NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Economics: World Environment Day: Join Samsung Care for Clean India to Repair, Recycle, and Reduce E-Waste

    Source: Samsung

     
    Every year, the world observes World Environment Day with a shared resolve to protect our planet. At Samsung, we believe this day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action. One of the most urgent yet often overlooked environmental challenges of our time is electronic waste (e-waste).
     
    Sustainability Begins with Awareness and Action
    At Samsung, sustainability is not just a goal, but a responsibility. We are committed to raising awareness about the environmental impact of e-waste and empowering people with simple yet powerful actions that make a difference.
     
    Through our Samsung Care for Clean India initiative, we are creating a circular ecosystem for responsible e-waste management. We collect discarded electronics and ensure they are disposed of through government-authorized recyclers—safely, ethically, and sustainably.
     
    Repair, Don’t Replace: A Smart, Responsible Choice
    This year, we are going one step further. We are not just asking people to recycle, but to rethink how we consume.
     
    One simple yet impactful choice is opting for mobile screen repair instead of replacing the entire device. Our screen repair services are designed with sustainability at their core: they reduce the need for new raw materials, extend your device’s usage, and reduce the amount of e-waste generated.
     
    See how screen repair is a responsible choice – Watch the video
     

     
    When you choose to repair, you’re not just saving money—you’re reducing e-waste.
     
    This World Environment Day, Be Part of the Solution
     
    Every small action counts. Whether it’s repairing a cracked screen, recycling an old phone, or spreading the word—your choices matter.
     
    Here’s a message from your old electronics – Watch the video
     

     
    This World Environment Day, we invite you to join us in building a cleaner, more sustainable future. Let’s pledge to reduce e-waste, support responsible consumption, and care for the only planet we call home.
     
    Together, we can turn awareness into action—and action into lasting impact.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand, Markey Slam Republican Plan To Rescind Over $1 Billion In Federal Funding For The Corporation For Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Ed Markey led a group of 29 senators 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,” wrote the senators. “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.

    In addition to Senators Gillibrand and Markey, the letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).  

    The full text of the letter is available here or 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 USA: Crapo, Mullin, Kelly, Cramer Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Broadband Connectivity in Rural America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) introduced the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require proper contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF) from edge providers and broadband providers.  Requiring edge providers to cover associated costs for rural fiber networks will reduce the financial burden on consumers and rural providers while strengthening broadband connectivity throughout rural America.

    “Idahoans rely heavily upon broadband technology,” said Crapo.  “Addressing the ‘digital divide’ in broadband deployment between rural and urban or suburban areas will ensure communities, regardless of size, can access the necessary connection for modern life.”

    Currently, more than 100,000 households in Idaho lack access to broadband internet, according to the U.S. Census.  On Idaho’s tribal lands, more than 83 percent of residents cannot connect to high-speed internet.

    “Fair contributions to the USF from edge providers are long overdue,” said Mullin.  “Video streaming services account for 75 percent of all traffic on rural broadband networks.  However, unrecovered costs from streaming companies are often shifted and borne by small rural broadband providers.  Available, affordable internet will close the digital divide and increase telehealth, educational and employment opportunities for those who previously went without.  Rural Oklahomans deserve the same connectivity as those living in urban areas.”

    “In an interconnected world, high-speed internet access is part of our daily lives–from scheduling a doctor’s appointment to keeping in touch with family,” said Kelly.  “This bipartisan bill will have big corporations contribute to the expansion of affordable high-speed internet in areas that desperately need it.” 

    The Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act would:

    • Direct the FCC to reform the USF by expanding the base so that edge providers and broadband providers contribute on an equitable and nondiscriminatory basis to preserve and advance universal service.
    • Limit assessments of edge providers to only those with more than three percent of the estimated quantity of broadband data transmitted in the United States and more than $5 billion in annual revenue. 
    • Direct the FCC to adopt a new mechanism under the current USF high-cost program to provide specific, predictable and sufficient support for expenses incurred by broadband providers that are not otherwise recovered.
    • Limit the FCC’s authority over edge providers and broadband providers only to requiring contributions to the USF.

    Full text of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025 can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Whitehouse, colleagues demand answers from Justice Dept. on decision to shutter specialized unit for cracking down on global drug crime

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and several of their colleagues sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi questioning the Department of Justice’s plan to end the successful Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. 

    “As the Department’s website notes, OCDETF ‘is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation.’ OCDETF oversees coordination of thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to implement a national strategy to dismantle transnational drug cartels, the financial networks that support them, and the flow of drugs from these cartels into the United States,” wrote the senators.

    The OCDETF program is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. In just the past two months, OCDETF resources have been used to secure prison sentences for two individuals operating a clandestine fentanyl lab in South Carolina and to take down three prolific Chinese money launderers who have pled guilty to laundering tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. Many OCDETF investigations target the cartels’ financial networks, an often-overlooked component of the U.S. strategy to combat drug-trafficking organizations. In Fiscal Year 2023, OCDETF investigations resulted in forfeitures and seizures totaling more than $423 million. 

    Reporting from Bloomberg revealed that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the OCDETF program, including its support for specialized investigators and prosecutors. Such a decision would kneecap America’s ability to dismantle cartels trafficking illicit fentanyl.

    “We seek to fully understand the Department’s plans to cease OCDETF operations. We also seek to ensure that the federal government continues to have a coordinated strategy for working with state and local stakeholders to investigate and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations operating in, or financing the operations of organizations that operate in, the United States,” added the senators.

    The senators requested answers to the following questions by June 13, 2025:

    1. How many cases has OCDETF led, or supported with funds, intelligence, or other resources, that disrupted fentanyl traffickers’ production, distribution, financing, or money laundering networks?
    2. Does the Department intend to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations?  If so, please specify how. 
    3. If the Department intends to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations:
      1. Why is the department choosing to cease or significantly reduce OCDETF operations?
      2. How will the department ensure that ongoing OCDETF investigations and prosecutions continue uninterrupted?
      3. According to GAO, “OCDETF cases must have a financial component” to facilitate the targeting of financial networks underpinning drug trafficking organizations. How will the Department ensure that OCDETF-enabled inter-agency coordination on investigations into the financial networks of fentanyl traffickers and transnational criminal organizations continues uninterrupted?
      4. How will the department ensure that federal, state, and local law enforcement relying on OCDETF’s Fusion Center intelligence products are not hampered by a cessation or reduction of OCDETF operations? 
      5. Does the department intend to designate another entity to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of transnational criminal organizations, unrelated to low-level offenders?  If so, which entity?

    In addition to Senators Coons and Whitehouse, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

    The text of the letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs New Law Supporting Home Ownership for Colorado Educators

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed SB25-167 – Invest State Funds to Benefit Communities, sponsored by Senators Judy Amabile and Lisa Frizell, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Meghan Lukens. This law helps expand access to housing for teachers, increasing homeownership and supporting Colorado schools by providing down-payment assistance and expanding housing opportunities that educators can afford. 

    “We are taking big steps to reduce housing costs and breaking down barriers to home ownership for people across the state. This new law is another step in the right direction, and I’m proud to sign it today, helping more educators get housing they can afford , allowing teachers to live in the communities they choose, and supporting Colorado children in the classroom. I thank the sponsors for their work to tackle housing costs,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed: 

    • SB25-122 – Extending Organ & Tissue Donation Fund, sponsored by President James Coleman and Senator Cleave Simpson, and Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Regina English
    • HB25-1013 – Department of Corrections Visitation Rights, sponsored by Representatives Regina English and Jennifer Bacon, and President James Coleman and Senator Tony Exum 

    Governor Polis signed the following bills into law administratively: 

    • SB25-017 – Measures to Support Early Childhood Health, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Iman Jodeh, and Representatives Junie Joseph and Yara Zokaie. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-036 – State Patrol Bonding Exception, sponsored by Senators Marc Catlin and Marc Snyder, and Representatives Sheila Lieder and Ty Winter. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-070 – Online Marketplaces & Third-Party Sellers, sponsored by Senators Larry Liston and Dylan Roberts, and Representatives Ryan Armagost and William Lindstedt. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-075 – License to Sell Vehicles Criminal Offense, sponsored by Senator Julie Gonzales, and Representatives Cecelia Espenoza and Jennifer Bacon. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-126 – Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, sponsored by Senator Marc Snyder, and Representative Cecelia Espenoza
    • SB25-162 – Railroad Safety Requirements, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Marc Snyder, and Representatives Javier Mabrey and Elizabeth Velasco. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-163 – Battery Stewardship Programs, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Matt Ball, and Representatives Kyle Brown and Rebekah Stewart. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-173 – Revenue Classification Taxpayers Bill of Rights, sponsored by Senator Mike Weissman, and Representatives Lorena Garcia and Yara Zokaie
    • SB25-257 – Modify General Fund Transfers to State Highway Fund, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Rick Taggart. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-258 – Temporarily Reduce Road Safety Surcharge, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota. This bill is bipartisan.
      • “This bill is an important part of our work to save Coloradans money. By cutting vehicle registration fees, we are helping Coloradans keep more of their hard-earned money. This is just one piece of our efforts,” said Governor Jared Polis.
    • SB25-261 – Property Tax Deferral Program Administration, sponsored by Senators Judy Amabile and Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-286 – Petroleum Products Fees & Penalties, sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Marc Snyder, and Representative Shannon Bird. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-299 – Consumer Protection Residential Energy Systems, sponsored by Senator Katie Wallace, and Representatives Kyle Brown and Matt Soper. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-300 – Revisor’s Bill, sponsored by Senators John Carson and Mike Weissman, and Representatives Stephanie Luck and Sean Camacho. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-305 – Water Quality Permitting Efficiency, sponsored by Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Jeff Bridges, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Rick Taggart. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-306 – Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies, sponsored by Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Representatives William Lindstedt and Rick Taggart. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-316 – Auraria Higher Education Center Appropriations, sponsored by Senators Judy Amabile and Jeff Bridges, and Representatives Rick Taggart and Emily Sirota. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-319 – Modification Higher Education Expenses Income Tax Incentive, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Judy Amabile, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Rick Taggart. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1043 – Owner Equity Protection in Homeowners’ Association Foreclosure Sales, sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Jennifer Bacon, and Senator Tony Exum. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1056 – Local Government Permitting Wireless Telecommunications Facilities, sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens and Jennifer Bacon, and Senators Dylan Roberts and Nick Hinrichsen. This bill is bipartisan.
      • “This bill will help increase connectivity for Coloradans across the state by breaking down barriers. I appreciate the sponsors for their work on this new law and look forward to seeing increased service across Colorado,” said Governor Jared Polis.
    • HB25-1061 – Community Schoolyards Grant Program, sponsored by Representatives Rick Taggart and Jennifer Bacon, and Senators Judy Amabile and Barbara Kirkmeyer. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1082 – Qualified Individuals Death Certificates, sponsored by Representatives Ron Weinberg and Kyle Brown, and Senators Rod Pelton and Dafna Michaelson Jenet. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1108 – Prohibitions in Rental Agreements Due to Death, sponsored by Representatives Ron Weinberg and Javier Mabrey, and Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Jeff Bridges. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1161 – Labeling Gas-Fueled Stoves, sponsored by Representative Alex Valdez, and Senators Cathy Kipp and Katie Wallace. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1223 – Capital Needs of Rural and Frontier Hospitals, sponsored by Representatives Dusty Johnson and Meghan Lukens, and Senators Rod Pelton and Dylan Roberts. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1224 – Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Modifications, sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper, and Senator Marc Snyder. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1234 – Utility Consumer Protection, sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Junie Joseph, and Senators Faith Winter and Katie Wallace
    • HB25-1307 – Updating Technical References in Education Law, sponsored by Representatives Stephanie Luck and Michael Carter, and Senators Matt Ball and Janice Rich. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1324 – Clarify Property Tax Objection & Protest Deadlines, sponsored by Representatives Cecelia Espenoza and Stephanie Luck, and Senators Matt Ball and Marc Catlin. This is a bipartisan bill.
    • HB25-1327 – Modify Statewide Ballot Measure Processes, sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Meg Froelich, and Senator Cathy Kipp
    • HB25-1300 – Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement, sponsored by Representative Jenny Willford and Senator Cathy Kipp
    • HB25-1317 – Correct Error in Self-Pay Estimate Statute, sponsored by Representatives Brandi Bradley and Michael Carter, and Senator Tony Exum.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Speaks at Axios AI + NY Summit

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul participated in Axios AI+ NY Summit fireside chat with Ina Fried.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Ina Fried, Axios: Next up, we are joined by a governor who’s putting AI front and center of her tech policy agenda. Please welcome New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Thanks so much. First off, I think we’re both big sports fans, although I think yours are more concentrated in Buffalo than my teams.

    Governor Hochul: I love all my New York teams. All the ones that play in New York in particular.

    Ina Fried, Axios: We have a very lively crowd.

    Governor Hochul: We can annex the Meadowlands and bring them back home for anybody’s paying attention. I think I’m going to run on that.

    Ina Fried, Axios: We just have to annex the Meadowlands.

    Governor Hochul: Trump can take Canada. I should at least be able to get the Meadowlands right.

    Ina Fried, Axios: You focused a lot on bringing high tech jobs to New York, not just AI but CHIPS. I think there was another announcement today, Global Foundries is going to increase its investment by another $3 billion. Talk about those efforts, but also in the context of what’s coming with AI. I mean, if the predictions are right, we had the Anthropic founder, Dario Amodei, saying, this could be half of jobs over a few years. Is it enough to just have incentives to bring high tech jobs here? If generative AI eliminates this many jobs, is even retraining feasible? Like what do we really need?

    Governor Hochul: No, it’s all in the realm of possibility. I want New York to be the home of innovation. We always have that. All the great inventions, all the technological revolutions that proceed. IBM is home here. Micron will soon find its way here, and that’s 50,000 jobs in upstate New York. I’m from Buffalo, as you may have figured out from the first question. That’s a lot. That’s for an economy that you see based on manufacturing and building. And my dad and grandpa were steelworkers and now my dad left a steel plant and started a tech company back in the sixties.

    So I’m hardwired to be part of an economy that’s devoted to risk. The people are willing to go out there and do something that’s quite unprecedented, but also the returns are very high. So I want New York to be that place that people look to as they already are. I mean, we have over 2,000 AI startups right now, but your question is, will these new jobs of manufacturing semiconductors, for example, and others, will that replace the jobs that can be lost?

    It does not have to be that way. AI can increase productivity dramatically. So why can’t we harness that to be the most productive nation on the planet — that we can have more output and use human capital in the ways that have not been harnessed before? Because people are too busy working on an assembly line in the past. Let’s take that talent and refocus it on innovation.

    We have a workforce, for example, of over 188,000. I have a plan to train 100,000 New York State employees. Train them in the uses of AI, how it can supplement us, how we can be more responsive to the public. I’m not looking to eliminate their jobs. I want them to have a better — have people have a better customer experience when they come into a DMV or other offices.

    So I see great potential here, and I leaned hard into this. We will talk about Empire AI I presume, but this is something that’s so natural. I’m very competitive. I’m proud that New York City is now the number one destination for new tech jobs. I mean, that’s us. I won’t name any other cities or what coast they’re on.

    Ina Fried, Axios: Before I came here, I left a few AI companies in San Francisco to come here.

    Governor Hochul: Anybody not a New Yorker here? I’m just pointing it out. This is the smartest people on the planet. They’re here and they’re saying they’re New Yorkers. So, just an observation.

    Ina Fried, Axios: Obviously as a sports fan, it’s hard to beat home field advantage. So jobs is obviously one big piece of this, but another is making sure that society is ready to adapt and use it safely. I want to broaden out, but one place to start — we had a conversation with Aura, which is a startup that’s working on, how do we make this safe for kids and families? And obviously that’s something you’ve also been focused on.

    How do you see the role of AI in education? You’ve had some bills around phone use, around deep fakes among students. How do we make sure that kids are learning the technology they need to be learning, but also protected from chatbots that might increase addiction and that sort of thing. What else do we need?

    Governor Hochul: No. New York State is nation-leading when it comes to protecting our children — and I can go into the details because we enacted these last year against a lot of opposition.

    But I said to the big tech companies that were saying, “Well, we were able to kill this in some other states. We plan on killing it in New York.” I said, “Why don’t you get out of the courtroom and come into my conference room and we’ll talk about this.” There is a path forward, but I know all of you have kids.

    And I’m sure you want someone to be looking out for them. Well, I’m New York State’s first Mom Governor, and I look out for all the kids. So that’s where I approach this from is what we can do to protect our children, but not unnecessarily constrained what AI is all about and the potential.

    So we did this, but I’ll tell you what’s most concerning is what Washington did — their House Republicans just did a few days ago — and if this gets through the Senate, it says that no state or municipality can regulate any form of artificial intelligence for the next decade.

    So that means my ban on sexual exploitation of young girls on social media and using AI and the fact that there are these AI undressing sites. In the first half of 2024, there were 16 sites that had 200 million views. I mean, this is what’s going on to our kids, our girls sitting in high schools, and we have to stop that.

    And so I have a whole list of reforms — I encourage every other state to undertake it because right now I am not holding my breath that Washington will have the courage to stand up and do what’s right, which really should be a nationwide policy to protect our children. We’ll keep at it. And I’m concerned. We’ll see the Trump administration in court, once again, because — and this is a real growth industry for lawyers, right? I’m getting sued, I’m suing them, and I’m a lawyer too, I’d probably make more money on the other side, but I like what I do.

    Ina Fried, Axios: So what I hear from the tech companies all the time is, “Oh, we’re fine with regulation, we just don’t want a patchwork of regulation. We don’t want different regulations in 50 states.” Are they being genuine when they say that or do they just not want regulation?

    Governor Hochul: Well, then here’s what we’ll do. We’ll let you work with New York State as we did. We’ll be the gold standard. I was just with a room full of crypto leaders yesterday. I said, “You want to do virtual currency in New York because we’ll have the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. We always do things to make sure it’s protecting our citizens, our consumers, our viewers, and we’ll always have the highest standards. So come join us, and then you can create it here with us and other states can replicate it. So I’m happy to do that.

    As a former member of Congress — really happy I’m not there right now — I know that this is really Washington’s responsibility, because it’s hard for companies to have a different policy they have to adhere to in 50 different states. That is not ideal.

    Ina Fried, Axios: So if we don’t want 50 regulations and Congress seemingly is not gonna do anything, could you work with other states?

    Governor Hochul: Oh yeah. Yeah.

    Ina Fried, Axios: Is there efforts already in that regard there?

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, there’s a democratic governor’s organization that is more forward thinking in this space, and we do work together, we share ideas. But our legislation is just one-year-old now, and I’m sure they want to see the — our law is one-year-old, the regulations are following, so there’s a little bit of work to do. But that’s exactly what we do, we share best practices.

    Ina Fried, Axios: So as we’ve alluded to, there’s a bunch of individual policies in place in New York, laws that have passed around things like kids’ privacy, deepfake porn. One thing New York doesn’t have is a real comprehensive statewide privacy law, similar to Washington and some other states. Does New York need a privacy bill?

    Governor Hochul: We’re looking at that as well. What we focused on primarily were kids right off the bat, and even with respect to social media algorithms, we are the first state in the nation to ban social media companies from bombarding our kids with algorithms throughout the day, and really many times taking them to a dark place. I mean, if a young person is contemplating suicide and they put in “suicide” and it comes back with — not resources and support and uplifting messages to make them think differently, it tells them how to commit suicide. So when we have triggering words like that that show up, we have our police alerted to that and others who are alerted to this.

    So this is what we’re focusing on, how to send out the warning signals of what can be done. But privacy is very important to us as well. We’ll get to that, I just need to take care of the kids first.

    Ina Fried, Axios: And on that front, you mentioned social media. That’s obviously been a huge concern for a long time is the impact that’s having on our kids. It seems like the next thing down the road is AI companions, where they’re not talking to a real person, but they’re talking to an AI companion. What should that relationship — should kids not be talking to AI companions at all?

    Governor Hochul: We have in our law, and I don’t know that other states have done this, that there has to be some warning or indication over and over that this is not a real person. This is not a real person. We have that in our laws now. We did that already just to give that young person just a reality check.

    And I can’t stop the whole phenomenon from happening, but the stories that have been coming out, not just the 14-year-old in Florida who committed suicide, but the New York Times did quite a story about all the different relationships. And adults can make their own decisions, kids are very impressionable, and those are the ones that we have to take the extra measure to protect.

    And we should not get any opposition from these companies at all. I mean, tell them it’s bad for your image to be standing up against a mom and protecting kids. I mean, just don’t even go there. It’s just not worth the fight.

    Ina Fried, Axios: So every now and then, folks who have been coming to this conference for a while know, I very occasionally give out a magic wand and allow someone to— if you could wave this magic wand and have the ideal regulation in place, what would it look like? So I’m going to let you borrow — you can’t keep it — borrow my magic wand.

    If you could wave your wand and have some ideal legislation in place around how AI can be embraced safely, what would be part of that package?

    Governor Hochul: Part of that would be that there’s a lot of education of people. People do not understand this gap between virtual reality and reality, and I’m afraid that’s something that a lot of kids are falling into.

    So, I would want to make sure that all your personal information is protected. What we did last year was our Child Protection Act — you cannot sell data collected on kids, anyone under 18; you cannot amass this data based on their preferences, where they’re going — you can no longer send algorithms to them; you can no longer sell that to other people. I think that’s something adults are entitled to as well. Those are some of the privacy protections. You can’t be capturing all this personal data and monetizing it. So that’s an area I think we should be focused more on and get some cooperation from the companies.

    Ina Fried, Axios: I know you leave a bunch of the court battles to your very active Attorney General — I get emails from her on a practically daily basis of what she’s challenging the White House on. What are the things that have happened in the first few months of the Trump administration that have you personally most concerned? What are the fights that you want more people to take up?

    Governor Hochul: You do not have enough time.

    Ina Fried, Axios: We got three minutes.

    Governor Hochul: God. I mean, my latest fight was to save offshore wind. They literally, on April 16, pulled the plug on a 10 year, $5 billion project from a company called Equinor from Norway, which will be powering 500,000 homes in Brooklyn with renewable energy. That is a big win for our climate, our renewable energy efforts, and to meet our climate goals. On April 16, the Secretary of Interior gave them a stop work order. The project was going to be stopped a few weeks ago. They’re losing $50 million a week.

    I went down to the White House; I had long conversations; I had more phone calls; and I’m proud to say we saved not just renewable energy, but 1,500 clean energy jobs in the process. So, that’s the most recent. They’re attacking congestion pricing every single month on the 21st — I get, basically, a hostage letter that if you don’t turn off the cameras, we’re going to kidnap you or whatever it is and I usually take it, and do a social media of it, and throw it away — here we go.

    So we’re fighting on that, but also on other areas about my rights to — we just had a win in court on that, where they’re threatening to withhold federal dollars. Anytime they don’t like something you do, whether it’s the State of Maine — my friend Janet Mills was subjected to this; we were together in the White House when she got harassed — they threatened withholding federal dollars. We just got a temporary restraining order from them threatening to withhold our federal dollars when it came. So that’s — I can’t keep it all straight.

    We litigated birthright citizenship. We’re going to have a lot of complicated challenges with the immigration issue. I have to testify before the House Oversight Committee on that very issue next week — really looking forward to that. You see who’s on that committee? Check it out. And, by the way, it’s someone who said, “I didn’t even read the bill. No, it’s a thousand pages.” Use ChatGPT to figure it out — right?

    They’re claiming they did not know that there was a 10 year ban on any social media. I mean, I’m sorry, any AI.

    Ina Fried, Axios: AI.

    Governor Hochul: “Oh, I didn’t know.” You voted for it. Just ask GPT. Anything I should worry about in here?

    Ina Fried, Axios: All right. I would love to keep the —

    Governor Hochul: Just some humble advice for them.

    I would love to keep the conversation going. Unfortunately, I know you have somewhere to go and we’re almost out of time. I have a quick question that I think only you can answer. So, I love buffalo sauce, but I don’t really like the bones.

    Ina Fried, Axios: Do boneless wings count?

    Governor Hocul: There’s chicken fingers.

    Ina Fried, Axios: That’s what my 12-year-old likes.

    Governor Hocul: Okay, chicken fingers are close enough, no one will mock you out, but the damning thing — if you ever eat chicken wings with ranch dressing, you’ll be barred from the entire region. Just don’t go. Just —

    Ina Fried, Axios: All right.

    Governor Hocul: Take it from me, everybody. That’s your pro-tip today. All right, so you heard it here: the Meadowlands is now part of New York, boneless wings are okay, but don’t you dare put them in ranch.

    Ina Fried, Axios: Thank you so much, Governor Hochul.

    Governor Hocul: Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restricts Foreign Student Visas at Harvard University

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    RESTRICTING FOREIGN STUDENT VISAS AT HARVARD: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation to safeguard national security by suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University. 
    The Proclamation suspends the entry into the United States of any new Harvard student as a nonimmigrant under F, M, or J visas.
    It directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking existing F, M, or J visas for current Harvard students who meet the Proclamation’s criteria.
    The Proclamation does not apply to aliens attending other U.S. universities through the Student Exchange Visa Program (SEVP) and exempts aliens whose entry is deemed in the national interest.
    HARVARD HAS A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF CONCERNING FOREIGN TIES AND RADICALISM:
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has long warned that foreign adversaries take advantage of easy access to American higher education to steal information, exploit research and development, and spread false information.
    The University has seen a drastic rise in crime in recent years, while failing to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus.
    Harvard has failed to provide sufficient information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about foreign students’ known illegal or dangerous activities, reporting deficient data on only three students.
    Harvard is either not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.
    Harvard has also developed extensive entanglements with foreign adversaries, receiving more than $150 million from China alone. In exchange, Harvard has, among other things, hosted Chinese Communist Party paramilitary members and partnered with China-based individuals on research that could advance China’s military modernization.
    The Chinese Communist Party has sent thousands of mid-career and senior bureaucrats to study at U.S. institutions, with Harvard University considered the top “party school” outside the country. Xi Jinping’s own daughter attended Harvard as an undergraduate in the early 2010s.

    Harvard has failed to adequately address violent anti-Semitic incidents on campus, with many of these agitators found to be foreign students.
    Harvard has persisted in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in its admissions, denying hardworking Americans equal opportunities by favoring certain groups, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against its race-based practices.
    These concerns have compelled the Federal government to conclude that Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.
    HOLDING HARVARD ACCOUNTABLE: President Trump wants our institutions to have foreign students, but believes that the foreign students should be people that can love our country.  
    President Trump: “The students? Well, we want to have great students here. We just don’t want students that are causing trouble. We want to have students. I want to have foreign students.”
    President Trump: “We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, they can’t get in because we have foreign students there. But I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country.”
    President Trump: “We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country. Harvard is very slow in the presentation of these documents, and probably for good reason!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road reopened following crash, St Johns

    Source: New Zealand Police

    St Johns Road has been reopened following an earlier crash between a vehicle and pedestrian.

    One person was transported to hospital in a serious condition.

    An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

    Police would like to thank motorists for their patience while the scene was cleared.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Pettersen’s Bill to Expand Access to Treatment, Combat Opioid Epidemic

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s bill – the Support for Patients and Communities Act – to reauthorize funding for critical prevention, treatment, and recovery substance use disorder (SUD) programs. 

    Pettersen’s own mother struggled with a decades-long battle with addiction after being overprescribed opioids. Inspired by her mom’s struggle, Rep. Pettersen has fought to expand access to treatment to help people like her mother receive the care they need, including passing a bill that directed Colorado to apply for a Section 1115 Waiverto cover residential and inpatient treatment for individuals struggling with addiction. In the first year alone, this waiver increased access to substance use disorder treatment by 60% and 48,000 Coloradans were able to get the care they needed. Colorado also saw a 35% decline in fentanyl-related deaths in this past year. 

    “At a time when the Trump administration is dismantling the agency that oversees treatment and recovery services and is taking away health care from people struggling with addiction, protecting these programs is more important than ever,” said Pettersen. “In my fight to save my mom’s life, I saw how broken our system is, and I’ve been working every day to fix it. Colorado has led the way by expanding treatment and making resources like Narcan widely available. We have to protect that progress and keep fighting to make sure people like my mom have the tools they need to rebuild their lives and live in recovery.” 

    Republicans struck down Pettersen’s amendment to protect Section 1115 Waivers which are currently on the chopping block in Republicans’ budget proposal. Pettersen’s amendment would have allowed states to use downstream savings to calculate budget neutrality for Section 1115 Waivers, or Medicaid Demonstration Programs. Substance use disorder patients who receive the care they need can save states thousands of dollars in the long-term. 

    “While I’m pleased to see this legislation move forward, I’m deeply disappointed that Republicans rejected my amendments to protect Section 1115 Waivers,” said Pettersen. “The disastrous Republican budget would completely decimate the progress we’ve made in combatting the opioid crisis in Colorado and leave people to die without access to the treatment they need to survive.” 

    Specifically, the Support for Patients and Communities Act will:

    • Expand access to naloxone for first-responders and community members; 
    • Provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for pregnant and postpartum women;
    • Address SUD workforce shortages by expanding loan repayment programs and fellowship opportunities for healthcare providers; 
    • Increase access to peer-led recovery support services; 
    • Fund Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers; and 
    • Promote the prevention of overdoses through prescription drug monitoring programs. 

    The legislation is endorsed by over 160 vital substance use disorder treatment and recovery organizations, including Faces and Voices of Recovery, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, and Mental Health Colorado.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Keith Self Commemorates Renaming of VA Clinic in Honor of Sam Johnson

    Source:

    On Monday, Congressman Keith Self proudly joined local leaders, veterans, and the North Texas community in a moving ceremony to officially rename the Plano VA Clinic in honor of the late Congressman Sam Johnson, a true American hero and tireless advocate for veterans. The newly named Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic will serve as a lasting tribute to his extraordinary life of valor, service, and sacrifice.

    “The dedication of this clinic marks more than a name on a building—it marks a legacy of a man who embodied service, sacrifice, and the American spirit,” said Congressman Keith Self. “Congressman Johnson’s courage in battle, his perseverance in captivity, and his service in Congress exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism.

    This renaming was made possible through legislation introduced by Congressman Self and Senator Cornyn and was signed into law in January 2025. The bill reflects the deep respect held for Congressman Johnson’s lifetime of service and the impact he had on North Texas and the nation.

    Sam Johnson’s story is one of uncommon valor. Born in San Antonio, Johnson served as a decorated fighter pilot in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He endured nearly seven years as a prisoner of war in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, enduring brutal torture and years of solitary confinement, refusing to give in or lose faith in his country. Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel, he represented North Texas in Congress for nearly 30 years, championing veterans’ healthcare, benefits, and support services.

    The renaming ceremony was held at the Courtyard Theater in Plano and featured remarks from Congressman Self, Plano Mayor John Muns, and Jason Cave, Executive Director of the VA North Texas Health Care System. In a touching moment, Michael Buchanan from the VA Public Affairs Office presented flowers to Congressman Johnson’s daughter, Beverly, who was present to represent the family and receive the honor on their behalf.

    The Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic currently offers a range of services including primary care, behavioral health, telehealth, radiology, and laboratory support. With an additional 7,000 square feet planned in the near future and long-term plans for a 96,000- square-foot facility, the clinic is poised to become one of the most prominent VA community-based outpatient clinics in the region.

    “As we look to the future of this facility, we do so with Congressman Johnson’s unwavering commitment to veterans as our guide,” Congressman Self added. “May this clinic stand as a beacon of hope and healing for every veteran who walks through its doors.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger Introduces Bill to Protect Small Biotech Companies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), alongside Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), introduced legislation to protect innovative small biotech manufacturers from the Medicare drug price negotiation program. The Small Biotech Innovation Act will establish a new exemption for small biotech companies based on the amount of revenue they reinvest in research and development.

    “The Inflation Reduction Act has proven to fall short in several areas, including its small biotech exemption that disincentivizes companies from investing in R&D and hinders the development of innovative therapies. By tying eligibility to R&D spending, we can better incentivize companies to develop new treatments that will benefit patients nationwide,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The bicameral Small Biotech Innovation Act is a forward-thinking approach that will strengthen America’s leadership in life-saving science by modernizing the small biotech exemption to reward real innovation and research investment, and ultimately protect these innovative small biotech companies.”

    “When the federal government stands in the way of developing better care, there’s a problem. The cures developed through small biotech innovation change the future for many patients. Instead of limiting it, we should encourage it,” said Dr. Cassidy.

    “It is critical that the United States remains at the forefront of developing new medical technologies, treatments, and drugs,” said Rep. Kustoff. “The Small Biotech Innovation Act will help smaller companies invest in research and development by alleviating the excessive Biden-era regulations placed on them. This legislation is an important step in boosting innovation and helping find new cures for patients across the globe.”

    Read the full text of the legislation

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Pfluger, Green Request DHS Documents on Suspect in Boulder Terror Attack

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — In the wake of the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and Full Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem requesting the alien file for the suspect, an Egyptian national named Mohamed Sabry Soliman, which will include information on his expired visa, work authorization, and asylum application.

    In the letter, the Chairmen wrote, in part, “the Committee on Homeland Security is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the immigration history of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national now facing felony charges after he carried out a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado. The charges include attempted murder, use of incendiary devices, and federal hate crimes.”

    The Chairmen concluded that, “This tragedy is indicative of a heightened terrorism threat on U.S. soil, signaling an urgent need for increased homeland security measures, particularly with respect to foreign nationals who are unlawfully present in the United States, as Soliman reportedly overstayed a nonimmigrant visa. Our nation has now faced several major acts of antisemitic terror this year alone, including the recent assassination of two Israeli embassy staffers in our nation’s capital.”

    Read more about this letter in the Washington Examiner HERE

    Read the letter in its entirety HERE

    BACKGROUND:

    Soliman is part of a broader pattern. Last May, Chairman Pfluger, Chairman Green, along with other Committee leaders, sent a letter to then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, then-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray, and then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, requesting information on the alleged attempted breach of Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCB). Reports indicate the two individuals involved were Jordanian nationals, one of whom, Mohammad Khair Dabous, had overstayed his student visa. Dabous remains at large, while the other individual involved was recently arrested again for a different crime and is at an ICE detention facility. 

    In March, a pro-Hamas Palestinian protester was arrested at Columbia University after overstaying her student visa. Her visa was suspended in 2022 due to her poor attendance record. She had previously been arrested in connection with her involvement in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia.  

    In April, a Palestinian student was arrested at Columbia University after overstaying her student visa and “participating in anti-American, pro-terrorist activities on campus,” according to DHS. Her visa was suspended in 2022 due to a lack of attendance.

    In February, a foreign national from Hungary was arrested for two counts of murder. He had overstayed his visa waiver and was previously charged with theft and robbery but had been released with an ankle monitor under the Alternatives to Detention Program in 2024. He managed to disable the monitor and remained a fugitive for months, during which he committed the two murders.

    In 2022, a foreign national from Mexico murdered four people, including his three daughters, after overstaying his visa. The man’s non-immigrant visitor visa had expired in 2018. He had previously been arrested for assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer. ICE was not informed of his release from jail for the assault due to California’s 2017 “sanctuary state law.”

    In October 2024, an illegal alien who had been released into the country under the Biden-Harris administration shot a Jewish man on his way to a Chicago Synagogue. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to MHRA advice on the use of contraceptives for women taking weight loss drugs in their latest guidance around safe use of the drugs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the MHRA advice on contraceptives for women taking weight loss drugs.

    Dr Bassel Wattar, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, said:

    “GLP-1 agonist drugs are a great new addition to help selected patients with weight issues achieve a better health status. The challenge is to regulate their use and couple it with adequate medical monitoring to minimise the risks of adverse events. To date, women planning for pregnancy or those pregnant were largely excluded from clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of these medications. There is some data from animal studies to suggesting there is a risk of malformation to the fetus, in animals falling pregnant while taking GLP-1 agonists, but data remains limited in humans. The warning from the MHRA is timely to govern and guide on the safe use of these medications, especially for women struggling to lose weight and hoping to get pregnant.

    “It is important to recommend effective contraception while taking these injections such as the implant or the intrauterine coil, which offer more robust contraception in these cases versus the oral combined contraceptive pill. More importantly, achieving significant weight loss can sometimes help some women (for example those with polycystic ovary syndrome) to restore natural ovulation, and therefore, boost their chances of falling pregnant spontaneously without needing invasive fertility treatment like IVF. This however, should be planned under the care of a specialist fertility doctor to ensure a pregnancy can be planned safely after a washout period off these drugs.”

    Dr Channa Jayasena, Reader in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College London and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology and Andrology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London, said:

    “GLP-1 drugs copy the natural hormones made in the gut which make you feel full. This makes them powerful treatments to help women lose weight. Obesity reduces fertility in women. So, women with obesity taking GLP-1 drugs are more likely to get pregnant than before they lost weight. In addition, we think that the absorption of oral contraceptive pills may be reduced with GLP-1 drugs which slow down emptying of the stomach, though more research is needed to confirm this. The guidance produced by the MHRA is sensible, since it highlights that women could accidentally get pregnant when taking GLP-1 drugs. We don’t know how harmful GLP-1 drugs are during pregnancy; however, we know that other forms of weight loss like weight loss surgery can increase chances of a miscarriage. So, women are advised to do all they can to prevent pregnancy while taking GLP-1 drugs.”

    Prof Rebecca Reynolds, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “It is very important to raise awareness about this MHRA advice among women and clinicians around potential issues with GLP-1 drugs affecting the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight. Many people are buying weight loss drugs online and so may not receive this important advice about contraception.

    “There is hardly any available data from human studies to be able to advise if these weight loss drugs are safe in pregnancy. The data from animal studies suggests the potential for harm with low birthweight and skeletal abnormalities, though more evidence is needed to assess if there are risks of taking these drugs in humans.”

    The MHRA guidance, ‘GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: patient factsheet’, was published by the MHRA and is embargoed untiled 00:01 UK time on Thursday 5 June 2025.

    Declared interests

    Prof Rebecca Reynolds: I have no conflicts of interest to declare

    Dr Channa Jayasena: None.

    Dr Bassel Wattar: No conflict of interest to disclose

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourism consumption attests to vitality of China’s economy

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

    BEIJING, June 4 — The three-day Dragon Boat Festival break has offered the latest glimpse into the vitality and potential of China’s tourism sector, which is emerging as a strategic pillar industry for the world’s second-largest economy.

    During the holiday from May 31 to June 2, tourism expenditures reached 42.73 billion yuan (5.95 billion U.S. dollars), up 5.9 percent compared with the same holiday last year, official data showed.

    As part of its high-quality development strategy, China is leveraging its cultural and tourism industries to boost economic growth, stimulate consumption, create jobs and improve the economic structure by integrating tourism with other industries and creating new demand and business models.

    The country has become the biggest domestic tourism market in the world, the largest source of international tourists, and a main destination for international travelers.

    Boasting a wealth of natural wonders, historical treasures and cultural heritage sites — coupled with its massive population — China’s tourism prospects are exceptionally bright. The country’s world-class infrastructure, featuring an extensive high-speed rail network and modern tourist facilities, provides the perfect foundation for sustainable growth as China advances toward its goal of becoming a global tourism leader.

    As China pivots toward a consumption-driven economy, industries like tourism have become pivotal to this transition. Authorities have prioritized stimulating domestic demand through comprehensive measures, including enhancing service quality, diversifying product offerings, and taking targeted initiatives to unlock spending potential across cultural, tourism, sports and related sectors.

    This year has seen the rollout of innovative policies to boost tourism, including consumer incentives like vouchers and discounts, along with age-specific travel services. Meanwhile, new growth points, ranging from winter sports and immersive experiences to senior-friendly travel options, have also gained momentum.

    The strong tourism growth momentum has been particularly evident in recent years. In 2024, domestic residents made 5.62 billion trips within the country, an increase of 14.8 percent year on year; their total expenditure on domestic travel was 5.8 trillion yuan, increasing by 17.1 percent year on year.

    Thanks to its opening-up drive, China’s outbound and inbound tourism is also booming. Last year, the number of tourist trips made by foreigners almost doubled to reach 26.94 million. This robust momentum has been sustained this year. The sharp growth of foreign tourists is partly due to the country’s unilateral visa-free program that has covered 43 countries. Chinese outbound tourists and international visitors have boosted not only consumption but also cultural exchange and global understanding of China.

    With its growing appeal to international visitors and a burgeoning domestic traveler base, tourism is emerging as one of China’s most promising industries, contributing significantly to the economy and acting as a catalyst for broader consumer spending.

    The World Travel & Tourism Council recognizes China as one of the world’s most vibrant tourism markets, noting its strong post-pandemic recovery and long-term growth potential. The organization believes China’s sustained investments in infrastructure, digital innovation, and destination development as well as its expanded visa-free access are positioning the country as a world leader in modern, sustainable tourism.

    The tourism sector’s success story underscores the fundamental resilience of China’s economy. As one of the fastest-growing major economies and a crucial engine of global growth, China’s economic strength finds clear expression in its thriving tourism industry.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Biggest shake-up of jobcentres in decades gets underway

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Biggest shake-up of jobcentres in decades gets underway

    Launch of a new, locally-led approach to jobseeker support begins in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. 

    • Jobs and careers service Pathfinder will test bold ideas including a new Coaching Academy and more personalised jobcentre appointments 
    • Further Pathfinders to be rolled out across the country this year to break down barriers to opportunity and put more money in people’s pockets as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. 

    Jobseekers across the country are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new approach to the service Jobcentres provide. This will include a new Coaching Academy; careers events focused on local growth sectors and more personalised Jobcentre appointments.   

    The jobs and careers service in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, yesterday (Wednesday 4th June) became the first to trial the new scheme – marking the start of the biggest reform of Jobcentres in decades.   

    The Jobcentre will test bold ideas to better work with employers, deliver services and get people into work. The reforms are aimed at involving local areas in the design of services and bring to an end a Whitehall-led, one-size-fits-all approach.   

    Following the launch of the jobs and careers service Pathfinder in Wakefield, further Pathfinders will be rolled out across the country this year as the Government drives forward with its plan to Get Britain Working.

    This is a key part of the growth mission, as we help more people across the country into good, secure jobs so they can get on in life and fulfil their ambitions.

    Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern said:   

    Our one-size-fits-all, tick box approach to jobs support is outdated and does not serve those looking to better their lives through work.   

    We are building a proper public employment service in partnership with local leaders that truly meets community challenges and unlocks opportunity.   

    The launch of the Pathfinder in Wakefield is the first step in this transformation as we continue to Get Britain Working, boost living standards and put more money in people’s pockets, under our Plan for Change.

    The Pathfinder will look at new ways to support customers and how everyone, not just Jobcentre customers, can receive employment support. It is being co-designed with local leaders from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Wakefield Local Authority.

    As part of this and in a direct response to insight that only 9% of employers currently recruit through Jobcentres, a series of careers events focused on local growth sectors will be delivered in Wakefield to match local talent with local opportunities.

    The first of these events took place during yesterday’s launch and focused on West Yorkshire’s thriving creative sector. It was attended by skills providers and local employers including Production Park – home to sets of Netflix series’ including Bank of Dave. Events to serve the local manufacturing and technology sectors will take place in the coming months and are open to all, not just Jobcentre customers.

    In addition to this tests of a new Get Britain Working ‘Coaching Academy’ to train up DWP staff will help ensure jobseekers receive improved support. Changes to appointments will also mean DWP services in Wakefield will provide more personalised support for claimants to help them move into stable, long-term work.

    Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said:  

    People stand a better chance of landing a good job when they are treated with dignity and respect at a trusted local Jobcentre. 

    These reforms will empower us to build on our West Yorkshire model of joining up employment support with health and employer-led services, to provide personalised support that gets people into work and puts more money in people’s pockets.

    Working with the government, we’re investing almost £40 million to help guarantee a healthy working life to everyone in our region, and as the test-bed for the new national Jobs and Careers Service, Wakefield will lead the way on transforming our welfare system to get Britain working.

    Wakefield will be the first city to test new ideas for the new jobs and careers service, ensuring that the service and its policies can be scaled up before being rolled out across the nation. Further Pathfinders, including ones that are focused on support for young people and those with health conditions will be launched later this year.  

    The Jobs and Careers Service Pathfinder builds on wider investment in West Yorkshire, including £18 million for an inactivity trailblazer and an NHS Accelerator. The inactivity trailblazer launched in April, to boost employment in areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity, as the government gets Britain back to health and back to work. The NHS Accelerator will help to prevent people from falling out of work completely due to ill health. 

    The Pathfinder comes as the government continues to drive to Get Britain Working through boosting the National Living Wage, creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill and delivering a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either learning or earning.  

    Further Information

    • Key findings from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 2024 Employer Survey: DWP Employer Survey 2024 – GOV.UK  
    • The local Get Britain Working Plan guidance has been published: Guidance for Developing local Get Britain Working plans (England) – GOV.UK  
    • The guidance will ensure all areas are working towards the government’s 80% employment ambition.  
    • Employment support measures are fully transferred to Northern Ireland. Jobcentre Plus services is reserved in both Scotland and Wales, but the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government also deliver other forms of employment support. The funding announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper is UK wide, the share of funding for devolved Governments will be calculated in the usual way.  
    • The UK Government also plans to establish new governance arrangements with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to help frame discussions around the reform of Jobcentres and agree how best to work in partnership on shared employment ambition across devolved and reserved provision.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Publication of Parole Board Transparency Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Publication of Parole Board Transparency Review

    The Parole Board has today published a review into its transparency

    We are pleased to publish the findings of a review that we commissioned into the transparency of the Parole Board. The review was chaired by two experienced judicial members of the Parole Board, HH Peter Rook KC and HH Michael Topolski KC.

    The review covered a large scope but focused on three main areas:

    • Parole Board public hearings
    • Victims observing private hearings
    • Decision summaries 

    Over 50 stakeholders and interested parties were consulted as part of the review, and we are thankful for their valuable input. We are especially thankful for those who represented the views of victims and offenders in the process.

    We welcome the recommendations within the review. This review is an important step to ensuring the Parole Board continues to evolve our transparency and ensure that victims and the public have access to information that matters to them, whilst ensuring we can continue to provide fair and effective parole reviews for prisoners.

    Commenting on the Parole Board transparency review and its findings, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

    “I welcome this review’s clear call for change. As I know only too well, victims can find the parole system bewildering and traumatic – given little information and no meaningful role in a process that can profoundly affect their safety, wellbeing and peace of mind. These welcome and necessary reforms are key to changing that. Access to a redacted version of the decision will help victims better understand outcomes and reassure them of the care and diligence taken by the Parole Board. I’m also pleased that more victims will have the opportunity to observe parole hearings should they wish – important steps towards a more open and accountable system. I hope these recommendations are acted upon quickly. Victims – and the public – deserve a parole system they can understand, trust and have confidence in.”

    34 recommendations were made by the review, some of which include a recommendation to start a pilot of sharing redacted decisions, instead of decision summaries, and a pilot to test out different forms of holding a public hearing, including alternative observer locations and unsupervised streaming to accredited members of the media and legal bloggers. We will be reviewing the recommendations carefully to decide how we will be taking them forward, consulting our stakeholders on the areas that impact them.

    We will publish further details on the implementation of the recommendations by Autumn 2025.

    Cecilia French, CEO of the Parole Board, said:

    “The Parole Board has made great strides in becoming more transparent over the years, but we are keen to do more. It is important to be able to show people how parole works and how the Parole Board makes decisions so that the public, victims and prisoners can understand the process and have confidence in it.  Victims and survivors and the public should have access to information that matters to them in a way that does not compromise fairness. The transparency review highlights the key areas we should focus on to further progress our transparency agenda. I am looking forward to implementing the recommendations in this review, in consultation with others, and am very grateful to HH Peter Rook KC and HH Michael Topolski KC for their very thorough review, which will help us to improve.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Women on “skinny jabs” must use effective contraception, MHRA urges in latest guidance 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Women on “skinny jabs” must use effective contraception, MHRA urges in latest guidance 

    Anyone who suspects that they’ve had an adverse reaction to their weight loss or diabetes medicine or suspects it is not a genuine product, should report it to the MHRA. 

    Women taking popular medicines for weight loss and diabetes, sometimes referred to as “skinny jabs”, are being reminded to use effective contraception while taking these medicines and, in some cases, for up to two months between stopping the medicine and trying to get pregnant.  

    These medicines must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding. Anyone who gets pregnant while using them should speak to their healthcare professional and stop the medicine as soon as possible. This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby. 

    Effective contraception includes oral (the pill) and non-oral (the implant, coil or condoms) forms of contraception. However, Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight. Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception. This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase. 
     
    This advice, which is already in the patient leaflets that come with the medicine, is just one of the reminders in the latest guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the safe use of “GLP-1 medicines” known by the brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza.  

    The full advice can be found on the regulator’s website. It comes after concerns from the UK regulator that some people are not using these medicines for weight loss and diabetes safely.  

    Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said:

    Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments. They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way. 

    Our guidance offers patients a “one stop shop” for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely.  

    This guidance should not be used as a substitute to reading the patient information leaflet or having a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process.  

    Alongside advice on contraceptive use, the MHRA reminds patients that these medicines should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media, or taken without a prior consultation with a healthcare professional. Not only does this expose people wanting to lose weight to serious health risks, it is also against the law to sell these medicines in this way. The only way to guarantee receiving a genuine GLP-1 medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy.  

    The guidance also reminds patients of the symptoms to look out for in the event of acute pancreatitis which, although uncommon, can be serious. The main symptom of this is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and doesn’t go away. Anyone who experiences this should seek immediate medical help. 

    Summary of advice to patients

    • You should only take GLP-1 medicines if they have been prescribed to you by a healthcare professional.   

    • Always have a conversation with your prescriber about the benefits and risks of GLP-1 medicines before you start taking them.   

    • Do not take GLP-1 medicines if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. If you get pregnant while using them, you speak to a healthcare professional and stop them as soon as possible.

    • If you are prescribed Mounjaro (tirzepatide), use a barrier form of contraception and do not rely on oral contraception.   

    • Understand the potential side effects and have a conversation with a healthcare professional if you are concerned.   

    • Tell your doctor you take a GLP-1 medicine if you are about to have surgery.   

    • Report any adverse reactions to the Yellow Card scheme.   

    • After taking the recommended four doses in each syringe, any medicine left in the syringe should not be extracted and the syringe should be disposed of in the bin.  

    • Use of these medicines is not a quick fix to lose weight and the MHRA has not assessed the safety and effectiveness of these medicines when used by people who do not meet the medical requirements.   

    Anyone who suspects that they’ve had an adverse reaction to a GLP-1 medicine,  or suspects it is not a genuine product, should report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.   

    Notes to editors 

    • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs) are medicines that help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating. Some newer medicines, like Mounjaro, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control. These have been referred to in the media as “weight loss injections” or “skinny jabs”, but not all are authorised for weight loss.
    • The full guidance can be found on the MHRA’s website.
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: TOMORROW: Governor Newsom to make announcement on literacy and student success

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 4, 2025

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Governor Gavin Newsom will make an announcement to support literacy and the success of young students across the state.

    WHEN: Thursday, June 5 at approximately 12:15 p.m.

    LIVESTREAM: Governor’s Twitter page, Governor’s Facebook page, and the Governor’s YouTube page. This event will also be available to TV stations on the LiveU Matrix under “California Governor.”

    NOTE: This in-person press event will be open to credentialed media only. Media interested in attending must RSVP by clicking here no later than 10:15 a.m., June 5. Location information will be provided upon confirmation.

    Media advisories, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California added a record of nearly 7,000 megawatts of new clean energy capacity in 2024, marking the largest single-year increase in state history and the third consecutive year of unprecedented growth. SACRAMENTO – California has achieved…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California leads the nation in strong gun safety laws, correlating with thousands of lives saved. Sacramento, California – Year after year, California is ranked as the #1 state in the country for its strong gun safety laws — along with some…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – For the second year in a row, California ranks highest on Fortune 500’s list as the state with the most corporations generating the largest revenues. As host to 58 Fortune 500 companies, California leads the nation – followed by Texas with 54 and New…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Blast GOP Plan After New CBO Report Shows 16 Million Americans Would Lose Health Coverage

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today responded to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revealing that 16 million Americans would lose their health insurance under the Republican tax plan. The report highlights the devastating consequences of the GOP’s attempt to gut Medicaid and refusal to extend premium tax credits that help working families afford their health care. The senators issued the following statement:
    “Sixteen million people. That’s the cost of the Republican plan. This is not just a number – it represents moms, dads, kids, veterans, and retirees who will be forced to choose between rent and life-saving care. At a time when costs are already too high for too many Americans, this plan would rip coverage away from millions just to hand tax breaks to the wealthiest. It’s cruel, it’s shortsighted, and we are going to fight like hell to stop it.”
    Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans, noting that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from Virginians, cut SNAP benefits, raise energy costs for Virginia households, jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs, raise taxes on minimum wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut, make tax filing more expensive, and explode the deficit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Chu Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Make Graduate Education More Affordable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Chu Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Make Graduate Education More Affordable

    POST GRAD Act comes as Congressional Republicans push to make higher education more unaffordable through their billionaire-first budget bill
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) introduced bicameral legislation to help students afford advanced education by restoring graduate students’ eligibility for receiving subsidized federal loans. The Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt (POST GRAD) Act would prevent graduate students from accruing interest on their subsidized graduate loans while in school, just like their undergraduate counterparts.
    Many professions, such as mental health clinicians, school administrators, nurse practitioners, and physical therapists, often require a graduate degree, but the high cost of borrowing can dissuade potential students from seeking these advanced degrees. Instead of addressing the higher education affordability crisis, Congressional Republicans recently passed a billionaire-first reconciliation bill that, among other harmful provisions, would eliminate the Grad PLUS loan program, a vital source of federal support for graduate students.
    Nationally, over 1.6 million student loan borrowers have Grad PLUS loans, amounting to $91 billion in debt. California has nearly 57,000 Grad PLUS borrowers, according to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
    “Graduate students help fuel our economy, filling workforce shortages in critical sectors like health care, education, and STEM that often require advanced degrees. Yet, too many talented students in California and nationally cannot afford to pursue advanced degrees due to the rising cost of higher education,” said Senator Padilla. “As Republicans threaten to slash the Grad PLUS program entirely, we are taking a stand to make graduate school more affordable by reinstating subsidized federal student loans for graduate students so they don’t accrue interest while they are in school. We did this for decades, and now is the time to support our 21st century graduate workforce and expand educational opportunities for low-income communities.”
    “Many of the most rewarding and in-demand jobs in the U.S. require advanced degrees, but do not always come with high earning potential. A lifetime of debt should never be the cost for obtaining a graduate degree,” said Representative Chu. “At a time when our country is facing a shortage of specialized workers in critical fields, we should be doing everything we can to encourage students to enter these fields, rather than creating additional barriers to higher education. Democrats in Congress are committed to lowering costs and reducing debt, and that’s why I’m proud to be joined by Senator Padilla in introducing the POST GRAD Act as one important step in making higher education more attainable to everyone in America.”
    “The cost of graduate education often serves as a barrier to pursuing advanced degrees, including in psychology, where shortages of qualified, culturally competent providers persist. By reinstating subsidized federal student loans for graduate students, the POST GRAD Act would relieve a portion of the financial burden associated with financing a graduate degree. APA applauds Congresswoman Chu and Senator Padilla for their leadership on this important legislation, which would make graduate study more affordable and help build a workforce ready to meet the growing needs of our population,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association.
    The Budget Control Act of 2011 stripped graduate students of eligibility for Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, which they had access to from 1994-2012, costing students thousands of dollars, particularly as interest rates on graduate loans are now at their highest rate since 2006. The POST GRAD Act would reverse the harmful provision of the Budget Control Act and restore the eligibility of graduate students to receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. Furthermore, it would prevent graduate and professional students who fall into deferment due to economic hardship from accruing interest on their Federal Direct Subsidized Loans.
    The POST GRAD Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The bill is endorsed by the following organizations: American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association, AccessLex, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, American Physical Therapy Association, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, American Occupational Therapy Association, Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, Physician Assistant Education Association, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Council on Social Work Education, American Dental Education Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of the Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, and the University of California System.
    Senator Padilla has consistently advocated on behalf of students to make higher education more affordable and accessible. Earlier this year, Padilla introduced the bipartisan RESEARCHER Act to bolster U.S. leadership in STEM by requiring federal research agencies to help address the financial insecurity crisis among graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Last year, Padilla and Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.-35) hosted local students and advocates to reintroduce the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, bicameral legislation to help ensure college students can meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. He also cosponsored the College for All Act to make public colleges and universities tuition free for 95 percent of students.
    Senator Padilla continues to support large-scale federal student loan forgiveness and cancellation, and he recognizes that this would be one of the most effective ways to close the racial wealth gap in the United States. During the Biden Administration, Padilla led numerous letters urging the President to provide meaningful student debt cancellation, along with multiple letters urging former U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to leverage his authority under the Higher Education Act to provide expanded student debt relief to working and middle-class borrowers. Padilla also led his colleagues in calling on Secretary Cardona to consider additional student debt relief for borrowers experiencing financial hardship.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Blast Trump Admin’s Plan to Gut California High-Speed Rail Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff Blast Trump Admin’s Plan to Gut California High-Speed Rail Funding

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) released the following joint statement after Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced his plan to terminate billions of dollars of previously-allocated federal funding to the California High-Speed Rail Project: 
    “In Donald Trump’s corrupt world, there’s no need for high-speed rail when you can accept a $400 million jet from a foreign government. But for the millions of Californians left to pick up the tab for Trump’s reckless trade wars and rising costs of living, today’s announcement is devastating. 
    “High-speed rail is the future of transportation — with the potential to bring customers to new businesses, businesses to new employees, and to connect communities hundreds of miles away with affordable and faster transit. The fact is that the California High-Speed Rail Project is already the most audited public works project in the country. Rather than advance the progress being made in the Central Valley, Secretary Duffy has used a review process to appease President Trump and punish Californians who didn’t vote for him. We’ll keep fighting every partisan, self-defeating policy of this Administration as we build infrastructure fit for the 21st century.”
    Last year, Senators Padilla and Schiff and their California Congressional colleagues urged former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to approve the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s grant application for $536 million in federal funds. Padilla previously supported the Department of Transportation’s announcement of $3.1 billion for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, as well as over $200 million for the agency from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program. Padilla and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein previously announced $25 million for the Authority’s Merced Extension Design Project through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Seek Information on Republican Budget Bill’s Potential to Close Rural Hospitals

    US Senate News:

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

    June 04, 2025

    Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in requesting important information about the impact of House Republicans’ budget bill’s dangerous proposed cuts to federal spending on health programs, rural hospitals and their surrounding communities.

    “In short, the House-passed budget reconciliation bill is expected to have substantial and devastating impacts to health care access for working families across America, particularly in rural communities. ” the lawmakers wrote to Mark Holmes, PhD, Director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “We are deeply concerned that these cuts will increase uncompensated care and make it more difficult for rural hospitals to continue providing services to all patients, paying workers, and keeping their doors open.”

    “The magnitude of federal cuts to health programs will inevitably devastate health access for millions of Americans who will see their local hospitals forced to reduce services or close altogether,” they wrote. ”To help us better understand the devastation of these cuts, we are interested in the Sheps Center’s expert analysis of how this bill will impact rural hospitals and the communities they serve.” 

    The lawmakers request responses to the following questions by June 11, 2025:  

    •  Which U.S. rural hospitals treat the highest share of Medicaid recipients? Please identify these hospitals by name, state, and congressional district. 
    •  How many rural hospitals are currently in financial distress or at risk of closure? Please identify these hospitals by state and congressional district and whether these hospitals are eligible for any Medicare rural hospital designation. 
    •  If the health care cuts in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill were to become law, would the rural hospitals with the highest share of Medicaid recipients or that are currently in financial distress face risk of closure or having to reduce services (including obstetric and behavioral health care, emergency room services, etc.)?

    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Wicker, Gillibrand, Luján Lead Legislation to Make Rum Tax Cover Over Permanent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today reintroduced legislation to modify the amount of revenue transferred to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—known as the ‘rum cover over’—from the excise taxes collected on rum that is produced in or imported into the rest of the United States from the two U.S. territories.
    “Louisiana knows what it means to turn sugarcane into opportunity—from the fields of South Louisiana to the stills of our craft distillers,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Stability in the rum industry means more jobs in Louisiana and stronger U.S. supply chains.” 
    “The rum cover over is an important revenue stream that promotes economic development and helps create good-paying jobs throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the cover over continues to face congressional uncertainty that puts the wellbeing and stability of so many residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at risk. This bipartisan bill would increase the amount that the territories receive from excise taxes on rum production, offering them more certainty and allowing them to fund critical services like health care and environmental protection,” said Senator Gillibrand.
    “For decades, the rum cover over has been vital in creating jobs and fostering economic development in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Senator Luján. “But the recurring threat of funding cliffs puts this vital support at risk and creates instability. This bipartisan legislation will safeguard these revenues and ensure that both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can reliably count on rum excise tax funds to reinvest in their communities.”
    Background
     Under current law, excise tax collections on imported rum are transferred to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the rate of $13.25 per proof gallon; $10.50 per proof gallon is in permanent law, and the remaining $2.75 per proof gallon requires periodic reauthorization by Congress. This legislation would amend Section 7652 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, making $13.25 per proof gallon the amount covered over by law, eliminating the need for Congressional action and enhancing long-term sustainable economic growth in the two U.S. territories.
    This effort would also add a new provision that would require a portion of the funds transferred to Puerto Rico to go towards the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. This private, nonprofit organization provides for the conservation of natural areas on the island, including through sustainable agricultural efforts, projects that promote the reforestation and restoration of Puerto Rico’s natural habitat, and the development of educational programs that foster the protection of natural areas on the island.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Statement on Reauthorization of SUPPORT Act Amid Trump Administration Sabotage and House Republican Complicity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement after voting in favor of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act:

    “Today, I voted in favor of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes vital prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that tackle our nation’s opioid crisis, substance use disorders, and pressing mental health needs. Since the SUPPORT Act became law in 2018, these programs have undeniably saved lives, and our commitment to this work must continue.

    However, we cannot overlook the alarming context surrounding this vote. The Trump Administration is actively and unlawfully working to dismantle the very agency responsible for executing the programs we have just reauthorized. They have recklessly terminated hundreds of experienced employees, shut down critical offices established by Congress, and withdrawn over $1 billion that was previously allocated to state and local behavioral health initiatives. This has severely undermined essential prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across the nation. Moreover, the Administration’s proposed budget only exacerbates this crisis, threatening to eliminate nearly all the programs outlined in the SUPPORT Act.

    In a disgraceful display of hypocrisy, House Republicans have chosen to be complicit in this dismantling rather than doing anything to stand against it. Reauthorizing these programs on paper amounts to nothing if we permit the infrastructure that supports them to be obliterated. Just weeks ago, House Republicans passed the largest Medicaid cut in our nation’s history, targeting a program that provides care for 40 percent of Americans grappling with opioid use disorder. These Medicaid reductions will deprive millions of lifesaving treatment, all to fund massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of vulnerable individuals fighting substance use disorders. Voting to reauthorize programs while allowing their infrastructure to be dismantled is simply unacceptable.

    Republicans must finally stand up to the Trump Administration and take decisive action to halt its reckless dismantling of our nation’s support systems. Anything less would render the SUPPORT Act meaningless. Americans facing mental health and addiction crises deserve genuine leadership and steadfast support, not empty rhetoric and political games.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Hosts Roundtable on Republicans’ Proposed State AI Regulation Moratorium

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (June 4, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a virtual roundtable with advocates to discuss the 10-year ban on state artificial intelligence (AI) regulation proposed by Republicans in the House-passed reconciliation bill. Senator Markey previously delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the provision.
    “Rather than proposing any plan to address the risks and eliminate harms of AI, Republicans are pushing a 10-year AI moratorium that blocks others from acting,” said Senator Markey. “This is irresponsible and unnecessary. This broad language would prevent us from addressing housing discrimination, protecting the environment, safeguarding kids online, and stopping discriminatory hiring practices. Instead, Congress should pass my AI Civil Rights Act — the most comprehensive AI legislation introduced in Congress — that ensures AI serves the public good, not private profit.”
    Senator Markey was joined by Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former Acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media; and Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
    “This moratorium would eliminate all state-level AI regulations for ten years with no federal alternative, effectively giving tech giants a blank check to experiment and deploy technology that has been shown to trample Americans’ civil rights, especially in Black and Brown communities, without any consequences. The moratorium language is broad and clumsy, potentially extending far beyond AI-specific laws and preventing enforcement of longstanding state civil rights and consumer protection laws as applied to modern technology.  This would be a direct attack on our civil rights, turning back the clock, allowing companies to discriminate through technology in ways that they cannot do in other mediums and transactions.  The only resolution here is to reject the moratorium in its entirety,” said Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    “American technological leadership has always emerged hand-in-hand with principled governance and this policy innovation has often been led by the states. A decade-long freeze on guardrails for responsible AI use would abandon the American public–and ignore its concerns–during a critical period of technological development. I commend Senator Markey for defending innovation, rights. and opportunities—because truly innovative technology must be just and fair,” said Dr. Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and former acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    “At a moment when families are looking to their elected leaders to slow down and make sure AI is safe for kids, some Republicans in Congress are moving quickly on a budget bill that, among other things, would ban state AI laws for a decade. This is a gift to Big Tech companies and to the AI industry in particular: no rules, no accountability, and total control. Common Sense Media’s new poll shows that not only is this proposal unsafe — it’s wildly unpopular, too,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.
    “The “moratorium” on states’ ability to regulate AI is a massive hand out to Big Tech. States have stepped up to address discriminatory and untrustworthy AI, but the reconciliation would undercut every single one of those efforts. Instead of shaping legislation to address AI denying people a fair chance to access housing, education, or employment, the reconciliation bill would give AI companies a blank check to harm all of us in those spaces,” said Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Bill Cuts Drug Prices and Red Tape

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act today to cut drug prices for consumers and increase competition in the pharmaceutical market by categorizing generic-brand “biosimilar” drugs as interchangeable with their name-brand counterparts. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) cosponsored the legislation.
    “Americans are missing out on lower drug prices thanks to bureaucratic red tape that protects big pharma monopolies,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Many consumers would choose a cheaper generic-brand version of their medications, but technicalities from Congress have kept these out of reach. Our legislation will cut the red tape to bring drug prices down, break up the big pharma monopolies, and let Americans make their own medication choices.” 
    “I’m proud to support Senator Lee’s Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. Americans pay too much for prescription treatments because of outdated FDA requirements. This bill would give pharmacists more options, subject to state law, to substitute unaffordable therapeutics with lower-cost alternatives. I offered similar reforms in the past because health care reform starts with giving patients more affordable choices. It’s time we stop letting red tape stand between patients and lower prices.” said Dr. Rand Paul
    “Too many Americans face sky-high prescription drug costs. This bipartisan legislation will cut unnecessary red tape and help biosimilar drugs get to the market faster, creating more competition in the market, and cutting costs for consumers,” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue to work to lower prescription drug and health care costs for Granite Staters and all Americans.”
    “Limited competition drives up drug prices, making it harder for people to afford the medications they need to survive. Expanding access to biosimilar drugs can improve patients’ lives and reduce costs. But too often, access can be limited due to regulatory red tape that scientists agree is not necessary,” said Senator Luján. “This bipartisan bill will help simplify that process while maintaining rigorous safety and effectiveness standards. By increasing competition, this legislation will allow more patients and families to access the treatments they need.”
    “As the FDA has made clear, there is no clinically meaningful difference between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars,” said John Murphy, President and CEO of the Association for Accessible Medicines. “The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act will expand competition and generate savings for patients and taxpayers, while preserving FDA’s ability to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines for America’s patients. The Biosimilars Council and AAM thank Senators Lee and Luján for their work on behalf of American patients and we look forward to working with Congress to eliminate this outdated and unnecessary barrier to lower-priced biosimilar medicines.”
    Background:
    “Biosimilars” – generic alternatives to name-brand medications – have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of biologic drugs through increased competition. Choosing biosimilars over their name-brand counterparts could save consumers an estimated $42.9 billion by 2027. Americans deserve to hold this decision-making power, but red tape around biosimilars keeps them from being widely used. The FDA’s complex approval system has confused physicians, patients, and states about biosimilars’ safety and efficacy.
    Biosimilars must undergo extensive testing to prove they provide no meaningful difference from their name-brand version. Bringing a new biosimilar to market costs as much as $300 million and can take as long as 9 years. Even after this approval, patients may not be able to access biosimilars because Congress created a separate designation: interchangeability. To be classified as truly “interchangeable” with the name-brand version, a biosimilar must undergo further testing called “switching studies.” This type of research has proven unnecessary for biosimilars, as it repeatedly shows no meaningful difference or relevant new data. 
    The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would remove these extra steps so that a biosimilar will immediately be classified as interchangeable upon its initial approval by the FDA. Foregoing unnecessary switching studies would no longer disqualify biosimilars as alternatives to their name-brand counterparts. 
    This legislation will streamline the regulatory pathway for biosimilar approval by aligning the law with the current scientific reality, giving Americans the option to save billions and increasing competition in the pharmaceutical market.
    The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would:
    Amend the federal code to state that all biosimilars, upon approval, shall be deemed interchangeable. The bill still uses the term “interchangeable” because states have crafted their own laws around interchangeability. Retaining that word would provide for minimal disruption to current biosimilar distribution.
    Strike the current requirement in code that has been used to justify switching studies.
    Create a cooldown period for certain biologics that were already granted exclusive interchangeable status. 
    Instruct HHS and FDA to issue or retract relevant guidance. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Work of DOGE Will Live On Through One Big Beautiful Bill, Rescissions Package, Appropriations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and highlighted how Congress can carry on its legacy of reining in frivolous spending through the One Big Beautiful Bill, rescissions package, and annual appropriations process. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “I don’t see the work of DOGE being finished, but rather being the starting place.”

    “The DOGE recommendations now embraced within this rescissions package cuts millions of dollars for Green New Deal style programs not in America, but around the world.”

    “The bill rescinds $6 million appropriated for net zero cities in Mexico, a half a million dollars for electric busses in Rwanda, and $2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa.”

    “It rescinds $4 million for Legume Systems Research and $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.”

    “We also have savings opportunities in the big, beautiful bill. Things like eliminating the Inflation Reduction Act, which was inappropriately named.”

    “The third means by which we are going to begin this process of controlling our out-of-control spending in our national debt is the appropriations process.”

    “While we often think of the appropriations process as strictly a spending process, it does not have to be that way. We can also use this appropriations process to enact further spending reductions.”

    “I hope the House and Senate will take full advantage of each of these three opportunities to begin the process of reducing our deficit and debt.”

    “While the formal Department of Government Efficiency Task Force may have concluded, the work of DOGE lives on.”

    “As a founding member of the DOGE caucus, I’ll keep doing my part, along with all of my colleagues, to bend the spending curve, and I urge all of my colleagues to join us in that effort, particularly by passing this rescissions package, and then eventually in the coming weeks, the big, beautiful bill.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Vulnerable Missing Person

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police in Christchurch are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vulnerable missing person.

    79-year old Elisabeth went missing last night with a confirmed sighting on Bartlett Street, Riccarton.

    There are also unconfirmed reports of Elisabeth being seen in Moana Vale at around 10am on 5 June.

    Elisabeth is wearing blue pants, a dark coloured long-sleeve top, black shoes and has distinctive long blond/white hair.

    If you see her please call 111 and ref P062766924.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: How we work

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 5 June 2025
    Last updated 5 June 2025

    Print

    Share

    We invest government funding in tertiary education organisations (TEOs), monitor their performance, and provide information and advice. We invest over $3.8 billion into tertiary education and the careers system each year. 
    We invest government funding in tertiary education organisations (TEOs), monitor their performance, and provide information and advice. We invest over $3.8 billion into tertiary education and the careers system each year. 

    Our investment supports more than 700 tertiary education organisations across New Zealand to provide all forms of post-secondary-school education, including foundation education, vocational education and higher education (including research). 
    Our investment helps to ensure a network of provision which meets the needs of different learners and communities.
    The scope and breadth of our careers work has expanded to better support the changing nature of work and the future career needs of all New Zealanders between the ages of 7 and 70+. The focus is to help prepare New Zealanders for the future of work and the post-COVID challenges that lie ahead.
    Over the coming years we will focus on equipping New Zealanders with the skills and capabilities to make them career confident and resilient. For our customers this means providing information, tools and support to inform and enable good educational and employment decisions.
    Recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
    The TEC recognises and affirms our responsibility to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi:

    We will give practical effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our work across the tertiary education and careers system.
    We will ensure that our work is consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi-related goals of the Education Work Programme, the Tertiary Education Strategy and Ka Hikitia.
    We acknowledge our responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its entirety including taking into account the interests of whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori.
    In particular, through our Ōritetanga Learner Success work programme, we will give effect to the Crown’s Third Article Treaty obligations to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori as learners. We will work to ensure that all Māori learners receive what they need to be successful, through the intentional design and stewardship of the tertiary education system.
    We will support the Crown to meet its duties to actively protect the taonga of te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori and a strong wānanga system of tertiary educational delivery.

    We are required to give effect to the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES). The TES sets out the Government’s current and medium-term priorities and long-term strategic direction for tertiary education. It is intended to address economic, social and environmental goals, and the development aspirations of Māori and other population groups.
    Performance monitoring
    In addition to our performance monitoring of the tertiary education sector as a whole, our Chief Executive is required to report to the responsible Minister(s) on performance of universities, wānanga and Te Pūkenga – formally the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), the tertiary education institutes (TEIs) reflecting your ownership interest (on behalf of the Crown) in all 12 TEIs.
    Through our work we support learners to understand and take hold of the lifelong opportunities they have to upskill, reskill and adapt to new challenges.
    Delivering for learners also means delivering for communities and employers. We do this by working with these groups to make sure learners are equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to contribute to thriving and resilient communities and an innovative and sustainable economy.
    For more information, please refer to our corporate publications: Annual Report, Statement of Performance Expectations, and the Briefing to the Incoming Minister 2020.

    Related Content

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advice seen by Minister(s)

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Date
    Reference Number
    Title

    19 December 2019
    AM/19/01484
    Aide-Memoir: Discussion paper: establishing a CoVE specialising in Secondary Tertiary Programmes, Multiple Pathways and Transitions (PDF 1.4 MB) 

    5 December 2019
    B/19/01460
    Funding Agreement between the Crown and Lincoln University (PDF 1.3 MB) 

    3 December 2019
    1210568
    Education Report: High-level decisions on the unified funding system for discussion at the strategy session on 12 December (PDF 7.8 MB)

    22 November 2019
    B/19/01385
    Tertiary Education Commission 2019/20 Quarter One Performance Report

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01340
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 658 KB) 

    20 November 2019
    B/19/01339
    Tertiary Education Report: August 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 590 KB) 

    15 November 2019
    AM/19/01341
    Expenditure accrual adjustment to Vote Tertiary Education

    13 November 2019
    AM/19/01357
    Overview of standard operating procedures and/or code of practices for TEI accommodation services

    11 November 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Confirmation of Crown capital investment to support the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities (PDF 1.2 MB)

    7 November 2019
    AM/19/01351
    Tertiary Education Institution Accommodation Overview

    1 November 2019
    AM/19/01338
    No recoveries for exceeding prior achievement limit in 2019 for YG and SAC 1-2

    29 October 2019
    B/19/01328
    Tertiary Education Commission Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019

    25 October 2019
    AM/19/01337
    Reform of Vocational Education Programme Governance – Update

    24 October 2019
    E/19/01252
    Ako Aotearoa 2019 Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards Evening – 30 October 2019

    23 October 2019
    B/19/01284
    Crown support for Whitireia Community Polytechnic

    15 October 2019
    E/19/01277
    Launch of Drawing the Future event on 18 October at Porirua East School

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01260
    Report to Ministers from the University of Canterbury Futures Governance Oversight Group

    14 October 2019
    B/19/01275
    ITP constitutions for two councils

    9 October 2019
    AM/19/01258
    AgResearch business case for a new building at Lincoln University

    4 October 2019
    E/19/01256
    Opening the 15th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum on Tuesday 15 October 2019

    25 September 2019
    B/19/01192
    Update on Careers System Strategy Engagement Process (PDF 500 KB) 

    20 September 2019
    B/19/01175
    Tertiary Education Commission draft Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019 (PDF 276 KB) 

    19 September 2019
    B/19/01211
    Tertiary Education Report: Draft Cabinet paper on supporting the rebuild of Lincoln University’s science facilities and reallocation of funding to Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 159 KB) 

    17 September 2019
    B/19/01023
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 250 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01210
    Establishing a Stakeholder Advisory Group for Reform of Vocational Education

    13 September 2019
    B/19/01209
    Workforce Development Council and ITO Workstream: Progress update (PDF 861 KB) 

    13 September 2019
    1204429
    Briefing Note: Unified Funding Work Programme: Progress update (PDF 3.6 MB)

    10 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01176
    Ministerial visit to the University of Auckland on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 (PDF 871 KB) 

    9 September 2019
    E/19/01169
    Meeting with Greg Wallace, Chief Executive of Master Plumbers on Thursday 12 September 2019

    6 September 2019
    B/19/01141
    ITP constitutions for seven councils (PDF 297 KB) 

    2 September 2019
    E/19/01158
    Ministerial visit to Unitec Institute of Technology on Tuesday, 3 September 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01065
    Tertiary Education Report: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 487 KB) 

    27 August 2019
    B/19/01086
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Fees-Free Enrolment Update (PDF 640 KB) 

    21 August 2019
    B/19/01085
    Tertiary Education Report: April 2019 Enrolment Update (PDF 826 KB)

    19 August 2019
    E/19/01093
    Minister of Education Opening the Primary ITO Symposium on Tuesday 20 August 2019

    8 August 2019
    AM/19/00929
    Fees-free monitoring and addressing non-complying TEOs

    26 July 2019
    E/19/00868
    Ōritetanga Learner Success Conference (PDF 240 KB) 

    26 July 2019
    AM/19/00971
    Talking Points for Cabinet on 29 July 2019 – NZIST Establishment Board Appointment

    25 July 2019
    B/19/00928
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal (PDF 1.5 MB) 

    24 July 2019
    B/19/00882
    Crown support for Tai Poutini Polytechnic (PDF 670 KB)

    20 July 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report (PDF 459 KB) 

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00959
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for Telfrod – Talking point for Cabinet

    19 July 2019
    AM/19/00954
    Annotated Agenda – NZ Institute of Skills and Technology Establishment

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00773
    Update on Careers System Strategy and Career Action Plan (PDF 275 KB) 

    17 July 2019
    B/19/00867
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2020 and 2021 (PDF 486 KB) 

    15 July 2019
    AM/19/00800
    Assurance findings for the Reform of Vocational Education Programme

    15 July 2019
    B/19/00763
    2020 Investment Round Update: Indicative Allocations

    11 July 2019
    E/19/00879
    Minister to visit Otago University on 12 July 2019 (PDF 465 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    B/19/00819
    Manukau Institute of Technology– council constitution (PDF 402 KB) 

    10 July 2019
    AM/19/00880
    Compliance monitoring of fees-free tertiary education and prosecution for false statutory declarations

    4 July 2019
    B/19/00785
    TEC 2018/19 Quarter Three Performance Report (PDF 355 KB) 

    3 July 2019
    B/19/00861
    Review of the appointment of the Commissioner of Unitec (PDF 289 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00820
    Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi 2018 Annual Report (PDF 506 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00708
    Publication of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Statement of Intent 2019/20–2022/23 and Statement of Performance Expectations 2019/20 (PDF 274 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    AM/19/00827
    Aide-Memoire: Lincoln University Programme Business Case: Moving Forward (PDF 303 KB) 

    1 July 2019
    B/19/00840
    2018 Educational Performance Indicators

    28 June 2019
    E/19/00835
    Meeting with Service Skills Institute Incorporated on Monday 1 July 2019

    25 June 2019
    AM/19/00821
    Talking Points for APH on 26 June 2019 – Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (PDF 219 KB)

    20 June 2019
    AM/19/00790
    WAIKATO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2018 Annual Report

    19 June 2019
    AM/19/00797
    Growing the Food and Fibres Sector – Recommendations for the TEC

    17 June 2019
    E/19/00776
    University of Canterbury – Opening of the Rehua Building on 25 June 2019 (PDF 326 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    E/19/00690
    Meeting with the Commissioner of WelTec and Whitireia (PDF 346 KB) 

    12 June 2019
    AM/19/00749
    Update on Whitireia Community Polytechnic and the Wellington Institute of Technology

    10 June 2019
    AM/19/00739
    Update on the current situation of funding training and education of carers

    7 June 2019
    B/19/00702
    Recognition of Skills Active Aotearoa Limited as an industry training organisation (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00709
    Waikato Institute of Technology Council Constitution (PDF 441 KB) 

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00704
    Unitec Institute of Technology 2018 Annual Report (PDF 408 KB)

    31 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 final full-year enrolments at tertiary education organisations

    31 May 2019
    AM/19/00707
    Update on the financial position of ITPs

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00703
    Recognition of the Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand as an industry training organisation (PDF 479 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    B/19/00701
    Recognition of Primary Industry Training Organisation as an industry training organisation (PDF 897 KB) 

    30 May 2019
    E/19/00705
    Meeting with UCOL on 5 June 2019  (PDF 2.6 MB)

    27 May 2019
    AM/19/00648
    Advice on options to support the University of Canterbury following the Christchurch mosque attacks

    24 May 2019
    B/19/00650
    Ministerial appointment to Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00706
    2018 Final Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations (PDF 1.1 MB) 

    17 May 2019
    B/19/00640
    Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection – Final Milestone (PDF 386 KB) Tai Poutini Polytechnic Capital Injection Appendix A (PDF 1.6 MB) 

    16 May 2019
    AM/19/00651
    Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki 2018 Annual Report (PDF 516 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00555
    Meeting with Professor Jan Thomas from Massey University on 22 May 2019 (PDF 682 KB) 

    10 May 2019
    E/19/00644
    Meeting with Southland Federated Farmers

    9 May 2019
    B/19/00613
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two tertiary education councils (PDF 286 KB) 

    8 May 2019
    E/19/00509
    Minister to speak at the Open Polytechnic Graduation on Thursday, 23 May 2019 (PDF 3.2 MB).

    3 May 2019 
    AM/19/00611
    Lincoln University 2018 financial results (PDF 247 KB) 

    3 May 2019
    AM/19/00615
    Ministerial Appointment to the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

    23 April 2019
    B/19/00527
    Release of the 2018 PBRF Quality Evaluation Results 

    10 April 2019
    E/19/00512
    Meeting with Primary Industry Training Organisation on Thursday 11 April 2019 

    9 April 2019
    E/19/00473
    Meeting with WITT to discuss RoVE on 11 April 2019 

    8 April 2019
    E/19/00482
    Meeting with Andrew Robb from Tai Poutini Polytechnic on 11 April 2019 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00451
    Salvation Army foundation education delivery consultation outcomes 

    3 April 2019
    B/19/00469
    Inspiring Futures – Response 

    2 April 2019
    E/19/00465
    Ministerial visit to open new Tech Park Campus development at Manukau Institute of Technology on 5 April 2019 

    28 March 2019
    E/19/00446
    BusinessNZ Major Companies Group – Chief Executive Forum on Friday 5 April 2019 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00448
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to eight tertiary education institution councils 

    27 March 2019
    B/19/00442
    Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – council constitution 

    25 March 2019
    B/19/00360
    2018 Interim Full-Year Enrolments at Tertiary Education Organisations 

    18 March 2019
    AM/19/00414
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to eight ITP councils 

    14 March 2019
    B/19/00161
    TEC 2018/2019 Quarter Two Performance Report 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00396
    Meeting with The Skills Organisation 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    E/19/00398
    Meeting with Careerforce Thursday 14 March 2019 

    12 March 2019
    B/19/00381
    Letters for Ministerial appointments to two university councils 

    7 March 2019
    B/19/00158
    Careers System Strategy Workstream Implementation Update 

    5 March 2019
    AM/19/00330
    Talking Points for APH on appointments to two TEI Councils 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00166
    Meeting with Competenz Chair and Chief Executive Thursday 7 March 

    1 March 2019
    E/19/00234
    Local Government New Zealand Rural and Provincial Meeting 

    27 February 2019
    E/19/00165
    Visit to Telford (PDF 326 KB) 

    26 February 2019
    E/19/00150
    Meeting with primary industry leaders to discuss your vision on Reform of Vocational Education (PDF 269 KB) 

    25 February 2019
    E/19/00246
    Meeting with the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (PDF 2 MB) 

    15 February 2019
    B/19/00082
    Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury Partnership Proposal: next steps (PDF 2.3 MB) 

    11 February 2019
    AM/19/0060
    World Economic Forum OECD Release of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs: Trends, Data and Drawings report (PDF 159 KB) 

    7 February 2019
    AM/19/00083
    2018 full-year enrolment reporting timeline (PDF 397 KB) 

    1 February 2019
    B/19/00081
    Southern Institute of Technology’s proposal for operating Telford in 2019 (PDF 393 KB) 

    February 2019
    Cabinet paper
    Council Appointments for Ara Institute of Canterbury, Eastern Institute of Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology, NorthTec, Otago Polytechnic, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, UCOL and the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (PDF 320 KB) 

    30 January 2019
    B/19/00055
    Appointment of an advisory committee to support the Commissioner of Whitireia and WelTec (PDF 202 KB) 

    29 January 2019
    AM/19/00064
    Computer in Homes Tender (PDF 824 KB) 

    28 January 2019
    AM/19/00063
    Meeting with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    21 January 2019
    E/19/00010
    Ara Institute of Canterbury – Manawa and Outpatients facility opening on Thursday 31 January 2019 (PDF 1.2 MB) 

    11 January 2019
    B/19/00028
    Update World Economic Forum: Launch of Envisioning the Future of Education and Jobs (PDF 554 KB) 

    8 January 2019
    B/19/00007
    University of Auckland – amendment to council constitution (PDF 303 KB) 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –