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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Magaziner Join RI Education Leaders to Warn RIers About Trump’s Plan to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH***

    CRANSTON, RI – In an effort to stand up to President Trump’s proposal to slash education funding and shutter the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner rallied with educators from across Rhode Island.  The lawmakers stressed the need to continue investing in public schools and ensuring all children have access to a high-quality education in a safe and healthy environment.

    The U.S. Department of Education’s mission is to support students, schools, and communities. The department conducts important research and administers funding to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

    After winning office, President Trump said that he would like to shutter the U.S. Department of Education “immediately.”

    Though education is largely under state and local control in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Education was created to provide critical guidance, support, protections, and funding for students, teachers, and public education across the nation. 

    While the standalone federal department does not control what is taught in U.S. schools, its responsibilities include:

    • Administering billions in federal funding to almost every public school;
    • Providing and monitoring federal financial aid for postsecondary education, including Pell Grants and student loans;
    • Collecting data on schools;
    • Disseminating research;
    • Focusing national attention on educational issues, and;
    • Prohibiting discrimination and upholding civil rights.  

    According to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the state receives approximately $275 million in federal funds to support public education, including $65 million for ‘Title I’ programs that serve low-income students and families, $60 million to support students with disabilities, $48 million to help feed students, and $11 million for career and technical education. Additionally, in 2024, more than $95 million in Pell Grants flowed to Rhode Island students and families to help pay for college.

    Senator Reed said that the Trump Administration should be focused on improving public education and helping students succeed. Instead, Trump’s proposed plans to cut key programs and dismantle critical supports for teachers would have a disastrous effect on Rhode Island families and would hurt public schools and school departments throughout the state.

    “Education is the foundation for our nation’s competitiveness and the prosperity of our communities.  It is essential for a strong society and a brighter future for America.  We can’t afford to leave anyone behind.  But that’s what the Trump Administration is suggesting they will do,” said Senator Reed.  “President Trump and the Republicans in Congress have declared war on public education.  It’s clear that their actions will have devastating impacts on our students and families.”

    Reed continued: “We stand with educators. We stand with students and families. And we will fight Trump, Elon Musk, and his DOGE wrecking crew, who are intent on demolishing educational opportunities and our future.”

    Senator Reed and Congressman Magaziner were joined at the event by Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Angélica Infante-Green; Rhode Island Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, Shannon Gilkey; Rhode Island College President Jack Warner; Executive Director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, Mary Barden; President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, Maribeth Calabro; and Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Paige Parks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Works to Nix “Carried Interest” Tax Loophole & Make Wall Street Pay Its Fair Share

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC –In an effort to restore fairness to the tax code, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is seeking to close the “carried interest” tax loophole, which lets private equity firms and Wall Street managers at investment partnerships pay a lower tax rate on their income than most American workers.

    Reed is teaming up with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to introduce the Carried Interest Fairness Act (S. 445).  Their legislation would ensure that income earned by investment managers of private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds is taxed at the same rate paid by the vast majority of Americans.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that ending the loophole could reduce the federal deficit by $13 billion through 2034.

    Under the current system, fund managers get paid up to two percent of assets as a regular fee, plus twenty percent of the fund’s profits.  The managers pay regular income tax on the two percent, but when it comes to their share of the profits, which is called “carried interest,” they usually pay only the lower long-term capital gains tax rate.  In a sense, they are converting income from labor into capital gains.  So even though the investors are putting up the fund’s capital and taking the risk, the fund managers are able to treat their part of the fund’s earnings as a capital gain, subject only to a top capital gains tax rate at 20 percent compared to the top federal income tax rate of 37 percent for the wealthiest Americans. 

    “Americans feel the system is fixed against them, and this big, fat loophole sure seems that way. This commonsense legislation would close a glaring loophole in the tax code and restore a key measure of fairness so that wealthy fund managers pay the same rate as regular working Americans.  It would end preferential treatment for Wall Street elites and prevent these wealthy executives from paying lower rates than their salaried employees.  Everyone has a right to earn their pay, but there shouldn’t be a special set of tax breaks just for the wealthy and well-connected.  Congress needs to close this loophole, simplify the tax code, and enact other sensible reforms that will strengthen our economy,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee.

    “Wall Street investors should not be paying less in taxes than Wisconsin firefighters, teachers, and small business owners. But right now, the wealthiest Americans are gaming our tax system to get out of paying their fair share, passing their tax burden onto working Wisconsinites,” said Senator Baldwin.

    Despite President Donald Trump previously pledging “we will eliminate the carried interest deduction and other special interest loopholes…”  during the 2016 election, his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “failed to eliminate [the] key deduction used by wealthy investment firms that Trump had vowed to kill,” leading PolitiFact to rate this a “Promise Broken.”

    In 2017, Senate Republicans rejected an amendment to the Trump tax bill by Senator Baldwin to close the carried interest loophole.

    In 2022, Senator Reed and the majority of his Democratic colleagues pushed for a provision to eliminate the carried interest loophole as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.  But with a 50-50 split in the U.S. Senate, the measure was stripped out of the underlying bill after then-Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) objected to its inclusion.

    In addition to Baldwin and Reed, the Carried Interest Fairness Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

    Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03).

    The legislation is endorsed by Communications Workers of America, Americans for Tax Fairness, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Public Citizen, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Alliance for Retired Americans, Americans for Financial Reform, Take on Wall Street, Patriotic Millionaires, 20/20 Vision, Community Catalyst, Main Street Alliance, American Federation of Government Employees, Small Business Minority, Economic Policy Institute, and the National Women’s Law Center.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blindly Supporting Kash Patel For FBI Director Despite Serious Concerns On Fitness To Serve

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 18, 2025

    Ahead of procedural vote, Durbin: “My Senate Republican colleagues are willfully ignoring myriad red flags about Mr. Patel, especially his recurring instinct to threaten retribution against his and President Trump’s perceived enemies.”

    WASHINGTON – Ahead of tonight’s procedural vote on the nomination of Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor regarding his serious concerns about Mr. Patel, which includes whistleblower reports that Mr. Patel has been personally involved in the ongoing purge of FBI officials.

    Key Quotes:

    “After meeting with Mr. Patel, reviewing his record, and questioning him under oath at his hearing, I am deeply concerned about his fitness to serve as FBI Director. He has neither the experience, the judgment, nor the temperament to lead the FBI.”

    “My Senate Republican colleagues, sadly, are willfully ignoring myriad red flags about Mr. Patel, especially his recurring instinct to threaten retribution against his political enemies and President Trump’s perceived enemies. This is an extremely dangerous characteristic for someone who seeks to lead the nation’s most powerful domestic investigative agency for the next 10 years.”

    “On day one, [Kash Patel] plans to ‘shut down the F.B.I. Hoover Building and reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state.’’ He even wrote a book on this subject, and I punished myself by requiring that I read it from cover to cover so I understood exactly what this man believed. He has peddled outrageous conspiracy theories that benefit President Trump, claiming that January 6th—the assault on the Capitol—was ‘never an insurrection’ and that the FBI ‘was planning January 6 for a year.’ Where is this man coming up with these wild theories?”

    “He compiled an enemies list and published it in the back of his book. Sixty names—‘members of the deep state,’ which includes distinguished public servants from both political parties—like former Attorneys General Bill Barr and Merrick Garland and former FBI Directors Robert Mueller and Chris Wray as the so-called ‘members of the deep state’… whatever that may be.”

    “[Patel] decided to assemble a choir of the January 6th individuals who were prosecuted. Then he was involved in making a recording of a patriotic song that these prisoners were singing. Then, he was selling this recording and playing it at the rallies for President Trump… which he denied during our hearing, under oath.”

    “Before even being confirmed as the FBI Director, Mr. Patel is already seeking retribution on behalf of President Trump despite Patel’s status as a private citizen. Multiple whistleblowers have disclosed highly credible information to my staff, indicating that Mr. Patel has personally directed the ongoing purge of senior law enforcement officials at the FBI. Senior leaders with collectively hundreds of years of experience have been forced out at the FBI, creating a leadership vacuum.”

    “In the FBI’s long history, this has never happened before—never. Keep in mind that the Director is the only [political] appointee at the FBI, and [that] the leaders have been forced out despite their career commitment to law enforcement. This purge has dramatically weakened FBI’s ability to protect the country from national security threats and made America less safe.”

    “If these whistleblower allegations are true that Kash Patel, as a private citizen, has been orchestrating the purging of the ranks at the FBI because of political loyalty questions, I will tell you that he came dangerously close to perjuring himself during his nomination hearing when he was asked about the possible firings of FBI officials and he answered, under oath, ‘I don’t know what’s going on right now’ at the FBI. Mr. President, we’re told that’s not true.”

    “Mr. Patel has been open about his plans to dismantle the FBI and seek retribution against his and President Trump’s enemies. His directives as a private citizen have already thrown the Bureau into absolute chaos.”

    “Mr. Patel’s recent actions and testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee confirm my belief that he is dangerous, inexperienced, and he’s been dishonest in portraying his role in what’s happening at the FBI.”

    “It will be a political and national security disaster if he is confirmed.”

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Using gen AI tools for business? Be aware of the (many) limitations on your IP protections

    Source: Allens Insights

    With proceedings still on foot in several jurisdictions, there is currently significant uncertainty as to the legal position on IP infringement, which may also vary between jurisdictions. Unsurprisingly, this has caused users concern that they might inadvertently infringe a third party’s IP rights by using an AI tool—eg by publishing an AI output that reproduces a copyright work used in the tool’s underlying training data.

    To allay those concerns, most major AI providers have publicly announced that they will indemnify their customers against liability for third party IP infringement claims. Based on our review of the relevant T&Cs, however, it is clear that the devil is in the detail—there are many circumstances in which users of AI tools will not be protected if they are found to infringe a third party’s IP rights.

    Of the T&Cs for the AI tools that we reviewed, all of the paid tools included some form of IP indemnity. For providers that offer both free and paid versions of their AI tools, an indemnity is only offered to users of the paid version of the service. This means that, as a general proposition, users of the free versions of these tools remain exposed to the risk that their use of the AI tool may be found to infringe third party IP. Meta AI, which is only offered as a free tool, does not come with any indemnity as to AI outputs under its standard terms.

    For the providers that do offer an IP indemnity for their paid tools, it is generally subject to several limitations, including the following.

    • The indemnities are subject to varying exclusions that apply regarding particular uses of the AI tool, such as claims resulting from:
      • the combination of the provider’s product with other third party products;
      • the user’s applications, products or services into which the AI tool has been integrated;
      • fine-tuning, customisation or other modification of the tool or output;
      • input or training data provided by users;
      • disabling or not implementing tools and filters offered by the provider to mitigate risk;
      • non-compliance with the applicable terms of use or with applicable laws, regulations or industry standards;
      • generating or using an output in a manner that the user knows or ought to know is likely to infringe third party rights; or
      • using an output after receiving notice of an infringement claim by the rights holder, or after being notified by the provider to stop using the tool.
    • In the case of three of the AI tools, the indemnity notably excludes claims based on trade mark or related rights.
    • In the case of two of the AI tools, the indemnity will only apply if the user gives the provider notice of the relevant claim and permits the provider to control the defence of the claim, among other things.

    Businesses that use AI tools should be aware of these limitations—particularly those that intend to use AI outputs in external-facing materials, where the practical risk of an aggrieved third party identifying an infringement of their IP rights is higher.

    It is also important to consider how the risk of infringing third party IP rights might vary between different products and providers. For example, using an AI tool that is trained exclusively on the provider’s proprietary and licensed-in data, or the user’s own data, carries a lower risk of infringing third party IP rights than using an AI tool that is trained on general third party data scraped from the internet.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $5.6 million to help develop Aboriginal organisations and businesses across NSW

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 19 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Regional NSW

    The Minns Government is providing Aboriginal businesses and organisations with business investment, skills development and training opportunities that will help them attract new customers, expand their operations and plan and prepare for the future.

    A total of 42 Aboriginal businesses and organisations will receive a share of $5.6 million to invest in business mentoring and coaching, upskilling and training, the development of strategic business plans and governance frameworks and purchasing assets to expand operations.

    The Aboriginal business sector in regional NSW is growing and access to training, development, and investment is vital for the success of both Aboriginal organisations and communities.

    Dharra Jerky and Secret Harvest in Dubbo, Booma Food Group in Cessnock, Binjang Tea in Wellington, Deniliquin’s Barka Treats, and Native Botanical Brewery and Dream Builders on Country in the Central Coast are among the businesses who will boost production and pursue larger market opportunities through this funding.

    The NSW Government is dedicated to closing the gap by removing barriers that hinder access to business training, mentoring and capital investment for Aboriginal people in regional NSW.

    These growth opportunities have been made possible by $1.29 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program Round 2 and $4.33 million from the Regional Development Trust’s Aboriginal Economic Development Package.

    According to a 2022 NSW Treasury report there are some 737 NSW Indigenous businesses registered with the Aboriginal procurement organisation, Supply Nation, the most of any state or territory.

    Median annual revenue for these businesses is $303,000, with each employing a median full-time equivalent staff of 3.8.

    Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:

    “Aboriginal businesses and organisations in regional NSW have a unique connection to land, culture and community, with traditional knowledge and cultural practices integrated into their businesses.

    “Not only do Aboriginal businesses and organisations contribute to the regional local economies, but they also contribute to environmental sustainability and cultural development in regional communities.

    “Getting the best training and resources into these regions is the first step in bridging skills gaps, supporting sustainable growth and creating jobs.”

    Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

    “The Minns Government is strongly committed to supporting Aboriginal-owned businesses and organisations to continue to grow and develop.

    “By giving regional Aboriginal communities the tools they need we can help boost local economies now and into the future, promoting long term success.”

    CEO of the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce Deb Barwick said:

    “Access to tailored mentoring, training and business development opportunities will allow Aboriginal businesses to strengthen their operations and expand their reach.

    “Supporting the growth of Aboriginal businesses in regional NSW drives economic development and creates lasting, meaningful opportunities for local communities.

    “This funding ensures Aboriginal businesses are equipped with the tools to build their capacity, improve governance and unlock their full potential.”

    Aboriginal business Dharra Jerky founder Hayden Williams said:

    “I started making jerky as a hobby about six years ago and I have been proud to watch it begin to bloom into something much bigger.

    “This support is giving me a great opportunity to upgrade my equipment so I can take my small business to the next level.”

    Proponent Project name Location
    Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation Governance Enhancement Initiative
    for Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation    		 Bellingen Shire Council
    Gathangga Wakulda Aboriginal Corporation Growing Atanga Wakulda Port Macquarie-hastings Council
    Djiyagan Dhanbaan Incorporation Nyiirun Djiyagan Wakulda, Women’s Festival Port Macquarie-hastings Council
    Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council Walhallow Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Business Capacity Building Liverpool Plains Shire Council
    Barka Treats Dog Food Production Enhancement Edward River Council
    Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council Bunyah LALC Guulabaa Cafe Enterprise Equipment Port Macquarie-hastings Council
    Binjang Tea Binjang Tea Capacity Building: Fostering Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Business Growth Dubbo Regional Council
    Native Botanical Brewery Native Botanical Brewery’s “Pops Country” Initiative: Cultivating Indigenous Heritage from Bush to Brewery Central Coast Council
    BS Ellis and ML Ellis Business diversification and capacity uplift Eurobodalla Shire Council
    Strong Movement The Athlete Performance and Conditioning Enhancement Program Tamworth Regional Council
    LORE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Develop a business plan to grow and expand LORE Australia Bellingen Shire Council
    Bugalwan Indigenous Corporation Ma Banyahr Central Coast Council
    Strong Spirit Services Ltd Strong Spirit Cultural Pathways Program Port Macquarie-hastings Council
    Aboriginal Advancement Alliance Trading As Acadiam Buzz Bus Activating Communities Road Trip – engaging, aligning and pathways to local jobs Cessnock City Council
    Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation Website upgrade with booking platform Lithgow City Council
    Bangguri Gadhu Cultural Tours Bermagui Survival Day Bega Valley Shire Council
    Bara Barang Corporation Ltd Dream Builders On Country : Raspberry Fields Business Planning Central Coast Council
    Dharra Jerky Expanding Indigenous-Owned Dharra Jerky: Strengthening Manufacturing, Retail, and Wholesale Operations for Regional Growth Dubbo Regional Council
    Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council Red Chief Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Business Planning Initiative Gunnedah Shire Council
    Integr8y Integr8y – Building Capacity for Aboriginal Business Growth through Tender and Grant Writing Expertise: A Strategic Approach to Securing Contracts and Economic Empowerment Tamworth Regional Council
    Brennan Cultural Enterprise Pty Ltd T/A Waagayamba Consultants Igniting Growth: Empowering Aboriginal Businesses with Virtual Support and Mentoring Clarence Valley Council
    Mara-Mara Community Incorporated Renovations To Mara-Mara Community Incorporated Tamworth Regional Council
    JA Berry & DJ Carney t/as Cafe2823 Cafe2823 Courtyard & Function Area Narromine Shire Council
    Euraba Paper Aboriginal Corporation Euraba Paper Company upgrade project Moree Plains Shire Council
    Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Limited Community Capacity Development Project: Building Governance and Enterprise Development opportunities Mid North Coast and North Western LALC regions
    Secret Harvest Pty Ltd Skin Care Manufacturing Dubbo Regional Council
    Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Twofold Solar Energy System – Off Grid Solar System to supply campground and other buildings on site Bega Valley Shire Council
    Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council Gumbaynggirr Keeping Place – Completion & Activation Project Nambucca Valley Council
    Jaanymili Bawrrungga Aboriginal Corporation Gumbaynggirr Native Seedling Enterprise: Cultivating Growth and Sustainability Nambucca Valley Council
    Native Botanical Brewery Native Botanical Brewery Expansion Wambelong Creek Coffee “Bush to Brewery” initiative Central Coast Council
    Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council Winjirra Events Lake Macquarie City Council
    Booma Food Group Pty Ltd Booma Food Biz Growth Cessnock City Council
    Waminda South Coast Women’s Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation Sustaining our Blak Cede Enterprise Shoalhaven City Council
    More Cultural Rehabs Less Jails Yindyamarra Landcare Dubbo Regional Council
    Gari Yala Pty Ltd T/As Chocolate On Purpose Ngunggilanha Native Garden & Chocolate Nexus: Reclaiming Culture, Activating Wisdom, Empowering Community Wingecarribee Shire Council
    Grafton Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council Grafton Ngerrie Nursery Enterprise: Cultivating Economic Growth and Cultural Prosperity Clarence Valley Council
    Home Of Recovery Home of Recovery Up Lift Dubbo Regional Council
    Gadhungal Marring Native nursery, mentorship program and managment tools Shoalhaven City Council
    Aralumbin Pty Ltd Project “Bush to You” brings bush foods to every plate, bridging the gap and collectively educating Australia. Tweed Shire Council
    Yurruga Indigenous Corporation Yurruga Sustainable Solar Project Uplift and Expansion Dubbo Regional Council
    Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council Building resilience and sustainability and focusing on circularity through a cultural lens Bega Valley Shire Council
    Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation Limited Galari Horticulture – Green house Lachlan Shire Council

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minns Labor Government cracking down on relationships between prison staff and inmates

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Minns Labor Government cracking down on relationships between prison staff and inmates

    Published: 19 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Corrections

    The Minns Labor Government has changed the law to make it easier to convict prison staff who have sexual relationships with inmates.

    Under the change, all sexual relationships between prison staff and inmates will be illegal, with staff facing criminal liability, including a potential prison sentence.

    The Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 passed the NSW Parliament last nightand removes a requirement to prove that a sexual relationship between a member of staff and an inmate poses a risk to the safety and security of the prison.

    The strengthening of the misconduct offence was recommended by the Special Commission of Inquiry into Offending by Former Officer Wayne Astill at Dillwynia Correctional Centre.

    The inquiry found multiple failings in the management and culture at Dillwynia Correctional Centre and across the Corrective Services NSW system.

    The Minns Labor Government accepted all 31 recommendations of the Inquiry, in full or in principle, as a commitment to lifting standards and restoring confidence in our prisons and improving safety for both staff and inmates.

    The change is one of a number of amendments introduced in the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment Bill 2024 to strengthen processes, enhance transparency, and improve Corrective Services NSW’s operations.

    The Government is rebuilding trust in the NSW corrective services system through:

    • Installing hundreds of new CCTV cameras and a network-wide capacity to store and access footage for at least 90 days so that serious matters can be reviewed.
    • Establishing a new Sexual Misconduct Reporting Line and new advocacy service to ensure inmates can voice concerns.
    • All uniformed staff at Dillwynia Correctional Centre who work with inmates now have body-worn cameras.
    • Mandatory training for all new Corrective Services staff working in female correctional centres.
    • Corrective Services NSW has been elevated to a stand-alone agency directly accountable to the Minister and the Government.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong:

    “Corrective Services staff engaging in sexual conduct with inmates is utterly unacceptable and a total abuse of authority, which is why it is now a crime in any circumstance.

    “Such behaviour indicates a deplorable abuse of the staff’s position and a breach of their duty of care to the inmate.

    “While the majority of our Corrective Services staff do the right thing, for those that don’t, the days of receiving a slap on the wrist are over.

    “We have provided $30 million for priority reforms so far in response to the Astill Inquiry, including setting up a sexual misconduct line to provide a free and confidential avenue for inmates to report illegal behaviour.

    “We’ve also increased the number of CCTV cameras in our prisons and boosted our capacity to store and access footage for at least 90 days, to enable serious matters to be reviewed more effectively.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New strata laws ensure fairer rules for fees and charges

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New strata laws ensure fairer rules for fees and charges

    Published: 19 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading

    Legislation improving the way strata communities operate passed the NSW Parliament last night.

    The reforms will help owners repair and maintain common property, support the uptake of sustainability and accessibility infrastructure, and give owners more options to pay levies when facing financial stress. 

    This legislation is the Minns Labor Government’s third tranche of strata law reforms and builds on changes which came into effect on 3 February 2025, requiring strata managers in NSW to provide significantly more The reforms will help owners repair and maintain common property, support the uptake of sustainability and accessibility infrastructure, and give owners more options to pay levies when facing financial stress.

    The laws will:

    • Protect owners corporations from unfair contract terms such as limits on a strata managing agent’s liability.
    • Encourage the uptake of sustainable infrastructure such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging by prohibiting bylaws that block the infrastructure due to external appearance.
    • Protect owners from bill shock by requiring developers to have initial levy estimates to be independently certified, including increased penalties for non-compliance.
    • Make it easier to terminate strata managing agents and building manager agreements if they carry on a business that is contrary to the law.
    • Prescribe training requirements for strata committee members to help them perform their roles.
    • Allow Fair Trading to enter into enforceable undertakings with owners corporations that do not meet their duties to maintain and repair common property.
    • Help owners in financial hardship by requiring owners corporations to offer a payment plan before taking debt recovery action and prohibiting blanket rules to refuse payment plans.
    • Make it easier to install accessibility infrastructure in common areas by lowering the voting threshold for approval from 75% to a majority vote.

    This legislation is the Minns Labor Government’s third tranche of strata law reforms and builds on   changes which came into effect on 3 February 2025, requiring strata managers in NSW to provide significantly more detailed information to owners’ corporations about their services and relationships, to increase transparency and accountability within the strata sector.

    Strata managers must now disclose any connections with suppliers and developers, provide detailed breakdowns of insurance quotes including commissions and broker fees, and report in real time if any new connections or interests arise.

    The NSW Government’s reforms will be enforced by a dedicated Strata and Property Services Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading, backed by an $8.4 million investment. 

    Consumer confidence in strata is vital to the government’s housing agenda, and the Taskforce will be focussed on high impact initiatives to support the 1.2 million people living in strata across NSW.

    The Taskforce will strengthen compliance and enforcement, dispute resolution, and regulatory reform within the strata sector, with a focus on raising professional standards and delivering better outcomes for consumers.

    For more information, visit the NSW Fair Trading website here: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/strata-and-community-living

    Quotes attributed to Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:

    “The family home is often the biggest financial investment most of us will make – when it is in a strata community the Minns Labor Government is making sure that there are protections in place to help owners make informed decisions on the future of the property.

    “Repairs to common property are the obligation of the owners’ corporation, and these reforms help to ensure the hard-earned money of individual owners invested in the property will prevent it from being run down, become a safety risk or cause greater damage through neglect.

    “These changes will make buying into strata more transparent and improve the building owners experience when they receive the keys from the developer.”

    Quotes attributed to Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann:

    “The number of strata schemes in New South Wales has grown from around 70,000 at the end of 2015 to more than 87,000 – creating a greater need for targeted, proactive regulation to ensure practitioners and businesses in the property industry are properly trained and supervised.

    “The Strata and Property Services Taskforce is improving the NSW Government’s oversight of real estate and strata managing agents by bringing together new and existing specialist staff across Fair Trading to uplift its enforcement of NSW strata and property laws – restoring consumer confidence and lifting standards across the sector.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Vital XPT rail fleet refurbishment program ramps up

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Vital XPT rail fleet refurbishment program ramps up

    Published: 19 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build better regional communities by undertaking vital upgrades to the XPT rail fleet which services Grafton and other regional centres across the state.

    The XPT fleet has reached an impressive 40-plus years in service and work is underway to ensure the fleet continues to provide passengers with a safe and comfortable service until the next generation Regional Rail Fleet is ready to be introduced into passenger service.

    The NSW Government has committed $40.3 million over five years for the XPT Life Extension Project.

    The upgrades of the XPT fleet, to be carried out locally in NSW by Sydney Trains, include:

    • extensive mechanical work to improve service reliability
    • new carpeting and refurbished seats
    • maintenance to improve operation of the air-conditioning and toilets
    • repaint and refurbishment of the power cars.

    These upgrades follow the former Liberal Nationals Government’s failure to deliver a single new regional train after their announcement of the new fleet more than a decade ago. Like the New Intercity Fleet, which the Minns Government is now successfully rolling out on the Central Coast line, the former Liberal National Government oversaw the new Regional Rail Fleet ballooning in cost and missing deadline after deadline. As a direct consequence of this mismanagement, regional passengers have been forced to travel on the old XPTs for years longer than necessary.

    To allow for these essential upgrades of the XPT fleet, NSW TrainLink will operate two out of the six daily rail services between Grafton and Sydney with premium coaches for approximately 12 months from mid-March 2025. The remaining four daily rail services will continue to operate with XPT trains.

    NSW TrainLink is going through a public tender process to secure a coach provider to provide premium wheelchair accessible vehicles for this service.

    This will provide travelers from Grafton the opportunity to choose between premium quality coach services or rail options, depending on their time of travel.

    The community will be updated before the two new coach services start with details about the timetable.

    Ticket prices will be the same as the rail service and bookings will continue as usual through the NSW TrainLink booking website or by calling 13 22 32.

    This investment in upgrading the rail fleet is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild and renew our regional transport and roads, ensuring communities across our regions have access to safe and connected infrastructure and services. This ongoing work includes:

    • Delivering more than $300 million to regional councils across the state to accelerate the repair of roads and transport infrastructure damaged by natural disasters
    • Investing a record close to $250 million in upgrades to make our regional roads safer
    • Releasing Draft Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans for the Hunter and South East and Tablelands, and commencing development on plans for other regions of NSW, to provide a vision for regional initiatives in the short to long term.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to building a better transport system for regional NSW including the network of NSW TrainLink trains and coaches.

    “To ensure passengers can continue to travel safely, comfortably and reliably in the longer term, over $40 million in essential upgrades are getting underway on the ageing XPT fleet now.

    “The Liberals and Nationals sat back for 12 years and ran the XPT fleet into the ground while leaving communities at risk of losing services.  We’re fixing the mess and investing to improve services.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor spokesperson for Clarence Emily Suvaal:

    “Passengers who use two of the six daily NSW TrainLink Grafton services – which will be replaced by coaches while work on the XPTs is carried out – can look forward to a timetabled service on a premium, airconditioned, wheelchair-accessible vehicle during the upgrade. The trains will return to service at the completion of the upgrade process.

    “The other four daily North Coast train services which service Grafton will continue as rail services, so travelers can choose the time of day and mode of transport that best suits their needs.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Missouri Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by November Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)announced that low‑interest federal disaster loans are available to Missouri businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred Nov. 3‑9, 2024. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Kehoe on Feb. 14, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers Pulaski County.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    SBA has established a virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) where customer service representatives will be on hand to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their electronic loan application. Applicants may call or email as indicated below.

    Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Monday – Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
    FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
    (916) 735-1531

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return for physical damage applications is April 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 18, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney Natalie K. Wight Concludes Service to the United States Department of Justice

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.– The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today the departure of United States Attorney Natalie K. Wight.

    Ms. Wight was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House. As a Presidential appointee, Ms. Wight is subject to removal from office at the discretion of the sitting President. The White House thanked her for her service to the United States.

    A twenty-year veteran of the United States Department of Justice, Ms. Wight was recruited directly into the Attorney General’s Honors Program in 2003.

    With the support of Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Ms. Wight was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on June 6, 2022, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 9, 2022.

    “I am proud of the Office’s dedication to protecting Oregon’s youth, supporting law enforcement, and maintaining strong agency partnerships,” said former U.S. Attorney Wight. During her tenure, Ms. Wight focused on outreach to schools by educating students on the dangers of fentanyl, warning of online exploitation, and applauding the care and compassion of Oregon’s student leaders. This year, the district hosted its third Junior Justice Summit where student ambassadors from local high schools collaborated with civic leaders, public servants, and members of the law enforcement community to identify and achieve common goals to help keep kids safe and our neighborhoods thriving.

    “I want to thank our Oregon communities and our exceptional public servants for helping to keep Oregon a safe and beautiful place to live,” said former U.S. Attorney Wight. “I am excited to watch the office’s continued success working with federal, state, county, local, and tribal agencies serving the people of Oregon. I am immensely proud to have worked side by side with such dedicated Oregonians.”

    As United States Attorney, Ms. Wight was selected to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) as the Ninth Circuit representative. The AGAC advises the Attorney General and senior Department of Justice leadership on critical legal issues impacting the districts in each circuit. Ms. Wight served as liaison for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Civil Division while on the AGAC. She also served on the national subcommittees for Controlled Substances, Violent Crime, Child Exploitation, and Native American Issues.

    There are thirty-six counties and nine tribal reservations in the District of Oregon. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Portland, Eugene, and Medford employ career attorneys and professional staff who are responsible for conducting all criminal prosecutions, collection of debts owed to the federal government, and civil litigation in the district involving the United States.

    As provided for under the Vacancies Reform Act, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney now serves as the Acting U.S. Attorney.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sends humanitarian aid to Gaza through Jordan

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Trucks loaded with Chinese aid get ready to set off from the warehouse of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization in Zarqa, Jordan, on Feb. 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Chinese embassy in Jordan and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization held a departure ceremony on Tuesday for a humanitarian aid shipment to the Gaza Strip.

    The humanitarian assistance provided by China will be transported from Jordan to Gaza via land borders. The emergency aid, consisting of 60,000 food parcels, will be delivered in six shipments. The initial shipment, which includes about 12,000 food parcels, will be handed over to the World Food Programme, the Palestine Red Crescent, and other relevant organizations once the shipment reaches Gaza.

    During the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong said that China, as a friend of the Palestinian people, has provided multiple aid shipments to Gaza, and will continue to provide further assistance to the Palestinian people.

    For his part, Hashemite Charity Organization’s Secretary-General Hussein Shibli expressed his deep gratitude to China for its support for Gaza residents, expressing his hope for further cooperation with China in the coming days to help those in need in the enclave.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China reaffirms support for two-state solution

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A worker prepares the truck loaded with Chinese aid at the warehouse of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization in Zarqa, Jordan, on Feb. 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China reaffirmed its firm support for the two-state solution as the only realistic path to resolving the recurring cycles of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China’s envoy to Egypt and the Arab League said in Cairo on Monday.

    Speaking at the Fourth Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held in Cairo, Ambassador Liao Liqiang expressed deep concern over the situation in Gaza and urged the international community to push for full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, according to a statement released by the Chinese embassy.

    Liao emphasized that Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian territory and that future arrangements for the enclave should respect the will of the Palestinian people, adhere to international law and UN resolutions, and address the concerns of regional countries.

    The meeting discussed the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Israel’s restrictions on its operations. Liao reiterated China’s support for UNRWA’s work in post-conflict Gaza, saying any actions targeting or hindering the agency are detrimental to a political settlement.

    He called on the international community to utilize platforms like the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to build consensus and promote a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

    Egypt’s foreign ministry, in a statement after the meeting, reiterated its commitment to the two-state solution, stressing that an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is the only way to achieve lasting peace.

    UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the agency’s crucial role in maintaining the ceasefire and providing essential services to Palestinian refugees, calling for urgent international support to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

    UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim Sigrid Kaag underscored the importance of a comprehensive political solution.

    The meeting brought together representatives from 35 countries and various regional and international organizations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Western New York man pleads guilty to perjury for lying while testifying during his fraud trial

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y. –Acting U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti announced today that  Michael W. Luehrsen, 41, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to perjury, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. As part of his plea, Luehrsen has agreed to pay approximately $2-million dollars in restitution and forfeit approximately $2-million dollars in assets, including investments and real estate proceeds.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Grace Carducci, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2022, Luehrsen testified under oath in his previous jury trial before the United States District Court for the Western District of New York as follows:

    Q. Mike, I want to start by talking about your dad. You told Mr. Kruly that on the days that those prescriptions were faxed you were not in town, is that what you said?

    A. That’s correct.

    Q. Can you tell the jury, where were you?

    A. On June 27, 2014, I was actually in California visiting Cornerstone Pharmacy with two physicians. On July 11, of 2014, I was in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Q. And how do you remember that?

    A. I have photographs from my phone showing me in those particular cities.

    Evidence from Luehrsen’s cellular telephone shows that the testimony quoted above was false. Photographs on the cell phone establish that he was, in fact, in Buffalo on July 11, 2014. In addition, telephone records and financial records established that Luehrsen was in Buffalo on that date. At the time of this testimony, Luehrsen was being tried for, among other crimes, conspiring to commit health care fraud. It was a matter material to the  trial whether or not Luehrsen was in Buffalo when an altered compound prescription form was faxed from his father’s home located in the Western District of New York.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

    Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2025, before Judge Vilardo.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy champions bill to stop bureaucrats from crushing America’s chemical industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the No Industrial Restrictions In Secret (No IRIS) Act to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using data from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to make rules that punish America’s chemical manufacturing industry. 

    “For four years, the Biden administration weaponized the EPA’s IRIS program against America’s chemical industry. My bill would prevent this kind of abuse from happening again and safeguard American businesses from government overreach,” said Kennedy.

    The No IRIS Act would prohibit the federal government from using the IRIS to inform its rulemakings unless Congress explicitly authorizes the program.

    Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) is leading the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

    “Unelected bureaucrats have often disrupted the work of Wisconsin’s chemical manufacturers and inhibited the success of the industry through the abuse of the EPA’s IRIS program. Instead of grounding regulatory decisions in sound science, IRIS has demonstrated a poor track record by issuing assessments that conflict with the industry’s best available scientific expertise and methodologies. The No IRIS Act will protect American jobs, promote innovation, and hold the EPA accountable for acting against the best interest of the industry and our economy,” said Grothman.

    “American success relies on American chemistry. Computer chips, national defense, modern healthcare, housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and energy are all made possible by America’s chemical industry. Unfortunately, the EPA’s IRIS program puts many critical chemistries in jeopardy. The IRIS program has a troubling history of being out of step with the best available science and methods, lacking transparency, and being unresponsive to peer review and stakeholder recommendations. It’s time for Congress and EPA to take action and put sound science at the forefront of regulatory decision-making, and we applaud Senator Kennedy and Congressman Grothman for their leadership on this important issue,” said Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council.

    Background: 

    • The EPA established the IRIS program in 1985 to gather data on how chemicals impact human health. The EPA designed the system to spot health hazards—not make policy.
    • The IRIS program is not currently authorized in statute. As a result, unelected bureaucrats have abused the system to hurt chemical makers in Louisiana and across the country with virtually zero Congressional oversight.
    • President Joe Biden’s EPA used unscientific methods in the IRIS to justify rules that hurt businesses and cost Americans their jobs. 
    • As of 2023, Louisiana was the second-largest chemical-producing state in the country, with its chemical industry paying $3.49 billion in wages.

    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Orca Energy Group Inc. Announces Independent Reserves Evaluation for Year End 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — February 19, 2025 – Orca Energy Group Inc. (“Orca” or the “Company” and includes PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited (“PAET“) and its other subsidiaries and affiliates) (TSX-V: ORC.A, ORC.B) announces the approval of its Independent Reserves Evaluation as at December 31, 2024. All currency amounts in this news release are in United States Dollars ($) unless otherwise stated.

    INDEPENDENT RESERVES EVALUATION
    The Company’s conventional natural gas reserves as at December 31, 2024 for the period to the end of the primary 25-year term of the production sharing agreement (the “Songo Songo PSA“) with the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (the “TPDC“) have been evaluated by independent petroleum engineering consultants McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel“), an independent reserves evaluator, in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (“COGE Handbook“) and National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (“NI 51-101“). The Songo Songo PSA expires upon the expiry of TPDC’s Songo Songo licence in respect of the Songo Songo gas field (the “Songo Songo Licence“) in October 2026. The preparation date of the independent reserves evaluation prepared by McDaniel is February 18, 2025 and the effective date of the evaluation is December 31, 2024 (the “McDaniel Report“).

    All of the Company’s reserves are located in Tanzania. Reserves included herein are stated on a Company gross reserves basis unless noted otherwise. Company gross reserves are the total of the Company’s working interest share in reserves.

    The Company’s Board of Directors has reviewed and approved the McDaniel Report. Additional reserves information required under NI 51-101 is included in Orca’s reports relating to reserves data and other oil and gas information under NI 51-101, which will be filed on its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The following discussion is subject to a number of cautionary statements, assumptions, contingencies and risks as set forth in this news release.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Total Proved (“1P”) Gross Company conventional natural gas reserves at year ended December 31, 2024, were 40.2 billion standard cubic feet (“Bcf“) compared to 85.0 Bcf at year end 2023, representing a 53% decrease.
    • Total Proved plus Probable (“2P”) Gross Company conventional natural gas reserves at year ended December 31, 2024, were 41.5 Bcf compared to 93.9 Bcf at year end 2023, representing a 56% decrease.
    • The Company estimated gas sales of 26.7 Bcf in 2024, representing a decrease of approximately 15% compared to year end 2023. The reduction in Gross Company 1P reserves from year end 2023 to year end 2024 was primarily attributed to 26.7 BCF of production in 2024 and 18.1 Bcf of negative technical revisions. The technical revisions were primarily due to lower forecasted gas sales to the end of the license (October 2026) attributed to increased hydro power in Tanzania and the removal of Proved Undeveloped reserves due to the unsuccessful well intervention on SS-7.
    • Net present value of 1P future net revenue discounted at 10% was $61.8 million at year end 2024, compared to $108.4 million at year end 2023, representing a 43% decrease.
    • Net present value of 2P future net revenue discounted at 10% was $64.7 million at year end 2024, compared to $118.7 million at year end 2023, representing a 45% decrease.
    • The 43% reduction in net present value of 1P future net revenues from year end 2023 to year end 2024 was primarily attributed to lower reserves at year end 2024 and the associated 33% reduction in the number of years outstanding on the current Songo Songo Licence.
    • The following tables outline the Company’s conventional natural gas reserves as at December 31, 2024 and the net present value of future net revenue attributable to such reserves as evaluated in the McDaniel Report utilizing McDaniel’s forecast price and cost assumptions to the end of the Songo Songo Licence term in October 2026.
      Company Gross Reserves   Company Net Reserves
      Conventional.

    Natural Gas

    		   Conventional.

    Natural Gas
      MMcf   MMcf
    Proved      
      Developed Producing 40,244   28,020
      Developed Non-Producing –   –
      Undeveloped –   –
    Total Proved 40,244   28,020
    Probable 1,224   803
    Total Proved plus Probable 41,469   28,823

    Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue of Gas Reserves

        Before and After Future Income Tax Expenses Discounted at   Unit Value
          Before and
    After Tax at
    10%
        0 %   5 %   10 %   15 %   20 %   $/Mcf
    ($’000)                        
    Proved                        
    Developed Producing   67,574     64,549     61,824     59,357     57,112     2.21
    Developed Non-Producing   –     –     –     –     –     –
    Undeveloped   –     –     –     –     –     –
    Total Proved   67,574     64,549     61,824     59,357     57,112     2.21
    Probable   3,160     3,016     2,887     2,769     2,663     3.60
    Total Proved plus Probable   70,735     67,565     64,710     62,126     59,775     2.25

    Notes:

    1. During the third quarter of 2015, The Petroleum Act, 2015 (the “Act“) was passed into law by Presidential decree. The Act repeals earlier legislation, provides a regulatory framework over upstream, mid-stream and downstream gas activity, and as well consolidates and puts in place a single, effective and comprehensive legal framework for regulating the oil and gas industry in Tanzania. The Act also provides for the creation of an upstream regulator, the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority. The mid and downstream petroleum as well as gas activities are proposed to be regulated by the current authority, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (“EWURA“). The Act also confers upon on the TPDC the status of the National Oil Company, mandated with the task of managing the country’s commercial interest in the petroleum operations as well as mid and downstream natural gas activities. The Act vests TPDC with exclusive rights in the entire petroleum upstream value chain and the natural gas mid and downstream value chain. However, the exclusive rights of TPDC do not extend to mid and downstream petroleum supply operations. The Act does provide grandfathering provisions upholding the rights of the Company under the Songo Songo PSA as it was signed prior to the passing of the Act.
    2. On October 7, 2016, the Government of Tanzania issued the Petroleum (Natural Gas Pricing) Regulation made under Sections 165 and 258 (1) of the Act (the “Natural Gas Pricing Policy“). Article 260(3) of the Act preserves the Company’s pre-existing right with TPDC to market and sell natural gas together or independently on terms and conditions (including prices) negotiated with third party natural gas customers. To date, the Natural Gas Pricing Policy has not impacted the Company’s ability to market and sell natural gas at prices freely negotiated with natural gas customers. The future impact of the Natural Gas Pricing Policy, if any, cannot be determined at this time.
    3. On January 16, 2018, Orca sold (the “First Swala Transaction“) 7.933 percent of the Class A common shares (7,933 Class A common shares) of its wholly owned subsidiary PAE PanAfrican Energy Corporation (“PAEM“), a Mauritius registered Company and sole shareholder of PAET, a Jersey registered Company, to a wholly owned subsidiary of Swala. The Songo Songo PSA is held by PAET. While Swala had no management or control of PAEM and no shareholding in, or management or control of PAET, the McDaniel Report was previously prepared based on Orca’s ownership of 92.07 percent of PAET’s gross reserves. On July 21, 2023, the Company repurchased (the “Second Swala Transaction”) the 7.933% shares in PAEM eliminating Swala’s interest in the reserves. Accordingly, the 2024 McDaniel Report is prepared based on Orca’s ownership of 100% of PAET’s gross reserves.
    4. “Company Gross Reserves” are the total of the Company’s working interest share in reserves before deduction of royalties owned by others and without including any royalty interests of the Company.
    5. “Company Net Reserves” are the total of the Company’s working interest share in reserves after deducting the amounts attributable to royalties and Profit Gas owned by others (as defined in the PSA), plus the Company’s royalty interests in such reserves.
    6. Company Gross and Net Reserves are based on the Company’s 100 percent ownership interest in the reserves following the Second Swala Transaction.
    7. Under the terms of the Songo Songo Production Sharing Agreement with TPDC and the Government of Tanzania (“PSA“), the Company is required to pay Tanzanian income tax, but this is recovered by the Company through the profit sharing arrangements with TPDC. Where income tax is accrued, the Company’s revenue will be grossed up by the tax due and the tax will be shown as a tax in the Company’s accounts. However, the income tax has no material impact on the cash flows emanating from the PSA and accordingly it has not been identified as a separate cash flow stream in the analysis of the net present values.

    McDaniel employed the following gas sales, pricing and inflation rate assumptions as of December 31, 2024 in estimating the Company’s reserves data using forecast prices and costs. The Company received an average gas price of $4.67/Mcf in 2024 and $4.22/Mcf net of the transportation tariff imposed by Songas Limited as determined by the energy regulator, EWURA.

        Songo Songo gas prices  

    Year

    		 Brent crude

    $/bbl

    		 Proved

    $/Mcf

    		 Proved plus probable

    $/Mcf

    		 Annual inflation

    %

    		  
               
    2025 76.50 5.15 5.20 2  
    2026 78.03 5.25 5.32 2  
               

    Note:   Brent price forecast based on the McDaniel January 1, 2025 price forecast.

    The price of gas for the Industrial sector is based on a formula related to discounts to heavy fuel oil prices and includes caps and floors. This has been reflected in the above pricing.

    Orca Energy Group Inc.

    Orca is an international public company engaged in natural gas development and supply in Tanzania through its subsidiary PAET. Orca trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbols ORC.A and ORC.B.

    For further information please contact:

    Jay Lyons                                
    Chief Executive Officer                        
    +44 (0)20 8434 2754                        
    ir@orcaenergygroup.com                 

    For media enquiries:
    Celicourt (PR)
    Mark Antelme
    Jimmy Lea
    Orca@celicourt.uk
    +44 (0)20 8434 2754

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Abbreviations

    bbl cubic meters
    Mcf thousand cubic feet
    MMcf million standard cubic feet


    Forward Looking Information

    Certain information regarding Orca set forth in this news release contains forward-looking information and statements as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements” or “statements“) that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The use of any of the words “plan”, “expect”, “prospective”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “should”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Although the Company’s management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause Orca’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Orca.

    In particular, statements relating to “reserves” are deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and that the resources described can be profitably produced in the future. Additional forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: expectations regarding demand for natural gas and the implications of decreasing demand; expiration of the Songo Songo PSA and the Songo Songo Licence and pending extension of the Songo Songo Licence and Songo Songo PSA; reserves and future net revenue from the Company’s reserves; assumptions regarding the increased demand for hydro power in Tanzania; and assumptions regarding gas sales, pricing and inflation rates.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties regarding or associated with: drilling wells, including the costs of drilling and whether development drilling results in commercially productive quantities of oil and gas; the terms of Orca’s future petroleum contracts, including potential obligations to drill wells and declare discoveries in order to retain Orca’s exploration and production rights; Orca’s local operational dependence and focus of its existing contracts; Orca’s future control over the Songo Songo Licence areas and facilities, including its status as operator thereof, and the timing and extent of costs in association therewith; estimations of reserves and the present value of future net revenues derived from them; Orca’s dependency on its management and technical team; Orca’s business plan including the additional capital required to execute such plans; commercializing Orca’s interests in any hydrocarbons produced from future licence areas; Orca’s ability to access appropriate equipment and infrastructure in a timely manner; the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, including but not limited to drilling and other operational and environmental risks and hazards; severe weather including but not limited to tropical storms and hurricanes; disagreements with TPDC regarding the Songo Songo PSA; the political and economic circumstances in the countries in which Orca operates; disputes with the Government of Tanzania; technological development; activism against oil and exploration and development; limitations on insurance coverage; Orca’s operations in a litigious environment; global populism; Orca’s future capitalization which may include additional indebtedness; acquisitions and the integration of any target entity or business into Orca’s current business; cybersecurity and data breaches; impacts of pandemics; share price volatility and dilution; Orca’s controlling shareholder and its control over key decision making as a result of its control of a majority of the voting rights attached to Orca’s issued and outstanding securities; Orca’s status as a holding company that’s ability to declare and pay dividends and purchase its own securities is dependent upon the receipt of funds from Orca’s subsidiaries by way of dividends, fees, interest, loans or otherwise; the impact of general economic conditions, including global and local oil and gas prices; industry conditions including changes in laws and regulations, and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced; competition; lack of availability of qualified personnel; risks related to obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities; risks associated with negotiating with governments and other counterparties; fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates; risks and uncertainties associated with obtaining an extension to the Songo Songo PSA and related Songo Songo Licence or successfully renegotiating them; changes in income tax laws or tax rates; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; associated with the failure of counterparties to perform under the terms of their contracts, including collectability of Orca’s receivables from such parties; reduced global economic activity as a result of global pandemics, including lower demand for natural gas and a reduction in the price of natural gas; prolonged deficiency in Tanzania’s official reserve and foreign exchange losses; political instability and the impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Israel-Hamas conflict, conflicts in the Middle East and related actions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

    Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon assumptions which management believes to be reasonable, Orca cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this news release, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this news release, Orca has made assumptions regarding, among other things: continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; obtaining an extension to the Songo Songo PSA and related Songo Songo Licence on terms acceptable to Orca; accuracy of estimates of Orca’s reserves volumes; the impact of any pandemics or political conflicts on the demand for and price of natural gas, volatility in financial markets, disruptions to global supply chains and the Company’s business, operations, access to customers and suppliers, availability of employees to carry out day-to-day operations, and other resources; future commodity prices and commodity price fluctuations; availability of skilled labour; availability of transactions to facilitate Orca’s growth strategy; growth of demand and consumption of natural gas in Tanzania and throughout Africa; the impact of increasing competition; conditions in general economic and financial markets; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; receipt of partner, regulatory and community approvals; future operating costs; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; that Orca’s conduct and results of operations will be consistent with its expectations; current or, where applicable, proposed industry conditions, laws and regulations will continue in effect or as anticipated as described herein; and other matters. There are a number of assumptions associated with the development of the evaluated areas, including continued performance of existing wells, future drilling programs and performance from new wells, the growth of infrastructure, well density per section, and recovery factors and development necessary involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those risks identified in this news release. Orca believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct.

    Management has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this news release in order to provide investors with a more complete perspective on Orca’s current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Orca’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits Orca will derive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Orca disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Oil and Gas Advisory

    The Company’s conventional natural gas reserves as at December 31, 2024 disclosed herein were evaluated by McDaniel in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the COGE Handbook and NI 51-101. The McDaniel Report had an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Company’s conventional natural gas reserves as at December 31, 2023 disclosed herein were evaluated by McDaniel in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the COGE Handbook and NI 51-101. Such report had an effective date of December 31, 2023.

    Additional reserves information required under NI 51-101 are included in Orca’s reports relating to reserves data and other oil and gas information under NI 51-101, which are filed on its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

    This news release contains estimates of the net present value of Orca’s future net revenue from the Company’s reserves. The net present value of future net revenue attributable to the Company’s reserves is stated without provision for interest costs and out of country general and corporate administrative costs, but after providing for estimated royalties, production costs, development costs, other income and future capital expenditures. It should not be assumed that the undiscounted or discounted net present value of future net revenue attributable to the Company’s reserves estimated by McDaniel represent the fair market value of those reserves. Such amounts do not represent the fair market value of the Company’s reserves. The recovery and reserve estimates of the Company’s conventional natural gas reserves provided herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates provided herein.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: arner, Colleagues Warn IRS that Staffing Cuts will Wreak Havoc on Tax Refunds, Taxpayer Service, and Undermine Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined colleagues in warning the Trump administration and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) leadership that staffing reductions at the IRS resulting from Trump’s hiring freeze and potential layoffs would likely delay tax refunds, harm taxpayer service and undermine law enforcement efforts.
    The senators urged the administration to end the IRS hiring freeze immediately, avoid further staffing cuts, and protect the Criminal Investigation division that plays a key role in combating drug and human trafficking, terrorism and sanctions evasion. 
    Regarding the impact of the hiring freeze and layoffs on taxpayer refunds and service, the senators wrote: “Americans need the IRS to be fully staffed with employees who can answer their questions, process their returns, send refunds, and keep IRS systems online and functional. It is nearly inevitable that this hiring freeze, compounded by layoffs and further reductions in staff mandated as a result of Elon Musk’s unprecedented power grab, will delay refunds and degrade taxpayer service. Millions of Americans plan their budgets around timely refunds every filing season. These reckless decisions on the part of Elon Musk and the Trump administration will likely cause serious financial hardship for people across the country.”
    Regarding the impact on law enforcement and national security they continued, “IRS Criminal Investigation is at the forefront of federal law enforcement efforts to investigate fentanyl trafficking by cartels, human trafficking, terrorism financing, and sanctions evasion. For example, CI was the lead investigative agency in the largest international fentanyl/opioid seizure in U.S. history. This operation took down a massive drug trafficking operation and seized 864 kg of drugs, including an astounding 64kg of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced opioids, enough to kill thousands of people. CI was also responsible for the dismantling of several large fentanyl trafficking networks operated by the Sinaloa cartel, including a collaboration with Chinese money laundering organizations. An indefinite hiring freeze at CI would endanger both public safety and national security by directly hampering multi-agency efforts to pursue and dismantle these highly dangerous criminal networks.”
    The letter was also signed by Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Bernie Sanders, (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Students get up close with Bugatti classics at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    46 seconds ago

    Aspiring automotive professionals at EIT had a unique opportunity to witness history in motion as three Bugatti classics made their way onto the Hawke’s Bay campus.

    The three rare vehicles, this year’s featured French marque, travelled from around the country for the Art Deco Festival.

    EIT students Tu Hawkins (left), Nathan Tobeck and Jennifer Rainham (right) with EIT Automotive Tutor Brett Cranswick and Greg McDell of Classics Museum in Hamilton.

    EIT Automotive Tutor Brett Cranswick said the visit was a great learning opportunity for students.

    “For our automotive students, opportunities like this are incredibly inspiring. Some already have a keen interest in classic cars, and experiences like this help reinforce their passion for the industry.”

    A few years ago, about 200 hot rods visited the campus in a similar event, also organised by Brett. 

    Greg McDell of Classics Museum in Hamilton showing EIT students Tu Hawkins (left), Nathan Tobeck and Jennifer Rainham (right) a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux.

    Among last Wednesday’s display was a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux, which had finished being fully restored just five days prior by Greg McDell of Classics Museum in Hamilton.

    “It is cool seeing young people interested in old cars. It is a dying trade, but there is a market out there,” McDell said.

    Also on display was a Bugatti Type 37A, owned by Louise Russell and Michael Pidgeon, whose father restored it in the late 1980s.

    Students had the opportunity to speak with the owners and Hawke’s Bay Vintage Car Club Art Deco Festival spokesman Steve Donovan, who also toured the EIT facilities.

    Steve mentioned how impressed the car owners were with the facilities, and said they need to bring the Hawke’s Bay Vintage Car Club for a visit one day.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Structure fire – Bloomfield Street Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) responded to a significant fire on Bloomfield Street in Alice Springs this morning.

    At 2:24am, NTFRS received reports of multiple grassfires impacting three backyard sheds along Bloomfield Street. Several career and volunteer firefighting units swiftly responded and immediately worked to bring the fire under control.

    An evacuation of impacted properties was initiated while firefighters worked to extinguish the fires.

    NT Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene and assessed several people for smoke inhalation. No one was taken to hospital.

    A NTFRS fire investigator and NT Police are working together to determine the cause of the fire.

    Anyone with information is urged to make contact with police on 131 444.

    Media contact:

    Rickie Abraham

    8923 9803
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Long Beach Man Who Was Getaway Driver in Fatal Armed Robbery of Victim Dealing Marijuana in Inglewood Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for his role in the March 2021 murder of a victim in Inglewood during a marijuana deal.   

    Mateo Paul, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and one count of brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Paul has been in custody since November 2023.

    “This defendant’s recklessness led to a victim’s violent death and the prospect of a life sentence in federal prison,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “When local and federal law enforcement work together – as we did in this case – we can bring severe punishment for perpetrators of violent gun crime.”

    According to his plea agreement, in March 2021, Paul and co-defendants Leandrew Raglin, 22, of Lancaster, and Iysis Elanore Smith, 22, of Inglewood, agreed to rob a marijuana dealer at gunpoint. They devised a plan to lure the dealer via a social media application to a meeting location, where they would ambush him at gunpoint and steal his marijuana.

    On March 15, 2021, Smith approached the vehicle occupied by the victim. While Smith distracted the victim, Paul and Raglin parked behind the victim’s vehicle. Raglin then exited the vehicle Paul was driving, approached the passenger side of the victim’s car and opened fire, repeatedly wounding the victim in the passenger seat. Raglin then walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and opened fire, fatally wounding the victim in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, according to court documents.

    Raglin’s brandishing and discharge of the firearm fell within the scope of Paul’s criminal agreement and could reasonably have been foreseen to be a necessary or natural consequence of the unlawful agreement, the plea agreement states.

    United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha scheduled a June 27 sentencing hearing, at which time Paul will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

    Raglin has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment against him in this case and is scheduled to go to trial on May 19. The criminal charges against Smith are still pending. Both defendants face potential life sentences.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The FBI and the Inglewood Police Department investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crimes Section and Gregg E. Marmaro of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Inc. Announces February 2025 Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”) is pleased to announce distributions for the month of February 2025 for its open-end exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds (“the Funds”).

    The ex-distribution date for all Open-End Funds is February 26, 2025. The ex-distribution date for all closed-end funds is February 28, 2025.

    Open-End Funds Ticker
    Symbol    		 Distribution
    per
    share/unit    		 Record
    Date    		 Payable
    Date    		 Distribution
    Frequency
    Apple (AAPL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units APLY $0.1667 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Financial Income Fund – ETF Series BNC $0.1225¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Bond Fund – ETF Units BND $0.0840 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units BRKY $0.1000 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Units BTCY $0.0850 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units BTCY.B $0.0970 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF USD Units BTCY.U US $0.0815 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF Units CROP $0.0875 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF USD Units CROP.U US $0.0975 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield – ETF Units ETHY $0.0405 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units ETHY.B $0.0500 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Units Non-Currency Hedged USD Units ETHY.U US $0.0395 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – ETF Units FLX $0.0461 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units FLX.B $0.0551 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – Non-Currency Hedged USD – ETF Units FLX.U US $0.0385 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Bond Class – ETF Units IGB $0.0860¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Microsoft (MSFT) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF units MSFY $0.1100 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PAYF $0.1375¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Total Return Bond Fund – ETF Series PBD $0.0590¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Core Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDF $0.1050¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDIV $0.0950¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Real Estate Income Fund – ETF Series PHR $0.0720¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose International Dividend Fund – ETF Series PID $0.0780 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Monthly Income Fund – ETF Series PIN $0.0830¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Multi-Asset Income Fund – ETF Units PINC $0.0840 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Conservative Income Fund – ETF Series PRP $0.0600¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PYF $0.1100¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Series PYF.B $0.1230¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF USD Series PYF.U US $0.1200¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Core Equity Income Fund – ETF Series RDE $0.0875¹ 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Emerging Markets Dividend Fund – ETF Units REM $0.0950 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Preferred Share Fund – ETF Units RPS $0.0950 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund – ETF Series RPU $0.0940 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units2 RPU.B / RPU.U $0.0940 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Strategic Yield Fund – ETF Units SYLD $0.0970 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    AMD (AMD) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YAMD $0.2000 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Amazon (AMZN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF- ETF Units YAMZ $0.4000 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Alphabet (GOOGL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YGOG $0.2500 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    META (META) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YMET $0.1600 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    NVIDIA (NVDA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YNVD $0.7500 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Tesla (TSLA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YTSL $0.5500 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
               
    Closed-End Funds Ticker Symbol Distribution
    per share/unit    		 Record Date Payable Date Distribution Frequency
    Big Banc Split Corp, Class A BNK $0.1200¹ 02/28/2025 03/14/2025 Monthly
    Big Banc Split Corp, Preferred Shares BNK.PR.A $0.0700¹ 02/28/2025 03/14/2025 Monthly
               

    Estimated February 2025 Distributions for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund

    The February 2025 distribution rates for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund are estimated to be as follows:

    Fund Name Ticker
    Symbol    		 Estimated
    Distribution
    per unit    		 Record
    Date    		 Payable
    Date    		 Distribution
    Frequency
    Purpose USD Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNU.U US $0.3407 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNY $0.2707 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose High Interest Savings Fund – ETF Units PSA $0.1125 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Cash Fund – ETF Units PSU.U US $0.3244 02/26/2025 03/04/2025 Monthly
               

    Purpose expects to issue a press release on or about February 25, 2025, which will provide the final distribution rate for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund. The ex-distribution date will be February 26, 2025.

    (1) Dividend is designated as an “eligible” Canadian dividend for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial and territorial legislation.
    (2) Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units have both a CAD and USD purchase option. Distribution per unit is declared in CAD; however, the USD purchase option (RPU.U) distribution will be made in the USD equivalent. Conversion into USD will use the end-of-day foreign exchange rate prevailing on the ex-distribution date.
       

    About Purpose Investments Inc.

    Purpose Investments is an asset management company with more than $23 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent technology-driven financial services company.

    For further information, please email us at info@purposeinvest.com

    Media inquiries:
    Keera Hart
    keera.hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, and expenses may all be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet Press Trump Admin on Treatment of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Blanket buyouts and layoffs threaten Colorado’s 40,000 federal employees and raise potential for severe delays in federal services
    Hickenlooper and Bennet: “Our federal workers keep Colorado, and America moving.”
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) pushing the Trump administration to respond to concerns regarding OPM’s blanket buyout offer to federal employees. The senators argue that the buyout threatens severe delays and pauses to ongoing federal services in Colorado including health care for veterans, childcare for underserved families, and access to national parks.
    “In Colorado alone, there are more than 40,000 federal workers across agencies and areas of expertise. Such a sweeping reduction of the workforce could have a devastating impact on the programs that our constituents rely on,” the senators wrote.
    “…While every administration has the right to review and make changes to the executive branch personnel, doing so without a strategic plan, without appropriated funds, and without adhering to workers’ legal protections, is a misleading overreach. Further, these changes will likely lead to workforce shortages and talent gaps that delay timely and effective service to our constituents,” they continued. 
    In late January, OPM sent an e-mail to over two million federal workers offering them the opportunity to resign in exchange for their full pay and benefits. According to OPM, an estimated 75,000 federal employees have accepted the buyout offer.
    The senators’ letter raises questions about the legality and legitimacy of the Trump administration’s offer. The OPM promised full pay and benefits to employees who accepted the offer, but Congress has not appropriated funding to make good on that commitment. Given the lack of clarity, federal employees across Colorado have received confusing instructions or no guidance at all from their supervisors.
    The buyout offer is part of a larger Trump administration initiative to drastically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Last Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order paving the way for “large-scale” layoffs and pauses in hiring. In accordance with the executive order, the Department of the Interior fired 2,300 employees, and the Department of Veterans Affairs fired 1,000.
    Last week, Hickenlooper pushed the Department of the Interior to resolve looming staffing shortages at the National Park Service following news that the Trump administration had fired thousands of National Forest Service and National Park Service workers. 
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Acting Director Ezell:
    The State of Colorado’s federal workforce is essential to ensure that the work we do, in Congress and in the Executive Branch, benefits our constituents. We are deeply concerned about the implications of the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) January 27th Memorandum on Agency Return to Office Implementation Plans and the agency’s subsequent “Fork in the Road” e-mail, issued January 28. This offer was accepted by over 75,000 federal employees as of the February 12th deadline. Given the decision by the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts to uphold OPM’s offer, it is critical that this process is transparent and that OPM works in earnest to prevent delays or pauses in federal services.
    Historically, under the Chief Human Capital Officers Act of 2002, OPM could not pay more than $25,000 per person in a lump sum payment for resignations. OPM currently includes this policy on its website. Under OPM’s deferred resignation plan, the federal government will be responsible for paying billions of dollars in salary and benefits to employees that would be doing important work, had they not been chased away by the administration’s offer to resign.
    Despite OPM’s guidance about how agencies implement the new return-to-work and deferred resignation offer, we continue to hear from Coloradans who received confusing instructions or no guidance at all from their supervisors. Colorado’s federal workforce consists of workers who provide unique services across the state. For many of our workers, remote work and telework policies have been in place long before COVID-19. Workers are also increasingly skeptical that this deferred resignation offer will not actually allow them to continue receiving their full salary and benefits or protect them from future federal employee layoffs.
    In Colorado alone, there are more than 40,000 federal workers across agencies and areas of expertise. Such a sweeping reduction of the workforce could have a devastating impact on the programs that our constituents rely on. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs (V A) Health Administration comprises more than 7,000 workers in Colorado. While the VA has taken steps to minimize impacts related to veterans’ direct care, mass resignations could delay administration of other VA services like veterans’ disability or burial benefit payments. Denver, Colorado also houses one of 12 regional Head Start offices that helps ensure that our more than 8,000 Head Start children in Colorado receive high-quality child care. Just as importantly, our four national parks, 11 national forests, eight wildlife refuges, and 65 national conservation lands all depend on the federal employees who keep these areas safe, well-maintained, and welcoming to Coloradans and visitors from around the world.
    A highly skilled and stable workforce is key to making our government efficient and effective. However, under OPM’s offer, roughly 3 percent of federal employees will exit the workforce in just a matter of days. Further, the Trump Administration set a goal to see an initial 10 percent reduction across the federal workforce. While every administration has the right to review and make changes to the executive branch personnel, doing so without a strategic plan, without appropriated funds, and without adhering to workers’ legal protections, is a misleading overreach. Further, these changes will likely lead to workforce shortages and talent gaps that delay timely and effective service to our constituents.
    We question whether the Administration can achieve its goal of streamlined and efficient service to Colorado–and the nation–while making such sweeping changes to the federal workforce. To ensure transparency in this ongoing process, we ask that you answer the following questions:
    How many federal workers nationally and based in Colorado accepted OPM’s resignation offers and from which agencies? Which agencies had the highest concentrations of resignations?
    Will OPM and relevant agencies ensure employees continue receiving their contractually obligated salaries, and benefits, including any previously negotiated Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), through September 30, 2025? If not, why not?
    Have senior agency staff since been consulted about the next steps to implement resignation processes? How soon should workers expect to receive specific information about their agency’s expectations for workers who accept the resignation offer?
    How does OPM plan to work with agencies to prevent delays to constituent services in the event of future workforce shortages these resignations may cause? Has OPM submitted guidance to each agency about preserving mission-critical staffing for services like health care and child care facilities, care for the elderly or veterans’ affairs?
    Consistent with the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, workers are protected against retaliation if they a) choose to exercise their right to appeal, file a complaint or grievance against their agency; b) testify in support of another worker’s appeal, complaint or grievance process, c) cooperate or disclose information to an Inspector General or other federal entity responsible for internal investigations; or d) refuse to obey an order that would require that they violate a law, rule or regulation. Will OPM adhere to these protections for workers? How will you continue to enforce these protections?
    Many federal workers are protected by union–negotiated collective bargaining agreements, which are legally binding. Does OPM acknowledge and agree to adhere to these bargaining agreements and the agreed upon protections for workers?
    Our federal workers keep Colorado, and America moving. We implore you to implement these resignations thoughtfully and to take every step to prevent unintended harm to our constituent services. We look forward to hearing from you by Monday, March 10, 2025.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide

    IMDB

    On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and visually stunning animated spectacle, full of hilarious moments and thrilling fight scenes.

    But beneath all that, it’s something much deeper: a bold re-imagining of Chinese traditional mythology, cultural history and philosophies.

    Unlike Hollywood’s classic hero’s journey, Ne Zha 2 is rooted in Chinese thought, weaving together ideas from Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism and more.

    Through the story of a baby-faced warrior god who battles demons, it channels centuries of Chinese tradition into something refreshing, relevant and undeniably global.

    The film’s success speaks for itself. Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiao Zi), Ne Zha 2 has shattered multiple global box office records, pulling in more than US$1 billion in China in just one week.

    It has entered the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time, and has become the highest-grossing animated film – outperforming Inside Out 2 (2024).

    But what makes Ne Zha 2 so compelling beyond its visual spectacle? At its heart, it’s an inspiring story about identity, free will, self-determination and rebellion – ideas that resonate far beyond China.

    A child hero forged in myth and philosophy

    Ne Zha is a rebellious deity in traditional Chinese folklore – a boy born with immense superpower, who defies both divine and social expectations.

    Most people who know of Ne Zha will trace his legend back to Fengshen Yanyi, or Investiture of the Gods, a Ming Dynasty novel that blends mythology with historical elements.

    Ne Zha’s true origins, however, trace back to India.

    “Ne Zha” is a shortened transliteration of the Sanskrit Nalakuvara (or Nalakūbara), an Indian mythological figure who appears in Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

    As Buddhism spread to China during the Tang Dynasty, Ne Zha evolved from an intimidating guardian deity into the rebellious, fire-wheeled warrior we know today.

    In Ne Zha 2, this “fighting spirit” against authority and hierarchy is taken even further, turning the story into a deeper philosophical exploration of morality, fate, self-worth and power.

    Good and evil – a Daoist perspective

    One of the most thought-provoking aspects of Ne Zha 2 is how it challenges the idea of good and evil.

    In Daoist philosophy, evil and good, often known as Yin and Yang, are not absolute, but are rather shifting, interconnected forces.

    Through its two protagonists: the “Demon Pill” (Ne Zha) and his noble dragon prince buddy, “Spirit Pearl” (Ao Bing), the film beautifully reflects this Daoist idea of balance and self-discovery.

    Their merging further blurs the line between hero and villain and brings to life a core concept from the 2,400-year-old text Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), written around 400 BC by Chinese philosopher Laozi (also called Lao Tzu).

    Laozi emphasises that righteousness and villainy aren’t always what they seem. “When the world knows beauty as beauty, there arises ugliness,” he says.

    Those we assume to be noble may turn out to be dark inside, while those deemed evil might be fighting for what is right.

    Ne Zha’s character in the film embodies this Daoist philosophy. Echoing the Xisheng Jing, The Scripture of Western Ascension, he declares, “My fate is up to me, not the Heaven.”

    He is the demon child who is willing to die fighting for his own destiny, proving that even the smallest, most underestimated individual can change the world.

    Beyond family bonds: rebirth of Confucianism

    In one scene, Ne Zha is struck by the “heart-piercing curse”, a brutal spell that covers his body in ten thousand thorns, causing unbearable pain and keeping him under control by targeting his heart. Ne Zha’s human mother, Lady Yin, clings to him as his thorns pierce her skin – yet she refuses to let go.

    It’s a moment of heartbreak, parental love and inner awakening. As his mother takes her final breath, in Ne Zha’s grief, his body shatters into a million pieces. And then, he is reborn.

    This is the film’s emotional climax, in which the so-called demon child awakens to “Rén” (benevolence), a core Confucian virtue.

    Confucianism teaches that true morality isn’t imposed by rules but arises naturally from within. Ne Zha doesn’t just seek revenge, he awakes to fight for those who have been oppressed, embracing his identity with unwavering resolve.

    But perhaps the most profound transformation comes from the dragon prince Ao Bing. As the last hope of his people, burdened by centuries of expectation, he finally makes a choice, not for legacy, not for his ancestors, but for himself.

    In this moment, his once-imposing father Dragon King releases his grip: “Your path is yours to forge.”

    The weight of tradition gives way to something new, reflecting a changing China where younger generations are defining their own paths.

    Wisdom of Legalism and Mohism

    Beyond Daoist and Confucian ideals, Ne Zha 2 also weaves in Legalist reform and Mohist resistance. These philosophies challenge rigid hierarchies (or in Ne Zha’s case, “divine order”) and advocate for collective justice.

    Across Ne Zha’s three major trials and the climactic celestial-demon war, a brutal truth emerges: those deemed unworthy – whether groundhogs, mystical beings, or ordinary humans – are sacrificed to uphold the elite’s rule.

    Take the small groundhogs. Dressed in patched clothes, surviving on pumpkin porridge. They’ve never harmed anyone. Yet, they are mercilessly crushed in the name of celestial balance.

    Then there’s Shiji Niangniang, or Lady Rock, a recluse who harms no one. She indulges only in her own beauty and speaks to her enchanted mirror. Yet the heavens brand her a demon, sealing her fate.

    A similar cruelty befalls the Dragon Clan and the people of Chentangguan, all caught in a war where they are mere pawns on a celestial chessboard.

    Even the last battle is not just Ne Zha’s fight, but a battlefield showing the Chinese spirit of collectivism. Dragons, shrimp soldiers, crab generals, octopus warriors, humans and millions of goblins stand side by side to rewrite destiny.

    The celestial-demon war itself plays out like a lesson in Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which states that “All warfare is based on deception.” War is about strategy, resilience and the unstoppable will to rise.

    Ne Zha carries the weight of Eastern cultural essence: Daoist balance, Confucian ethics, Mohist resistance, Legalist reform and the strategic wisdom of The Art of War. It is a truly Chinese story, igniting next year’s Oscar buzz and sparking a global awakening to Eastern culture.

    Just as Ne Zha is reborn in flames, so too does Chinese animation rise, not by breaking from its past, but by forging a bold future.

    Yanyan Hong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film – https://theconversation.com/ne-zha-2-the-ancient-philosophies-behind-chinas-record-breaking-new-animated-film-249850

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s first helicopter-borne electromagnetic detection system deployed

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 18 — China’s first helicopter airborne magnetotelluric detection system has been successfully applied to a plateau railway construction project, the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) said on Tuesday.

    Researchers have used the system to conduct geological surveys of high-altitude regions with extremely cold temperatures, complex terrain and harsh environments, providing critical data support for the project.

    Airborne magnetotelluric detection technology involves the use of aircraft-mounted high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors to capture subsurface electromagnetic response signals generated by Earth’s natural magnetic fields, said Huang Ling, an associate researcher at AIR.

    Data inversion is then applied to map underground features such as faults, fissures, groundwater and mineral resources, Huang said.

    Airborne magnetotelluric detection has advantages such as rapid deployment capabilities, high resolution imagery and broad coverage, making it a vital tool for resource exploration and engineering surveys.

    It is particularly suited to underground detection in challenging environments where human access is limited, such as plateaus, forests, deserts and swamps.

    To develop China’s first helicopter-borne system of this kind, the AIR research team has overcome a series of core technical challenges, including those related to high-sensitivity magnetic sensors, high-dynamic-range signal receivers and stabilized aerial payload platforms. The system’s technical specifications have met advanced international standards.

    During a nearly two-month survey in harsh, high-altitude and extremely cold conditions, the research team completed more than 30 flights covering over 5,000 kilometers.

    “We will continue advancing the iterative development and technological innovation of this system to support national major engineering projects and mineral resource exploration,” Huang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Capito Attends EPA Signing Event Approving West Virginia’s Class VI Well Authority

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Congressman Riley Moore (R-W.Va.), as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin signed a final rule approving West Virginia’s request to regulate the injection of carbon dioxide into deep rock formations. This action officially grants West Virginia the authority to oversee and administer the Class VI well program for deploying carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. Video of today’s event is available here.
    “I’m thrilled that Administrator Zeldin has affirmed his support for West Virginia’s approval to permit Class VI wells for carbon capture, and that we are officially bringing this important authority to those who know our state best. West Virginia has proven ourselves as a leader in this field, and with this announcement, has become the fourth state to receive Class VI well primacy. Today’s signing marks an important step in the continuation of West Virginia’s proud tradition of being an energy state and our efforts to contribute to American energy dominance,”Chairman Capito said. 
    “To Power the Great American Comeback, we need to produce more energy right here in the United States, and that requires cooperative federalism and permitting reform. As one of my first acts as EPA Administrator, I am proud to sign this rule to allow West Virginia the independence it needs to permit and regulate itself, while also working to safeguard our environment and drinking water. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue to advance conservation and foster economic growth for families across the country,” Administrator Zeldin said. 
    BACKGROUND: 
    Senator Capito has continuously advocated for West Virginia to be granted Class VI well primacy. In May 2023, Senator Capito introduced legislation to streamline state primacy applications for Class VI wells. In November 2023, Senator Capito urged the EPA to more quickly grant state primacy for Class VI storage wells and disburse funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which she fought to include for future CCUS projects in the state. Last November, Senator Capito applauded EPA’s proposal to grant West Virginia this authority, and sent a letter in support of approval to the Agency in December. Senator Capito applauded West Virginia’s final approval to permit Class VI wells last month.
    Photos from today’s event are included below:

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is introduced by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at the signing event approving West Virginia’s Class VI well program primacy

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) provides remarks at the signing event approving West Virginia’s Class VI well program primacy

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joins EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Congressman Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) for the signing event approving West Virginia’s Class VI well program primacy

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Watercare cements foundation for Wellsford Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades

    Source: Auckland Council

    Watercare has finished cementing the concrete foundations and plinths to support the state-of-the-art upgrades at the Wellsford Wastewater Treatment Plant.

    Made from reinforced concrete, the nine plinths were installed on top of 99,000 litres of concrete that was poured one week earlier.

    Each of the plinths will support a tank that will play a crucial role in the treatment plant’s $38.3 million upgrade.

    The upgrade will allow the plant to meet stricter resource consent requirements and to better cope with peak flows during wet weather.

    Once the upgrades are finished, six of the nine plinths will hold two Membrane-Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) tanks, two aerobic tanks and two anoxic tanks.

    The other three plinths will support future tanks that can be installed later to enable future population growth in the area.

    The upgrades are on track to be completed by the middle of next year.

    Watercare head of wastewater Jonathan Piggot says having MABR tanks and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology integrated into the treatment process will result in cleaner water being discharged into the Hōteo River and surrounding environment.

    “The MBR and MABR technology are very efficient in removing organic matter and nutrients.

    “This is largely thanks to microorganisms (bugs) which work on our behalf; we just create the right conditions for them.

    Watercare cements the concrete foundations and plinths to support the state-of-the-art upgrades at the Wellsford Wastewater Treatment Plant.

    “Any pathogens that pass through the membranes face ultraviolet disinfection, ensuring high-quality wastewater discharge.”

    Watercare capital delivery general manager Suzanne Lucas says the layout of the upgraded plant utilises modular design principles, where each part will be built separately and joined together at the treatment plant.

    “Opting for a modular design for the upgrade allows us to incorporate existing infrastructure into the new build, reducing construction time and cost.

    “It also provides greater flexibility to scale up and update technology to meet future needs and accommodate population growth.”

    Lucas says over March the MABR tanks will be lifted into position and the work for installing the supporting and mechanical electricals will get underway on site.

    “Over the next couple of months, we’ll also have crews on site installing a new inlet pump station, a new dosing area, control building and new outfall pipeline. 

    “Traffic management will be in place approximately 300 metres on either side of the entrance on State Highway 1, around 2.5km outside of Wellsford, to allow for the high number of trucks and vehicles that will be coming in and out of the site.

    “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to increase the plant’s capacity and ensure its long-term sustainability.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Chilean Nationals Charged Following Nationwide Burglaries Of Several Professional Athletes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the  unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Pablo Zuniga Cartes (24, Chile), Ignacio Zuniga Cartes (20, Chile), Bastian Jimenez Freraut (27, Chile), Jordan Quiroga Sanchez (22, Chile), Bastian Orellano Morales (23, Chile), Alexander Huiaguil Chavez (24, Chile), and Sergio Ortega Cabello (38, Chile) with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

    According to the complaint, the individuals were members of a South American Theft Group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the country. These individuals targeted high-profile athletes in the National Football League (“NFL”) and National Basketball Association (“NBA”), all of whom were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries. These individuals stole valuables worth over $2 million.    

    On October 5 and 7, 2024, in the Kansas City area, the homes of two Kansas City Chiefs football players were burglarized and jewelry, watches, cash, and other luxury merchandise was taken. The October 7 burglary occurred while the team played in Kansas City, Missouri.

    As detailed in the complaint, in Tampa on October 21, 2024, the home of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was burglarized while the team played in Tampa. Jewelry, designer watches, a luxury suitcase, and a firearm were stolen.

    On November 2, 2024, the Wisconsin home of a Milwaukee Bucks player was burglarized during a game in Milwaukee. A safe containing several watches, chains, personal items, jewelry, and cash was stolen, along with a designer suitcase and designer bags. The total value of property stolen was approximately $1.484 million.       

    The below photograph depicts Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and a fourth individual posing with the stolen safe and jewelry taken shortly after the theft:

    On December 9, 2024, the Cincinnati home of a Cincinnati Bengals player was burglarized while the team played Arlington, Texas. Designer luggage, glasses, watches, and jewelry valued at about $300,000 was stolen. Sergio Ortega Cabello rented a vehicle used in the burglary. 

    Between the late afternoon on December 19, 2024, and the early morning of December 20, 2024, the Tennessee home of a Memphis Grizzlies player was burglarized while the team played in Memphis, Tennessee. Jewelry, watches, and luxury bags valued at about $1 million were stolen. 

    A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Patrol, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Shelby County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, the Indian Hill (Ohio) Police Department, the Leawood (Kansas) Police Department, the River Hills (Wisconsin) Police Department.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious transnational criminal organizations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 52-Month Prison Sentence for a D.C. Convicted Felon Who Traveled to the Jersey Shore to Rob an Overnight Pharmacy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON – Ashawntea Henderson, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. to 52 months in federal prison for participating in an early morning robbery of a drug store at the Jersey Shore. During the May 2020 robbery, he and his co-conspirators jumped the counter, overpowered the night pharmacist, stole thousands of prescription narcotics, and then – as they attempted to flee to the District – crashed into a responding police cruiser.

               The sentencing was announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Driscoll of the Newark Field Office.

                Henderson pleaded guilty on October 30, 2024, to interference of commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery). In addition to the 52-month prison sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Henderson to serve three years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, Henderson and his co-conspirators researched potential targets including Walgreens and CVS pharmacies which were open all night. On May 9, 2020, Henderson and others drove more than 200 miles from Washington, D.C. to a Walgreens Pharmacy on State Road 33, in Neptune, New Jersey.

    At 3:09 a.m., Henderson and two others dressed in masks and gloves entered the Walgreens. All three jumped over the pharmacy counter and demanded codeine, Adderall, and Percocet. One of the co-conspirators grabbed the night pharmacist, demanded that he open the locked cabinets containing additional pills, and forced the pharmacist to assist them. After grabbing thousands of prescription medicines – including Oxycodone, morphine, amphetamine, and Nucynta – Henderson and the two co-conspirators fled in a black Nissan Altima operated by a fourth co-conspirator. At one point, the Nissan collided with a responding police officer’s patrol car but continued at high speed back to Washington D.C.

    After returning to the District, as they celebrated at a hotel, one of the co-conspirators received a text from a known drug distributor asking the price for a drug of the same type stolen from Neptune, New Jersey. The co-conspirator and the drug distributor continued to exchange texts about the sale of drugs for the following weeks.

               Henderson is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Maryland in connection with his 2022 possession of a firearm. 

               The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Neptune Township Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by AUSAs Justin Song, Sarah Martin and Cameron Tepfer.

    23cr190

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tres Avery Davis, 36, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Davis admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2023, Davis delivered approximately 2,000 blue pills containing fentanyl to a Kemp Avenue residence in Charleston. Law enforcement seized the pills at the residence on March 9, 2023. Davis admitted that he intended to distribute at least some of these pills to other people.

    Davis is among 31 defendants convicted of federal crimes as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.

    Davis dealt directly with a fentanyl supplier and personally acquired fentanyl pills for redistribution as part of his role in the DTO. Davis also recruited a co-conspirator to act as a courier to transport fentanyl pills from Columbus, Ohio, to Charleston, West Virginia.

    Davis also distributed methamphetamine as part of his role in the DTO.  He was responsible for 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine that were seized from a location in Charleston, and performed several methamphetamine transactions during the course of the investigation.  Davis admitted that he sold methamphetamine in one-half pound to one pound quantities. 

    Davis has a long criminal history that includes more than a dozen prior convictions for such offenses as being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, distribution of cocaine base, possession of a controlled substance, and domestic battery.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department..

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Utah Man Accused of Bank Robbery in Custody

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City after he allegedly robbed two banks on two different days in Salt Lake County.  

    Robert Buckley Hardy, 47, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was originally charged by complaint on February 7, 2025, and taken into custody.

    According to court documents, Hardy, entered a Chase Bank in Cottonwood Heights on January 30, 2025, at approximately 3:17 p.m. Hardy allegedly asked the bank teller if an appointment was necessary and was told no. Hardy then handed the teller a manila envelope with several documents and left the bank. The documents referenced several United States and government actions regarding money laundering, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and corruption. One document also stated, “assume that this is an active bomb threat.” One document read, “I need $2001 for it to be considered a felony and get the un-kompromised FBI bank robbery division to respond.”

    Court documents allege, on February 6, 2025, Hardy entered a Chase Bank in Salt Lake City at approximately 2:04 p.m. Hardy allegedly told the teller it was a robbery and gave the teller various manila envelopes with documents inside and a typed note that read, “poor people steal because they are hungry. Rich people steal because they are greedy.” The note also said, “I need this evidence chain in the hands of the FBI bank robbery division and the local and federal police.” The note read, “please stuff at least $2001 into the bag for me. And make certain the FBI gets this.” The teller complied and gave Hardy $2001.00.

    Surveillance footage from the investigation and a Utah Driver’s License photo identified Hardy. Hardy was taken into custody without incident.

    Hardy is charged with bank robbery. His initial appearance on the indictment is February 21, 2025, at 11:45 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.  

    The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal felon pleads guilty to committing drug and gun crimes while still on supervised release

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A federal felon, still on supervision for a 2012 conviction, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four federal felonies concerning drug and gun crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Barry Tremain, 58, of Gold Bar, Washington, was found with guns and drugs on two different occasions in May 2024. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead scheduled Tremain’s sentencing for May 22, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, on May 7, 2024, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle Tremain was driving for a traffic violation. Tremain attempted to flee but was apprehended. Officers found Tremain with methamphetamine, scales, and $16,000 cash. In the car deputies found a 9mm handgun and additional methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and three cell phones. Tremain was taken into local custody and released a short time later.

    Tremain was on supervision for a 2012 conviction for drug and firearms crimes, so federal probation visited Tremain’s Gold Bar residence on May 15, 2024. Tremain was found to have a .44 caliber revolver and additional methamphetamine. He had a drug ledger and more than $10,000 in cash.

    Tremain pleaded guilty today to two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Tremain is prohibited from possessing firearms due to 2012 convictions for three counts of distribution of heroin, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

    The drug charges are punishable by up to 40 years in prison and the gun charges are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Whitehead after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors.

    The case was investigated by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Probation.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.  

    MIL Security OSI –