Companies give priority to service providers that offer comprehensive support for Oracle and non-Oracle environments and enhance integration across cloud platforms.

    “Enterprises in Asia Pacific are choosing leading OCI providers with a strong local presence,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Along with competitive pricing and proven track records in Oracle migrations, this fosters trust.”

    The report also examines other trends affecting Oracle users in Asia Pacific, including enterprises consolidating providers of comprehensive application management services and the impact of OCI’s recently introduced interoperability across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.

    For more insights into the challenges faced by enterprises using Oracle in Asia Pacific, see the ISG Provider Lens Focal Points briefing here.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific evaluates the capabilities of 28 providers across four quadrants: Consulting and Advisory Services, Implementation and Integration Services, Managed Services and OCI Solutions and Capabilities.

    The report names Accenture, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, Infosys, LTIMindtree, TCS, Tech Mahindra and Wipro as Leaders in all four quadrants. It names PwC as a Leader in three quadrants and KPMG as a Leader in two quadrants. Capgemini is named as a Leader in one quadrant.

    In addition, Capgemini, DXC Technology and Kyndryl are named as Rising Stars — companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in one quadrant each.

    In the area of customer experience, Capgemini is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2024 among Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem providers. Capgemini earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG’s Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

    About ISG Provider Lens Research

    The ISG Provider Lens Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG’s global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG’s enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage.

    About ISG

    ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Summer signing out sunny and warm – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 27th February – Monday 3rd March – Summer is ending on a sunny note. 

    South Island to expect rain this weekend and cooler temperatures next week.
    Three tropical cyclone systems named in the Southwest Pacific this week.
    MetService are monitoring Tropical Cyclone Alfred that remains an active system in the Coral Sea.

    Summer started off poorly with a long streak of cooler than usual weather for some, and little to no seasonal rain for others and is, making way to a cold start to Autumn. While the weekend will be dry in most places, wet weather is on the cards for the upper North Island and the lower South Island. After a slow start to the tropical cyclone season, this week saw a burst of activity in the tropics, and MetService is closely monitoring the situation.

    MetService Meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo said, “In contrast to how the year started, this season is coming to an end with sunny skies and warm temperatures, making it a suitable weekend to all the activities across the country.”

    The eastern areas of the country are expected to be the warmest, with maximum temperatures reaching upper 20s to low 30s. Despite the warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies, showers may be part of the weekend in the upper North Island.

    The dry weekend is going to be cut short for the lower South Island, with two successive fronts making their way from Saturday around midday.  

    “The second, and likely most rain-bearing front is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, moving up the Island in the beginning of next week. This will introduce a gradual drop in temperatures, with Alexandra dropping from a maximum of 30C on Sunday to 17C on Tuesday”, added Mhlongo.  

    While it had been settled weather in New Zealand, three tropical cyclone systems have been named in the Southwest Pacific this week. Two of these systems, Tropical Cyclone Seru and Former Cyclone Rae, have now moved away from the larger island groups. However, Tropical Cyclone Alfred remains an active system in the Coral Sea.  

    “Where Alfred heads next is the big question for us in New Zealand. For the next few days, Alfred is expected to slowly sink southwards through the Coral Sea. Next week, there is considerable variation in the potential path that Alfred could take”, said Mhlongo.

    The large area of high pressure that has been a feature of our weather recently has been helping to keep the most active weather systems away from us and will be a key player in how close Alfred gets to our shores next week.

    At the moment, there’s still a wide range of possible tracks in where Alfred could go and how, or if, it will impact us. We are monitoring the system closely along with our colleagues over the Tasman, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology ( https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=3abeda0c8b&e=852c839bf9 ), and will keep you updated with all the latest information through our Severe Weather Outlook ( https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=9ced8191ad&e=852c839bf9 ) and our daily Tropical Cyclone Bulletin: https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=c00ebbb582&e=852c839bf9

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-interview-4BC Brisbane, Breakfast with Peter Fegan

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    PETER FEGAN:  Now, you’ll remember last year we reported it here on 4BC and it made headlines nationally, the states were officially put on notice by the Federal Government. The states were saying, show me the money and the Federal Government was simply saying, well, prove what it’s worth. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King told state premiers if they wanted cash, they needed good business cases. It’s pretty smart politics, really. The good news is we’ve passed the test here in Brisbane. Today, we’ll be handed a cheque for $200 million, and it includes funding for one of Brisbane’s oldest icons. The Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, joins me on the line. Minister, great to have your company this morning.

    CATHERINE KING: So lovely to be with you, Peter. It’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, one of our landmarks, our most famous landmarks, will be getting some cash. Can you reveal it on the program please?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. So we’re working with the Brisbane City Council to start to investigate what the cost of and scope of work that are needed to restore and to future maintenance of what is obviously the most iconic bridge, one of the most iconic bridges in the country, apart from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, of course. But it’s- you know, it’s a landmark. And so we’re putting in alongside Brisbane City Council together, $5 million to really get that work done, to see what is it that we’re going to need to do. It’s going to need more cash into the future. But this is really starting the process of working with the council to look at what do we need to make sure this bridge stays there into the future and is as strong as it possibly can be, and we keep it there for many, many generations to enjoy.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, there was also $1 million that’s been put aside to investigate a bridge from West End to Toowong. Well, Minister, I’m going to do you a favour here this morning. I’m going to save you that $1 million, and I’m going to say this, just build it because we’ve wanted it for so long. 

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Well, unfortunately we have to work out the cost of these things first. And part of what you do with the business case and the planning is you do the geotech work. You have a look at what services need to be moved so that you can then- the city council can come to me and say, well, look, we need this amount of money to actually build it. So that’s really just the start of the process. And I was at the opening, obviously, of Kangaroo Point Bridge. I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of people have been using that. We want to see people being able to access all parts of the city. And so this is again, just working with the Brisbane City Council, doing that planning work, finding out how much- you know, we really need to understand how much it costs and then sort of getting on with it once we’ve got that understanding.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, no more footbridges. We need cars to go across. We drive here in Brisbane. We don’t get transport, unfortunately.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, we do lots of things. I think people catch buses.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs]

    CATHERINE KING: So obviously, there’s the Brisbane Metro [indistinct], there’s people do that. People will cycle. I’ve seen people everywhere doing that. I’ve seen people walking across footbridges and then I’ve obviously seen- in terms of lots of cars as well. Everyone does all of those things. But cars are obviously pretty important here in Queensland.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, I found this one very interesting, being somebody that grew up in the western suburbs of Brisbane, plenty of people listening to me from the west this morning, they’ll find this interesting. $78.5 million towards cost pressures on the Moggill Road Corridor upgrade project, replacing Indooroopilly roundabout with an overpass over Moggill Road. Now that’s great, but what about the Moggill Road corridor in particular? And then that’s further out towards Moggill. And I’m talking about land that had been put aside. Government land, Crown land that’s been put aside since Malcolm Fraser’s days. And yet people that live out in those western suburbs are still struggling to get to work, because we haven’t used that parcel of land. Can you give a guarantee that one day we may use it?

    CATHERINE KING: What again, we do is work in partnership with councils. So obviously Brisbane City Council is in a really unique position across the country that it has such a substantial road and obviously public transport network that it has to fund and build itself. So we work closely with Brisbane City Council and also state governments. They bring projects forward to us in budget and we make considerations of those. We’ve got to do the planning work first, make sure we understand it, but know if the council or the state government want to bring that forward. I, of course, will give it due consideration in the budget process.

    PETER FEGAN: $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce Highway. I think this is the most contentious topic here in Queensland. And I got to say, Minister, when it comes to the election, this will be one of the most divisive topics and I think you’ll either win or lose votes here. $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce, right? That’s one hell of an obligation to Queenslanders in particular. But I’ve got to say this, Minister, we are reluctant to believe either government, particularly this Labor Government at the moment, because it was this government that had turned its back on the Bruce and had switched the funding arrangement around. $7.2 billion sounds fantastic. I’ve got to say, on behalf of all Queensland, Minister, we just need to get on with it. We need this highway to be safe.

    CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. And that’s why, you know, the earliest possible opportunity we did, we’ve made the announcement at that $7.2 billion. Money will flow this year and every subsequent year.  We’ve said we’ll get it done in eight years. We’ve asked the Queensland Government to deliver that …

    PETER FEGAN: [Talks over] But it’s been 50.

    CATHERINE KING: … then obviously [indistinct].

    PETER FEGAN: 50 or 60 years, Minister. It’s 50 or 60 years and not one government can fix it.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, this Government has made the single biggest contribution to the Bruce Highway ever. And this is a Labor Government that has done that. And if you look back when we were last in office, prior to that, it was the then infrastructure minister, now Prime Minister, who then made the single biggest commitment to this.

    This is a Labor legacy, and we are absolutely committed to making the Bruce Highway safer. We’ve been in government obviously two and a half years. And I do want to make it really clear, no money has ever been cut from the Bruce Highway. What we have said is-

    PETER FEGAN: But the funding agreement- the funding- hang on, Minister, the funding agreement, that’s not true. The funding agreement was an 80/20 split…

    CATHERINE KING: [Talks over] That’s true…

    PETER FEGAN: … and you- but you changed that. So that’s funding cutting. Hang on, Minister, you changed that. It was an 80/20 split, but you say no funding has ever been cut. If you change- if you go from 80/20 to 50/50, that to me- I’m not a mathematician, but that’s a 30 per cent cut in funding.

    CATHERINE KING: So no, it isn’t. And so I want to make that really clear. I think there’s some confusion about that and been a bit of mischief about that. So first thing is not a single dollar has been cut from the Bruce Highway. In fact, the commitment that we’ve got, there’s $10 billion that has already been spent on the Bruce Highway. That has remained, and then we’ve put in an additional 7.2 billion. We’ve recognised on the Bruce Highway, in particular because of the safety concerns, 41 deaths just last year alone, that we will continue to fund that on an 80/20 basis.

    But what we did announce is that because the Commonwealth is now increasingly funding suburban roads, public transport and has stepped into the space of the state governments, largely, we’re now on other roads, particularly across the country, now requiring the state to also step up its commitment. We’re not dropping any of our funding. There’s still $125 billion worth of Commonwealth funding going to states and territories. We’re not dropping that. We’re just asking the states to step up with their contribution as well. So it’s not a cut to our funding. We’re asking the states to step in in the same way we’re stepping in on suburban roads now, but generally were 100 per cent of the state to fund.

    PETER FEGAN: It’s bang on quarter after eight. My guest this morning is the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King. $200 million being announced today in funding for our roads here in Brisbane and in the South East. Minister, I’ve got to say this. It’s smart politics to ask the states to present you a case study because money is really, really tight, particularly on a federal level. So I like it. I think it’s good politics, and I think that that’s what the states should have to do. The reason I’m asking you about this, though, is because we need a really nice, new shiny stadium here in Queensland and particularly in Brisbane. We’ve got the Olympics coming. Now, if there was a case study put forward by David Crisafulli for a brand-new stadium, you’d be on board, wouldn’t you?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the thing that we have put money towards, so there’s $3.5 billion capped from the Commonwealth going into the Olympics. We have said the Commonwealth’s contribution will go towards the Brisbane Arena. $2.5 billion is going towards that, we think, will leave a really significant legacy for an entertainment venue here in the heart of Brisbane – really necessary. We’ve also said we will 50/50 share the minor venues. Obviously, the Queensland Government is undertaking a review of those venues at the moment, but the Commonwealth has done- we’ve done the work, we’ve done the business case, the work is ready to go on the Brisbane Arena and that remains- you know, remains there on the table to build that arena for Brisbane. We think it’s needed and it will leave a great legacy for the community.

    PETER FEGAN: Let’s hope they’re listening, because it’s next month that we announce whether we’re going to get a new stadium or not. Before I let you go, Minister, what did you make of today’s announcements? I want to get your thoughts on this because your government has approved a deal between Virgin and Qatar Airways. Now, this is a deal that would see Qatar be able to invest in Virgin. It means there’s going to be more Qatar flights. It means we can spread our wings a little bit. Should hopefully cheapen flight prices here in Australia. But I’ve got to think back, if my memory serves me correctly, it was you that clipped Qatar’s wings in the first place.

    CATHERINE KING: So what we’ve had announced today is that the Treasurer has approved the Foreign Investment Review Board’s decision that Qatar Airways, the Qatari government, can invest in Virgin, and that obviously allows Virgin to do a number of things in terms of it going forward. Obviously, Bain Capital is wanting to withdraw and have Qatar now come in as the major investor. What it’s allowed us also to do is ensure that there are some Australians on the board of Virgin to make sure that we’ve got that in place and that they’re in fact opportunities to train Australian pilots, as again, Qatar has been granted through Virgin some wet leases to increase its flights, its international flights and create that competition. And I think that’s a good thing.

    PETER FEGAN: Before I let you go, we’ve got some breaking news. The election, 12 April. Is that right?

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Very nice try there. What a sneaky way to do it, you cheeky thing.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs] I should have just – I shouldn’t have laughed.

    CATHERINE KING: You should have just- I know, I nearly believed you then. You just got me. I’ve got three brothers who do that to me all the time.

    PETER FEGAN: What would you have said, though?

    CATHERINE KING: I don’t know, I have absolutely no idea. [Indistinct] to the Prime Minister, but very cheeky. You nearly got me.

    PETER FEGAN: Good on you, Minister. We’ll chat again very soon.

    CATHERINE KING: Lovely to talk to you, Peter.

    PETER FEGAN: There she is. That’s the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Legal aid is a lifeline for vulnerable Australians, but consistent underfunding puts the system at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Cortis, Associate Professor, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney

    It’s central to any democracy that citizens receive fair treatment under the law. An important part of this is access to legal advice and representation.

    But lawyers are expensive. Many people who engage with the justice system can’t afford them.

    This is where legal aid comes in. Legal aid is a government-funded service available to some people unable to afford legal assistance. It is tightly targeted and many people are turned away.

    Those approved can access professional advice and representation. Many clients are women and children escaping family violence, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who remain vastly overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

    But the first ever national census of legal aid private practitioners reveals widespread underfunding, overwhelming workloads and high financial costs borne by the lawyers providing help.

    How does legal aid work?

    Vulnerable Australians who need essential services often access them from private providers in mixed markets. This is the case for childcare, aged care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

    It’s also true of legal aid, in which private lawyers play major roles.

    Legal Aid Commissions deliver legal aid through a mix of directly employed, in-house practitioners and approved private providers. The mix is heavily weighted toward private providers, although it fluctuates over time and across jurisdictions.

    According to National Legal Aid, in 2022–23, 72% of successful legal aid applications were assigned to private practitioners.

    To resource this arrangement, private practitioners are funded by grants of aid allocated to approved clients, with amounts regulated through a fixed scale of fees. Legal Aid Commissions in each state and territory usually release grant funds to practitioners in stages, initially to cover advice, investigation and negotiation, with funding extended to cover more work, such as going to trial, if cases progress.

    Private practitioners are expected to assist legal aid clients at the same standard of quality they would provide to other, fee-paying clients.

    But quality legal representation, especially for highly vulnerable people, is complex and time-consuming.

    Our research shows private practitioners feel frustrated that government funding does not cover all activities they need to perform and falls short of meeting community need.

    Our research

    We surveyed private practitioners who had delivered legal aid in the past two years, or who were listed on legal aid panels or preferred supplier lists.

    Among the 1,010 who participated, most were self-employed or working in very small practices. A quarter had delivered legal aid for more than 20 years.

    Commitment to legal aid is high, reflected in statements such as “everyone deserves good-quality representation”, and

    there is an obligation on professionals to assist in providing access to justice.

    Overwhelmingly, private practitioners find legal aid satisfying and meaningful. They also value the way it can build expertise for practitioners early in their legal career.

    But despite being enjoyable and enriching work, private practitioners say legal aid is becoming more difficult to deliver.

    Bearing the brunt of the cost

    Legal aid work can be stressful for practitioners, but their greatest challenge by far is funding.

    While there is no illusion that legal aid will be lucrative, private practitioners are frustrated with paltry grants that require significant administration and which undervalue their work.

    They feel the funding they receive does not recognise the time required in legal aid cases, nor the growing complexity of cases. As legal aid clients increasingly present with unmet health, social and economic needs, cases are more complex, lengthy and costly.

    Community need for legal assistance is high. For years, formal reviews have found the sector is chronically underfunded, both in Australia and overseas.

    Announcements of additional funding and better indexation have been welcomed, but aren’t enough to fix the shortfall.

    In the census, private practitioners repeatedly told us the funding available does not cover all activities required in legal aid cases or expected by courts. As one practitioner explained:

    legal aid matters effectively become pro bono matters near weeks into an initial grant, despite being potentially years-long.

    For 85% of private practitioners, “having to perform unremunerated work” is a source of difficulty. More than three-quarters said “trying to do quality work with limited time and resources” makes legal aid cases difficult.

    Many private practitioners travel long distances for their legal aid work and feel frustrated when costs are not covered. They also find administration is slow and cumbersome, and feel that Legal Aid Commissions are too understaffed to respond quickly to inquiries.

    Although 70% intend to continue to deliver at least some legal aid in the next year, many private practitioners feel undervalued. A third want to reduce their legal aid caseload and one in nine plan to abandon this work altogether.

    To continue to deliver legal aid, private practitioners echo scholarly evidence
    in calling for better grants, straightforward administration and responsive communication.

    Some question why legal aid, as a public good, has come to rest so heavily on the commitment of private practitioners and suggest that in-house staff and the community legal sector play bigger roles.

    Ultimately, some private practitioners will find ways to integrate legal aid into their business, or simply wear the cost. But for most, financial costs and risks are too high. Essential services cannot be delivered based on practitioners’ goodwill.

    Natasha Cortis conducts commissioned research on social policy and service delivery, for government and non-government organisations. The research this article discusses was commissioned by National Legal Aid.

    Megan Blaxland conducts commissioned research on social policy and service delivery for a range of government and non-government organisations. The research this article discusses was commissioned by National Legal Aid.

    – ref. Legal aid is a lifeline for vulnerable Australians, but consistent underfunding puts the system at risk – https://theconversation.com/legal-aid-is-a-lifeline-for-vulnerable-australians-but-consistent-underfunding-puts-the-system-at-risk-250275

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Blasts Trump and Musk for Attacks on Child Care, Head Start & Focus on Tax Cuts for Billionaires Like Themselves

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray: “Trump and Musk are preparing lifeboats for billionaires who can already buy their own fleet of yachts—but ripping away support for families who have been struggling for years to keep their heads above water.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, joined a virtual press call to discuss the Trump administration’s recent attacks on child care and Head Start—and President Trump’s utter failure to do anything to help families find and afford child care, despite his promises to lower costs for American families. The call was hosted by Child Care for Every Family, Zero to Three, the National Women’s Law Center, and MomsRising.

    Senator Murray blasted the Trump administration’s mass firings at Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care—which reportedly lost roughly 20% and 25% of their staff respectively—as well as the Trump administration’s blanket funding freeze that caused chaos and uncertainty for Head Start centers nationwide, including in Washington state.

    “In a shock to no one, a billionaire like Donald Trump and his boss, Elon Musk—the literal richest man on the planet—have absolutely zero clue why child care is so important to families and to our economy. Despite the President’s grand campaign promises to lower families’ costs, Trump and Musk have done absolutely nothing to increase child care openings, nothing to lower child care costs, nothing whatsoever to address the child care crisis,” said Senator Murray. “When it comes to helping themselves, they are gearing up to give themselves and other billionaires trillions in tax cuts—but when it comes to helping parents and kids, a big fat zero.”  

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered on today’s press call, are below:

    “In a shock to no one, a billionaire like Donald Trump and his boss, Elon Musk—the literal richest man on the planet—have absolutely zero clue why child care is so important to families and to our economy.

    “And despite the President’s grand campaign promises to lower families’ costs, Trump and Musk have done absolutely nothing to increase child care openings, nothing to lower child care costs, nothing whatsoever to address the child care crisis.

    “Of course, when it comes to helping themselves, they are gearing up to give themselves and other billionaires trillions in tax cuts—but when it comes to helping parents and kids, a big fat zero.

    “And really, even that is being far too kind—because all they have done so far is make the child care crisis worse, and all their plans for what to do next are to make it even worse!

    “When Trump and Musk are haphazardly freezing Head Start funding, then promising to turn it back on, but not actually ensuring that happens, and throwing Head Start centers and families who count on them into complete chaos; when they are firing, left and right, without rhyme or reason, the very workers who help child care providers and Head Start centers keep their doors open and who help ensure the kids in their care are safe—they are turning their backs on families and making the child care crisis that much worse.

    “President Trump and Elon Musk have reportedly already fired a fifth of workers at the federal Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care—and it’s clear they plan to keep firing federal workers with reckless abandon. These are folks that help all of our states keep child care and Head Start centers open.

    “There’s no mistaking it: Trump and Musk’s agenda will have devastating consequences for families and for our economy.

    “Because—despite how important Elon Musk thinks he is—the reality is that working families are the backbone of our economy. And mom and dad can’t go to work if they can’t get child care.

    “And of course, if things weren’t bad enough—Republicans’ next big priority involves ripping health care away from kids and families and seniors to shower even more tax cuts on billionaires. Child care doesn’t become more affordable when parents and their kids get kicked off Medicaid.

    “In other words, Trump and Musk are preparing lifeboats for billionaires who can already buy their own fleet of yachts—but ripping away support for families who have been struggling for years to keep their heads above water.

    “They are telling fellow billionaires: ‘Whatever you want!’ And telling parents and kids: ‘Tough luck!’

    “Well, I have fought for child care from my first day in politics and I am going to make sure they know I am not stopping now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Blumenthal Demand VA Swiftly Reverse Moves to Cut VA Researchers Working to Improve Veteran Health Outcomes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Presses VA Deputy Secretary Nominee on Mass Firings of VA Researchers, Holding Oracle Accountable to Get EHR Right for Veterans

    ICYMI: Murray, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Exempt All VA Employees From Hiring Freeze

    ***LETTER HERE***

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, sent a letter this week to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins expressing their deep concerns about how the ongoing federal hiring freeze is affecting VA researchers—many of whom have already lost their jobs—as well as the research programs funded by external entities that improve care and services for our nation’s veterans.

    The senators wrote, “Without immediate action to address the recent hiring constraints imposed by the Trump Administration, critical research efforts—and the veterans who rely on them—are at risk. Hundreds of VA research-funded positions are in jeopardy due to the hiring freeze. This freeze impacts researcher positions funded by grants, which are awarded as part of competitive funding mechanisms based on peer-review. These roles are essential to the safe and effective conduct of ongoing VA-funded research, by ensuring compliance with biological safety, data security, and other critical protocols.”

    The members also pointed out that, according to the National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations, “[D]uring the next 90 days alone, VA could lose an additional 200 research personnel who directly support research to advance veterans’ health and healthcare access,” highlighting the time-sensitive nature of the impacts to research funding.

    Senator Murray has been outspoken in standing up for veterans, VA employees, and VA researchers against Trump and Elon Musk’s indiscriminate mass layoffs that will undermine critical services our nation’s veterans rely on every day. Senator Murray, a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, was among the first to raise the alarm about the layoffs of VA researchers and called on President Trump to immediately reverse the firings. She pressed VA Deputy Secretary nominee Dr. Paul Lawrence on the firings of VA researchers at the hearing on his nomination last week, held a press conference with a VA employee and veteran in Seattle who was abruptly laid off as part of the mass firings with zero justification, and put out a fact sheet on how the indiscriminate mass firings were hurting workers in Washington state, including VA researchers. In January, Murray and others called on President Trump to exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze issued as part of his Day One Executive Orders.  

    Senator Murray has also repeatedly sounded the alarm over DOGE access at VA. She voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary—making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness was putting our national security and our veterans at risk—and joined her colleagues in pressing Secretary Collins to take immediate actions to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and DOGE.

    The full text of Sens. Murray and Blumenthal’s letter can be found below and HERE.

    Dear Secretary Collins:

    We write to express our deep concerns regarding the impact of the ongoing federal hiring freeze on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research and the research programs funded by external entities that improve care and services for our nation’s veterans. The VA research enterprise has long been a pillar of medical innovation, responsible for groundbreaking advancements that have improved the lives of millions of veterans and Americans, and is a major recruitment tool in bringing top talent to the Department. Researchers at VA have been responsible for revolutionary medical achievements, including implanting the first successful cardiac pacemaker, developing the nicotine patch and other therapies for smokers, maintaining the nation’s largest genomic biorepository, and advancing prosthetics technology.  Without immediate action to address the recent hiring constraints imposed by the Trump Administration, critical research efforts—and the veterans who rely on them—are at risk.

    Hundreds of VA research-funded positions are in jeopardy due to the hiring freeze. This freeze impacts researcher positions funded by grants, which are awarded as part of competitive funding mechanisms based on peer-review. These roles are essential to the safe and effective conduct of ongoing VA-funded research, by ensuring compliance with biological safety, data security, and other critical protocols. Further, according to the National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations, during the next 90 days alone, VA could lose an additional 200 research personnel who directly support research to advance veterans’ health and healthcare access. These positions are either funded by non-VA entities, such as other federal agencies or philanthropic organizations, or are short-term assignments from academic institutions to allow VA to capitalize on specific expertise.

    These mechanisms are not only fiscally responsible, but essential to sustaining VA’s research mission. At a time when the Trump Administration claims to be hyper-focused on efficient use of taxpayer dollars, it is unacceptable that the Department has targeted cost-effective research aiming to improve veterans’ health outcomes. If these appointments are not processed, an estimated 370 studies and clinical trials could be canceled or suspended in the next 90 days, directly impacting up to 10,000 veterans currently participating in research studies.

    As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of VA research, we have a responsibility to safeguard its future. VA has been at the forefront of medical breakthroughs for a century, and continued investment in its research workforce is essential to ensuring that legacy endures. We strongly urge VA to swiftly reverse the hiring freeze and any related personnel decisions to prevent disruptions to research that directly contributes to improving veteran health outcomes.

    We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and stand ready to support swift efforts that will allow VA research to move forward without disruption.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Warnock, Rep. Schrier Introduce Bill to Improve Children’s Health Care Access

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Murray Slams Republican Plan for Deep Cuts to Medicaid That Will Rip Away Health Care From Millions

    In Washington state, over 1.83 million individuals rely on health care through Medicaid, including over 840,000 children

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act in the Senate—legislation that would require Medicaid to pay at least the same rate as Medicare for primary care services, which would incentivize more providers to participate in Medicaid and increase access to care for children and families. Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08) introduced the legislation in the House with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-01) and Kathy Castor (D, FL-14).

    “Medicaid is a lifeline for tens of millions of American families, especially women and children—one in five women and nearly half of all children in America get their health care through Medicaid. Our legislation is a commonsense solution that would encourage more providers to see Medicaid patients and make it easier for families who rely on Medicaid to get timely care close to home,” said Senator Murray. “Right now, Republicans are doubling down on their plans to make deep cuts to Medicaid and rip away health care from millions of people who need it—it’s dangerous and flat-out-wrong. I’ll keep fighting back and working to strengthen Medicaid and bring down the cost of health care in America.”

    “I’ve been in the Medicaid fight long before I got to the Senate, so I know the importance that affordable health care provides for so many Americans, including millions of children. In Georgia, kids make up over 70 percent of all Medicaid enrollees,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Right now, nearly half of our country’s children get health care through Medicaid, which is why it’s so troubling that Washington Republicans are fighting to make cuts to health care access. That is why the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act is so important. This commonsense solution shouldn’t be a partisan issue, kids and parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have health care access.”

    “As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand the impact that proper medical care can have for the health and well-being of families and children. The current Medicaid payment rate has led to fewer available doctors, longer waiting periods, and overall reduced health care coverage for families across the country,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “My bill offers a commonsense, clear solution. Almost half of the children in the United States are insured through Medicaid, so the best way to take care of our kids is to strengthen Medicaid.”

    “I want to thank Senator Murray and Representative Schrier for their unwavering commitment to children’s healthcare with the introduction of the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act,” said Jeff Sperring, MD, CEO of Seattle Children’s Hospital. “Now, more than ever, ensuring that children’s healthcare is prioritized is of the upmost importance. Healthy kids means a healthy community and a healthy future- this bill puts us closer to that goal.” 

    “Timely access to primary care for children is non-negotiable. The AAFP supports the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act, which will help raise Medicaid payment rates for primary care services to Medicare levels,” Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians. “Increasing access to Medicaid coverage leads to better health outcomes and reduces long standing health disparities. We urge Congress to pass this legislation to improve access to care and ensure family physicians have the resources they need to treat Medicaid patients.” 

    “The WSMA believes that primary care is the foundation of an effective, efficient, patient-centered healthcare system. Increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare levels is essential to ensuring our patients have access to timely, quality healthcare,” said Washington State Medical Association President John Bramhall, MD, PhD. “Without adequate reimbursement, many physicians are unable to sustain their practices while serving this population, leading to reduced access to care, longer wait times, greater distances traveled, worsening health disparities, and associated increased healthcare costs. We applaud Congresswoman Schrier and Senator Murray for investing in the health of our communities by introducing the Kid’s Access to Primary Care Act of 2025.”

    “Children should be able to receive the health care they need, when they need it. For too long, low Medicaid payments have made it difficult for children to get timely care. The Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act takes a critical first step to address the barriers families face when trying to access high quality primary care. Raising Medicaid payments to at least Medicare rates for the same services will help ensure pediatricians and other primary care clinicians can provide the care children need to learn, grow, and thrive. The American Academy of Pediatrics thanks Senators Murray (D-Wash.) and Warnock (D-Ga.) for their leadership on this issue and calls on Congress to advance this legislation without delay,” said AAP President Susan Kressly, MD, FAAP.

    Right now, Medicaid pays a lower rate than Medicare for the same primary care procedures and services. This discrepancy severely reduces the number of providers who participate in Medicaid and limits access to health care for children and families. In Washington alone, over 1.83 million individuals are insured through Medicaid, including over 840,000 children who depend on the program for their health care needs. The Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act would improves Medicaid coverage by ensuring that providers are paid at least the same rate as they are for Medicare. Experts agree that higher Medicaid payment rates will broaden the provider network and increase access to care for Medicaid patients, including the more than half of children in the U.S who rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

    Senator Murray has fought to strengthen and protect Medicaid throughout her career and previously led similar legislation that would raise the Medicaid reimbursement rate to Medicare levels for primary care services—the Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women & Children Act—with former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in the 113th, 114th, 116th, and 117th Congresses.

    In the Senate, in addition to Senators Murray and Warnock, the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act is also cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    The legislation is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the Washington State Medical Association.

    The full text of the legislation is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Trump and Musk Endanger Veterans’ Care, Heartlessly Fire Thousands Who’ve Served in Uniform

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Trump’s VA announced another round of 1,400 indiscriminate firings late Monday–jeopardizing veterans’ benefits and care

    VA’s cancellation of nearly 900 contracts supporting patient safety and veteran privacy, as well as its decision to reduce medical centers’ purchase card limits to $1, will further endanger veterans’ access to benefits and care

    Trump and Musk fire veterans across government

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, detailed how President Trump and his billionaire co-president Elon Musk’s hazardous directives and indiscriminate mass firings endanger the benefits and care veterans have earned and deserve–and how the two are thoughtlessly firing thousands of veterans who have served our nation in uniform who fulfill critical roles across the federal government.

    In a statement, Senator Murray said:

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are utterly betraying our veterans–indiscriminately firing men and women who have served our nation in uniform and endangering the care and benefits they deserve and have earned.

    “Trump and Musk’s heartless firings will worsen VA’s longstanding staffing shortage and force veterans to wait longer to have their claims handled, have their phone calls picked up, or even see a doctor. That is downright unacceptable.

    “Now, Trump and Musk are also paralyzing countless operations at VA hospitals across the country by essentially freezing their purchase cards–preventing them from buying more supplies for hospitals, operating shuttles for patients, covering lodging for veterans, and much more. This is a totally senseless and reckless move that is creating more chaos for VA providers and their patients. 

    “Trump and Musk have now fired thousands of veterans who–after serving their nation in uniform–have chosen to next serve their country as civilians. Now, these veterans are without jobs, wondering what they’ll do next and how they will provide for themselves and their families.

    “Trump and Musk are jeopardizing VA patient safety, and they are going to push out the VA staff that remain with their uninformed and thoughtless mandates and staffing cuts. This shutdown of the VA, bit by bit, must immediately stop.”

    INTENSIFYING VA’s STAFF SHORTAGE

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has long suffered severe staffing shortages, including in clinical positions, which have negatively impacted veterans’ ability to get the support, benefits, and care they need. 

    To address these shortages, VA has sought–and Congress has provided–expanded hiring authorities and increased pay and bonus schedules for certain VA employees, underscoring how serious staffing challenges have been. VA’s Office of Inspector General reported, for instance, 2,959 severe occupational staffing shortages at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities in fiscal year 2024.

    Nonetheless, President Trump has not only initiated a federal hiring freeze but has indiscriminately fired thousands of VA staff–without providing information about who has been laid off or why.

    Trump and Musk have now fired more than 2,400 staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in mass–with VA announcing the firing of 1,000 staff on February 13 and another 1,400 on February 23. 

    VA has also lost other critical staff through the Trump administration’s “deferred resignation program.”

    ENDANGERING VETERANS’ ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND CARE—AND PATIENTS’ SAFETY

    Veterans deserve to be able to get the benefits and care they have earned, but Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s heartless firings of VA staff are threatening their ability to do just that.

    Firing VA employees will–among much else–likely force veterans to wait longer: 

    • To see health care providers; 
    • To have their disability claims adjudicated;
    • To have someone to pick up their calls at the Veterans Crisis Line; 
    • To have burial and funeral expense reimbursement requests processed;
    • And much more. 

    A number of staff supporting the Veterans Crisis Line–which provides 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans and their loved ones–were among those fired by Trump and Musk.

    In 2022, Congress also passed the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in two decades, which requires a significant influx of resources and staff to deliver the benefits and care under the law. Trump and Musk’s firings–and hiring freeze–badly undercut VA’s ability to process claims under the law. The mass firings and the ongoing hiring freeze, which prohibits new disability claims raters from coming on board, will force the backlog of unprocessed claims to grow above 254,000.

    Firing long-time VA researchers also puts clinical trials that veterans are enrolled in at risk and jeopardizes research that could yield critical breakthroughs for veterans. 

    • Ongoing VA research is examining treatment options for PTSD and opioid addiction, as well as for cancer that was caused by veterans’ exposure to toxic chemicals, among much else. 
    • According to VA, in fiscal year 2024, there were 102 active research sites nationwide, with 3,685 active principal investigators who led 7,278 active funded research projects involving teams of researchers. In addition, VA investigators authored or coauthored 11,732 published research articles.

    VA’s dangerous directives this week, which they have already begun to walk back, cause more harmful chaos and confusion and also have detrimental impacts on the ability of veterans to receive their care and benefits. 

    • VA issued a blanket cancellation on Tuesday of nearly 900 contracts–supporting patient safety efforts like chemical waste disposal and monitoring of hospital air quality, systems providing secure storage of veterans’ private records, clinical recruitment efforts, and more. 
    • VA also implemented a decision to reduce purchase card limits to $1–curbing VA medical centers’ ability to purchase supplies and equipment they need to serve veterans or to provide lodging for transplant patients.  

    While the Trump administration tries to rehire clinical staff they have already fired and may ultimately walk back the purchase card limits and contract cancellations, it is clear that they are acting before thinking–and the people paying the price are veterans.

    BETRAYING VETERANS WITH ZERO JUSTIFICATION

    Beyond indiscriminately firing workers who help get veterans the benefits and care they have earned, Trump and Musk have also indiscriminately fired thousands of veterans who have served our country in uniform. In firing probationary and other federal workers across government, Trump and Musk have fired scores of veterans.

    • Veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce, and the federal government is the largest single employer of veterans in the country.
    • Trump and Musk have already fired nearly 6,000 veterans, by one recent estimate.
    • Federal agencies uniquely work to hire and accommodate veterans with service-related disabilities. Longstanding law requires, for example, that veterans who are disabled or who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces in military campaigns are entitled to preference over others in hiring from a list of eligible, competitive applicants. In 2021, there were 337,000 disabled Veterans serving in the federal government, making up 16% of the federal workforce.

    As one veteran in Washington state who was laid off by VA through no fault of his own told Senator Murray last week: 

    “I swore an oath to serve our country—first in the U.S. Army and then at the VA—only to be abruptly terminated by the very institution that promised to care for those who have served. My termination isn’t just a personal tragedy; it’s a stark reminder that our federal government is dismantling essential support systems for veterans and vulnerable communities. When cost-cutting means sacrificing dedicated, disabled service members and committed federal employees, it isn’t about efficiency—it’s about eroding the trust and dignity that our nation owes to those who answer the call to serve.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing farmers to innovate and make more money

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is ramping up a programme to boost sustainably and farm productivity. 

    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced the ‘Science for Farmers’ initiative will be rolled out at agricultural events around the country starting with the Dargaville, Wānaka, Feilding, and Kirwee Agricultural Shows over the next two months. 

    “Science for Farmers brings leading scientists to the regions to talk directly with farmers about research and innovation that’s already paying dividends on farms around the country,” Mr McClay says. 

    The programme is a collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries’ On Farm Support service and key research partners, including AgResearch, AgriZeroNZ, LIC, Massey University, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. 

    It provides detailed information and access to experts in many areas including on:

    • Alternative pasture types that can help farmers future-proof their pasture-based systems in a warming climate.
    • Advanced genetics to increase production whilst helping to meet environmental and emissions obligations. 
    • On-farm management systems that increase profit and enhance business resilience.

    “The Government is committed to lifting rural productivity, increasing jobs and unlocking New Zealand’s potential by going for growth.

    “Small steps can make a big difference. Every extra kilo of milksolids, kg of meat or wool, and extra tray of fruit we produce through innovation and science, puts more money into the pockets of rural New Zealand and helps achieve our goal of doubling the value of exports within 10 years”. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Whitireia and WelTec connect with community at local events Te Rā o te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua

    Source: Whitireia and WelTec

    Whitireia and WelTec have joined two Wellington events which focus on the wellbeing of local communities, celebrate culture and local talent, and commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
    The events, Te Rā o te Raukura in Waiwhetū, Lower Hutt (a Te Āti Awa and Āti Awa Toa FM event) and Waitangi Day in Porirua (a collaboration between Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa Rangatira) both held annually, are important occasions in the calendar for local communities, with excellent turnouts, including record attendance this year at Waitangi Day in Porirua. The festivities include musical performances, food stands and artisanal stalls, with Whitireia and WelTec hosting an education stall at both.
    Te Rā o te Raukura, a whānau-oriented community cultural festival that focuses on social wellbeing, education, and health, provided a great opportunity for those enjoying the festivities to see firsthand some of the learning and support options at Whitireia and WelTec. Waitangi Day in Porirua is one of the largest celebrations of our nation’s day with an estimated 35,000 attendees this year, making it a fantastic event to connect with the local community and those who travelled from across the wider Wellington region to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
    The Whitireia and WelTec stalls included interactive displays and showcased the learning journey, mahi (work) and projects completed by current ākonga (students) and graduates. These stories provided valuable insight into the impact of study, with highlights including a carpentry house model, samples of engineering projects, and a student-developed computer game, all demonstrating potential career paths for ākonga. Māori and Pasifika Trades Training and enrolments kaimahi (staff) alongside tutors from information technology, trades training, nursing, social work, construction, and engineering were able to talk through the pathway to gaining hands-on skills or study towards a qualification.
    Hinemoa Priest, Kaiwhakahaere Ngā Ara Me te Tautoko, Director Learner Pathways and Support at Whitireia and WelTec, explains that community connection is important. Positive education outcomes are an enormous contributor to economic and social wellbeing and the study options and support offered by Whitireia and WelTec can make a huge difference in the lives of learners, their families, and wider communities. “The exceptional support throughout a student’s study journey at Whitireia and WelTec and being able to study local and be close to home with whānau support, is an incredible advantage.”
    Plus, there is dedicated support for ākonga Māori at Whitireia and WelTec, with the Tamaiti Whāngai and Te Awarua teams on hand to support the success and participation of ākonga Māori. “Ākonga can walk in, have a hui, ask questions, and get wrap-around mentoring, pastoral, cultural and academic support. The teams also provide external advocacy to help learners navigate things like fees and accommodation”, says Hinemoa.
    Mark Oldershaw, Executive Director for Whitireia and WelTec says Te Rā o Te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua are two wonderful events, both fostering community connection. “It is a privilege to reinforce Whitireia and WelTec’s commitment to providing vocational education, showcase our study options and be on hand to have conversations with those considering study and future work.”
    To enol with Whitireia and WelTec: visit https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/enrolment-information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China successfully conducts marine equipment sea trials

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Researchers have recently completed the inaugural series of sea trials for marine equipment at the offshore test site in Yazhou Bay in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, signifying that the site is now equipped to perform such testing.
    The marine engineering team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University conducted extensive evaluations on a range of marine equipment at the test site, such as instruments for monitoring the marine environment, seafloor mining vehicle prototypes and unmanned surface vessels, reported Hainan Daily on Tuesday.
    The team successfully carried out a variety of experimental tasks, including the observation of dynamic conditions of marine winds, waves and currents, assessment of the functions of intelligent marine devices, accurate positioning and navigation of submersible equipment, and surveillance of disturbances in the seabed environment.
    The team leader disclosed that the successful completion of these sea trials has thoroughly confirmed the site’s ability to perform real-time observations of the marine dynamic environment, and to conduct tests of marine equipment within a three-dimensional marine testing zone that encompasses the surface, the underwater environment and the seabed.
    The team leader also noted that this achievement represents a significant advancement in the development of the test site and underscores its evolution into a crucial maritime testing base in China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: St. Kitts and Nevis: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    February 26, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Recent Developments and Outlook

    Growth is expected to pick up to 2 percent in 2025—from 1.5 percent in 2024—supported by tourism, with inflation remaining around 2 percent. In the medium term, growth is projected at 2.5 percent, and inflation is expected to remain stable. Progress has been made in the transition to renewable energy, as the geothermal project is nearing the drilling phase with funding secured.

    The current account deficit (CAD) further widened to 15 percent of GDP in 2024, from 12 percent in 2023. The CAD remains significantly larger than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a decline in CBI inflows and widening fiscal deficits. It is expected to remain around 12 percent of GDP in the medium term. The external position in 2024 is assessed as weaker than implied by medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies.

    Staff projects fiscal deficits to remain large with public debt rising. The fiscal deficit in 2024 is estimated at 11 percent of GDP, driven by a sharp reduction in CBI revenue. Recent reforms to the program, reinforced by international agreements, suggest that CBI revenue will likely be structurally lower but more sustainable going forward. Hence, the fiscal deficit is projected to be 9 percent of GDP this year, also impacted by the increase in the wage bill and the temporary VAT reduction. Public debt is expected to rise to 61 percent of GDP in 2025. The overall risk of sovereign debt stress continues to be assessed as moderate. In the medium term, fiscal deficits are expected to decrease modestly due to the authorities’ efforts to control expenditures, while debt is projected to reach 68 percent of GDP in 2030.

    Bank credit growth accelerated while vulnerabilities remain. Bank credit grew rapidly at 11 percent (y/y) (particularly in mortgages and consumer loans) amid high non-performing loans (NPLs) and low buffers, while competition among banks increased. Overall, bank NPLs declined, profits rose, and capital somewhat improved. Meanwhile, lending by credit unions expanded swiftly by 12 percent (y/y), while their delinquency ratio increased to 10 percent.

    Near-term risks are tilted to the downside, but the potential for renewable energy provides upsides over the medium term. Substantial changes in CBI revenue constitute an important two-sided risk but a further decline in CBI revenue would pressure fiscal accounts. Downside risks include a slowdown in key source markets for tourism, commodity price volatility, as well as global financial instability impacting domestic banks. The country is also highly exposed to natural disasters (ND). On the other hand, the renewable energy projects could create an additional source of growth and fiscal revenue.

    Economic Policies

    Fiscal Policy

    The staff believes that the main priority is to implement a prompt and steady fiscal consolidation to keep public debt below the regional ceiling of 60 percent of GDP. While the authorities made efforts to contain the fiscal deficit in 2024, more active policies are necessary going forward. Fiscal consolidation will help create space to protect capital expenditure, strengthen resilience against NDs, and hedge against contingent liabilities.

    Under staff’s active policies scenario, the adjusted primary balance (excluding CBI and transfers to public banks) should be tightened by 2 percentage points of GDP by 2029 relative to the baseline. To this end, fiscal consolidation should be anchored by a set of fiscal rules and driven by tax reforms and reductions in current expenditures while protecting capital expenditure. The combined net impact of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms on growth and the external position is assessed to be positive in the medium term. In particular:

    • Statutory fiscal rules should include an adjusted primary balance floor and a primary current expenditure ceiling, as well as the regional debt ceiling—with escape clauses related to NDs. This would enhance the credibility of the fiscal path and help contain borrowing costs.
    • Tax reforms would boost tax revenue by 2.5 percentage points of GDP and are well within reach. The reforms would also help reduce reliance on the CBI and improve equity and growth. Recommended measures include harmonizing the VAT, supplemented by improved targeted social support; increasing excise rates on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and fossil fuels; and updating property tax assessments. The Housing and Social Development Levy could become more progressive, and non-labor income, such as investment and rental income, could be taxed to improve equity. The temporary reduction in VAT for the first half of 2025, as well as other pandemic-era tax breaks, should be phased out. Negotiated tax concession packages for corporate income tax—which unfairly benefit profitable large international hospitality companies—should be lapsed, especially in light of the upcoming OECD Pillar II. The authorities’ efforts to improve tax collections, including property taxes and CIT, and to enhance tax administration are welcome, and should be further strengthened.
    • Current expenditure. The authorities’ efforts to streamline current expenditure are welcome and should go further to bring them closer to pre-pandemic levels. Limiting public wage increases and employment—the largest in the ECCU—would help foster private sector job creation. Transfers, including social spending, should be better targeted and more effective.
    • Accompanying structural reforms aimed at enhancing productivity, labor quality, and access to finance could generate significant growth gains.

    The planned establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is welcome. The SWF should absorb any upside in the projected CBI revenue, reduce the impact of volatile and uncertain CBI revenue on the budget, and help create fiscal buffers against NDs.

    Progress has been made in improving the CBI framework, but its transparency needs to be enhanced. The government has taken important steps to improve the governance of the program and strengthen the due diligence and application processes. To further improve transparency and accountability, comprehensive annual reports following external audits should be published regularly, including statistics on applications and financial accounts.

    The authorities’ efforts to publish the medium-term debt management strategy (MTDMS) are welcome. Heavy reliance on short-term borrowing—entailing large gross financing needs and additional fiscal risks—should continue to be reduced. The MTDMS—now under government review—should aim to lengthen debt maturity, reduce costs, and diversify the sources of funds. The authorities’ plan to resume the publication of the MTDMS—not published since 2018—is welcome. The government has recently reached three loan agreements with favorable terms with international partners. Additionally, the government could consider increasing engagement with multilateral development partners for concessional borrowing and tapping into the Regional Government Securities Market.

    The staff supports the authorities’ intention to reform the Social Security Fund (SSF). The authorities announced their intention to reform the SSF and have initiated extensive consultations with stakeholders. The proposed options are welcome and concrete measures should be identified. Furthermore, a more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the SSF, including improvements in asset management.

    Financial Sector Policy

    Progress to strengthen the systemic bank and safeguard public deposits should continue. The bank has made progress toward reducing NPLs, restoring profitability of its lending business, and further de-risking its foreign investment portfolio. These efforts should continue. The government—as its majority shareholder—and the bank are encouraged to engage with external advisors to revitalize its business model. The planned establishment of the SWF presents an opportunity to transfer public sectors deposits and associated foreign investments from the bank to the SWF, except for the portion necessary for the government’s cash management.

    The Development Bank needs to be reformed. The bank is facing significant challenges due to high NPLs and weak profits. Although the bank does not take deposits, it has borrowed from the public and the banking sector and poses a contingent liability to the government. The government and the new management are actively working to address the bank’s accountability and financial performance. The external audit—not conducted since 2018—is ongoing to fully assess the bank’s financial condition and is expected to conclude in the coming months. The priority is to thoroughly analyze the bank’s financial situation, including its NPLs and loss-making loan programs, reassess its financial and social functions—potentially achievable through private lending and targeted social support—and chart the optimal path forward, firmly based on the bank’s viability and fiscal prudence. The legal framework around the bank should be revised to significantly strengthen its regulation and supervision.

    Financial soundness should be strengthened at private banks and credit unions. Banks should continue their efforts to reduce NPLs and to meet the prudential requirements for provisions and capital, based on their plans submitted to the ECCB. Banks’ efforts to improve financial education of their potential clients are welcome and should be potentially joined with public resources. This is especially important amid the rapid credit growth and the regional credit bureau becoming more operational. In addition, the regulation and oversight of credit unions by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission has room for improvement, particularly in the areas of lending standards, provisioning requirements, and supervisory actions. Efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the AML/CFT framework should continue.

    Structural Policy

    The medium-term growth prospects can be improved. Staff analysis indicates that potential growth has steadily declined from around 6 percent in the 1980s to 2.5 percent, mainly driven by slow productivity growth and a lower contribution from human capital. Staff assess that growth potential can be enhanced through structural reforms aimed at better resource allocation, particularly in the following areas.

    • The efficiency of government services can be enhanced. In this regard, recent progress with digitalization, streamlining tax administration, and implementing a single electronic window is welcome.
    • Credit access should be improved, especially for firms. All banks and credit unions are encouraged to participate in the recently created regional credit bureau to make it effective. While foreclosure processes appear to work efficiently, bankruptcy and insolvency regimes can be enhanced to incentivize out-of-court debt workouts, given the lengthy in-court processes.
    • Labor skills should be better aligned with private and public sector demands. Upskilling is essential for maintaining labor market competitiveness, especially with the recent two-tier increases in minimum wage in 2024 and July 2025, which position the minimum wage well above that of ECCU peers. There are shortages of qualified workers in both the private (tourism) and public (healthcare) sectors. Recent efforts aimed at improving access to education and vocational training can help, especially benefiting the unemployed, and these initiatives should be tailored to meet market demands.
    • Accelerating the energy transition is crucial to increasing competitiveness and growth resilience. The energy transition is expected to enhance energy security, reduce energy costs, and support economic diversification. It is essential to build strong expertise in project management. The investment, ownership, and taxation agreements related to large energy projects should be crafted carefully, considering their long-term economic and fiscal implications.

    To strengthen ND preparedness, the public investment framework and the multi-layered insurance framework should be further enhanced.

    • ND-resilient Infrastructure. Upgrading the power grid—as part of the geothermal project—will enhance resilience to NDs, support energy sustainability by introducing a one-grid that connects the two islands and facilitate the energy transition. Given the country’s challenges with water supply, the authorities’ plan for a renewable energy-powered desalination plant is a significant development.
    • Investment framework. Integrating a pipeline of projects funded by the overall public sector, including statutory bodies, into the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP)) will help improve medium-term fiscal planning, anchor ND-resilient investment plans, and help unlock concessional financing. Strengthening capital expenditure forecasts would be important for the medium-term fiscal framework. Project execution should be improved considerably. In this regard, the authorities’ plan to formulate a medium-term PSIP strategy will provide a useful framework for comprehensive oversight of public investment and enable project progress tracking.
    • An enhanced multi-layered insurance framework. Staff analysis indicates additional fiscal buffers are essential to enhance an insurance framework against NDs, and government deposits should be preserved at their current level as the first self-insurance layer. This could be further supplemented by (i) expanding coverage through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and (ii) issuing a state-contingent instrument, such as catastrophe bonds or lines of credit.

    The mission would like to thank the St. Kitts and Nevis authorities and all other counterparts for the constructive and candid policy dialogue and productive collaboration.

     

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Reah Sy

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St. Kitts and Nevis: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    February 26, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Recent Developments and Outlook

    Growth is expected to pick up to 2 percent in 2025—from 1.5 percent in 2024—supported by tourism, with inflation remaining around 2 percent. In the medium term, growth is projected at 2.5 percent, and inflation is expected to remain stable. Progress has been made in the transition to renewable energy, as the geothermal project is nearing the drilling phase with funding secured.

    The current account deficit (CAD) further widened to 15 percent of GDP in 2024, from 12 percent in 2023. The CAD remains significantly larger than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a decline in CBI inflows and widening fiscal deficits. It is expected to remain around 12 percent of GDP in the medium term. The external position in 2024 is assessed as weaker than implied by medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies.

    Staff projects fiscal deficits to remain large with public debt rising. The fiscal deficit in 2024 is estimated at 11 percent of GDP, driven by a sharp reduction in CBI revenue. Recent reforms to the program, reinforced by international agreements, suggest that CBI revenue will likely be structurally lower but more sustainable going forward. Hence, the fiscal deficit is projected to be 9 percent of GDP this year, also impacted by the increase in the wage bill and the temporary VAT reduction. Public debt is expected to rise to 61 percent of GDP in 2025. The overall risk of sovereign debt stress continues to be assessed as moderate. In the medium term, fiscal deficits are expected to decrease modestly due to the authorities’ efforts to control expenditures, while debt is projected to reach 68 percent of GDP in 2030.

    Bank credit growth accelerated while vulnerabilities remain. Bank credit grew rapidly at 11 percent (y/y) (particularly in mortgages and consumer loans) amid high non-performing loans (NPLs) and low buffers, while competition among banks increased. Overall, bank NPLs declined, profits rose, and capital somewhat improved. Meanwhile, lending by credit unions expanded swiftly by 12 percent (y/y), while their delinquency ratio increased to 10 percent.

    Near-term risks are tilted to the downside, but the potential for renewable energy provides upsides over the medium term. Substantial changes in CBI revenue constitute an important two-sided risk but a further decline in CBI revenue would pressure fiscal accounts. Downside risks include a slowdown in key source markets for tourism, commodity price volatility, as well as global financial instability impacting domestic banks. The country is also highly exposed to natural disasters (ND). On the other hand, the renewable energy projects could create an additional source of growth and fiscal revenue.

    Economic Policies

    Fiscal Policy

    The staff believes that the main priority is to implement a prompt and steady fiscal consolidation to keep public debt below the regional ceiling of 60 percent of GDP. While the authorities made efforts to contain the fiscal deficit in 2024, more active policies are necessary going forward. Fiscal consolidation will help create space to protect capital expenditure, strengthen resilience against NDs, and hedge against contingent liabilities.

    Under staff’s active policies scenario, the adjusted primary balance (excluding CBI and transfers to public banks) should be tightened by 2 percentage points of GDP by 2029 relative to the baseline. To this end, fiscal consolidation should be anchored by a set of fiscal rules and driven by tax reforms and reductions in current expenditures while protecting capital expenditure. The combined net impact of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms on growth and the external position is assessed to be positive in the medium term. In particular:

    • Statutory fiscal rules should include an adjusted primary balance floor and a primary current expenditure ceiling, as well as the regional debt ceiling—with escape clauses related to NDs. This would enhance the credibility of the fiscal path and help contain borrowing costs.
    • Tax reforms would boost tax revenue by 2.5 percentage points of GDP and are well within reach. The reforms would also help reduce reliance on the CBI and improve equity and growth. Recommended measures include harmonizing the VAT, supplemented by improved targeted social support; increasing excise rates on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and fossil fuels; and updating property tax assessments. The Housing and Social Development Levy could become more progressive, and non-labor income, such as investment and rental income, could be taxed to improve equity. The temporary reduction in VAT for the first half of 2025, as well as other pandemic-era tax breaks, should be phased out. Negotiated tax concession packages for corporate income tax—which unfairly benefit profitable large international hospitality companies—should be lapsed, especially in light of the upcoming OECD Pillar II. The authorities’ efforts to improve tax collections, including property taxes and CIT, and to enhance tax administration are welcome, and should be further strengthened.
    • Current expenditure. The authorities’ efforts to streamline current expenditure are welcome and should go further to bring them closer to pre-pandemic levels. Limiting public wage increases and employment—the largest in the ECCU—would help foster private sector job creation. Transfers, including social spending, should be better targeted and more effective.
    • Accompanying structural reforms aimed at enhancing productivity, labor quality, and access to finance could generate significant growth gains.

    The planned establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is welcome. The SWF should absorb any upside in the projected CBI revenue, reduce the impact of volatile and uncertain CBI revenue on the budget, and help create fiscal buffers against NDs.

    Progress has been made in improving the CBI framework, but its transparency needs to be enhanced. The government has taken important steps to improve the governance of the program and strengthen the due diligence and application processes. To further improve transparency and accountability, comprehensive annual reports following external audits should be published regularly, including statistics on applications and financial accounts.

    The authorities’ efforts to publish the medium-term debt management strategy (MTDMS) are welcome. Heavy reliance on short-term borrowing—entailing large gross financing needs and additional fiscal risks—should continue to be reduced. The MTDMS—now under government review—should aim to lengthen debt maturity, reduce costs, and diversify the sources of funds. The authorities’ plan to resume the publication of the MTDMS—not published since 2018—is welcome. The government has recently reached three loan agreements with favorable terms with international partners. Additionally, the government could consider increasing engagement with multilateral development partners for concessional borrowing and tapping into the Regional Government Securities Market.

    The staff supports the authorities’ intention to reform the Social Security Fund (SSF). The authorities announced their intention to reform the SSF and have initiated extensive consultations with stakeholders. The proposed options are welcome and concrete measures should be identified. Furthermore, a more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the SSF, including improvements in asset management.

    Financial Sector Policy

    Progress to strengthen the systemic bank and safeguard public deposits should continue. The bank has made progress toward reducing NPLs, restoring profitability of its lending business, and further de-risking its foreign investment portfolio. These efforts should continue. The government—as its majority shareholder—and the bank are encouraged to engage with external advisors to revitalize its business model. The planned establishment of the SWF presents an opportunity to transfer public sectors deposits and associated foreign investments from the bank to the SWF, except for the portion necessary for the government’s cash management.

    The Development Bank needs to be reformed. The bank is facing significant challenges due to high NPLs and weak profits. Although the bank does not take deposits, it has borrowed from the public and the banking sector and poses a contingent liability to the government. The government and the new management are actively working to address the bank’s accountability and financial performance. The external audit—not conducted since 2018—is ongoing to fully assess the bank’s financial condition and is expected to conclude in the coming months. The priority is to thoroughly analyze the bank’s financial situation, including its NPLs and loss-making loan programs, reassess its financial and social functions—potentially achievable through private lending and targeted social support—and chart the optimal path forward, firmly based on the bank’s viability and fiscal prudence. The legal framework around the bank should be revised to significantly strengthen its regulation and supervision.

    Financial soundness should be strengthened at private banks and credit unions. Banks should continue their efforts to reduce NPLs and to meet the prudential requirements for provisions and capital, based on their plans submitted to the ECCB. Banks’ efforts to improve financial education of their potential clients are welcome and should be potentially joined with public resources. This is especially important amid the rapid credit growth and the regional credit bureau becoming more operational. In addition, the regulation and oversight of credit unions by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission has room for improvement, particularly in the areas of lending standards, provisioning requirements, and supervisory actions. Efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the AML/CFT framework should continue.

    Structural Policy

    The medium-term growth prospects can be improved. Staff analysis indicates that potential growth has steadily declined from around 6 percent in the 1980s to 2.5 percent, mainly driven by slow productivity growth and a lower contribution from human capital. Staff assess that growth potential can be enhanced through structural reforms aimed at better resource allocation, particularly in the following areas.

    • The efficiency of government services can be enhanced. In this regard, recent progress with digitalization, streamlining tax administration, and implementing a single electronic window is welcome.
    • Credit access should be improved, especially for firms. All banks and credit unions are encouraged to participate in the recently created regional credit bureau to make it effective. While foreclosure processes appear to work efficiently, bankruptcy and insolvency regimes can be enhanced to incentivize out-of-court debt workouts, given the lengthy in-court processes.
    • Labor skills should be better aligned with private and public sector demands. Upskilling is essential for maintaining labor market competitiveness, especially with the recent two-tier increases in minimum wage in 2024 and July 2025, which position the minimum wage well above that of ECCU peers. There are shortages of qualified workers in both the private (tourism) and public (healthcare) sectors. Recent efforts aimed at improving access to education and vocational training can help, especially benefiting the unemployed, and these initiatives should be tailored to meet market demands.
    • Accelerating the energy transition is crucial to increasing competitiveness and growth resilience. The energy transition is expected to enhance energy security, reduce energy costs, and support economic diversification. It is essential to build strong expertise in project management. The investment, ownership, and taxation agreements related to large energy projects should be crafted carefully, considering their long-term economic and fiscal implications.

    To strengthen ND preparedness, the public investment framework and the multi-layered insurance framework should be further enhanced.

    • ND-resilient Infrastructure. Upgrading the power grid—as part of the geothermal project—will enhance resilience to NDs, support energy sustainability by introducing a one-grid that connects the two islands and facilitate the energy transition. Given the country’s challenges with water supply, the authorities’ plan for a renewable energy-powered desalination plant is a significant development.
    • Investment framework. Integrating a pipeline of projects funded by the overall public sector, including statutory bodies, into the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP)) will help improve medium-term fiscal planning, anchor ND-resilient investment plans, and help unlock concessional financing. Strengthening capital expenditure forecasts would be important for the medium-term fiscal framework. Project execution should be improved considerably. In this regard, the authorities’ plan to formulate a medium-term PSIP strategy will provide a useful framework for comprehensive oversight of public investment and enable project progress tracking.
    • An enhanced multi-layered insurance framework. Staff analysis indicates additional fiscal buffers are essential to enhance an insurance framework against NDs, and government deposits should be preserved at their current level as the first self-insurance layer. This could be further supplemented by (i) expanding coverage through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and (ii) issuing a state-contingent instrument, such as catastrophe bonds or lines of credit.

    The mission would like to thank the St. Kitts and Nevis authorities and all other counterparts for the constructive and candid policy dialogue and productive collaboration.

     

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Reah Sy

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/27/st-kitts-and-nevis-cs-of-the-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Minim Martap Project Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PERTH, Australia, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) (‘Canyon’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide an update on key development workstreams at the Company’s flagship Minim Martap Bauxite Project (‘Minim Martap’ or ‘the Project’), located in Cameroon, as the Company continues to make rapid progress toward production.

    Minim Martap ranks among the world’s richest bauxite deposits, underpinned by an Ore Reserve of 109Mt at 51.1% total Al2O3 and 2.0% total SiO2 and a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,027Mt at 45.3% total Al2O3 and 2.7% total SiO2

    The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) remains on schedule for completion in Q3 2025, with a focus on optimising operational efficiencies, ensuring sustainable economics and confirming the preferred pathway to production. The Company remains confident that the DFS will reinforce the viability of Minim Martap as a world-class bauxite project. Concurrently, discussions with select debt providers are progressing positively, as Canyon seeks to secure an optimal funding structure in alignment with strategic objectives and results from the DFS.

    As part of the DFS, Canyon is currently evaluating the implementation of a two-stage development strategy, aimed at accelerating production through a phased ramp-up to enable a first bauxite shipment in 2026. This approach would enable earlier revenue generation, strengthen supply chain relationships and strategically position Minim Martap for future growth as rail capacity expands. In addition to this process, Canyon has engaged several internationally recognised consultants to refine and optimise the existing rail infrastructure required for the transport of the bauxite ore. Detailed assessments are now underway to enhance logistical efficiency and explore capacity expansion strategies that will support long-term operational growth.

    As part of project execution planning, Canyon is working with leading mining equipment vendors to define procurement schedules and delivery timelines, ensuring timely access to critical mining equipment, which will be essential for meeting targeted production timelines and targets and maintaining operational efficiency. The Company remains focused on aligning equipment availability with its potential staged development strategy to support seamless project execution.

    Discussions with potential offtake partners are advancing well, with negotiations reflecting strong market interest in Minim Martap’s high-quality bauxite product and supporting the Company’s efforts to secure long-term sales agreements. Establishing these strategic partnerships is a key step in de-risking the Project, working through the relevant financing discussions and ensuring an efficient pathway towards commencement of operations.

    Bauxite market fundamentals and pricing has strengthened over the past 12 months, with the CIF China price for 45% Al203 and 3% total SiO2 ex Guinea reported to be approximately $US 100/DMT in February 2025. The product from Minim Martap with a proved or reserve grade 51.1% total Al203 and total SiO2 should achieve a considerable premium price compared to a 45% Al2O3 and SiO2 bauxite product.

    Lastly, Canyon continues to focus on building out its project team and management team to ensure the Company is well-positioned during the next phase of development growth, as Canyon works toward becoming a near-term bauxite producer.

    Mr Jean-Sebastien Boutet, Canyon Chief Executive Officer commented: “Progress at our world-class Minim Martap Project continues as planned, reinforcing our confidence in our timeline towards production. Notably, the analysis of a potential two-staged development strategy has been particularly promising, offering the opportunity for fast-tracked production and revenue generation, while strategically positioning the Company to capitalise on expanding rail capacity and the establishment of key supply chain relationships.

    “Our team remains committed to transforming the Minim Martap Bauxite Project into a world-class operation that delivers sustainable, long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. We will continue to provide timely updates as we achieve key milestones and advance toward production.”

    This announcement has been approved for release by the Canyon Resources’ Board of Directors.

                                                            
                                                    
                                                    
                                            
                  
                                  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley-Durbin WSJ Letter to the Editor: What RFK Jr. Gets Right on Big Pharma

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – In a Wall Street Journal letter to the editor, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) welcomed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s support for enhanced transparency regarding direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription-drug advertisements. Grassley and Durbin are leading bipartisan legislation to require price disclosures in DTC commercials.
    President Trump recently signed an Executive Order to empower patients and increase price transparency.
    Text of Grassley and Durbin’s letter to the editor follows:
    We write in regard to the Jan. 2 article “What RFK Jr.’s Dislike for Drug TV Commercials Could Mean for the Ad Industry” (CMO Today), describing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s support for banning direct-to-consumer prescription-drug advertisements.
    The U.S. Senate previously passed our bipartisan measure to require price disclosures in these commercials. In fact, the last Trump administration supported our legislation. A federal watchdog review we requested found that nearly two-thirds of Medicare’s drug spending is on a small handful of costly medications shown on TV.
    We recently reintroduced our bipartisan bill to bring price transparency to prescription-drug advertising and put patients in the driver’s seat. By ending Big Pharma’s secrecy, patients will be empowered to make more informed choices. Drug corporations may also think twice about price increases or running commercials if they had to be honest about the cost.
    We look forward to working with the second Trump administration on this.
    Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.)
    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa)
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Exposes Trump’s Phony “Energy Emergency,” Which Will Only Cut American Jobs And Enrich Big Oil Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    February 26, 2025
    In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin urges his colleagues to vote for Senator Kaine’s measure that will end President Trump’s fabricated “energy emergency”
    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) disparaged the Trump Administration’s fabricated “energy emergency,” which President Trump declared in a vile effort to use additional presidential authority to fast-track the construction of oil pipelines and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, among many other pro-fossil fuel projects.  The false emergency is a thinly veiled effort to appease President Trump’s wealthy donors at the expense of the planet, American jobs, home electric bills, and the U.S.’ energy independence from China.
    Durbin’s remarks came ahead of a vote on a measure introduced by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would end the fictitious national energy emergency declared by President Trump through an Executive Order. 
    Durbin began his floor speech by emphasizing that, despite the Trump Administration’s claims, the United States has been thriving in energy production, particularly because of the Inflation Reduction Actprovisions that every congressional Republican voted against.
    “Among those Executive Orders [issued by President Trump] was his declaration of an ‘energy emergency.’  Turns out that the claim is not based on fact.  There is no ‘energy emergency’ in America.  Under the Biden Administration, we saw record deployment of wind, solar, biofuels, batteries, oil, gas, and nuclear.  In fact, the United States is producing more power than ever, and last year, the United States of America produced more oil than any nation in the history of the world,” Durbin said.  “And yet, President Trump continues to insist that America is on the verge of nationwide blackouts and that clean energy will raise prices.  [That is] Simply not true.”
    As Durbin underscores, President Trump’s emergency declaration was motivated by placating the billionaires that he asked for hefty campaign contributions from.  The declaration grants President Trump additional presidential authorities, allowing the Administration to circumvent critical environmental regulations and open up federal lands and waters for oil and gas drilling.  This will only enrich Big Oil executives while desecrating protected lands.
    “So what’s the reason for the President to try to mislead the American people? The short answer is that he wants to give handouts to his billionaire buddies in the fossil fuel industry,” Durbin said.  “Before Elon Musk showed up with his multi-billion-dollar fortune, it was reported that then-candidate Donald Trump invited fossil fuel executives to Mar-a-Lago to ask for – hold on to your seats – a one-billion-dollar campaign contribution.”  
    “Now that President Trump is in office, he is doing everything he can to keep those billionaires happy.  That means tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, which is on its way I’m afraid, opening up federal lands and waters for drilling, and yes, declaring this phony energy emergency,” Durbin said.
    While President Trump falsely asserts that his declaration will support U.S. energy production, he failed to include any provisions to support fossil fuels’ cleanest competitors—wind and solar power.  As wind and solar power are the cheapest energy to produce, consumers who use this power, in turn, see a reduction in their energy costs. 
    In fact, President Trump’s so-called “energy emergency” could raise a family’s annual energy bills by up to 12 percent or around $500 a year.  In addition to costing Americans hundreds of dollars, the phony “energy emergency” could cost the country the 400,000 new jobs that Democrat-led investments have spurred since August 2022.
    “Wind and solar power is the cheapest energy in the world.  And those cheap prices get passed on to families…  I know personally.  A few years ago, my wife and I made the decision to install solar panels on the roof of our home.  Our home project gave union workers in my community a good-paying job, and it was just one project contributing to the hundreds of thousands of jobs created under the Biden Administration,” said Durbin. 
    “Since Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act was enacted two and a half years ago, more than one and a half million Americans have installed solar panels,” Durbin said.  “Every one of those installations also helped to create good-paying jobs for electricians, carpenters, and other workers, and supplying those panels created thousands of new jobs at factories around the country.  But President Trump was not impressed.  He wants to eliminate those jobs.”
    President Trump’s fabricated national emergency also jeopardizes the U.S.’ energy independence.  Earlier this month, the American solar industry reported that, for the first time ever, it had the capacity to meet the demand for all solar in the U.S.  Historically, China has dominated solar manufacturing by controlling at least 80 percent of the global market; however, the country was leading the sector by circumventing tariffs and using forced labor to produce solar panels.  Rather than invest in American-made clean energy and American jobs, President Trump is turning toward Big Oil billionaires and allowing China to overtake the U.S.’ energy sector.
    Durbin concluded his remarks by urging his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to stand up for American-made clean energy, American jobs, and American energy independence by voting to end President Trump’s fictional energy emergency.
    “We have an opportunity to undo the harms of one of President Trump’s many lies today…  We need to raise up American workers, lower utility bills, and put our country back on track to lead the world in clean energy.  I urge my colleagues to support the Kaine measure,” Durbin said.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Pritzker and Illinois Congressional Delegation in Pressing White House on Withholding $1.8 Billion from Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 26, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and members of the Illinois congressional delegation in issuing a joint letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding action and accountability from OMB on the approximately $1.88 billion in funding that is illegally being withheld from Illinois taxpayers despite the funding being appropriated by Congress and numerous court orders.

    “On behalf of our constituents, we are seeking full transparency and accountability on any and all funding that has been paused or interrupted. If the Trump Administration is unable to follow the law and uphold their end of the deal, the people of our state deserve to know,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to OMB Director Vought.

    The letter provides an update that as of mid-February many agencies and organizations in Illinois have reported an inability to access funds, with some in danger of needing to pause operations, cancel projects, or lay off staff. Impacted grant programs and organizations include, but are not limited to:

    • Nine state agencies, boards and commissions have a total of $692 million in federal funds obligated but not yet received and they are unable to access those funds.
    • 10 state agencies, boards and commissions have a total of $1.19 billion in federal funds anticipated/awarded but not yet obligated and the grants/programs are essentially paused.
    • 14 state agencies, boards and commissions have a total of $1.88 billion in impacted federal funds, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Department of Labor and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

    A copy of the full letter is available on the Senator’s website and below:

    Dear Director Vought:

    As we write this letter, the federal government continues to withhold $1.88 billion from Illinois. These are federal funds that were passed by Congress, signed into law, and promised to Illinois. State agencies, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens across Illinois— including in rural communities—are still having trouble accessing allocated federal funding. We have an obligation to Illinois taxpayers and residents to demand answers about the future of this funding, including when the Trump Administration will follow the law and make good on the federal government’s promise to deliver hard-earned taxpayer dollars back into Illinois’ economy, workforce, and communities.

    The evening of January 27th, our offices read in the news that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had released a memorandum directing Federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” Throughout the following day, we received widespread reports of system outages and lockouts that prevented grantees from accessing entitled funding. Attempted communications with government liaisons were often ignored and public statements from the White House were inconsistent with the experiences of our grantees.

    Since then, despite OMB’s rescission of the memo, we have continued to receive reports from agencies and organizations detailing their inability to access funds. This uncertainty over receiving future, assured funds, along with little clarity provided by the Administration, has forced many to pause operations, cancel projects, or cut staff.

    We are seeking clarity on your actions, as well as assurances that you will legally uphold your financial commitments to the State of Illinois. These funds have been contractually agreed to, allocated, and planned around by their recipients—which include childcare providers, educational institutions, small businesses, community and economic development organizations, and more. Needless to say, the restriction of these funds will have a detrimental impact on vulnerable people, local economies, and the state as a whole.

    As of February 24, 2025, impacted grants programs and organizations include, but are not limited to:

    • Nine state agencies, boards, and commissions have a total of $692 million in federal funds obligated but not yet received, and they are unable to access those funds.
    • 10 state agencies, boards, and commissions have a total of $1.19 billion in federal funds anticipated/awarded but not yet obligated, and the grants/programs are essentially paused.
    • In total, this constitutes $1.88 billion in impacted federal funds across 14 state agencies, boards, and commissions in Illinois, including the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Department of Labor, and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

    These frozen funds impact programs that provide technical assistance for small businesses, provide affordable solar energy for low-income residents, improve roads and bridges, and more.

    On behalf of our constituents, we are seeking full transparency and accountability on any and all funding that has been paused or interrupted. If the Trump Administration is unable to follow the law and uphold their end of the deal, the people of our state deserve to know.

    Pursuant to that, we ask that you answer the following questions by March 4, 2025:

    1. Please identify any forms of federal financial assistance for which federal funding disbursements did not promptly resume following the recission of OMB Memorandum M-25-13.
    2. For all forms of federal financial assistance that did not promptly resume, please describe the steps you have taken or will take to resume the disbursement of funds in compliance with court orders. Also indicate when the disbursement of funds can be expected to resume.
    3. For any disbursement of funds that have not been promptly resumed, and following two federal judges issuing temporary restraining orders regarding the funding freeze, what is your legal basis for continuing to withhold funds?
    4. What steps have you taken to identify and communicate with grant recipients who have been negatively affected by this oversight?
    5. What steps will you take to ensure that this issue does not occur again?

    We appreciate your timely attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    -30-

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