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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone joins 198 colleagues in bipartisan push to save Job Corps centers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined 198 of his colleagues in signing a bipartisan letter to Trump’s U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department to reverse its decision to shut down Job Corps centers across the country. The letter calls on the Trump administration to preserve this critical program that helps young people build skills and secure stable employment.

    “Trump’s economic legacy is already marked by layoffs, chaos, and rising prices. Now he’s pulling the ladder up on the next generation at the very moment our economy needs more skilled workers. That’s why I’ve joined this bipartisan effort to fight back and save Job Corps. I’ll keep working to protect investments that help people get ahead,” Pallone said of the letter.

    The bipartisan letter emphasizes that nearly 20,000 young people nationwide rely on Job Corps to build vocational skills in fields like manufacturing, shipbuilding, and business services. With more than 120 centers nationwide, Job Corps provides one of the only targeted workforce development pipelines for Americans aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed – helping them access apprenticeships, higher education, and careers that fuel the country’s economic growth.

    The lawmakers warn that shutting down these centers would undermine both local communities and national workforce needs, particularly as industries seek skilled labor to meet growing demand.

    A copy of the letter to Trump’s Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone, Neal, Wyden Release Latest CBO Estimates Showing 16 Million People Will Become Uninsured from Republican Health Agenda

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    16 Million Will Become Uninsured Because of Republican Legislation, Including Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits

    House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a statement following a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing 16 million people will lose coverage from the Republican reconciliation plan, including their failure to extend premium tax credits that Americans use to buy affordable health insurance. 

    “The Republican health agenda is all about making it harder to get health care,” the leaders said. “Every step of the way, this abomination of a bill creates barriers and mazes designed to demoralize and discourage Americans as they try to get affordable health care. The results of this cruel system are clear: millions will lose coverage, health care costs will go up for all Americans, and tens of thousands will die. 

    “Everybody will be affected by the disastrous Republican bill. Despite Republican propaganda, Americans need to know that the bill’s thicket of red tape and increased out-of-pocket costs in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will fall especially hard on working families, including those with children, caregivers, Americans with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses. Republicans continue to repeat lies about the devastating harms of this bill, because without those lies the only conclusion that can be reached is that this bill is morally bankrupt. 

    “Republicans must be held responsible for the consequences of not extending health care tax credits that middle class Americans use to buy health insurance on their own. Their bill extends hundreds of tax policies that expire at the end of the year. The omission of this policy will cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance and will raise premiums on 24 million Americans. The Republican failure to stop this premium spike is a policy choice, and it needs to be recognized as such. Between this choice and other harmful policies in their legislation, Republicans are effectively dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Americans do not want to go back to the days where health care was reserved for the healthy and the wealthy, where insurance companies had free rein to discriminate against sicker or older Americans.”

    The letter from CBO can be found here.

    CBO’s score of H.R. 1 can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Pushes for Stronger Consumer Protections from Robocalls, Robotexts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Warns that Republicans’ reconciliation bill, AI loopholes are undermining fight against scams

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, warned today that New Jersey residents remain vulnerable to scams perpetrated through robocalls and robotexts despite progress in passing tough federal protections against robocalls.

    At an Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing, Pallone called for stronger laws to combat the evolving tactics scammers now use, including artificial intelligence (AI) and spoofing. He also slammed Republican efforts to defund key consumer protection agencies that enforce robocall and robotext laws.

    “New Jerseyans know all too well how relentless and dangerous these robocalls and robotexts have become,” Pallone said. “They target seniors, small businesses, and families across our state – trying to steal personal information and hard-earned money. I’ve led this fight in Congress for years, and it’s clear we need to do more in the face of AI.”

    Pallone authored the landmark TRACED Act, signed into law in 2019, which strengthened the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to crack down on illegal robocalls. It also required phone carriers to implement call authentication technology and expanded enforcement tools.

    But despite that progress, scammers are adapting fast. Americans received more than 52 billion robocalls in 2024—nearly 200 calls per adult—and robotext scams are rapidly increasing, targeting consumers with fraudulent links and fake messages.

    “In New Jersey, seniors are particularly at risk from these scams – phony Medicare calls, texts claiming to be from grandchildren in distress, or fake law enforcement threats. It’s infuriating, and we have to stay ahead of the scammers,” Pallone said.

    Pallone is pushing to update the TRACED Act to cover robotexts, impose additional penalties against robocalls and texts that use AI to trick consumers, and ensure consumers can access robocall-blocking technology at no extra cost. But he warned that Republican efforts to slash funding for the FCC and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) threaten to roll back enforcement – right as AI-powered scams surge.

    He also criticized House Republicans for supporting a 10-year moratorium on state enforcement of state AI laws, which would block adoption of innovative efforts by New Jersey and other states to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts.

    “We can’t allow Big Tech loopholes and budget cuts by Republicans and the Trump Administration to undermine the fight against scams. New Jerseyans deserve real protection and I’m going to keep leading this fight,” Pallone said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Leads New Bill to Block RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Agenda

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Legislation Would Take Politics Out of Medicine and Hold Reckless Leaders Accountable

    Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, hold Trump Administration officials accountable, and protect children and expectant mothers from vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”

    “Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK, Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr. ‘s peddling of conspiracy theories.”

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.

    For months, RFK, Jr. ’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.

    Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk. 

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by: 

    Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:

    • This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.

    Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:

    • This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.

    Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:

    • This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

    Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:

    • This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, American College of Physicians, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.

    Read the full bill text HERE and a section-by-section summary HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Los Angeles mayor announces curfew in downtown area

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

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday evening that the second largest city in the United States has imposed a curfew in the downtown area from local time 8:00 p.m. (0300 GMT Wednesday) to 6:00 a.m. (1300 GMT) Wednesday.

    The curfew would cover about 1 square mile, Bass said.

    She said that the local authorities imposed the limited curfew in response to looting and vandalism that occurred downtown Monday night, following largely peaceful daytime protests.

    The curfew exempts residents of the designated area, homeless individuals, credentialed media and public safety or emergency officials, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

    Bass announced the curfew as protests against raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stretched into the fifth day, with local media reporting demonstrators surged onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic in both directions, shortly before the order was issued. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Almada rescues 10-man Argentina in 1-1 draw against Colombia

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

    Thiago Almada struck late as Argentina salvaged a 1-1 home draw against Colombia in their FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

    Liverpool forward Luis Diaz gave the visitors the lead against the run of play when he cut inside from the left wing and skipped past three defenders before coolly firing a shot past Emiliano Martinez.

    The host was forced to play the last 25 minutes with 10 men after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Kevin Castano.

    Despite its numerical disadvantage, Argentina continued to dictate terms and pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

    Lyon midfielder Almada put his side on level terms nine minutes from time by receiving Exequiel Palacios’ pass and advancing into the box before drilling a low effort into the far corner.

    Reigning World Cup champion Argentina, which is already assured of a place at football’s showpiece tournament next year, remains top of South America’s qualifying group with 35 points, 13 ahead of sixth-placed Colombia.

    The top six teams earn direct entry to the World Cup while the seventh-ranked side advances to a playoff.

    Argentina will meet Venezuela and Ecuador in its last two qualifiers in September while Colombia will confront Bolivia and Venezuela.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • PM Modi hails 11 years of infra revolution, calls it foundation for self-reliant India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the massive infrastructure transformation that has taken place over the past 11 years, calling it a cornerstone of India’s growth and self-reliance.

    In a post on X, PM Modi said, “It’s been 11 Years Of Infra Revolution, with outstanding infrastructure being added that has enhanced India’s growth trajectory. From railways to highways, ports to airports, India’s rapidly expanding infra network is boosting ‘Ease of Living’ and enhancing prosperity.”

    The prime minister added that the country’s focus on next-generation infrastructure is rooted in sustainability and long-term planning. “It is laying the foundations of a self-reliant India,” he said.

    The PM outlined key aspects of this transformation, including the development of modern highways and ropeways, the unlocking of India’s maritime potential, and affordable air travel under the UDAN scheme. He also pointed to major upgrades in the rail sector, such as the rollout of Vande Bharat trains, the launch of the Amrit Bharat Express, and the modernisation of stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme.

    The BJP-led NDA government has completed 11 years in office, with infrastructure projects being a key focus of its development agenda. PM Modi, who assumed office on May 26, 2014, has described this period as a “transformative decade of development.”

    In celebration of this milestone, the government has been highlighting achievements across sectors — with infrastructure at the forefront as a symbol of India’s march towards becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Spectris plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: Jupiter Fund Management Plc
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)   Name of Offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Spectris plc
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 10th June 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 No

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 5p ordinary
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 833,599 0.84%    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives: 109,247 0.11%    
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 942,846 0.95%    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: None
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: None

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    5p ordinary Sale 23,454 32.101453

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    5p ordinary CFD Closing a long position 262,761 32.101453
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
    NONE        

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    None      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 11thJune 2025
    Contact name: Claire Rodway
    Telephone number: 0203 817 1441

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers is a start, but Australia and its allies must do more

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Whyte, Scientia Associate Professor of Philosophy and ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Sydney

    The Australian government is imposing financial and travel sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers: Itamar Ben-Gvir (the national security minister) and Bezalel Smotrich (finance minister).

    This is a significant development. While Australia has previously sanctioned seven individual Israeli settlers, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are the most high-profile Israeli nationals to face such sanctions.

    Civil society organisations have long called for sanctions against these ministers and others in the Israeli cabinet.

    Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong previously rebuffed such calls by saying that “going it alone gets us nowhere”. These latest sanctions have been imposed by a coalition of five states: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

    A joint statement by the foreign ministers of these countries says Ben Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.”

    Explaining the sanctions further, Wong told ABC Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are the “most extreme proponents of the unlawful and violent Israeli settlement enterprise”.

    A history of violent statements

    There is no doubt both men are extremists.

    Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for Israel’s police force, was convicted of racist incitement in 2007.

    As national security minister, he has handed out thousands of assault rifles to West Bank settlers. He has also boasted he’s worsened the “abominable conditions” of Palestinian prisoners.

    Smotrich has overseen a dramatic expansion of unlawful settlements in the West Bank. He’s vowed to annex the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.

    He has also complained no one would allow Israel “to cause two million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned.”

    Last month, he argued that “until the last hostage is returned, we should not even be sending water” to Gaza.

    The joint statement by the foreign ministers explains Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been sanctioned for “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.

    The statement notes these measures “cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza”. However, it also goes on to express “unwavering support for Israel’s security” and vows to “continue to work with the Israeli government”.

    It does not note that the International Court of Justice has found Palestinians in Gaza are facing a plausible risk of genocide.

    Nor does it make clear Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are not bad apples; they are integral members of the far-right Israeli government that is responsible for the destruction of Gaza and the starvation of its people.

    Indeed, just this week, a UN independent fact-finding commission report found Israel was committing the “crime against humanity of extermination” in Gaza, among other war crimes.

    What are Magnitsky sanctions?

    Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have been sanctioned under Australia’s Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011. This act grants the foreign minister broad discretionary powers to impose sanctions.

    In 2021, the Australian government amended this act to allow the government to impose sanctions on specific “themes”, such as:

    • serious violations or serious abuses of human rights
    • threats to international peace and security
    • activities undermining good governance or the rule of law, including serious corruption.

    These targeted sanctions on human rights abuses are often called “Magnitsky-style sanctions” after the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in custody after exposing serious corruption in Russia. They enable a government to freeze the assets of and impose travel bans on individuals and specific entities, not just countries.

    Since coming into force, Australia has imposed the Magnitsky-style sanctions on numerous Russian military leaders, members of Myanmar’s junta, and the commander in chief of the Iranian Army.

    But Australia does not only sanction individuals from these countries. It also imposes country-wide sanctions on Russia, Myanmar and Iran.

    These broader sanctions restrict all trade in arms, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, as well as spare parts and accessories.

    Australia can – and should – do more

    The Australian Centre for International Justice, which had lobbied the government to sanction Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, welcomed the decision. It called it:

    an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to upholding international law and human rights.

    But the centre’s acting executive director, Lara Khider, stressed the need for further concrete action. This includes “the imposition of a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel”.

    Indeed, sanctions are not just political or diplomatic tools that states can apply at their discretion. International law can require states to apply sanctions, such as through a resolution of the UN Security Council.

    Last July, the International Court of Justice declared that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, including its imposition of a regime of racial segregation, is unlawful.

    In that advisory opinion, the court also clarified the legal obligations of all states concerning Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Such obligations include the duty on all states to “take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation”.

    Nothing less than a two-way trade and arms embargo is adequate now. Just as Australia imposes such sanctions on Russia, Myanmar and Iran, it must do the same for Israel.

    Jessica Whyte receives funding from the Australian Research Council. With Sara Dehm, she co-authored a submission to the 2024 inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime which criticised Australia’s failure to impose sanctions on the state of Israel.

    Sara Dehm receives funding from the Australian Research Council. With Jessica Whyte, she co-authored a submission to the 2024 inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime which criticised Australia’s failure to impose sanctions on the state of Israel.

    – ref. Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers is a start, but Australia and its allies must do more – https://theconversation.com/sanctioning-extremist-israeli-ministers-is-a-start-but-australia-and-its-allies-must-do-more-258688

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2024 Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Ranking Released

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To assist the public to select vehicles of high energy efficiency, the Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, not only publishes monthly information online on the fuel efficiency of newly certified models, but also compiles these data annually into the “Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide”. To further encourage the public adoption of energy-saving and carbon-reducing electric vehicles, the “2024 Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide” also includes energy efficiency information of electric vehicles that have been tested and certified (please refer to the electric-vehicle pages).

    The top three vehicles in each fuel-saving vehicle ranking (non-electric) category in the 2024 Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide are shown below:

    Among passenger cars, the top three are all hybrid vehicles: Honda FIT A522H1502 1498c.c. A1 5D, LEXUS LBX HYBRID 1490c.c. CVT 5D and TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 2487c.c. CVT 4D, where the Honda FIT A522H1502 1498c.c. A1 5D manufactured by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., ranks first with a fuel economy of 26.9 km/L.

    Among commercial vehicles, the top three are TUCSON NX4H-C 1598c.c. A6 5D, TUCSON NX4H-A 1598c.c. A6 5D and CITROEN BERLINGO VAN (XL) 1499c.c. A8 5D (diesel), where the TUCSON NX4H-C 1598c.c. A6 5D manufactured by Sanyang Motor Co., Ltd., ranks atop the list with a fuel economy of 21.1 km/L.

    Among motorcycles (tested by “Fuel Economy Test Method for Motorcycles”), the top three are all from the HONDA SUPER CUB series, where the HONDA SUPER CUB 109.5c.c. M4 imported by RON-LI SUPER MOTORS CO., LTD., takes the top spot with a fuel economy of 95.9 km/L.

    According to the Energy Administration, to maximize energy-saving and carbon-reducing results for vehicles, it is important to not only carefully choose energy-saving vehicles but also to keep good driving habits and maintain vehicles in good conditions, such as reducing vehicle load, accelerating and decelerating smoothly, maintaining proper tire pressure and avoiding periods long idling. These are all effective ways of improving fuel economy.

    The Energy Administration also clarified that the energy efficiency values published in the 2024 Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide were measured under standardized laboratory conditions. In real world driving, fuel economy may be affected by various factors such as weather, road and traffic conditions, usage of air conditioning and individual driving habits. Therefore, the actual number of kilometers traveled per liter of gasoline (or diesel) or kilowatt-hour of electricity may be lower than the values shown in the Guide.

    The “2024 Vehicle Fuel Economy Guide” has been published on the Energy Administration’s official website (https://www.moeaea.gov.tw), and welcome to download. For some specific vehicle models, please visit the following website (https://auto.itri.org.tw) and click on the “Vehicle Energy Efficiency Inquiry” or “Energy Efficiency for Electric Vehicles”.

    Spokesperson: Deputy Director General, Chih-Wei Wu
    Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
    Phone Number: 02-2775-7750
    Mobile: 0922-339-410
    Email: cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw

    Business Contact: Director, Shu-Fang Kao
    Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
    Phone Number: 02-2775-7773
    Mobile: 0918-400-668
    Email: sfkao@moeaea.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • India’s infrastructure sees rapid progress in last decade as capex surges: FM Sitharaman

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s infrastructure has seen rapid progress in the last decade, as capital expenditure surged from Rs 2 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 11.21 lakh crore in 2025-26 – a significant six times increase towards the ‘Viksit Bharat’ goal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday.

    “India’s Infrastructure has seen rapid progress in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Allocation for capital expenditure at its highest-ever at Rs 11.21 lakh crore during FY2026,” FM Sitharaman said in a post on X.

    “A leap of more than 860 per cent in budget allocation for road transport to Rs 3+ lakh crore. Four times surge in Metro Rail Network from just 248 KM in 2014 to 1011 KM in 2025,” she added.

    Finance Minister further stated that from Atal Tunnel to Chenab Bridge, India’s engineering feats are transforming its landscape.

    “These marvels exemplify PM Modi’s vision for a modern, connected and prosperous Bharat,” said FM Sitharaman.

    According to her, India’s push for next-gen infrastructure is powered by sustainability and long term vision.

    “It is laying the foundations of a self-reliant India,” said the Finance Minister.

    The government was poised to surpass its revised capital expenditure (capex) target of Rs 10.18 lakh crore for FY25 by a modest margin.

    The capex target was lowered to Rs 10.18 lakh crore (revised estimates) in the Union Budget 2025-26, from Rs 11.1 lakh crore. For current fiscal (FY26), a capex allocation of Rs 11.21 lakh crore has been set by the government.

    According to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian economy will continue to be the world’s fastest-growing economy backed by the increase in the government’s capital expenditure in the Budget for 2025-26 and rising consumption levels, especially in the rural areas.

    The effective capital expenditure works out to 4.3 per cent of the GDP in the Budget for 2025-26 while the fiscal deficit is 4.4 per cent.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

    Aspect Drones/Shutterstock

    Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases spread by mosquitoes. Each year, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected and half a million people die from the disease.

    While mainland Australia was declared malaria-free in 1981, from time to time travellers return to Australia with an infection.

    Infections from local mosquitoes are incredibly rare. However, last week two cases of locally acquired malaria were reported in the Torres Strait.

    So what does this mean for local communities? And is this a risk for mainland Australia?

    What is malaria?

    Unlike other mosquito-borne disease, malaria is caused by protozoan parasites, not viruses. These parasites belong to the Plasmodium genus. While five of these parasites are considered a human health concern, Plasmodium falciparum poses the most serious threat.

    Symptoms can be mild and include fever, chills and headache. But sometimes people develop severe symptoms, such as fatigue, confusion, seizures and difficulty breathing.

    Without appropriate medical care, the disease can be fatal. Those most at risk of life-threatening illness include infants, children under five years, pregnant women and patients with HIV and AIDS.

    How does it spread?

    Malaria parasites are spread by the bite of a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite.

    Not all mosquitoes can carry the parasite. The group of mosquitoes responsible for most malaria transmission is called Anopheles. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, which are typically associated with the spread of viruses, don’t transmit malaria to people.

    The Anopheles group of mosquitoes play an important role in transmitting malaria parasites.
    Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology), CC BY-NC-ND

    While there are medications available to prevent malaria, and these are routinely recommended to travellers, this is not a sustainable approach for communities within regions at risk. The cost of medications, as well as the risk parasites may develop resistance to medications over time, are barriers for routine use in high risk countries.

    Alternative strategies include using insecticide-treated bed nets and controlling mosquitoes by spraying insecticide on and around homes. Early diagnosis and treatment of those suspected to have an infection is also crucial.

    ‘Imported’ versus ‘locally acquired’ infections

    There is an important distinction between “imported” and “locally acquired” cases of malaria.

    “Imported” cases mean the person has been infected overseas and returned to Australia, where they’ve been diagnosed and treated. These cases appear in official statistics but are not the result of local mosquito bites.

    “Locally acquired” cases are where a person is infected without any overseas travel. These cases often result from the parasites first introduced into Australia by infected travellers. The travellers are then bitten by local mosquitoes that go on to bite and spread the pathogens to people who haven’t travelled.

    The last locally acquired malaria outbreak in mainland Australia occurred in 2002, when ten people were infected in Far North Queensland.

    When this happens, it indicates local mosquitoes are carrying the malaria parasites and there is a significant risk further infections have occurred (but are not yet diagnosed) or may be diagnosed in the near future. Mosquito control or other initiatives are required to prevent larger outbreaks.

    In the case of the Torres Strait, there is also the risk infected mosquitoes are transported, either by wind or boats, from Papua New Guinea.

    So, what’s happening in the Torres Strait?

    Queensland Health is currently investigating two recent cases of locally acquired malaria on Saibai Island.

    But cases of locally acquired malaria aren’t unusual in the Torres Strait. They’re often suspected to be linked to movement of people into the islands from PNG, a country that reports more than a million suspected cases of malaria each year.

    Previous locally acquired malaria cases in the Torres Strait were reported in 2023. Before that, a single case was reported in 2013 and eight cases in 2011.

    The tropical climate of the Torres Strait and presence of Anopheles mosquitoes means conditions are right for local spread once the parasites are introduced, either through infected mosquitoes or people.



    Read more:
    Torres Strait Islanders face more than their fair share of health impacts from climate change

    Could malaria spread to mainland Australia?

    Since the 1980s, there have only been a small number of cases reported on mainland Australia. The majority are in travellers returning to Australia who were infected overseas.

    Historically, malaria cases were reported in many parts of the country, especially in the 1940s, including suburbs around Sydney when soldiers infected overseas returned to Australia.

    The mosquitoes capable of spreading the parasites then are still present today. While the most important malaria mosquito in Australia, Anopheles faurati, is limited to northern regions of coastal Australia, Anopheles annulipes is widespread across much of the country.

    But just because the mosquitoes are there, it doesn’t mean there will be an outbreak of malaria.

    The parasite needs to be introduced and it needs to be warm enough for it to complete its life cycle in local mosquitoes. The cooler it is, the less likely that is to happen, even if suitable mosquitoes are present.

    The parasites also face additional challenges. Infected people need to be bitten by local Anopheles mosquitoes, not just any mosquitoes. And with modern health-care systems in Australia, untreated sick people are less likely to be exposed to mosquito bites.

    Malaria is one of the mosquito-borne pathogens considered at risk of increasing as a result of climate change. But there are many other factors at play that will determine future outbreak risk in mainland Australia, especially outside the tropical north of the country, such as a changing climate and seasonal changes in numbers and types of mosquitoes.

    How to stay safe

    The most important way local communities and visitors to the Torres Strait can stay safe is to avoid mosquito bites.

    Cover up when possible with long-sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes and apply an insect repellent.

    Insect screens, whether on buildings or in the form of bed nets will also provide protection overnight.



    Read more:
    Mozzies biting? Here’s how to choose a repellent (and how to use it for the best protection)

    Cameron Webb and the Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology and University of Sydney, have been engaged by a wide range of insect repellent and insecticide manufacturers to provide testing of products and provide expert advice on medically important arthropods, including mosquitoes. Cameron has also received funding from local, state and federal agencies to undertake research into various aspects of mosquito and mosquito-borne disease management.

    – ref. Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia? – https://theconversation.com/malaria-has-returned-to-the-torres-strait-what-does-this-mean-for-mainland-australia-258289

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU students received support from the Rosmolodezh grant competition

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The results of the first season of the Rosmolodezh.Grants grant competition have been summed up. Students of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University became winners with five projects, receiving funding for a total of 2.5 million rubles.

    The All-Russian competition of youth projects “Rosmolodezh.Grants” is held by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and is aimed at supporting initiatives implemented by citizens of the Russian Federation aged 14 to 35. The winners of the first season of the competition in 2025 were five students of SPbPU. The projects cover a wide range of areas: from environmental education and engineering training to scientific volunteering, educational forums and socio-cultural initiatives.

    Alexandra Kuznetsova — project “Educational module on designing and constructing a geodome from recycled polymers”

    The project will include an educational course on separate waste collection and recycling in the Polytech Tower. The plastic recycling equipment, which the students assembled themselves, can be used to make various products from recycled polymers. Usually, these are souvenirs, but the project team has set an ambitious goal: to assemble a geodome from recycled plastic, which will be an addition to the Tower’s summer space next year. The project introduces plastic recycling processes in a visual and interactive form using compact equipment similar to industrial equipment. This creates a logical chain from packaging submitted for recycling to the finished product.

    Anna Melnichuk and the PCPS student club – the project “Autumn school “SPARK””

    The initiative of the PCPS (Polytechnic Club of Physical Students) club is an educational project aimed at 1st-2nd year students of physical and technical fields. The SPARK school is dedicated to the topic of building a career path in science. The event will include lectures and master classes from invited speakers – scientists from the Polytechnic University and other scientific institutions. They will talk about their own path in science, share practical advice, and also conduct classes on developing soft skills: writing a resume, a motivation letter, a scientific article, finding a scientific supervisor and other important aspects of a scientific career.

    Tatyana Tkachuk — the project “Forum of Case Clubs”

    The Case Club Forum is an event aimed at creating a space and favorable conditions for the exchange of ideas and experience between members of student associations promoting the case method in their activities. The project includes a seminar called “Case Club Forum”. The goal of the event is to create a space for the exchange of competencies and experience, allowing for improved communication between associations and the development of joint activities for the further promotion of the case method. Representatives of existing case clubs in St. Petersburg and Moscow will be invited to participate in the forum!

    Alexander Merkuriev – the project “Vaccination is impossible to remain silent”

    The project “Vaccination is not possible to remain silent” is aimed at educating young people about the safety and effectiveness of vaccination. During open lessons in schools in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, young specialists in biology and medicine will tell students from different classes about our immunity, the composition and production of modern vaccines, and myths about the dangers of vaccination. All these and many other questions will be discussed in class after a popular science lecture on the topic.

    Daria Khadjaridi – “Black Bear School” project

    “Black Bear School” is a five-day intensive course in sports management. Over the course of five days, experts will talk about lectures on SMM, photography, video, event organization, and working with partners. The intensive course will be useful for anyone who wants to learn something new in the field of sports media – whether you are a beginner or a pro, because the intensive course is divided into categories by level of training.

    The grant competition has been held since 2005 and is aimed at supporting projects of young people and student associations. The competition provides financial support in the amount of 5 thousand to 1 million rubles for the implementation of socially significant projects. In the first season of 2025, more than 15 thousand applications from all regions of Russia were received for participation. The selection of projects was carried out according to the criteria of relevance, feasibility, social significance and the presence of a sustainable result.

    Support for SPbPU student projects confirms the high level of project activities at the university, as well as the active civic position of students. The university will continue to provide methodological assistance to students and youth associations in participating in such competitions, developing a culture of project thinking and social leadership.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member McCollum: House Democrats Expose How Republicans’ Defense Funding Bill Undermines Military Readiness

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

    WASHINGTON — During today’s House Appropriations subcommittee markup of the 2026 Defense funding bill, House Democrats highlighted how the bill undermines democracy at home and abroad and includes harmful policy riders that divide our nation.

    For fiscal year 2026, the bill provides $831.5 billion, which is equal to current funding levels and $1.3 billion above the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 request.

    Republicans have included language directing the Department of Defense to determine $7.75 billion in cuts to amounts listed in the bill. This jeopardizes every program other than intelligence activities. If made uniformly, it would reduce everything by approximately 1 percent, which would mean cuts of almost $2 billion for troop pay, over $2 billion for troop readiness, $409 million for health programs, $5 million each for Israel and Jordan, and over $2 billion for the procurement and modernization of weapons systems. At a time when the Trump Administration is already illegally stealing from American communities by refusing to spend funds, it is unfathomable that the Appropriations Committee would allow the administration to unilaterally make nearly $8 billion in cuts to defense investments.

    The legislation:

    • Weakens Ukraine and empowers Russia by eliminating support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
    • Undermines democracy at home and abroad by allowing disinformation and extremist views to flourish.
    • Limits women’s access to abortion by preventing service personnel from traveling to seek reproductive health care
    • Harms our military readiness with divisive provisions that undermine morale and fail to support our service personnel, by:
      • Continuing DOGE and the Administration’s cuts to vital civilian positions;
      • Attacking the LGBTQ+ community with hateful policies; and
      • Banning funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

    From Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Betty McCollum’s (D-MN-04) opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

    “The Defense Appropriations Act is an incredibly complex piece of legislation that needs to be written the right way: With the president’s budget, and with thoughtful analysis by the Department of Defense. There are consequences to not following this process. We may end up buying too many of one platform, wasting precious taxpayer dollars. We may end up buying too little of another – leaving a gap in our defense capabilities. When we do not see the budget request, we fail to maximize the buying power for the taxpayer. It is unfortunate that President Trump put us in this situation. Our service members and America’s tax paying public deserve better.”

    From Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT-03) opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

    “Rather than working with House Democrats to strengthen our national security and prioritize the issues that matter most to our men and women in uniform, House Republicans are abandoning our allies, undermining democracy at home and abroad, and failing to support our servicemembers. Despite broad support in Congress for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion, they empower Vladimir Putin by failing to include $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The majority’s bill holds the door open for disinformation created by America’s enemies rather than allowing the Department of Defense to counter the threat, allowing extremism and propaganda to proliferate across the Internet and media landscape. The bill continues House Republicans’ attacks on the right of women to seek an abortion, and the rights of minorities to be protected from discrimination, while destroying the Department’s efforts to build a more inclusive, effective, and modern military. And the bill weakens the Department by continuing the Administration’s reckless and indiscriminate cuts to vital civilian personnel, and yielding to DOGE and Elon Musk.”

    A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Defense bill is here. A fact sheet of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Standing Committee on Appropriations Calls for Urgency in Dealing with Municipal Debt to Eskom


    Download logo

    The Standing Committee on Appropriations has urged Eskom to collaborate closely with the National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to ensure that there is full municipal cooperation in the implementation of the Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) programme.

    The power utility briefed the committee today regarding the Eskom Debt Relief Bill. The committee expressed deep concern over Eskom’s increasing debt levels and that the power utility continues its trajectory towards unsustainable indebtedness.

    The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mmusi Maimane said: “When we examine the various pieces of legislation under consideration by this committee, it is undeniable that Eskom remains a pivotal component. The state of Eskom’s liquidity, along with serious concerns raised by municipalities around debt servicing are critical factors, especially in light of the appropriations made to Eskom.”

    Mr Maimane said he feared that Eskom will be heavily indebted despite being in receipt of the Eskom Debt Relief Bill. The committee further said the lack of urgency in addressing underperforming and financially distressed municipalities, many of which are unable to service their debts to Eskom, is a major contributor to Eskom’s debt burden.

    The committee also highlighted that Eskom was not doing enough to curb the ‘ghost tokens’ in the pre-paid electricity segment and the failure to address it has contributed to significant revenue losses.

    Furthermore, the committee recommended that the power utility needs to ensure that it deals decisively with acts of sabotage carried out by its own employees. The committee cautioned that that the power utility needs to begin exploring ways to harness its own energy sources and not rely on independent power producers as this process can easily be influenced by political forces.

    The committee called on Eskom to urgently implement decisive reforms to address inefficiencies, improve governance, enhance revenue collection, and safeguard its infrastructure.

    The committee will tomorrow, 11 June receive a briefing from the City of Johannesburg and the City of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipalities on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Museveni and the First Lady Renew their National Identity Cards


    Download logo

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady also Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni have this afternoon participated in the ongoing mass registration and renewal exercise of the National Identity cards at State Lodge, Nakasero.

    The project is being implemented by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the renewal exercise was efficiently conducted by a team from the authority, led by the Executive Director, Ms. Rosemary Kisembo.

    The registration of citizens is regarded as a crucial component of national security, ensuring that every individual is accounted for within the nation’s identity framework. Enhanced biometric technology associated with these ID cards provides a reliable and unalterable means of establishing identity.

    This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening national identity systems and fostering socio-economic transformation.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON JOINS BIPARTISAN CHARGE TO SAVE JOB CORPS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) joined Congressmen Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Brett Guthrie (KY-02), the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Job Corps Caucus, in a letter signed by 199 members of Congress—Democratic and Republican—to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to continue the Job Corps program.

    On May 29, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice that it will begin a phased pause in operations at contractor-operated Job Corps centers across the country. Job Corps is a national program with over 120 centers across the country. Job Corps offers at-risk youth varied academic opportunities and career pathways in business and industry.

    In their letter, they highlighted, “Nearly 20,000 young people utilize Job Corps to learn skills for in-demand vocational and technical job training. Job Corps is one of the few national programs that specifically targets the 16-24-year-old population that is neither working, nor in school, and provides them with a direct pathway into employment openings in industries such as manufacturing and shipbuilding. The program also connects these young Americans with apprenticeships, higher education opportunities, or the military.”

    The members of Congress also noted, “As companies continue to onshore and invest in the men and women of our country, a steady stream of skilled laborers will be required to meet the growing workforce demand. The Job Corps program is uniquely positioned to fill that role and provide these hardworking young Americans with the vocational and technical job training that will set them and our country up for success.”

    The Jun. 5 letter to Secretary Chavez-DeRemer can be viewed here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • US envoy says he does not think Palestinian state is US policy goal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Washington’s ambassador to Israel said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remains a U.S. foreign policy goal, prompting the State Department to say he spoke for himself while the White House referred to past comments from President Donald Trump expressing doubts about a two-state solution.

    “I don’t think so,” U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said in an interview with Bloomberg News published on Tuesday, when asked if a Palestinian state remains a goal of U.S. policy.

    Asked about Huckabee’s comments, the White House referred to remarks earlier this year by Trump when he proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the U.N. as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”

    The White House also referred to remarks by Trump from last year before he won the 2024 election when he said: “I’m not sure a two-state solution anymore is going to work.”

    Asked whether Huckabee’s remarks represented a change in U.S. policy, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on Tuesday, saying policy-making was a matter for Trump and the White House.

    “I’m not going to explain them or really comment on them at all. I think he certainly speaks for himself,” Bruce told reporters.

    Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, is a staunch pro-Israel conservative.

    “Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it,” Huckabee was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. Those probably won’t happen “in our lifetime,” he said.

    Trump, in his first term, was relatively tepid in his approach to a two-state solution, a longtime pillar of U.S. Middle East policy. Trump has given little sign of where he stands on the issue in his second term.

    Huckabee suggested a piece of land could be carved out of a Muslim country rather than asking Israel to make room. “Does it have to be in Judea and Samaria?” Huckabee said, using the biblical name the Israeli government favors for the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where some 3 million Palestinians live.

    Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, has been a vocal supporter of Israel throughout his political career and a longtime defender of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

    Trump has pursued strongly pro-Israel policies as president and his choice of Huckabee as ambassador signaled that they would continue.

    The United States has for decades backed a two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians that would create a state for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies.

    U.S. ally Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza’s entire population and causing a hunger crisis. The assault has also triggered accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Underwood’s Bipartisan Baby Changing on Board Act Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Lauren Underwood’s bipartisan legislation that would require new Amtrak trains to be equipped with baby changing stations in all restrooms, the Baby Changing On Board Act (H.R. 248), has passed the House with unanimous support. The legislation is co-led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

    Amtrak serves millions of families as a reliable and affordable transportation option, but many trains still lack basic facilities such as baby changing stations, creating unnecessary challenges for parents and caregivers. Under the Baby Changing on Board Act, Amtrak would utilize existing funds to install baby changing stations in new train cars, making sure all trains meet a minimum service standard for family amenities.

    “Parents and caregivers shouldn’t have to worry about whether there’s a safe, clean place to care for their kids while traveling,” said Rep. Underwood. “I am so pleased that this legislation has passed the House and is now one step closer to becoming law. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation is a practical and necessary step to make sure families have access to the amenities they need on Amtrak.”

    The Baby Changing on Board Act represents a significant step forward for families, especially those undertaking long journeys on Amtrak routes. By ensuring new trains are equipped with basic, family-friendly facilities, this legislation promotes a more inclusive and accessible travel experience for parents and caregivers nationwide.

    The Baby Changing on Board Act is supported by leading organizations, including A Better Balance, MomsRising Together, and the National Women’s Law Center.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Underwood Delivers Remarks at Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Markup to Highlight How Republican Funding Bill Undermines Veterans’ Benefits and Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON—During today’s House Appropriations full committee markup of the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) delivered the following remarks: 

    “Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill we are considering today. 

    Our veterans are heroes who have given so much to our country. Their sacrifices can never be fully repaid, but the least we can do is to provide them with high-quality healthcare and other benefits they are entitled to. 

    When they come home, they deserve to know that the country they fought for is going to deliver on its promises. 

    And today, we have the opportunity to keep those promises—but unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle have chosen to join the Trump Administration in turning their backs on veterans.  

    To start, this bill takes a page right out of the Project 2025 playbook by wasting billions of taxpayer dollars to privatize veterans’ medical care—even though this approach will only lead to higher costs, longer wait times, and more barriers to care.  

    So while this Committee could be investing in vital, VA-based care that is consistently preferred by veterans and outperforms private community care, House Republicans have written a bill that will raise costs AND lower the quality of veterans’ care. This is unacceptable.  

    If that wasn’t bad enough, let’s talk about the PACT Act.  

    I was proud to support this historic, bipartisan expansion of health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances like burn pits and Agent Orange.  

    Since its passage, the VA has delivered new PACT Act-related disability benefits to more than 1.4 million veterans and over 14,000 survivors of veterans who died of a toxic exposure-related illness.  

    The PACT Act was a promise: if you put your life on the line for this country, we will take care of you. 

    But this bill breaks that promise by failing to provide guaranteed advance funding for the PACT Act’s Toxic Exposure Fund.  Advance funding provides the certainty the VA needs to plan for and deliver consistent high-quality care for our veterans who were subjected to toxic exposures.  

    And it doesn’t stop there. This bill is packed with the same cruel, performative policy riders we see year after year. As a nurse, I believe health care is a human right—including the full range of reproductive health care services. But this bill blocks the VA from providing abortions or even abortion counseling.  

    It would force many of our veterans—like countless women across this country since the disastrous Dobbs decision—to wait till they are on their deathbeds to receive essential health care. It’s extreme, it’s deadly, and it’s anti-veteran. 

    The bill also underfunds military construction by $904 million, delaying critical infrastructure needs that are vital to our military readiness. That hurts recruitment, worsens the quality of life for servicemembers and their families, and undermines our national security.  

    But perhaps most alarming – this bill FAILS to stop the Trump Administration’s dangerous, unconstitutional effort to dismantle the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

    So far, the Trump Administration has illegally fired thousands of VA staff that support critical services like processing claims benefits and keeping the Veterans Crisis Line running, and they have cancelled more than 500 contracts.  These cuts have interrupted veteran services and threatened the future of critical research from cancer treatments to suicide prevention.   

    And this is just the beginning.  

    Donald Trump’s VA Secretary has said publicly that the Administration’s goal is to reduce the agency’s staff by 15 percent –that’s 80,000 fewer professionals working to keep our promises to those who have served this country and many future generations of veterans left behind.  

    Already I have heard from veterans in my District about the distress caused by these impending cuts. At my most recent town hall, one veteran who has sought mental health care at the VA since the 1970 shared his concerns about the future of his care in midst of these impending cuts.  

    Another constituent of mine reached out via email and shared that “veterans that use the center for mental health issues are having anxiety attacks over the issues at the VA.” This is the real cost of the Administration’s decisions.  

    And instead of standing up for our veterans, my Republican colleagues have written a bill that rubber stamps the Administration’s illegal and cruel acts.  

    For all these reasons and more, I cannot support this bill.  

    Our veterans deserve better. They deserve a Congress that honors their service—not just with words, but with action.  

    They deserve a fully funded VA, access to comprehensive health care—including reproductive care—and a government that keeps its promises.  

    I ask my colleagues across the aisle to do the right thing, stand up for veterans, and reject this misguided bill.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Crow Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Americans’ Private Data from Cyberattacks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced new bipartisan legislation to better protect Americans’ private medical data from cyberattackers. 

    Cyberattacks targeting Americans’ medical data have increased in recent years. In 2021, 46 million Americans had their health information breached as a result of a cyberattack, a threefold increase in three years. These cyberattacks often knock health systems offline, creating a backlog of unpaid claims and threatening patients’ access to care. Findings suggest that, as a result of these attacks, patients’ data may have been leaked on the dark web in the process. 

    Congressman Crow’s Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would help safeguard Americans’ private medical data by requiring greater coordination at the federal level to ensure that government agencies stand ready to respond to the increasing threat posed by cyberattacks. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) joined Congressman Crow in introducing this legislation. The bill was also introduced in the Senate by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Todd Young (R-IN)

    “As technology advances, we must do more to protect Americans’ sensitive data,” said Congressman Crow. “That’s why I’m leading bipartisan legislation to strengthen our defenses and protect families from cyberattackers.”

    “Cyberattacks on our healthcare system endanger more than data—they put lives at risk. I’ve long worked to strengthen our nation’s cyber defenses where Americans are most exposed, from small businesses to hospitals. This bipartisan bill takes direct, strategic action: empowering CISA and HHS to coordinate real-time threat sharing, expanding cybersecurity training for providers, and establishing a dedicated liaison to bolster response. We’re not just responding to attacks—we’re building the infrastructure to prevent them, protect patient privacy, and defend a vital pillar of our national security,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

    The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would specifically require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate on improving cybersecurity in both the health care and public health sectors. It would create a liaison between CISA and HHS to coordinate responses to cyberattacks, and would authorize cybersecurity training to all relevant personnel. The bill would also require CISA and HHS to conduct a study on specific cybersecurity risks facing the health care and public health sectors.

    Congressman Crow has long worked to strengthen America’s cybersecurity defenses, and previously introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act in the 117th and 118th Congress. He also previously introduced the SBA Cyber Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) cybersecurity to handle and report cyber threats that affect small businesses.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Periodic announcement on the acquisition of the Bank‘s own shares and its results (week 6)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    This announcement contains information on transactions of the acquisition of own shares of AB Artea bankas (the Bank) carried during the period specified below under the Bank’s own share buy-back programme announced on 30 April 2025. 

     

    The period during which the acquisition of the Bank’s own shares under the programme was carried out – 05.05.2025 – 10.06.2025. 

     

    Period covered by this periodic report – 09.06.2025 – 10.06.2025. 

     

    Other information: 

    Transaction overview 

    Date 

    Total number of shares purchased on the day ( units) 

    Weighted average price (EUR) 

    Total value of transactions (EUR) 

    2025.06.09

    100,000

    0.855

    85,499.35

    2025.06.10

    40,000

    0.858

    34,320.00

    Total acquired during the current week 

    140,000

    0.856

    119,819.35

    Total acquired during the programme period 

    2,540,000

    0.876

    2,225,741.28

     

     

     

     

     

    The Bank’s own bought-back shares: 12,997,749 units.  

     

    Following the above transactions, the Bank will own a total of 13,137,749 units of own shares representing 1.98 % of the Bank’s issued shares. 

     

    Further detailed information on the transactions is attached. 

     

    This information is also available at: www.artea.lt   

     

    Additional information:
    Tomas Varenbergas
    Head of Investment Management Division
    tomas.varenbergas@artea.lt, +370 610 44447

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget CEO Gracy Chen Featured in Coindesk’s Top 50 Women in Web3 and AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company is excited to share that Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, has been featured in CoinDesk’s 2025 list of the Top 50 Women in Web3 and AI, an esteemed recognition that celebrates influential leaders shaping the future of digital finance and technology. The annual list accumulates leaders across blockchain, crypto, and artificial intelligence who are advancing innovation and inclusion in emerging tech sectors.

    Among the top ten honorees, Chen stands alongside industry luminaries such as Daniela Amodei of Anthropic, Anima Anandkumar of Caltech, Teana Baker‑Taylor of Venice.ai, MIT’s Regina Barzilay, Hedera’s Betsabe Botaitis, Société Générale’s Stéphanie Cabossioras, Trust Wallet’s Eowyn Chen, BlackRock’s Samara Cohen, Coinbase’s Emilie Choi, and Delphine Forma from Solidus Labs along with forty other exceptional women.

    Compiled through a rigorous and inclusive process, the list was curated by CoinDesk’s editorial team in consultation with a diverse panel of women leaders from organizations including Google, Spotify, and the Association of Women in Crypto. Over 300 nominations from around the world were evaluated, with finalists chosen for their innovation, influence, and relevance in shaping Web3 and AI’s next chapter.

    Chen stands out not only as the sole woman CEO among the top 10 global crypto exchanges, but also as the leader behind Bitget’s global growth. Since taking over the role of CEO in May 2024, she has steered the platform through a phase of accelerated growth. Under her leadership, Bitget has grown its user base from 20 million to over 120 million users globally, placing it firmly among the top three exchanges by trading volume worldwide.

    Her tenure has been marked by a strategic shift that broadened Bitget’s offerings well beyond derivatives. Today, the platform features world-class capabilities in spot trading, a thriving Launchpad and Launchpool ecosystem, AI-powered copy trading, asset management tools, and a widely adopted self-custody wallet through Bitget Wallet. Chen also plays an active role in expanding institutional relationships and securing high-impact partnerships that deepen Bitget’s footprint across key markets.

    Outside of product and business development, Chen has made social responsibility a strong pillar of her leadership agenda at Bitget. She leads a $10 million Blockchain4Her (B4H) initiative, which was started to address gender equity in the blockchain industry. The initiative focuses on supporting women builders, developers, and entrepreneurs through education, funding, mentorship, and access to the global Web3 ecosystem. As a delegate to the UN Women CSW conference, Chen also brings critical Web3 perspectives to global discussions on gender and technology. Her background spans over a decade of experience in investment, entrepreneurship, and tech leadership.

    Gracy Chen’s inclusion in CoinDesk’s Top 50 Women in Web3 and AI reflects her accomplishments in scaling Bitget into a multi-dimensional Web3 platform, and her growing influence in shaping a more inclusive future for the crypto industry.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab3a5db6-f6a0-4390-aaf9-6c59a2705c6a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese auto giants cut payment cycle to within 60 days

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

    This photo taken on March 26, 2025 shows a vehicle during a launch event of Chery in Prague, the Czech Republic. Chinese automaker Chery has officially launched four new models of its OMODA 5 and JAECOO 7 in the Czech market. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A batch of Chinese automakers announced that they would shorten payment terms to their suppliers to within 60 days starting Tuesday evening.

    As of the morning of Wednesday, 10 major auto manufacturers — including BYD, China FAW Group, Seres Group, Geely Auto, and Chery — had officially pledged to implement the new 60-day payment cycle. 

    According to the automakers, the move is expected to boost cash flow efficiency across the automotive industry chain, support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and safeguard the stability of the broader industrial ecosystem.

    The auto heavyweights also described the decision as a proactive response to the newly revised regulation on ensuring timely payments to SMEs issued by the State Council and coming into force on June 1. 

    The revision addresses long-standing issues in market practice such as excessively lengthy payment cycles, unclear accountability, and insufficient regulatory oversight.

    Notably, Article 9 of the regulation stipulates that large enterprises procuring goods, projects, or services from SMEs must settle payments within 60 days of delivery unless otherwise agreed upon in accordance with industry standards and customary practices.

    In addition, the regulation prohibits “back-to-back” payment clauses that tie supplier payments to the progress of third-party payments, closing a loophole that has long delayed receivables for smaller suppliers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nanjing elevates biomedicine industry to new heights

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

    China SCIO | June 11, 2025

    Eastern China’s Nanjing is committed to making the biomedicine industry one of its leading industrial clusters, as part of the city’s efforts to foster new quality productive forces, a city official said Monday.

    Nanjing Biotech and Pharmaceutical Valley. [Photo provided to China SCIO]

    Wu Gang, deputy head of the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, said that Nanjing benefits from rich educational and industrial resources, which provide a strong foundation for the development of biomedicine and biopharmaceutical industries.

    Data shows that the city is home to four specialized colleges and over 20 key universities offering related programs. Each year, more than 60,000 graduates in the city complete their studies in biomedicine, ranking among the top in China.

    In addition, Wu said that the city has developed a complete industrial chain in the biomedicine sector, integrating education, research, industrialization, and clinical application.

    Nanjing has been hard at work to upgrade its biomedicine industry. In 2020, it introduced several key policies including a five-year plan for biomedicine industry development and an action plan for building a biomedicine industry cluster. These policies have provided comprehensive support for high-quality growth, with specific measures to foster R&D innovation, facilitate technology transfer, streamline regulatory approvals, and ensure talent development.

    The efforts have paid off. In 2024, Nanjing’s biomedicine industry generated over 210 billion yuan (US$29.25 billion) in revenue, up 5% from the previous year. Additionally, Nanjing now hosts 1,032 high-tech biomedicine enterprises and 35 national-level “little giant” firms, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that use specialized and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. 

    At the core of this success is the Nanjing Biotech and Pharmaceutical Valley (NJBPV), a biopharma industrial park located in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. Established in 2011, NJBPV is home to over 1,300 life sciences companies, including five listed firms and 53 cutting-edge SMEs.

    A lab at biopharmaceutical company IASO Bio. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    “The valley focuses on gene and cell therapies, innovative drugs, and high-end medical devices,” said Yang Tao, deputy director of the Life and Health Industry Development Management Office of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. He added that over 400 drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies in the valley have already received market approval in China.

    Yang also noted that Nanjing Jiangbei New Area encourages these pharmaceutical companies to expand their footprint by providing tailored support regarding operational needs, regulatory requirements, and market entry challenges.

    For instance, IASO Bio, located in NJBPV, is a leading biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative cell therapies. The company reached a milestone in recent months by delivering to a resident in Hong Kong its flagship CAR-T therapy , a cutting-edge cancer treatment, according to Zhang Jinhua, the firm’s founder and CEO. 

    The therapy requires strict time control when transporting the patient’s blood samples to IASO Bio for the production of CAR-T cell therapy drug, which was then delivered across the border to Hong Kong. Zhang said that after learning about the company’s needs, Nanjing Jiangbei New Area worked with local customs authorities to streamline clearance procedures, reducing delivery time to under 30 hours for blood samples and 144 hours for the final cell products.

    “After successfully establishing a cross-border delivery channel through Hong Kong, we’re now applying to expand this model to more regions and countries,” Zhang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, 27 Colleagues Slam Republican Plan to Rescind Over $1 Billion in Federal Funding for Local Public Broadcasting Stations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 27 of their U.S. Senate colleagues in slamming a Republican attempt to rescind $1.07 billion in already-allocated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds local public broadcasting stations across the country.  The $1.07 billion represents 100% of CPB’s funding through September 2027. This move follows President Trump’s executive order directing cuts to federal funding for PBS and NPR.
    “Following the White House’s request to rescind $1.07 billion in federal funding for CPB, we write to express our strong opposition to any rescission of funding for public broadcasting and prohibitions of direct and indirect funding to the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio,” the senators wrote. “This funding is essential to the functioning of the public media system and the communities they serve, and any cuts in funding would have detrimental effects on local stations, which rely on this funding to provide critical services to millions of Americans across the country. Public broadcasting is an essential service that should be protected, not decimated. For this reason, we request that you prioritize maintaining and continuing funding for CPB.”
    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supports over 1,500 local public television and radio stations that provide free, high-quality programming to millions of households across America. It provides young children who don’t get the chance to attend preschool with educational content that helps them learn to read; airs highly trusted nightly news programming; and shares critical public safety information during emergencies. Local public television stations also provide extensive coverage of local government and elections and host candidate debates, helping Americans stay connected with their elected leaders. Because public television and radio relies heavily on federal funding to operate, particularly in rural communities, losing this funding would force many of these stations to reduce much of their programming or, in some cases, close their doors.
    U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Dear Majority Leader Thune,
    Federal investment in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) supports over 1,500 local and regional public television and radio stations that provide free, high-quality programming to millions of households across the country. Following the White House’s request to rescind $1.07 billion in federal funding for CPB, we write to express our strong opposition to any rescission of funding for public broadcasting and prohibitions of direct and indirect funding to the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio, as outlined in the Executive Order titled, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media” released on May 1, 2025. This funding is essential to the functioning of the public media system and the communities they serve, and any cuts in funding would have detrimental effects on local stations, which rely on this funding to provide critical services to millions of Americans across the country.
    Our public broadcasting system is a unique American institution that is deeply embedded in our communities and a critical source of lifesaving public safety services, accurate information, and educational programming. The vast majority of the federal funding CPB receives is allocated to local radio and television stations across the country. These cuts will have an immediate and significant impact for stations in rural communities that heavily rely on CPB funding to provide critical services and could likely result in the elimination of programming or outright closure of stations in areas already faced with limited connectivity.
    According to Northwestern University, 55 million people in the United States have no or only one source of local news, and rural counties are far more likely to lose their local news outlets. This number could increase if the two-year advance appropriation for public media is not upheld, resulting in the drastic reduction or complete elimination of free, high-quality local programming. This is especially concerning given the importance of public broadcasting during public emergencies, such as natural disasters, transportation accidents, national security threats, or public safety matters. CPB funds are essential to ensuring that the broadcast infrastructure remains robust and operational in disaster situations, especially scenarios in which local public broadcasters serve as the only source of information for those who need a lifeline. Any cuts in funding will have drastic consequences for communities in need.
    And there is much more to their public safety services in addition to the critical local information they broadcast. Public television’s interconnection technology, which connects local public television stations to PBS, is also one of the backbone pathways for the delivery of our nation’s Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) services – enabling cell phone subscribers to receive geotargeted emergency text alerts no matter where they are in the country. A cut to public broadcasting funding would put this lifesaving service and its nationwide footprint at risk.
    Public television has also pioneered cutting edge technology that helps first responders communicate with each other over the broadcast spectrum without the need for mobile service or broadband. This datacasting technology and public television’s public safety partnerships is already helping with early earthquake warning and has been proven effective in a wide range of scenarios where broadband or cellular service are limited, including rural search and rescue, overwater communications, large event crowd control and more. But this is only possible if stations serving rural and remote areas with limited broadband are healthy and continue operating as they are today.
    On the education front, public television’s early childhood education services ensure that every family has access to high-quality, non-commercial educational content regardless of their ability to pay for such services. This is essential for over 50 percent of three and four-year old children who do not attend formal preschool.
    If funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is eliminated or rescinded, the impact would be devastating. Millions of people across the country whose stations rely on CPB funding for a significant percentage of their budget would be at risk of losing access to public television’s services. These are services that nobody else in the media world is providing, but it’s exactly the work for which public broadcasting was created, and they are delivering to our communities every day. 
    Public broadcasting is an essential service that should be protected, not decimated. For this reason, we request that you prioritize maintaining and continuing funding for CPB. We appreciate your consideration of this request and thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haiti Sees Record Displacement as 1.3 Million Flee Violence

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva/Port-au-Prince, 11 June 2025 – Nearly 1.3 million people are now internally displaced in Haiti, a 24 percent increase since December 2024, according to a recently published Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This surge represents the highest number of people displaced by violence ever recorded in the country.

    “Behind these numbers are so many individual people whose suffering is immeasurable; children, mothers, the elderly, many of them forced to flee their homes multiple times, often with nothing, and now living in conditions that are neither safe nor sustainable,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. “We need to act urgently. The strength of the Haitian people is humbling, but resilience cannot be their only refuge. This crisis cannot become the new normal.”

    While Port-au-Prince remains the epicentre of the crisis, gang violence is spreading beyond the capital. Recent attacks in the Centre and Artibonite departments have forced tens of thousands more residents to flee, many now living in precarious conditions and makeshift shelters. Although nearly a quarter of all internally displaced people are still living in the capital, increasing numbers of people are fleeing to other parts of the country in search of safety. In the North, the number of people forced from their homes has grown by nearly 80 per cent.

    In the Artibonite department, violence in Petite Rivière alone has driven thousands more from their homes, bringing the total number of displaced people in the area to over 92,000. In the Centre department, the situation is even more alarming. Fighting in towns like Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau has more than doubled the number of people on the move in just a few months, rising from around 68,000 to over 147,000. Many now face life without access to health care, schools, and clean water, leaving already vulnerable families struggling to survive.

    As more people are forced to flee, the number of spontaneous displacement sites is also rising. Since December, these sites have jumped from 142 to 246. The sharpest increase is in areas that previously had none, like the Centre department, which now hosts 85 sites. Yet around 83 per cent are sheltering with host families, placing enormous strain on already overstretched households, especially in rural communities.

    IOM continues to play a leading role in the humanitarian response. In the past month, the Organization assisted over 20,000 people with essential household items such as buckets and cooking utensils, distributed over 3 million litres of clean water, and provided basic health services to 6,000 people. Additionally, IOM has reinforced its mental health support, reaching over 8,500 displaced people. IOM teams are currently deployed in the Centre department to assess the multisectoral needs and prepare the response.

    As needs grow, IOM reiterates its call to the international community to scale up support. Without immediate funding and access, millions remain at risk.  Humanitarian assistance is essential, but alone it is not enough. Sustainable solutions must address the root causes of displacement, improve access to essential services, and create viable alternatives to gang violence for youth. These measures are critical to breaking the cycle of violence and restoring stability.

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Calvert Votes to Provide Historic Tax Relief for Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

    Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) issued the following statement after voting to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “I promised voters that if they sent me back to Congress, I would fight to keep their taxes low – and that’s exactly what this One Big Beautiful Bill does. The passage of the bill will prevent the looming tax increase that would be the largest in our nation’s history. Job growth, take-home pay, and economic opportunities hit historic highs following the passage of the 2017 tax cuts. This bill extends and expands those pro-worker and pro-family policies.

    To support American workers, the bill eliminates federal income taxes on tips and overtime. To support retirees, the bill includes new tax relief for seniors. To support families, the bill increases the state and local taxes (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000 as well as extends and expands the child tax credit that Republicans doubled in 2017. To support job creators, the bill expands and makes permanent the small business deduction and allows 100% immediate expensing.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill includes resources that will allow the Trump Administration to solidify the tremendous progress made in securing our border by completing the southern Border Wall and investing in our Border Patrol. To secure America and support our military, the bill will allow the Defense Department to acquire ships, aircraft, and other essential weapons systems as well as invest in the innovation entities within the Department focused on deploying vital capabilities in a time frame of relevance.

    I have made it clear throughout this process that I would not support cuts to Medicaid for seniors, children, mothers, and the disabled. The One Big Beautiful Bill protects these populations and does NOT cut Medicaid for seniors, children, mothers, and the disabled. The bill makes NO changes to Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ benefits.

    The changes to Medicaid strengthen the program by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill ensures federal tax dollars are not used to provide Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants through new immigration status check rules. The bill also implements sensible 20-hour per week work requirements – which can be satisfied through either employment, volunteering, or education – for able adults without children under 65 years of age. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the only individuals estimated to lose Medicaid benefits because of the bill are illegal immigrants, ineligible recipients who will lose coverage due to better enforcement of eligibility rules, and able adults without children who refuse to satisfy the new work requirements. These are reasonable, responsible Medicaid reforms that protect the most vulnerable as well as taxpayers.”

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lofgren Statement on Trump Administration’s Deployment of CA National Guard in Los Angeles, CA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

    SAN JOSE, CA – Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) released the following statement after the Trump Administration deployed California’s National Guard in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles, California: 

    “Trump’s unwarranted and unwise deployment of California’s National Guard over the objections of California officials is likely intended to inflame the situation. It’s not a surprise that when masked and armed ICE agents deployed across communities arresting working people, parents, and neighbors there would be objections. This was aggravated when, as he was peacefully protesting, union leader David Huerta was pushed by ICE, injured, and then arrested. Many of us, observing Trump’s authoritarian bent, have been concerned that he would look for some excuse to seize control from civilian authorities. Our citizen soldiers, members of California’s National Guard, should not be abused in this way. But given Trump’s view of soldiers as “ losers,” he obviously doesn’t care that these volunteers have been called away from their jobs and families for no good reason other than creating a scene and potentially creating an environment where violence and disorder may be stimulated.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Indecent assault and burglary – Parap

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Police are calling for information after an indecent assault and burglary that occurred in Parap overnight.

    Around 11:40pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a female had been indecently assaulted while she slept in her residence. It is alleged that she woke to a naked male indecently assaulting her.

    The victim was able to push the offender off her before he fled the scene, allegedly stealing a camera in the process.

    Police attended and the victim described the offender as being approximately 20 years of age, slim build, with dark skin and approximately 180cm to 185cm tall.

    The NT Police Force Sex Crimes Section have carriage of the incident and investigations are ongoing.

    Detectives urge anyone with information about the incident to contact 131 444 and quote reference number P25156934. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –