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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Global: 23andMe is potentially selling more than just genetic data – the personal survey info it collected is just as much a privacy problem

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan

    For companies like 23andMe, consumers are as much the product as the DNA test kits. Veronika Oliinyk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    As soon as the genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy on March 23, 2025, concerns about what would happen to the personal information contained in its massive genetic and health information database were swift and widespread. A few days after, a U.S. judge ruled that the company could sell its consumer data as part of the bankruptcy.

    The attorneys general of several states warned their citizens to delete their genetic data. California urged its citizens to request that 23andMe delete their data and destroy their spit samples. Michigan’s attorney general released a statement warning that “23andMe collects and stores some of the most sensitive personal information, our genetic code.”

    When customers originally signed up for 23andMe, they agreed to terms and conditions and a privacy notice that allows the company to use their information for research and development as well as share their data, in aggregate, with third parties. If consumers consented to additional research, which the vast majority did, the company can additionally share their individual information with third parties. 23andMe has also been clear that if it is involved in a bankruptcy or sale of assets, consumer information might be sold or transferred.

    While 23andMe has warned customers all along about everything that is currently happening, many are still surprised and concerned.

    I’m a lawyer and bioethicist who has been studying direct-to-consumer genetic testing for almost a decade. Understanding what information 23andMe has been collecting, and how it might be used if sold or shared, can help clarify concerns for consumers.

    What is 23andMe?

    In 2007, 23andMe, named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in a human cell, was one of the first direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to open in the United States. It was backed by a large investment by Google, which quickly attracted the interest of other investors, allowing 23andMe to thrive when many other direct-to-consumer genetic companies went quickly out of business.

    The direct-to-consumer business model is fairly straightforward: A consumer orders a genetic test kit online, spits into a tube that comes in the mail, returns it to the company and accesses their results in an online portal. Over 15 million consumers bought 23andMe, and the vast majority consented to its research. At its peak, the company was valued at US$6 billion.

    The fate of the trove of personal information 23andMe has gathered over the years has wide-ranging implications for consumers.

    While the market initially believed in the value of 23andMe’s business model, its stock has been in decline for years, and the company owes hundreds of millions of dollars to creditors.

    Reasons for this rapid decline include a decrease in the sale of test kits after a 2023 hack of almost 7 million people’s data, as well as a failure to profit enough from providing data access to other private sector companies. Lack of private interest in 23andMe data may be related to the fact that much of the information the company collects is self-reported, which is often considered less reliable than information written down by a doctor in a medical record.

    What kind of data does 23andMe collect?

    While the saying goes “If you’re not paying, you’re the product,” 23andMe managed to convince its consumers to both pay for AND be the product. It did this by selling genetic testing kits to consumers as well as collecting a massive amount of their valuable data.

    And 23andMe collected more than just genetic data generated from consumers’ spit. Eighty-five percent of customers consented to 23andMe research, allowing their individual-level data to be used for studies. The company then collected information from survey questions about their personal health and beyond, such as drinking habits and risk tolerance.

    This means that not only does 23andMe possess the genetic data of 15 million people, but it also possesses almost a billion additional data points associated with this genetic information. This makes the 23andMe dataset potentially very private – and very valuable.

    At first, drug companies seemed to agree. For example, in 2018, 23andMe granted pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline an exclusive license to use consented customer data to develop new drugs. GlaxoSmithKline also made a $300 million equity investment in 23andMe. When 23andMe went public in 2021, its $6 billion valuation reflected the promise of this business model.

    But for over a decade, scholars, including me, have been warning that allowing 23andMe to collect and use personal data was not one that customers fully understood, or were actually comfortable with.

    What should 23andMe customers worry about?

    In response to current public concern about data privacy, 23andMe has stated that there will be no changes to how it stores and protects data during its bankruptcy proceedings. But once that stage is through, what exactly should customers worry about?

    First, law enforcement could use genetic information in civil or criminal cases. This happened in 2018, when police used the genetic testing company GEDmatch to help identify the Golden State Killer. Police pretended they were customers looking for genealogy data and sent in an old crime scene blood spot. This allowed them to connect to known suspects with blood relatives who had given their genetic information to the company as consumers. While this was in violation of GEDmatch’s own policies, the evidence was successfully used in court.

    Second, genetic information could be used to discriminate against customers if it shows that they have or are at high risk of developing a genetic disease or disorder. The federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prohibits health insurers and employers from asking about genetic information or using it to discriminate in work or health insurance decisions. It does not, however, protect against discrimination in long-term care or life insurance.

    Giving someone your genetic, medical and personal information gives them opportunities to exploit you.
    Westend61/Getty Images

    Many of the warnings from the media and attorneys general are focused on genetic information because it is unique to only one person. But direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies also retain a massive amount of personal information from the surveys consumers are asked to complete. Much of this information could be embarrassing if it were inadvertently or intentionally revealed, such as a person’s intelligence.

    In the 2025 book “Careless People,” former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams reported that Facebook would use indications of self-consciousness about personal appearance, such as deleting a selfie, to promote beauty products. If companies know such intimate details about a person, they could not only be used to sell products, but also potentially manipulate them over social media or the internet in ways they do not even realize. It could be used for targeted advertising or to build algorithms that exploit a person’s vulnerabilities.

    I believe consumers are right to be worried about how their genetic data could be misused. But the survey data containing all sorts of other personal information are at least as much, if not more, of a privacy problem. This is particularly concerning if the data is pooled together with other information available on the internet, like a dating profile, to create a more detailed – and personal – picture of an individual.

    I am deleting my own 23andMe data. In the future, I would also warn consumers against freely gifting the private sector with information about their fears, hopes, limitations and successes.

    That information is valuable to more people than just you.

    Kayte Spector-Bagdady receives funding from the National Center for Advancing Transnational Sciences and the Greenwall Foundation.

    – ref. 23andMe is potentially selling more than just genetic data – the personal survey info it collected is just as much a privacy problem – https://theconversation.com/23andme-is-potentially-selling-more-than-just-genetic-data-the-personal-survey-info-it-collected-is-just-as-much-a-privacy-problem-253220

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Feeling FOMO for something that’s not even fun? It’s not the event you’re missing, it’s the bonding

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jacqueline Rifkin, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Cornell University

    They had so much fun without me. Milko/E+ via Getty Images

    Imagine you’ve planned the trip of a lifetime for your animal-loving family: a cruise to Antarctica with the unique opportunity to view penguins, whales and other rare wildlife. Your adventure-loving kids can kayak through fjords, plunge into icy water and camp under the Antarctic sky.

    But rather than being ecstatic, as you anticipated, your kids whine about skipping an after-school scout meeting at a neighbor’s house. Missing this ordinary weekly event triggers such intense FOMO – “fear of missing out” – for them that they don’t want to go on your amazing expedition.

    If this kind of debacle sounds familiar to you – or at least if you find it perplexing – you’re not alone. The three of us are marketing professors and social psychologists who focus on how consumers make decisions and how this shapes well-being. We’ve been studying FOMO for over a decade and recently published our work in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Over the years, we’ve learned what really drives intense feelings of FOMO – which explains why a run-of-the-mill meeting might feel more crucial than an over-the-top vacation.

    FOMO’s real trigger

    People use the term FOMO in many different ways. In our research, we focus on a very specific type of FOMO: the kind that occurs when people miss out on events that involve valued social connections.

    With this kind of FOMO, we found that the pain of missing out is not related to missing the actual event or opportunity – although that could be there as well. The FOMO we study happens when people miss the chance to bond with friends, co-workers or teammates they care about.

    So, the critical part of FOMO is missing out on interactions with people you value. FOMO about a group dinner at a restaurant isn’t really about the food and great lighting. Nor is FOMO about a concert just about the band’s performance. Instead, it’s about the lost opportunity to connect and make memories with people who are important to you.

    Why is this upsetting? Imagine the scenario where all your best friends go out to dinner without you. They bond and make lasting memories with each other – and you’re not there for any of it.

    If they get closer to each other, where does that leave you? What happens to your social relationships and your sense of belonging? Do you become a less important friend? Less worthy of future invites? Or even kicked out of the group altogether? The anxiety of FOMO can begin to spiral.

    People with what psychologists call an anxious attachment style chronically fear rejection and isolation from others. Because FOMO involves anxiety about future social belonging, it may not come as a surprise that people who are naturally more anxious about their friendships tend to get more intense FOMO. When we asked people in one of our studies to scroll social media until they encountered something social they missed, we found that the more anxiously attached a participant was, the more intense FOMO they experienced.

    They’ll always remember that summer cookout – and you weren’t there.
    Maskot/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    Not just missing Coachella

    Getting FOMO for an amazing event you can’t attend makes sense. But if FOMO is less about the event itself and more about the social bonding, what happens when you miss something that’s not really fun at all?

    We find that people anticipate FOMO even for unenjoyable missed events. As long as there is some form of missed social bonding, feelings of FOMO emerge. One of our studies found that people anticipated more FOMO from missing an un-fun event that their friends would be at, than a fun event without their friends.

    For better or for worse, sad and stressful events can often be emotionally bonding: Going to a funeral to support a friend, cleaning up the mess after a party, or even white-knuckling through a harrowing initiation ceremony can all offer opportunities to forge stronger connections with one another. Stressful contexts like these can be fertile grounds for FOMO.

    How to fend off FOMO

    Popular discussions about the negative consequences of FOMO tend to focus on the FOMO people feel from compulsively scrolling on social media and seeing what they missed out on. Consequently, much of the suggested advice on how to mitigate FOMO centers on turning off phones or taking a vacation from social media.

    Those recommendations may be tough for many people to execute. Plus, they address the symptoms of FOMO, not the cause.

    Our finding that the core of FOMO is anxiety about missed social relationships yields a simpler strategy to combat it: Reminding yourself of the last time you connected with close friends may provide a sense of security that staves off feelings of FOMO.

    In an experiment testing multiple interventions, we asked 788 study participants to look through their social media feeds until they encountered a post of a missed social event. We asked about 200 of these participants to immediately rate how much FOMO they were feeling. They averaged a 3.2 on a 1-to-7 scale.

    Another group of about 200 participants also scrolled through their social media feeds until they encountered a post of a missed social event. But before indicating how much FOMO they were feeling, we asked them to think back to a prior experience socializing and bonding with their friends. Encouragingly, this reflection exercise seemed to curtail FOMO. Their average FOMO rating was 2.7 out of 7, a significant drop.

    Reminding yourself about other good times with your pals can help keep FOMO at bay.
    AJ_Watt/E+ via Getty Images

    With the remaining participants, we tested other strategies for mitigating FOMO – thinking about the next time they might see their friends or imagining what they’d say to a FOMO-suffering friend – but the simple reflection exercise was by far the most promising.

    So, reminding yourself of the meaningful relationships you already have and reaffirming your social belonging in the moment may help combat the rush of anxiety that is characteristic of FOMO.

    And missing out on social bonding experiences doesn’t have to be anxiety-provoking. In fact, in our activity-packed, hectic lives, missing some “must-attend” events may be a welcome relief – especially if you remind yourself that your social belonging is not in jeopardy. Cue a recent wave of counter-FOMO programming called JOMO, or “Joy of Missing Out.”

    To quote Stuart Smalley, the fictional self-help guru of 1990s “Saturday Night Live,” reminding yourself that “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” might be just the trick to mitigate FOMO.

    Jacqueline Rifkin received grant funding support for this project from the Marketing Science Institute (MSI).

    Barbara Kahn received funding from the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) and research support from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

    Cindy Chan received grant funding support for this project from the Marketing Science Institute (MSI).

    – ref. Feeling FOMO for something that’s not even fun? It’s not the event you’re missing, it’s the bonding – https://theconversation.com/feeling-fomo-for-something-thats-not-even-fun-its-not-the-event-youre-missing-its-the-bonding-247047

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. uranium production in 2024 was highest in six years

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 2, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-851A, Domestic Uranium Production Report (Annual), and Form EIA-851Q, Domestic Uranium Production Report (Quarterly)
    Note: Data were withheld from second-quarter 2020 to second-quarter 2021. P=preliminary data; W=withheld

    Companies in the United States produced more uranium concentrate in 2024 than in any year since 2018 after a sustained period of higher uranium prices spurred production, according to our recently published Domestic Uranium Production Report—Quarterly. The increase largely came from two in-situ recovery facilities, one in Texas and one in Wyoming, and the resumption of uranium production at White Mesa Mill in Utah, the only operational uranium mill in the United States. Production in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone was higher than the total annual production for each of the years in 2019–23.

    Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill in Utah can produce uranium, rare earth and other minerals, and vanadium, which is used in steelmaking among other purposes. The company’s most recent annual financial disclosure documents report it expects to continue focusing on uranium in 2025.

    Uranium concentrate has commercial uses as the fuel for civilian nuclear reactors and in medical applications. Uranium concentrate must be processed in conversion and enrichment facilities before being fabricated in fuel rods or pellets at fuel fabrication plants. These fuel rods or pellets can then be loaded into civilian nuclear reactors.

    We publish estimates on the production of domestic uranium in the Domestic Uranium Production Report—Quarterly, along with the status of uranium mills, heap leach facilities, and in-situ recovery plants.

    Principal contributors: Tim Shear, M. Tyson Brown

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cuban national sentenced to nearly a decade in federal prison for human smuggling

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    EL PASO, Texas – A Cuban national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 111 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor aliens, and sexual assault of an alien, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the case.

    “Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens. “HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, 30, assisted in the harboring of illegal aliens and managed a stash house in El Paso. He also was an occupant in a vehicle that fled law enforcement that was transporting more than a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. An investigation revealed that Arriola-Rivero sexually assaulted one of the illegal aliens at the El Paso stash house. Arriola-Rivero was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2023, and was arrested Sept. 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2024.

    “It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims,” said acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Law Library Publishes New Report, “Israel: Tax Exemptions for Churches”

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The Law Library of Congress recently published a legal report, Israel: Tax Exemptions for Churches, which provides information on tax exemptions enjoyed by churches under Israeli law. The report addresses conditions for the grant of exemptions under legislation on municipal tax, income tax, value added tax, real estate tax, and property improvement levies. These include characteristics of religious organizations for qualification under the various laws, and types of qualifying properties and activities that are exempted from taxation.

    Church interior (Church of Annunciation, Nazareth) [Between 1898 and 1946]. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/matpc.09024

    We invite you to review the information provided in our report, here.

    The report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 historical and contemporary legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign law specialists with expertise in each area. To receive alerts when new reports are published, you can subscribe to email updates and the RSS feed for Law Library Reports (click the “subscribe” button on the Law Library’s website). The Law Library also regularly publishes articles related to taxation in the Global Legal Monitor.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: POET Expands Global Reach as It Teams with South Korea’s Lessengers To Develop 800G DR8 Transceivers for AI and Hyperscale Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company“) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), a leader in the design and implementation of highly-integrated optical engines and light sources for artificial intelligence networks, today announced it has partnered with Lessengers, an innovative optical solution provider based in South Korea, to offer a differentiated 800G DR8 transceiver. The transceiver will include POET’s transmit and receive optical engines and Lessenger’s “Direct Optical Wiring” (DOW) technology for a cost-effective solution for AI and hyperscale data center applications.

    POET will supply the highly integrated POET Infinity™ transmit and receive optical engines configured in an 800G DR8 architecture, which includes electronic and photonic components.

    Lessengers expects to have transceiver samples ready for its customers to review in the second half of 2025.

    “Like POET, Lessengers is bringing cutting-edge innovation to the market. It is a perfect partnership of companies that are finding new solutions by unlocking the vast abilities of optical technology. We’re thrilled to continue our growth in the industry through a co-development arrangement with a likeminded and truly inventive company,” commented Raju Kankipati, POET’s Chief Revenue Officer.

    Lessengers Chief Marketing Officer Taeyong Kim added: “POET’s production-ready optical engines provide Lessengers with a high-quality component that allows us to bring more value to our transceiver customers. POET offers a complementary technology to Lessengers’ direct optical coupling that saves on costs and improves efficiency.”

    The two companies’ booths are situated next to each other at the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. POET is at Booth 5315 through the show, which ends on Thursday, April 3.

    About POET Technologies Inc.
    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore.  More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

    About Lessengers

    Lessengers is an innovative optical solution provider, powered by its patent DOW technology, which enables cost effective direct optical coupling without the use of lens optics. This provides the most suitable solution for data center applications such as 800G/1.6T optical transceivers, active optical cables (AOCs), on-board, near packaged, or co-packaged optics.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful development of high speed transceiver solutions and its penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

    Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the completion of its development efforts with its customers, the ability to build working prototypes to the customer’s specifications, and the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure to produce optical engines on time and within budget, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company’s products to meet performance requirements for AI and datacom networks, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, and the ability of its customers to deploy systems that incorporate the Company’s products. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b54b7e2-2d7c-4795-bae5-90e693fc854c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DriveItAway Holdings, Inc. Partners with Fleet-Connection to Offer its Flexible Lease Alternative to Commercial Fleet Customers with its New “DriveItAway Business Preferred” Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Philadelphia, PA, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    – DriveItAway Expands its Market to Enable All the Ability to Drive, and Then Buy Quality Vehicles, with No Long-Term Financial Commitment or Credit Threshold with Its Flexible Lease Subscription Program Now Offered to Small Commercial Businesses by launching its new “DriveItAway Business Preferred Program”

    – To Promote DriveItAway Business Preferred, DriveItAway has Partnered with Fleet-Connection and its Founder Sherb Brown, Former President of Bobit Business Media and Group Publisher of Major Fleet Publications – Listen to DriveItAway’s CEO John F. Possumato and Fleet-Connection’s Sherb Brown discuss this new endeavor as part of Elena Ciccotelli’s “The EVs for Everyone Podcast” (Episode 157)

    – DriveItAway’s Business Preferred Program Will Cater to the Approximately 12-15 Million Small Locally-Owned Businesses that Have an Immediate Need for an SUV, Truck, or Van, But Do Not Want to Make a Long Term Financial Commitment for a Vehicle or a Fleet of Vehicles, or Lack the Cash or Credit for a Traditional Vehicle Finance or Lease

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA, April 2 2025 – DriveItAway Holdings, Inc. ( OTC Marketplace: DWAY) (“DriveItAway” and “Company”), an automotive industry leader in new digital mobility platforms with its unique “flexible-lease/subscription to purchase” technology, continues to gain traction and visibility in its mission to enable all to drive, and then buy, affordable quality personal transportation, announces today the expansion of its service to small commercial fleet businesses, who find it difficult to buy or lease vehicles through traditional channels, with its newly created “DriveItAway Business Preferred” Program.

    To jump-start this endeavor, DriveItAway is partnering with Sherb Brown, a long-time fleet industry veteran, and his company, Fleet-Connection, which maintains one of the most comprehensive database and marketing engine for the millions of small fleet owners, who are “under the radar” in comparison to large, traditional fleet operators. Brown is the former President of Bobit Business Media and was the Group Publisher of major fleet publications, including Heavy Duty Trucking and Work Truck, along with general commercial-focused Websites and live events.

    “A long time ago, I started in the automotive business on the fleet and small commercial side, first as a franchise dealer, and I then helped design and present the dealer-based small commercial fleet education and training programs for Ford, General Motors and Jaguar,” says John F. Possumato, Founder & CEO of DriveItAway, “then, as now, one of the stumbling blocks for a new or small local business in acquiring needed vehicles is the credit requirements from both manufacturer captive finance companies and banks, who usually require three years in business and a strong balance sheet, something that a lot of small businesses do not have, especially new ones. In addition, many small businesses have seasonal or contract work, which may require a work truck or van for just six months or a year, where a conventional purchase or lease just won’t work. Our DriveItAway ‘Business Preferred’ open-ended, no obligation flexible lease now offers the new perfect alternative.”

    “Right now smaller fleets have access to the right inventory of vehicles, trucks, or vans to fill all needs,” says Sherb Brown, CEO of Fleet-Connection, “but many times the optimal means to acquire these vehicles does not exist. In many cases these small businesses are shut out of traditional commercial financing or leasing due to credit or years in business requirements, or have seasonal or contract work, where owning or long-term leasing vehicles wouldn’t be the right decision.” continues Brown, “this is the niche that DriveItAway’s Business Preferred flexible lease alternative fits, and we are excited to work with John and his team to add some visibility to the program.”

    This latest expansion to open up a new market of small commercial (non-gig) fleet follows directly with DriveItAway’s 2025 goals as stated in the Company’s ‘Year End Message to Shareholders.’

    “In January, I said that in addition to expanding our business to include small commercial fleet sales, our two other Company goals for 2025 are to increase our own vehicle credit line, and to continue to make ‘strong and deep industry alliances.’ In February, we were fortunate enough to announce that we increased our line and that Menachem Light, a true industry icon, has agreed to Chair our newly created Board of Advisors,” continues Possumato, “now in pursuing our goal to expand our services to small commercial fleet customers, it is particularly rewarding to be working with Sherb Brown, as he and I have known each other now for over three decades. Automotive fleet has always fundamentally been a people business, and with Sherb, we are working with the best in fleet.”

    All are encouraged to visit with John F. Possumato at the automotive industry events where he is a featured speaker in April – the Auto Intel Summit in Cary, NC, on April 8th; the National Vehicle Leasing Association Annual Conference in Clearwater, FL, on April 10th; and the International Car Rental Show in Las Vegas, NV, on April 14th.

    About DriveItAway Holdings, Inc.
    DriveItAway Holdings, Inc. is the first national dealer-focused mobility platform that enables car dealers to sell more vehicles in a seamless way through eCommerce, with its exclusive flexible lease app-based subscription. DriveItAway provides a comprehensive, turn-key, solutions-driven program with proprietary mobile technology and driver app, insurance coverages, and training to get dealerships up and running quickly and profitably in emerging online sales opportunities, to gain sales and market share.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. All forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, assumptions, and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. We caution investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cerence AI Honored with 2025 ECARX Best Contribution Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI and BURLINGTON, Mass., April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC) (“Cerence AI”), a global leader pioneering conversational AI-powered user experiences, today announced that it has received a Best Contribution Award at the 2025 ECARX Partnership Conference, held on March 11, 2025, in Hangzhou, China. ECARX, a global automotive technology provider partnering with OEMs to accelerate the future of software-defined vehicles, presented the award in recognition of Cerence AI’s extensive contributions as a trusted, long-term partner delivering cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions to ECARX and its OEM customers. This is the second consecutive year that Cerence AI has been recognized with this award.

    ECARX and Cerence AI are long-term partners, having collaborated since ECARX’s founding in 2017 on automotive programs across a range of Geely brands, including innovative Audio AI solutions and multilingual support in vehicle infotainment systems – all contributing to Geely’s global expansion. This joint effort has also delivered advanced AI-powered voice assistants to enhance the driving experience in Geely’s Proton-, smart-, and Lotus-brand vehicles, as well as equip the entire Lynk & Co lineup with AI capabilities to appeal to the European market.

    Most recently, the companies expanded their partnership to enable ECARX to deploy Cerence’s generative AI-powered solutions to create a more intuitive and integrated experience for smart drivers. In addition, leveraging Cerence AI’s extensive global language capabilities, the ECARX Antora 1000 platform – deployed in the Hongqi 007/009 models – featured enhanced voice functionalities, including English language speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities in 17 languages, supporting Hongqi’s expansion into global markets.

    “It’s an honor to be acknowledged for the second year in a row by our long-term partners at ECARX for our continuous effort and innovation,” said Christian Mentz, Chief Revenue Officer, Cerence AI. “Cerence’s AI-powered, intuitive solutions are a core component of ECARX’s innovative computing platforms. Together, we aim to consistently deliver unparalleled value to automakers, fostering the evolution of AI-driven user experiences across China and in global markets.” 

    To learn more about Cerence AI, visit www.cerence.ai, and follow the company on LinkedIn.

    About Cerence Inc.
    Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC) is a global industry leader in creating intuitive, seamless, AI-powered experiences across automotive and transportation. Leveraging decades of innovation and expertise in voice, generative AI, and large language models, Cerence powers integrated experiences that create safer, more connected, and more enjoyable journeys for drivers and passengers alike. With more than 500 million cars shipped with Cerence technology, the company partners with leading automakers, transportation OEMs, and technology companies to advance the next generation of user experiences. Cerence is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with operations globally and a worldwide team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. For more information, visit www.cerence.ai.

    About ECARX
    ECARX (Nasdaq: ECX) is a global automotive technology provider with capabilities to deliver turnkey solutions for next-generation smart vehicles, from the system on a chip (SoC), to central computing platforms, and software. As automakers develop new electric vehicle architectures from the ground up, ECARX is developing full-stack solutions to enhance the user experience, while reducing complexity and cost.

    Founded in 2017 and listed on the Nasdaq in 2022, ECARX now has over 1,800 employees based in 12 major locations in China, UK, USA, Sweden, Germany and Malaysia. To date, ECARX products can be found in over 7.3 million vehicles worldwide.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LVT Releases Industry-First Mobile Security Unit Talk Down Powered by Agentic AI and Other Features

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (ISC West Booth #29061), April 2, 2025: LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.), the leader of rapidly deployable security solutions, today announced multiple new capabilities powered by proprietary AI models that empower security teams to implement proactive, data-driven security strategies for 24/7 coverage in any environment. The capabilities, currently in beta, include industry-first agentic AI-powered personalized audio messages that automatically detect, validate, and deter by referencing identifiable features of an individual, a pan/tilt spotlight that intelligently points at a detection area, and an intuitive forensic search to find footage with simple keywords.

    “Everything we’ve built at LVT and the countless hours we’ve spent training our AI has led to this moment,” said Steve Lindsey, LVT CTO. “For the last 20 years, our mission has always been to help make communities safer and empower security personnel to secure any environment across every industry. LVT’s proprietary AI models deliver on this promise and offer first-of-their-kind features that will forever reshape how teams optimize their resources to proactively deter crime and save lives.”

    New LVT Unit features include:

    • Agentic AI-powered audio talk down uses situational context to issue a personalized audio message to potential bad actors, identifying the individual who triggered the alert by what they are wearing or holding. The lifelike audio comes in multiple voice options, and the fully automated capability minimizes the necessity of human intervention in order to detect, validate, and deter.
    • Intuitive forensic search in the LVT Platform allows personnel to find footage by searching with natural language, greatly accelerating the ability to analyze situations, gather evidence, and successfully prosecute.
    • Dynamic pan/tilt spotlight points at the detection area, providing greater visibility and drawing attention to where on-the-ground security personnel may need to respond. The optimal lighting also ensures the unit cameras capture the highest quality evidence of a situation while deterring bad actors from committing the crime.
    • Configurable strobe lights with settings for color, pattern, and intensity create distinct visual cues for security teams while enhancing the overall unit experience.

    “LVT’s AI features redefine what’s possible in mobile security, and our proprietary detection models will continue to evolve rapidly in the coming months,” said James Bangerter, LVT VP of Product Development. “Security teams can now access more advanced deterrence features that provide 24/7 coverage and keep personnel aware of risks or incidents so they can make informed and effective responses. Simply put, no other mobile security solution offers AI of this caliber.”

    ISC West attendees can visit LVT in booth #29061 to see these features and more in action, including SafeNow, a mobile-first experience currently in beta that allows customer employees to access LVT Unit features directly from their phones. Learn more about LVT and these new product updates at www.lvt.com/beta.

    About LVT
    LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.) is a leader in life safety and security and the premier developer and manufacturer of mobile, solar-powered and cellular/satellite-connected surveillance solutions and software. Headquartered in American Fork, Utah, LVT’s enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution is used by retailers, critical infrastructure and utilities, construction projects, warehouse and distribution centers, police, municipalities, and more. LVT is proud to be made in the USA and manufactured in Utah. For more information, visit www.lvt.com.

    Media Contacts:
    Matthew Deighton
    LiveView Technologies
    media@lvt.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This World Autism Awareness Day a Proud Mom Celebrates Her Young Daughter’s Advancement of Science

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    “I celebrate her,” heartwarmingly shares Mom Jacqueline Vanderhoof this World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 about the amazing difference her daughter Fiona, 4, is already making in the world to advance scientific knowledge and a potential new treatment for those with autism spectrum disorders, especially profound autism like hers.

    Meet Fiona Vanderhoof, 4, of Philadelphia who is changing the world and autism research by sharing her cells for advanced study at UConn School of Medicine. 

    As a baby Fiona was diagnosed with a genetic condition that causes profound autism known as Dup15q Syndrome.

    “We noticed Fiona wasn’t holding her head up like an infant should and she started doing some weird involuntary movements of her arms and shuttering. We called the pediatrician, and to them it seemed like she was having seizures. We took her down to the ER and ultimately, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. But as part of that journey, we did genetic testing.”

    Her mother says Fiona’s medical journey speaks volumes of the vital importance of doing follow-up genetic testing to catch a possible diagnosis and to inform a child’s care.

    “The genetic testing came back right away that she has what’s called Dup15q syndrome, she basically has an extra chromosome, similar to Down syndrome, so she has an extra piece of her fifteenth chromosome. Through that journey we learned the disorder causes autism among other symptoms,” shared Vanderhoof.

    Due to the genetic condition of Dup15q, Fiona is very significantly developmentally delayed. Also, her verbal communication is very challenged as well as her understanding of spoken language.

    “But the very good news is she says a few words now, and we never thought that could happen! We also didn’t know if she would ever walk, but she does now! She’s very active and it’s really great!” Mom happily reports. Also, Fiona’s repetitive seizures are now under control, and she’s been weaned off her epilepsy medication. But her mother says it’s a waiting game to see if the seizures ever come back.

    “The unknown is very hard,” stresses Mom. “But thanks to Fiona’s shared cells we’re so close to finding a new genetic therapeutic to help her and others with autism,” Mom happily shares.

    Research at UConn School of Medicine was recently awarded funding in February by the Eagles Autism Foundation and UConn’s research findings could directly impact Fiona’s future.

    Fiona Vanderhoof developed profound autism due to the genetic autism-linked condition Dup15q Syndrome. But her diagnosis is not slowing her down. Fiona is a very active child.

    After Fiona’s diagnosis Vanderhoof became a self-proclaimed “science nerd” to find more answers and to help more kids with autism.

    “I had a mobile phlebotomist come to the house and take Fiona’s blood samples to create specialized cells in a lab in California so they could be shared with scientists for further study,” Vanderhoof says.

    “I made cell lines and had them shipped to UConn for research after contacting Dr. Eric Levine’s Lab,” Vanderhoof said. “I now talk to Dr. Levine and his UConn team, and they say, ‘I’m working on Fiona’s cells’ or ‘we used Fiona’s cells today for this and that.’ I’m so glad they are putting her cells to good use! Anything we can do to help autism!”

    “It’s a hope, but soon a reality, we are going to have a gene therapy in the next few years. That’s really exciting!” Vanderhoof exclaims. “Our biggest hope is to improve the quality of life for these kids like Fiona.”

    “We love the Philadelphia Eagles,” says Vanderhoof whose family lives in Philadelphia and are now championing the growing grant funding awarded by the organization for the study of autism and future treatments. “This past year they were able to fund two different Dup15q syndrome researchers a total of $800,000 which is fantastic!”

    For Fiona’s Dup15q genetic disorder the Eagles Autism Foundation grant is funding UConn and Levine’s research looking into the genetic makeup of that extra piece of chromosome.

    “The fact that this UConn researcher is looking into that really gives me hope that in her lifetime there will be a therapeutic that will help her. I am not looking for a cure and not looking to fix Fiona. We love her,” says Vanderhoof. “That all gives me a lot of hope for kids like Fiona that have the same syndrome. One of the big things that is concerning with her Dup15q syndrome are the seizures and what that can do for her quality of life and what that does to her development.”

    And this World Autism Awareness Day and every day, Fiona’s mom wishes for one thing.

    “It’s so important that rare and profound autism stays top of mind too. Don’t lose sight of these kids and their challenges. They are so special!”

    The cutting-edge autism research of UConn Neuroscientist Levine and his lab won $400,000 in research funds thanks to football fans donating to the annual Eagles Autism Challenge. His lab’s work explores autism’s genomic genesis and identifying genetic pathways that may cause autism spectrum disorders and better ways to study them. His team has been studying the two rare, genetic disease syndromes that also result in profound autism, Dup15q Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome. They impact about 1 in 5,000 children.

    While it still is not clear yet scientifically about autism spectrum disorders’ genetic origins, it is known that both of these autism-linked syndromes are connected to a child’s genetic differences that lead to a missing piece of a chromosome (Angelman Syndrome) or chromosomal duplication (Dup15q Syndrome) in the same 15q11-q13 region.

    Levine’s innovative autism research at UConn is reprogramming the donated skin or blood cells of patients like Fiona to develop them in the lab into brain cells that exactly mirror each patient’s genomics for further study.

    “This is really unique, personalized medicine, and a better way for us to study the genomics and physiology of a real child’s brain cells and the possible role multiple genes may be playing leading to autism. All kids are different. We can analyze the physical structure of their neurons, measure intracellular calcium dynamics, and record functional electrical activity,” says Levine, is grateful to have received donations of cells from families for study like the Vanderhoof’s. “It’s very exciting to pivot our autism research to translational research studying actual patient-derived human neurons.”

    In his translational research efforts, Levine hopes to compare neurons of patients and identify what role various genes play in the brain cells of the patients with syndromes also causing autism, and how their brain cells behave differently, and even test what possible current drugs or new drugs might be beneficial to patients to improve both their symptoms and quality of life.

    “There is so much to learn about the brain,” says Levine, whose work as a neuroscientist every day is driven by his fierce curiosity to learn more and more about how the brain works, and also inspired by the autism patients and families he has had the privilege to meet like the Vanderhoof family.

    UConn Neuroscientist Dr. Eric S. Levine in his lab at UConn School of Medicine conducting cutting-edge autism research (Photo by Lauren Woods).

    “The families I have met are so grateful for our autism research efforts, and more hope is on the way. It is a very exciting time for autism research and real, tangible progress and results with research advances and drug clinical trials,” says Levine. “Our focus at UConn is finding the next generation of therapies,” says Levine, whose ultimate goal for his autism research is exploring the future power of gene testing and gene therapy for autism spectrum disorders and related-syndromes, including very early-on in life whether in-utero or during a young child’s life.

    “If we can better understand the common pathway in the brain for these two genetic syndromes that lead to autism, we may someday understand other forms of autism, especially what causes behavioral issues such as loss of verbal communication, cognitive deficits, and impaired motor-function skills,” says Levine.

    The University of Connecticut thanks and celebrates you, Fiona!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Research Discovers Migraine Sufferers’ Brains Respond Differently to Visual Stimulation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A new study has demonstrated that the brains of people who experience migraines and other types of headaches cannot modulate visual stimulation in the same way a person without these conditions can.

    Daniele Piscitelli, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), published these findings in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.

    Piscitelli had been collaborating with colleagues in Brazil to study changes in the cortical activity and neuroplasticity in the brains of individuals with stroke. In the course of their work, they found that other researchers had been using the same kinds of measurements to study migraines.

    This led Piscitelli and his collaborators to wonder if their work could improve understanding of what causes migraines.

    Piscitelli was co-responsible for the study design and data analysis. The study was conducted in the laboratory of Kátia Monte-Silva, Ph.D., at the Laboratório de Neurociência Aplicada, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.

    They recruited three populations of participants: people who experience migraines, people who regularly experience other kinds of headaches, and a “healthy” population that did not have migraines nor other headaches in the past month.

    They took measurements of cortical excitability in each of the groups. Cortical excitability is a measure of brain activity, essentially how much a person’s brain responds to stimuli. Previous research had demonstrated that people who experience migraines have higher cortical excitability. This means their neurons have a lower threshold for excitability than the healthy population, leading their brains to become overstimulated more easily.

    The researchers here were interested specifically in two areas of the cerebral cortex – the visual cortex, which processes visual information, and the motor cortex – which controls voluntary movement.

    “We were interested in seeing the cortical excitability, specifically the motor cortex excitability and the visual cortex excitability in a window that was one day after or before the [migraine or headache] attack,” Piscitelli says.

    To evaluate motor cortex excitability, the researchers the researchers applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the motor cortex and recorded the resulting muscle activity using electromyography (EMG) from the hand muscles. To measure excitability in the visual cortex they asked participants when they saw light (phosphenes) in their visual field when TMS was applied over the occipital cortex.

    “Both of these are measures that are broadly used to measure the cortical excitability that give us an indirect information about the threshold of the neurons,” Piscitelli says.

    In these preliminary measurements, there were no significant differences between the three groups.

    The next part of the study involved participants looking at a black and white checkerboard that alternated colors with one eye covered at a time (i.e., pattern-reversal visual stimulation). The researchers then took the same visual and motor cortex excitability measurements after this stimulation.

    This time, the researchers saw significant differences between the groups.

    Both those who experience migraines and other headaches had increased levels of visual cortex excitability compared to the healthy control group.

    “Healthy subjects were able to modulate cortical excitability following the stimulation while people with migraines and other types of headaches had an increase in the cortical excitability,” Piscitelli says.

    There were no differences in motor cortex excitability.

    The fact that both people with migraines and other headaches responded in the same way to the stimulation indicates that both conditions share a neurological basis.

    These results also indicate that existing medications that reduce visual cortex excitability, like those used to treat epileptic seizures, could be useful for this population as well.

    Given this, one of the next steps of this research will be conducting a study with people who experience seizures to determine if they have similar cortical excitability.

    “How the brain organizes information is the key to pathophysiology and is probably the key to treat the patients,” Piscitelli says.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Developing a Clearer Understanding of Permafrost Thaw Risk in Alaska

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In the Arctic, permafrost plays a crucial role in building infrastructure. However, as the region warms and permafrost thaws, infrastructure is threatened as the ground shifts beneath the built environment. Unfortunately, the full extent of the risks associated with this process is not yet understood, but researchers are working to address this knowledge gap.

    UConn Department of Natural Resources and the Environment researchers, including Ph.D. student Elias Manos and Assistant Professor Chandi Witharana, along with Anna Liljedahl from the Woodwell Climate Research Center, developed a method that uses high-resolution satellite imagery and deep machine learning to double the mapped infrastructure of Alaska and more accurately project economic risks associated with permafrost thaw. Their findings are published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

    Witharana says this is the latest in his research group’s long-term study of how satellites can help monitor changes in the Arctic landscape over time, in this case, the largely unaccounted for risks of thawing permafrost for communities and their vital infrastructure like buildings and roads.

    “The main focus here is, there was a visual gap for infrastructure, and we need to have more detail to create critical information layers for downstream analysis like economic risk. We didn’t have that for Alaska,” says Witharana.

    A home in Point Lay, Alaska that is affected by thawing permafrost. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Jones)

    The motivation behind this research stems from the need to understand hazards in a changing world, says Manos. However, those assessments cannot happen without a clear understanding of what is in harm’s way.

    “We know that local temperatures are rising and there is change in the frequency, intensity, and timing of extreme weather and hazardous events. Whether they are rapid onset events like hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, or slow onset hazards like droughts, permafrost thaw in this case, we need to understand the potential harm these events pose,” says Manos.

    Manos says that permafrost serves as a structural foundation where piles are secured through it and buildings are designed to help maintain its thermal integrity. It is, therefore, essential that the pile foundation remains stably anchored into the permafrost, but the structural integrity is compromised as this layer thaws.

    “When the temperature of permafrost starts to increase, piles start to shift out of place, and that’s what we call bearing capacity loss, or decrease in bearing capacity. That was the main hazard that we looked at which impacts buildings,” says Manos. “Then there’s also transportation infrastructure that’s primarily impacted by ground subsidence. When ice-rich permafrost thaws, the ground will cave in and that was the hazard we used to assess the disaster risk for roads.”

    Previous studies made risk estimates based on data from OpenStreetMap (OSM), which is one of the most widely used geospatial data sets available, says Manos. OSM is available for every nation across the globe, and information is updated by volunteers who manually input local data, like buildings, trails, roads, or other kinds of infrastructure, from high-resolution imagery on a global scale.

    For some regions, like Europe and parts of the United States, the data is accurate, says Manos, but that is not true for all locations. Unfortunately for the Arctic, OSM data is lacking.

    Top four panels (and two zoom-ins) show delineations of buildings, roads, and storage tanks predicted by the infrastructure detection model from Maxar satellite imagery of four different Alaskan communities (Utqiagvik, Kotzebue, Hooper Bay, and Bethel). The bottom panel compares the map produced by the UConn team’s methodology (titled High-resolution Arctic Built Infrastructure and Terrain Analysis Tool (HABITAT)) to other existing Arctic infrastructure data products. OpenStreetMap is a widely used open-source geographic database supported by volunteer mapping efforts. As displayed, OpenStreetMap is often incomplete in many areas of the Arctic. The Sentinel-1/2 derived Arctic Coastal Human Impact dataset (SACHI) is a circumpolar-scale map of Arctic buildings, roads, and other human-modified land produced with machine- and deep-learning algorithms and Sentinel-1/2 satellite imagery. As displayed, this dataset has a comparatively coarse resolution that struggles with identifying individual objects. (Courtesy of Maxar, Inc. and Annett Bartsch)

    “There are several previous risk studies that relied on this incomplete infrastructure data. It all goes back to the fact that infrastructure across the Arctic is not completely mapped, and that’s problematic if you want to understand disasters because you must have the full picture to understand the scale of what is or could potentially be exposed,” says Manos.

    One of the objectives of Witharana’s research group is to improve methods to analyze large sets of satellite images quickly and accurately. Here, they developed a method to accurately map infrastructure and permafrost thaw risk called High-resolution Arctic Built Infrastructure and Terrain Analysis Tool (HABITAT). The model uses machine learning and AI to extract road and building information from high-resolution satellite images from the years 2018-2023. They compared the HABITAT data with OSM data to evaluate the new model’s quality and to look for potential misclassifications. Then they added the new information to OSM, nearly doubling the previous amount of information available for Alaska.

    “The sheer amount of infrastructure and buildings that were missing from Open Street Map was, really shocking to me, 47% missing,” says Manos. “Though OpenStreetMap is a powerful volunteer-based resource, it has limitations and that is not a surprise.”

    Owing to the large amount of data previously not considered, the researchers estimate that the costs of permafrost damage to infrastructure will double under low and medium emissions scenarios by 2050.

    “Damages to infrastructure caused by permafrost thaw is on par with the average yearly cost of all natural disasters in the country, yet permafrost thaw is not recognized by the federal government as a natural hazard, making it harder for people in Alaska to obtain disaster relief funding. In addition, Alaska is decades behind the rest of the country in terms of geospatial data readiness. Maps are key for assessments and planning, and I think the research community can help with some of that,” says Liljedahl.

    Witharana’s research group and collaborators are working to fill these knowledge gaps to create data that can be used to help prepare communities for the future. Manos plans to expand this analysis to account for the entire Arctic region to assess economic losses using a comprehensive infrastructure map.

    Witharana adds that by combining OSM data with the thousands of sub-meter resolution satellite images provided by the National Science Foundation, along with access to NSF supercomputing infrastructure, it was possible for the researchers to enhance the completeness of these datasets.

    “We can see that impact and do better assessments of economic disturbances and risk so we can prepare for whatever policy actions or downstream efforts that are needed,” says Witharana. “That’s a major outcome. Overall, the integration of AI and big data sets within our application has helped make useful, actionable products that researchers and communities can use right now.”

    The combined HABTAT and OSM dataset is available for anyone to explore on the Permafrost Discovery Gateway. This work is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs (NSF-OPP) (grant No. 1927723 and 2052107) and Google.org’s Impact Challenge on Climate Innovation. The image in Fig. 1b was acquired and provided through NSF RISE-1928237. Furthermore, this work used the Delta supercomputer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through allocation #EES220055 from the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) program, which is supported by National Science Foundation grants #2138259, #2138286, #2138307, #2137603, and #2138296. Geospatial support for this work was provided by the Polar Geospatial Center under NSF-OPP awards 1043681, 1559691, and 2129685.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Waterbury’s Neurovariability Initiative: Where Cognitive Strengths Fuel Learning for All

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Waterbury is leading a bold transformation in higher education with the launch of its Neurovariability Initiative—a campus-wide effort rooted in neuroscience, learning science, and innovation. Rather than emphasizing challenges or labels, this initiative recognizes the natural variability in how people think and learn, designing systems that amplify cognitive strengths, remove barriers, and foster student success in a rapidly evolving world.

    Co-created by Campus Dean and CAO Fumiko Hoeft and UConn Engineering Professor Arash Zaghi, both of whom bring lived experience as dyslexic, ADHD-identifying individuals—and as parents of neurodivergent learners—the initiative integrates educational neuroscience, AI-enhanced tools, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into a cohesive and forward-looking framework.

    “Our goal is to cultivate an environment where every student’s potential can be maximized—regardless of how they process information,” says Hoeft.

    “This is about unlocking talent that’s often overlooked—not by lowering the bar, but by rethinking how success is defined, supported, and scaled,” adds Zaghi.

    This initiative complements university-wide efforts such as CETL’s inclusive teaching programs and UConn Engineering’s Include Program, which also emphasize neuroinclusivity, faculty training, and the responsible use of AI in education.

    “The Neurovariability Initiative is a powerful example of how the Waterbury campus is leading with science, innovation, and compassion,” says UConn President Radenka Maric. “By recognizing that students think and learn in different ways, and by designing systems that build on those strengths, this initiative reflects our UConn-wide commitment to empowering every learner and preparing them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

    Co-creator and Engineering Professor Arash Zaghi leads a discussion on the future of neurodiversity and its role in innovation. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

    Spring Break Pilot Training: Building Capacity Across Campus

    UConn Waterbury hosted its inaugural Neurovariability Level 1 Training—a four-day hybrid workshop during UConn’s spring break, coinciding with the Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a worldwide initiative. Faculty and staff from across campus, including Student Services, Advising, Student Health and Wellness (SHaW), the Academic Achievement Center (AAC), Operations, and Academic Affairs, participated in hands-on sessions that focused on strength-based educational practices, UDL-aligned advising and teaching, responsible use of AI, and inclusive support strategies for all learners. This milestone training laid the groundwork for a growing community of practice focused on high-impact, personalized learning.

    “This training challenged me to think differently about how we engage students—not just by accommodating their needs, but by tapping into their unique strengths from the start,” said Professor Laura Donorfio of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS). “As someone who’s dedicated to supporting human growth across the lifespan, I found the emphasis on brain-based learning and inclusive design incredibly powerful. It’s something I’ll carry into both my teaching and mentoring.”

    The training brought together an impressive roster of national and international experts in education, technology, and cognitive science:

    Kate Griggs, Founder of Made by Dyslexia, joined from London for a virtual fireside chat highlighting the global movement for recognizing and nurturing diverse thinking in schools and workplaces. “If we can teach dyslexic students in the way they learn, they will change the world,” Griggs noted.

    Jessica Parker & Kimberly Becker, Co-Founders of Moxie, introduced their AI-powered academic writing tool designed to support student success through ethically guided, personalized feedback. “We build tools that adapt to learners—not the other way around,” said Parker.

    Sam Johnston, Chief Postsecondary & Workforce Development Officer at CAST, framed UDL as a proactive, research-driven approach to building more flexible, accessible learning environments. “UDL is about designing for variability from the beginning—not retrofitting for differences later.”

    Professor Arash Zaghi, co-creator of the initiative and lead behind Include Program (originally funded by the NSF RED grant), shared how cognitive diversity drives innovation in engineering and beyond. Zaghi is also the recipient of the prestigious White House PECASE Award—the highest honor for early-career scientists in the U.S. “This initiative isn’t about fixing students—it’s about fixing the system. We’re redesigning learning to work better for everyone, including those whose talents are too often missed.”

    Staff attendee Nakeia Moore collaborates with guest speakers Stan Gloss and Jessica Parker during an interactive session. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

    Jesse Sanchez, Managing Director of Programs at the Neurodiversity Alliance and an ADHD individual himself, shared his lived experience, and offered guidance on fostering student-led learning communities and promoting self-advocacy.

    Stan Gloss, a dyslexic entrepreneur, also shared his lived experience and discussed neurovariability as a competitive advantage in business and workforce development.

    Dr. Andi Kent from CETL led training on inclusive advising and instruction.

    Professor Mary Elizabeth Bruder, UConn Health, shared a powerful personal perspective on parenting, self-advocacy, and the importance of early support.

    Connie Syharat, Include Program coordinator and teaching faculty, presented an adapted version of UConn Engineering’s neurodiversity training tailored for broader campus application.

    Why It Matters: A Science-Informed Strategy for Unlocking Potential

    The Neurovariability Initiative offers a forward-looking, research-based approach to education that focuses on talent development and innovation. Grounded in neuroscience and learning science, it recognizes that differences in how students think and process information are natural and valuable—not obstacles to overcome.

    Rather than relying on labels or diagnoses, this model is about improving educational systems to better serve all learners. By integrating proven strategies like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and responsibly implemented AI tools, UConn Waterbury is creating an environment where students are empowered to succeed based on their strengths, and where educators are equipped to support diverse ways of thinking and problem-solving—critical skills for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s leaders.

    Guest speaker Andi Kent from CETL highlights the wealth of teaching and learning resources available to faculty and staff. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

    “This marks an exciting shift in how we recognize and cultivate the full range of student talent across disciplines,” says Provost Anne D’Alleva. “UConn Waterbury is leading the way with an innovative, research-informed model that reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, student success, and inclusive educational design. I’m proud to see this kind of bold, thoughtful leadership emerging from one of our regional campuses.”

    What’s Next: Scaling for Long-Term Impact

    Building on the success of this pilot, UConn Waterbury will move forward with:

    • Expanded training opportunities for faculty and staff;
    • Launch of a student learning and leadership community in Fall 2025 in partnership with the Neurodiversity Alliance;
    • Campus-wide adoption of Moxie, an AI-powered academic writing and research tool designed to support ethical, transparent, and personalized learning experiences;
    • Collaboration with CAST to evaluate and enhance the physical and instructional environment through a UDL lens;
    • Partnerships with K–12 schools like the Forman School and Waterbury Public Schools to co-develop flexible, strength-based academic pathways

    “At UConn Waterbury, we’re not just teaching content—we’re cultivating adaptable thinkers, problem-solvers, and future innovators,” said Hoeft.

    Judy Reilly, Director of the Werth Institute’s Center for Neurodiversity & Employment Innovation (CNDEI), shared: “This initiative is a critical leap forward—not just for student success, but for preparing a future-ready, innovation-focused workforce.”

    Whether in advising, instruction, student life, or administration, faculty and staff across UConn Waterbury are playing a vital role in making the campus a place where all students can thrive.

    As Christine Scott-Dougan, Associate Campus Director and attendee, shared: “At UConn Waterbury, we believe different ways of thinking lead to amazing ideas. Here, every mind is valued. I wish there were opportunities like this when I was in school.”

    Sponsors: UConn Waterbury Enhancement Fund, R.I.S.E. Program, and Yale – UConn Haskins Global Literacy Hub.

    Contact: Fumiko Hoeft, Campus Dean & CAO. wtby_leadership@uconn.edu

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Students Meet with Wall Street Leaders

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The UConn Finance Society hosted its 9th Annual Finance Conference today at Morgan Stanley headquarters in Manhattan. Wall Street leaders joined business students and alumni to discuss trends in equities, dealmaking, and how to start a career in the sector.

    “There are a million people out there who want to help you. It may not feel like it. But they do—especially people from UConn,” UConn Board of Trustees Chair and Morgan Stanley managing director Dan Toscano ’87 (BUS) said. Toscano candidly described his own struggle to get a foothold on Wall Street when he graduated in the aftermath of the Black Monday market crash. Toscano spent five years working other jobs before a door opened for him on Wall Street—but every job he worked taught him a great deal, and he urged students to make the most of every position they take.

    UConn Board of Trustees Chair and Morgan Stanley managing director Dan Toscano ’87 (BUS) speaks to students on Wall Street (photo courtesy of Stella Daniel (ENG) ‘26)

    The Finance Conference is an entirely student organized event that brings together UConn students, alumni, professionals, and industry experts to explore current trends in the finance sector. This was the first time the conference had been held in lower Manhattan. Christopher Walker ’19 (CLAS), a current Morgan Stanley associate in credit risk management, arranged for the venue in the heart of the financial district.

    “We hope to make the conference in New York an annual tradition going forward,” said Finance Society VP of Marketing Stella Daniel ’26 (ENG).

    “We want to engage as many alumni as possible,” and the Manhattan location makes that easier, Finance Society conference director Alexander Cameron ’26 (CLAS) said.

    Meeting in person and making those in person connections is extremely important, said Sheldon Kasowitz ’83 (BUS), the equity panelist at the event. He urged students to avoid remote work early on in their careers. Taking risks, moving abroad, and working in markets that are unpopular can all give you an edge, he said. Kasowitz moved to Hong Kong in his late 20s and also worked in Japan, eventually founding Indus Capital Partners, a hedge fund focused on mispriced large-cap Asian equities.

    Every panelist at the event was a UConn alum, and they hailed from a wide swath of finance, from mergers and acquisitions to private equity. More than 30 UConn alumni also attended the event.

    “It’s wonderful. I am incredibly impressed—it reflects the quality of the students, and it’s a credit to the school,” said Nicholas Willett ’22 (BUS), a hedge fund credit analyst.

    Current students also enjoyed the event.

    UConn students at Finance Day (Photo courtesy of Stella Daniel (ENG) ‘26)

    “I’ll be issuing securities in the broader public equities market after graduation. Hearing Sheldon talk about trends in the private equities market was amazing,” said graduating senior Aria Penna ’25 (BUS). Penna said she found Kasowitz’s insights on the Asian markets particularly compelling.

    Joseph Garcia ’27 (BUS) said he was interested in the different paths panelists took to get to their current positions. The incoming Sports Chair of the Student Board of Governors began his entrepreneurial journey early, selling snacks to fellow high school students during school and sporting events.

    Garcia said his philosophy for success is “whatever opportunity there is, take it!”

    The Finance Society is one of the largest student-run organizations at UConn. Their meetings are held at 6:30pm on Wednesdays in the School of Business.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Do union endorsements make a difference in election campaigns?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Larry Savage, Professor, Labour Studies, Brock University

    Nearly one in three workers in Canada is covered by a union contract, making union members a potentially powerful voting bloc at election time. It should therefore come as little surprise that federal parties have been making overt efforts to secure endorsements from labour unions and the votes of their members as election day nears.

    The Canadian Union of Public Employees, United Steelworkers and Amalgamated Transit Union have already declared support for the New Democratic Party (NDP), while the Boilermakers union has endorsed the Conservatives. All parties are expected to pick up more union endorsements before election day.

    But do union endorsements actually make a difference at the ballot box?

    Our forthcoming survey-based research suggests that while most union members in Canada indicate their voting preferences are not swayed by union endorsements, satisfaction with one’s union significantly enhances the likelihood they’ll support union-endorsed candidates in federal, provincial and local elections.

    Shifts in party-union relations

    The NDP was viewed as the political arm of the labour movement and secured the lion’s share of union resources and endorsements for much of its history. However, as ties between the NDP and unions have loosened, so too have unions’ political allegiances.



    Read more:
    The NDP turns 60: It’s never truly been the political arm of organized labour

    In recent years, unions in Canada have made political endorsements that don’t align with traditional patterns. For example, after a decade of backing the provincial Liberals, many construction unions endorsed Conservative Premier Doug Ford’s re-election in the 2022 Ontario provincial election.

    Although most other unions endorsed the opposition NDP, Ford’s union support garnered significant attention and was presented as an impressive game-changer by the media and political pundits.

    In the 2025 Ontario election campaign, Ford used his commanding lead in the polls and a transactional brand of politics to lock down endorsements from an even broader cross-section of the union movement, winning additional support from firefighters, a Toronto-based hotel worker union, police unions and three large Unifor locals.

    The union endorsements were symbolically significant for the Conservative campaign because they fractured labour movement opposition to Ford and provided pro-worker cover for a government with a decidedly mixed record on labour rights.

    The Unifor endorsements, in particular, raised eyebrows because Canada’s largest private sector union had long championed anti-Conservative strategic voting, backing a mix of Liberal, NDP and Bloc candidates in election campaigns over the past decade.

    These shifts have encouraged Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to appeal more to blue-collar union members, especially in male-dominated industries, to broaden his party’s working-class support.



    Read more:
    Pierre Poilievre is popular among union members. What’s it really all about?

    The Conservatives have also no doubt been inspired by the success of United States President Donald Trump this regard.

    In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the vast majority of unions endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris over Trump. But exit polls indicated Trump still managed to win an impressive 45 per cent of the votes from union households, highlighting a potential disconnect between union leaders and their members on the question of endorsements.

    The influence of union endorsements

    Not all union endorsements carry the same weight, but they can play a strategically critical role in election campaigns depending on the dynamic.

    Our survey-based research, to be published in an upcoming volume of Labour/Le Travail, reveals that while a small majority of union members in Canada feel union endorsements won’t impact their vote, such endorsements do modestly influence a good number of union members.

    Outside of Québec, 37 per cent of surveyed union members report being “somewhat” or “much more likely” to vote for union-endorsed candidates. In Québec, the figure is slightly lower at 27 per cent. Conversely, only a small portion of members (11 per cent in the rest of Canada and 13 per cent in Québec) indicate a union endorsement will make them less likely to vote for their union’s preferred candidate.

    Importantly, workers who indicated satisfaction with their union in the workplace are significantly more likely support union-endorsed candidates in election campaigns.

    Satisfaction with one’s union matters much more to whether union members respond to an endorsement favourably than demographic factors such as age, gender, income or education level.

    The survey results also suggest that union type does not make a significant difference in assessing the influence of endorsements on union members’ voting intentions. Members of public-sector unions are no more likely to respond favourably to union endorsements than members of private-sector unions, nor are members of construction unions or members of NDP-affiliated unions.

    Lessons for parties and unions

    Even with modest impacts on voting preferences, union endorsements may prove decisive in closely contested elections, especially in communities with large numbers of union voters.

    For unions to maximize their political influence, however, they must first earn their members’ trust through effective workplace representation. Building this trust enhances the impact of endorsements by increasing member support for union-endorsed candidates.

    In short, having strongly supported unions in the workplace helps to build strong unions in the political arena with improved capacity to deliver union members’ votes.

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

    – ref. Do union endorsements make a difference in election campaigns? – https://theconversation.com/do-union-endorsements-make-a-difference-in-election-campaigns-253296

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Worsening conflict leaves tens of thousands without essential care in Colombia

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Bogotá – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has in recent weeks increased our medical humanitarian assistance in areas hit by the most intense upsurge of conflict in years in Colombia. Tens of thousands of people are currently caught in at least 11 active pockets of violence, according to authorities. Amid exacerbated humanitarian needs, we urge state entities and other humanitarian organisations to reach isolated communities where many people are lacking access to basic services, including healthcare. We also urge armed groups to protect medical facilities and humanitarian workers from violence. 

    “We are deeply concerned about the impact that the escalating conflict in Colombia is having on tens of thousands of people in several regions of the country,” says Francisco Otero, MSF general coordinator in Colombia. “Our teams are providing essential medical and humanitarian assistance to isolated and vulnerable communities, in areas that are very difficult to access for humanitarian organisations and with little state presence.”

    In February, MSF teams launched an emergency response in rural areas of the northeastern region of Catatumbo, where in January more than 50,000 people were forced from their homes by hostilities in the largest sudden displacement of people in decades. Many of those who remained now have movement restrictions imposed on them. In March, we started a project in the department of Arauca, which borders Venezuela. 

    A map of MSF’s response in Colombia. March 2025.

    Emergency in Catatumbo

    In mid-January, the breakdown of a non-aggression pact between two non-state armed groups triggered an escalation of violence that has left at least 98 people dead, and some 77,000 people affected, including displaced and confined persons, according to state authorities. The Colombian armed forces have also launched several offensives against these groups. 

    MSF teams are carrying out mobile clinics in rural areas where there are restrictions on movement, both for people to leave in search of resources and services, and for official entities and other humanitarian organisations to enter. MSF is one of the few organisations granted access by the parties to the conflict to areas widely affected by these restrictions. 

    Between 10 February and 15 March, we provided nearly 1,200 medical consultations in rural areas of Ábrego, Teorama, and Tibú, including 933 for basic healthcare and 112 for mental health. Additionally, 472 people benefited from group mental health activities.  

    “We see a deterioration in the health of the community, from children with symptoms of malnutrition to patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, whose treatment has been interrupted.” explains Dr Altair Saavedra, MSF’s medical coordinator in Colombia. 

    “Most of the pregnant women we saw in consultations had not started prenatal checkups, regardless of their gestational age, and some patients have shown severe psychological symptoms caused by uncertainty about the development of the conflict.” says Dr Saavedra.

    In addition, in the areas visited by MSF, at least four basic healthcare centres have closed or have suspended activities due to the violence. 

    An MSF mobile team arrives at the health centre in the village of La Arenosa, in Catatumbo, northeast Colombia, to provide medical and psychological care to communities affected by the ongoing conflict whose movement has been restricted by armed actors. Colombia, February 2025.
    MSF

    New project in Arauca 

    In the region of Arauca, several non-state armed groups are fighting for the control of the territory. MSF began a long-term project in the first week of March that focuses on people who face severe constraints to access healthcare. They include Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees, and displaced people, as well as vulnerable Indigenous groups in the urban area, and communities affected by the armed conflict in rural areas.

    “We will offer services for sexual and reproductive health, comprehensive care for survivors of sexual violence, mental health consultations, priority attention to children under five years of age, support for first level facilities and strengthening the technical capacity of health personnel,” says Alejandro Matos, MSF coordinator in Arauca. “We will also carry out water and sanitation activities.”

    An MSF team provides medical care, family planning methods and psychological care to people in a settlement in Arauca. Colombia, March 2025.
    Alejandro Matos/MSF

    Between 3 and 14 March, we provided 281 medical consultations, 30 individual mental health consultations, and 116 people participated in group mental health sessions, in the settlements of Jerusalem, Brisas del Puente, and Clarinetero, in the town of Arauca, the region’s capital. 
     

    The worsening conflict in Colombia

    Seven decades of conflict have made Colombia one of the countries with the highest number of internally displaced people in the world, with nearly nine million according to authorities. During the last decade, the figure of 70,000 people newly displaced by violence was never surpassed in a year, but in 2024 the country registered 160,000, according to the authorities. This is the highest annual figure since the 2016 signing of the peace agreement between the state and the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

    Despite an ongoing negotiation process between the government and several non-state armed groups, the Colombian ombudsman’s office has indicated there are 11 humanitarian emergency hotspots, especially in regions along the Pacific and the Venezuelan border. 

    “As an organisation that guides our action under the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, we call on the parties to the conflict to provide safe access to areas hit by violence where there are unmet humanitarian needs.” says Otero.  

    Colombia has also been the largest recipient of USAID funds in Latin America. In 2024, the United States provided nearly 68 per cent of the resources for the humanitarian response managed by aid workers in the country. But in 2025, dozens of NGOs and United Nations agencies have already been impacted by cuts. In the health sector alone, more than 183,000 people lost access to assistance, and 683,000 others are at risk of being affected, according to the humanitarian health organisations team.

    “Amid the exacerbation of needs due to the worsening conflict, we urge State entities and other humanitarian organisations to reach out to communities where access to basic services such as healthcare has been impacted,” says Otero. “We urge the parties to the conflict to protect medical facilities and humanitarian workers from violence.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of Rare Earth Metals

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 2:19PM by PIB Delhi

    The details on the quantum of rare earth metals imported and the countries from which it has been imported during the last five years is given at Annexure-I.

    Government is aware of the occurrence of neodymium in the country. The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the Ministry of Mines, is actively engaged in carrying out mineral exploration across the country following guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification [UNFC stage viz. reconnaissance surveys (G4), preliminary exploration (G3) and general exploration (G2)] and the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) (MEMC) Rules, 2015 with an aim to augment resource for various mineral commodities including critical minerals specified in Part D of the First Schedule of the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2023. During Field Season (FS) 2021-22 and 2022-23, GSI had taken up three reconnaissance stage projects for Rare Earth Elements including neodymium in Sirohi and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan as per the approved field season programme. The details are given at Annexure-II.

    The Department of Atomic Energy has explored 1,11,845 tonne in-situ Rare Earth Elements Oxide (REO) in hard rock terrains in parts of Balotra (erstwhile Barmer) district, Rajasthan. As policy framework for utilizing critical minerals, including rare earth metals, the National Critical Mineral Mission has been launched, which is India’s strategic initiative to secure critical mineral supply chain by increasing domestic critical minerals production and foreign supply sources.

    Under the Mission, GSI has prioritized and intensified its exploration activities for critical and strategic minerals across the country including Rajasthan, with an aim to find out potential mineralized locales as well as to establish more resources for these minerals. During the current FS 2024-25, GSI has taken up 195 exploration projects including 35 projects in Rajasthan, to assess the mineral potential of strategic and critical minerals. The detailed list of mineral exploration projects taken up by GSI in Rajasthan exclusively for REE/RM and associated minerals from FS 2021-22 to 2024-25 is given at Annexure-III. Since MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, GSI has established resource of REE in Barmer and Sikar districts of Rajasthan. GSI has handed over one resource bearing geological report (GR) on REE, one Geological Memorandums (GM) on REE and one GM on tungsten for auctioning.

    ANNEXURE-I

    Annexure-I referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5253 answered on 02.04.2025 regarding ‘Import of Rare Earth Metals’

    Table: Country wise quantum of rare earth metals imported by India during last 5 years

     Quantity in Tonnes

    #

    HS Code- Description

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    Country

    Qty

    Country

    Qty

    Country

    Qty

    Country

    Qty

    Country

    Qty

    1.

    28053000– Alkali or alkaline earth metals: Rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, whether or not intermixed or inter alloyed

    China

    437

    China

    445

    China

    714.5

    China

    709

    China

    699

    Hong Kong

    34

    Japan

    11

    Japan

    34

    Japan

    42

    Hong Kong

    234

    Japan

    2

    Sweden

    10

    USA

    6.6

    Singapore

    20

    Japan

    192

    USA

    0.57

    USA

    4.69

    Hong Kong

    5

    Hong Kong

    20

    Mongolia

    60

    UK

    0.08

    Hong Kong

    0.05

    Russia

    1

    USA

    1.09

    UK

    0.11

    Others

    0.00

    Others

    0.07

    Others

    0.06

    Others

    0.18

    Others

    0.02

    Total

    473.65

    Total

    470.61

    Total

    761

    Total

    792

    Total

    1,185

    2.

    2846- Compounds, inorganic or organic, of rare earth metals

    Russia

    452

    China

    695

    China

    745

    China

    796

    China

    780

    China

    434

    Russia

    156

    Japan

    196

    Korea

    150

    Japan

    148

    Japan

    255

    Japan

    133

    Korea

    93

    Japan

    148

    Korea

    90

    Germany

    59

    Korea

    91

    Austria

    41

    USA

    20

    USA

    24

    Austria

    31

    Austria

    46

    Russia

    40

    France

    14

    France

    19

    Others

    144

    Others

    129

    Others

    69

    Others

    24

    Others

    24

    Total

    1,375

    Total

    1,250

    Total

    1,183

    Total

    1,153

    Total

    1,086

     

    REE Total

     

    1,848

     

    1,721

     

    1,944

     

    1,945

     

    2,270

    Note:REE has 17 elements. HS codes 280530 and 2846 pertain to REE as a whole and not to a particular element.

     

    ANNEXURE-II

    Annexure-II referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5253 answered on 02.04.2025 regarding ‘Import of Rare Earth Metals’

    Table: G4 stage projects taken up for Rare Earth Elements including neodymium in Rajasthan during FS 2021-22 and FS 2022-23

    Sl. No

    State

    District

    Name of Mineral Block / Area/ Belt

    UNFC Stage

    Mineral Commodity

    FS: 2021-22

    1

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Jirawal-Sanpur

    G4

    Neodymium and Dysprosium

    2

    Rajasthan

    Bhilwara

    Mahendragarh-Gundli-Bawri

    G4

    Neodymium and associated REE

    FS: 2022-23

    3

    Rajasthan

    Bhilwara

    Kodukota-Raser-Lulas-Kallyakhera

    G4

    REE and associated Neodymium

     

    ANNEXURE-III

     

    Annexure-III referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5253 answered on 02.04.2025 regarding ‘Import of Rare Earth Metals’

    Table: List of projects taken up by GSI on REE/RM and associated minerals from FS 2021-22 to FS 2024-25

     

    Sl. No.

    State

    District

    Name of Mineral Block / Area / Belt

    UNFC Stage

    Mineral Commodity

    FS: 2021-22

    1

    Rajasthan

    Jaipur

    Asalpur, Boraj, Bichun

    G4

    REE & RM, basemetal

    2

    Rajasthan

    Sikar

    South East of Nanagwas

    G3

    REE & RM, basemetal

    3

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Jirawal-Sanpur

    G4

    Neodymium, Dysprosium (REE)

    4

    Rajasthan

    Bhilwara

    Mahendragarh-Gundli-Bawri

    G4

    Neodymium, REE

    5

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Sainji Ki Beri-Meli

    G4

    REE

    6

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Indrana-Siwana

    G4

    REE

    7

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    WNW of Sukleswar Ka Mandir

    G3

    REE & RM

    8

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Nimale Ki Pahari-Dantala

    G4

    REE & RM

    9

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Kundal-Dhiran

    G4

    REE & RM

    10

    Rajasthan

    Jaisalmer

    Jaisalmer-Pokran

    G4

    REE, RM

    FS: 2022-23

    1

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    SE of Mawri

    G3

    REE

    2

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    north of Kalaur Ka Danta

    G3

    REE, RM

    3

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Kalaur Ka Danta

    G3

    REE, RM

    4

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Kaluri-Tapra-Buriwara

    G4

    REE

    5

    Rajasthan

    Bhilwara

    Kodukota-Raser-Lulas-Kallyakhera

    G4

    Neodymium and associated REE

    6

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Bachharau-Dhorimana

    G4

    REE

    7

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    south of Gura Nal

    G3

    REE

    8

    Rajasthan

    Sikar

    Ladi Ka Was

    G3

    REE, RM, Basemetal

    9

    Rajasthan

    Sikar

    Kalakhera

    G3

    REE, RM, Basemetal

    10

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    SE of Gugrot

    G3

    REE

    11

    Rajasthan

    Jalore

    Ahor-Beria-Ajitpura

    G4

    REE, RM

    12

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    WNW of Sukleswar Ka Mandir

    G3

    REE, RM

    13

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Relon Ki Dhani – Telwara

    G4

    REE

    FS: 2023-24

    1

    Rajasthan

    Alwar

    Dadikar, Harsora and Khairthal

    G4

    REE, RM, Tungsten, Tin, Niobium, Beryllium, Tantalum, Hafnium

    2

    Rajasthan

    Udaipur

    Semari

    G4

    REE, Gold, Basemetal

    3

    Rajasthan

    Udaipur

    Seriya

    G4

    REE, Gold, Basemetal

    4

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Wan-Mochhal-Bhev

    G4

    REE, RM

    5

    Rajasthan

    Udaipur

    Padrara-Sayra

    G4

    REE

    6

    Rajasthan

    Ajmer

    Piloda Nagola

    G4

    REE

    7

    Rajasthan

    Banswara

    Bhongra-Bargun

    G4

    Graphite, RM

    8

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    East of Gugrot

    G3

    REE

    9

    Rajasthan

    Jalore&Sirohi

    Jastwantpura

    G4

    REE

    10

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Punawa-Ranela-Kooma

    G4

    REE

    11

    Rajasthan

    Dungarpur

    Barwasa -Lodowal

    G4

    REE, RM

    12

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Nakoda

    G4

    REE, RM

    FS: 2024-25

    1

    Rajasthan

    Sikar

    Ladi ka Bas

    G2

    REE, RM

    2

    Rajasthan

    Dungarpur

    Gara Sialia

    G4

    REE, RM

    3

    Rajasthan

    Jalore

    Dorda-Ambatri

    G4

    REE, RM

    4

    Rajasthan

    Tonk

    Kalyanpura-Kakor

    G4

    REE

    5

    Rajasthan

    Ajmer and Pali

    Ratangarh-Jetgarh

    G4

    RM

    6

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Malawa-Nagani

    G4

    REE, RM

    7

    Rajasthan

    Pali and Sirohi

    Chhotila-Badla-Raghunathpura

    G4

    REE, RM

    8

    Rajasthan

    Alwar

    Sibagaon North

    G3

    Tin, Lithium, RM

    9

    Rajasthan

    Nagaur and Ajmer

    Chinwali-Bhutas

    G4

    REE, Basemetal

    10

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Jhak and Khimpar

    G4

    REE

    11

    Rajasthan

    Barmer

    Kitpala-Sinli

    G4

    REE

    12

    Rajasthan

    Pali

    Thandi Beri

    G4

    RM

    13

    Rajasthan

    Barmer and Jodhpur

    Patodi-Thob

    G4

    REE

    14

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Rewakakri-Moras-UparlaSavela

    G4

    RM

    15

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi and Pali

    Malnu-Velar-Chotila ki Bhagli

    G4

    RM

    16

    Rajasthan

    Sirohi

    Isra Darbar Khera Chhota-Dhanta

    G4

    RM

     

    This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ****

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    (Release ID: 2117701) Visitor Counter : 65

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Exploring economic, trade and investment opportunities in Latin America

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Martin Liao and a reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
     
    Question:

         In November last year, the Hong Kong Government signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Latin American country Peru, and the Chancay Port in Peru, an important project under the Belt and Road Initiative jointly invested by the Chinese and Peruvian enterprises, has also been open for use. Regarding the exploration of economic, trade and investment opportunities between Hong Kong and Latin America, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it will provide Hong Kong businessmen with the latest market information, technical support and consultation services etc, so as to assist them in expanding into the Latin American market; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) how it will assist Hong Kong’s professional services sectors in grasping the development opportunities of the emerging markets in Latin America; and
     
    (3) whether it will step up efforts to attract enterprises from Latin American countries to come to Hong Kong and make use of Hong Kong as the gateway to enter into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and even the entire market of China, so as to expand their businesses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In response to the question raised by the Hon Martin Liao, I provide below the consolidated reply.
     
         The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been actively expanding the economic and trade network, and exploring development opportunities in different markets, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic and trade ties with and market development in emerging markets and those of potential in recent years. In 2024, the total merchandise trade between Latin America and Hong Kong amounted to about HK$124.3 billion, representing an increase of 17 per cent when compared with 2023. On services trade, the total trade between the two places amounted to about HK$7.8 billion in 2023, representing an increase of about 24 per cent when compared with 2022. With the good foundation of economic and trade connection the HKSAR Government has built with the Latin America, we will continue to foster closer economic and trade ties with the Latin American region, opening up more trade and investment opportunities for Hong Kong businesses.
     
         As part of our efforts in expanding the economic and trade network, the HKSAR Government strengthens economic co-operation with trading partners, assists Hong Kong enterprises in developing markets and securing better market access, and enhances protection of investors’ overseas investments through forging free trade agreements (FTAs) and investment agreements. Hong Kong signed an FTA and an investment agreement with Chile in 2012 and 2016 respectively, an investment agreement with Mexico in 2020, and an FTA with Peru in 2024. In addition, Hong Kong is exploring with Peru the signing of an investment agreement, and is also proactively seeking to forge FTAs and investment agreements with more trading partners in the Latin American region, with a view to further promoting economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and our major trading partners in the Latin American region.
     
         Hong Kong and Chile have updated their commitments on trade in services under the FTA in recent years. Chile has made commitments in over 50 new service sectors, encompassing priority service sectors in which Hong Kong has traditional strengths or has potential for priority development, such as professional and business services, technical testing and analysis services, convention services, distribution services etc. Relevant Hong Kong services as well as their providers, subject to specific exceptions or conditions, enjoy access to the Chilean market and treatment no less favourable than that for Chile’s local service providers. The updated commitments, which entered into force in 2023, create more opportunities for relevant service providers and investors.
     
         In addition, Hong Kong and Peru signed an FTA in November 2024. Under the FTA, Hong Kong service providers in over 150 services sectors, including professional services, can enjoy legal certainty of better market access and national treatment when operating in Peru. We have been actively conducting a series of publicity and promotional activities (including holding and participating in seminar, reception and exhibition; launching designated webpage; and issuing circulars and promotional leaflets) to introduce the content, benefits and implementation arrangements of the FTA, and encourage Hong Kong’s businesses to grasp the opportunities brought by this FTA, as well as through Peru and our FTA and investment agreement partners including Peru, Chile and Mexico to expand their businesses in the Latin American markets. In the meantime, we have also conveyed the benefits brought by the FTA to Latin American companies by outreaching events to promote collaboration in trade and investment. For instance, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Trade and Industry Department (TID) cohosted a reception for the Ibero-American community on March 13, 2025, promoting further collaboration through, among other initiatives, trade and investment agreements.
     
         Besides, the TID has been closely monitoring the trade development in the Latin American region, issuing circulars regarding the latest policies and measures concerned of the economies there, as well as publishing factsheets on Hong Kong’s commercial relationship with its major trading partners in that region for Hong Kong enterprises. The TID has also established hotline, email account and webpages to assist Hong Kong enterprises in obtaining and inquiring about the relevant information of trading partners in Latin America, including FTAs and investment agreements signed by Hong Kong, helping businesses understand and develop markets in the Latin American region.
     
         Meanwhile, the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) provides funding support for enterprises to develop business in economies with which Hong Kong has signed FTAs and/or investment agreements. The geographical coverage of the BUD Fund covers 40 economies including Chile, Mexico and Peru to further support enterprises in exploring more diversified markets.
     
         To assist Hong Kong enterprises in tapping the markets of Latin America, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has established consultant offices in Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Chile’s Santiago and Mexico’s Mexico City, to support the HKTDC’s local trade promotion activities and business matching services. The HKTDC will continue to leverage its consultant offices in Latin America to provide Hong Kong enterprises with information on the latest developments of Latin America and invite enterprises in Latin America to participate in Hong Kong’s large-scale exhibitions and conferences, in order to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a two-way global investment and business hub.
     
         As for InvestHK, through its teams based in Hong Kong, the Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents based in the Mainland Offices and the overseas Economic and Trade Offices of the HKSAR Government, as well as consultant offices in other locations (including those located in Latin America, namely, Mexico City, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; and Lima, Peru), it has all along been reaching out to a wide spectrum of companies in different sectors and industries around the world to attract and assist them to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong, and offering one-stop customised support services from the planning to implementation stages.
     
         InvestHK will continue to proactively provide overseas enterprises, including those from Latin America, with the latest information on Hong Kong’s business environment and promote Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world and other core strengths under “one country, two systems”, as well as the immense opportunities brought by key national strategies including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to attracting these enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong and leverage Hong Kong as a springboard to enter the Mainland market. For example, InvestHK plans to visit Medellín, Colombia; Lima, Peru; and Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2025, and co-organise investment promotion activities with local chambers of commerce to strengthen investment promotion work in Latin America.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Finalists for WAVES Comics Creator Championship & WAVES Awards of Excellence Announced

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 APR 2025 7:37PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai/Bhopal, 1 April 2025

     

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, in collaboration with Indian Comics Association (ICA) and ASIFA India, has announced the finalists for two prestigious competitions under the WAVES Create in India Challenge—the WAVES Comics Creator Championship and the WAVES Awards of Excellence.

    The competitions have attracted participation from across India and internationally, highlighting the country’s potential as a global hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. The winners will be announced at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025.

    Additional Director General, PIB, Bhopal, Shri Prashant Pathrabe said that, WAVES is an important event that provides a global platform for professional entrepreneurs, investors, producers and innovators to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute in the entertainment sector.

       

    Photo caption : Shri Prashant Pathrabe, Additional Director General, PIB Bhopal addressing the ceremony of announcement of finalists of Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence

     

    WAVES Comics Creator Championship:

    Indian Comics Association (ICA) President Ajitesh Sharma stated that ICA has selected 10 teams for the final round and that the candidates for the final round were selected based on their creative story, artistic skills and overall impact.

    Photo caption: Shri Ajitesh Sharma, President, Indian Comics Association addressing the Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence finalists announcement ceremony.

    The finalists for the Comics Creator Championship are as follows:

    Finalists – Professional Category:

    1. Mohit Sharma (Meerut) – Ayush Kumar (Delhi)

    2. Aparna Chaurasia (Chhatarpur)

    3. Bijoy Raveendran (Delhi) – Tadam Gyadu (Delhi)

    4. Puneet Shukla (Gorakhpur) – Piyush Kumar (Ranchi)

    5. Tejas Janardhan Kamble (Mumbai)

    Finalists – Amateur Category:

    1. Suvojit Pal (Howrah) – Vivek Pradhan (Raipur)

    2. Vindhyarsh Mishra (Bareilly)

    3. Rohit Shukla (Chennai) – Shivangi Shaily (Indore)

    4. Ritesh Patra (Kolkata)

    5. Randeep Singh (Kendrapara)

    Jury Panel for Comics Creator Championship

    The five-member jury to evaluate the competition entries included: Dilip Kadam – Renowned comic artist and illustrator; Nikhil Pran – Acclaimed comic creator and son of Pran Kumar Sharma; Jajil Homaveer – Creator of the web manga The Beast Legion; Sanjay Gupta – Founder of Raj Comics; Preeti Vyas – President & CEO of Amar Chitra Katha. The jury panel will now select the winners by evaluating the Semi-Finalists’ entries. The selected 10 Finalists will then compete at the Mumbai Waves Event from 1-4 May 2025.The final competition will take place at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, where the best talents in Indian comics will be recognized on an international stage.

    ASIFA announces Waves’ Awards of Excellence

    The WAVES Awards of Excellence, organized by ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation) India under the Create in India Challenge, has received 1,331 entries from 28 Indian states and 13 countries.

    Shri Sanjay Khimesara, President, ASIFA India addressing the Waves Comics Creator Championship and Waves Awards of Excellence finalists announcement ceremony.

    Jury for WAVES Awards of Excellence

    The evaluation process for the WAVES Awards of Excellence was led by an esteemed five-member international jury, ensuring global standards in selection: Dr. Anastasia Dimitra (Greece) – VP, ASIFA International & Animation Educator; Briana Yarhouse (USA) – Director, Awards of Excellence & Professor; Pramita Mukherjee (USA) – Sr. Creature FX Developer, DreamWorks; Dhimant Vyas (India) – Professor of Practice, IDC School of Design; B.N. Vichar (India) – Art Director, Technicolor Games

    The winning entries will receive mentorship, global exposure, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

     

    Final Nominations-Professionals

    1

    Patrick

    Smith

    ASIFA24102

    Onward Ye Costumed Souls

    USA

    2

    Fabian

    Driehorst

    ASIFA24142

    Little Fan

    Germany

    3

    Yingyan Chen

    Linxiao Zhou, Zehao Chen

    ASIFA24205

    Online interview

    China

    4

    Long Qin

    CHINA

    ASIFA24207

    IN BEWTEEN

    China

    5

    Suresh

    Eriyat

    ASIFA24298

    The Seed

    Mumbai, India

    6

    Adithi

    Krishnadas

    ASIFA24299

    The Legend of Arana

    Mumbai, India

    7

    Suresh

    Eriyat

    ASIFA24302

    Pune Design Festival Versus Ident Film

    Mumbai, India

    8

    Swati

    Agarwal

    ASIFA24654

    Chalisa’

    Mumbai, India

    9

    Swathy

    Pushpalochanan

    ASIFA24678

    Anpu

    Kollam, Kerala

    10

    Bimal

    Poddar

    ASIFA24693

    IPL opening graphics

    Mumbai, India

    11

    Bimal

    Poddar

    ASIFA24694

    Home season opening graphics/Legend

    Mumbai, India

    12

    Bimal

    Poddar

    ASIFA24696

    RADHA

    Mumbai, India

    13

    Bimal

    Poddar

    ASIFA24697

    13th Portal

    Mumbai, India

    14

    Bimal

    Poddar

    ASIFA24698

    More kaka

    Mumbai, India

    15

    Prateek

    Sethi

    ASIFA24726

    Informa Markets In India – Milan

    Mumbai, India

    16

    Ujwal

    Nair

    ASIFA24740

    Lucky Dog

    Chennai, India

    17

    Gary

    Schwartz

    ASIFA2492

    FLINTMATION ll

    USA

    18

    David

    Ehrlich

    ASIFA2494

    A New World

    USA

    19

    Suresh

    Eriyat

    ASIFA251377

    Desi Oon

    Mumbai, India

    20

    Amit

    Sonawane

    ASIFA251402

    What’s Your Story

    Mumbai, India

    Top 26 Nominated works includes Showreels/Shorts from students from across India including states/UT’s of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, New Delhi.

    Final Nominations- Students

    S.No

    First Name

    Last Name

    Tracking Number

    Project Title

    Location

    1

    Varun

    Choudhry

    ASIFA24942

    Varun Choudhry | Modeling Reel 2024

    Mumbai

    2

    Hussain

    Bohra

    ASIFA24744

    IRAN 600 BC

    Udaipur

    3

    Shavikant

    Chauhan

    ASIFA24474

    texturing showreel

    Surat

    4

    Karan

    Meghlan

    ASIFA24930

    Karan_Malghan_Modeling_Texturing_Reel_Wave

    Pune

    5

    Rajat

    Aingh

    ASIFA241036

    CG Lighting Showreel_Rajat Singh

    Chandigarh

    6

    Ajit Tanaji

    Kinare

    ASIFA24881

    CG Lighting

    Mumbai

    7

    Ankan

    Samanta

    ASIFA24850

    Rigging Showreel By Ankan Samanta

    Hooghly, WB

    8

    Sumedha

    Paul

    ASIFA24814

    Rigging Showreel

    Kolkata

    9

    Arjun

    kumar

    ASIFA24157

    Animation Showreel

    Chandigarh

    10

    Arpit

    Thakur

    ASIFA24948

    Animation Showreel By ARPIT THAKUR

    Chandigarh

    11

    Kumkum

    Gupta

    ASIFA24966

    Digital_Painting_Kumkum Gupta

    Mumbai

    12

    Ishwari

    Tarkar

    ASIFA24969

    Digital_Painting_Ishwari_Tarkar

    Mumbai

    13

    Tarun

    None

    ASIFA24800

    Digital Matte Painting

    Bengaluru

    14

    Arena

    Andheri

    ASIFA241073

    Matte Paint-Sameer Parab

    Mumbai

    15

    ElangoM

    Elango

    ASIFA241306

    Digital matte painting

    Bengaluru

    16

    Prajval

    Nanote

    ASIFA241005

    Motion graphic

    sausar
    Chhindwara,MP

    17

    Sk

    Nur Islam

    ASIFA241121

    Motion Graphics Showreel

    Malda, WB

    18

    Sourav

    Bishwakarma

    ASIFA241202

    Compositing Showreel

    Kanchrapara,WB

    19

    Varun

    Sapkal

    ASIFA24565

    Showreel Varun Sapkal VFX

    Mumbai

    20

    Vijay

    Bangar

    ASIFA24922

    Kothrud_Vijay_Bangar

    Kothrud, Pune

    21

    Shaikh

    Sahil

    ASIFA241176

    Avengers: Infinity War movie Shots

    Mankhurd, Mumbai

    22

    Aditi

    Dixit

    ASIFA251357

    Showreel

    Delhi

    23

    Rutvik

    Dhole

    ASIFA24736

    Arwick 2d Animated explainer Video Ad

    Not specified

    24

    Debopom

    Chakraborty

    ASIFA24661

    Rasmalai

    Gurgaon, Haryana

    25

    Kartik

    Mahajan

    ASIFA24731

    Phool Dei

    Dehradun, Utta

    26

    Harshita

    Nehlani

    ASIFA251352

    Adhoori Pehchaan [Incomplete Identity]

    GLS, A’bad

     

    About WAVES

    The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

    Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

    WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

    Have questions? Find answers here  

    Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

    Come, Sail with us! Register for WAVES now

     

    * * *

    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Prashant/ Ajay/ Samir/ Prem/ Dhanalakshmi/ Darshana | 84

     

    Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

    (Release ID: 2117473) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Investments Announces Additional Ad Hoc Distributions for AGF Systematic Global Multi-Sector Bond ETF, AGF Systematic International Equity ETF and AGF Systematic US Equity ETF

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Investments Inc. (AGF Investments) today announced additional ad hoc distributions for AGF Systematic Global Multi-Sector Bond ETF (ticker: QGB), AGF Systematic International Equity ETF (ticker: QIE) and AGF Systematic US Equity ETF (ticker: QUS), which usually pay quarterly/annual distributions.

    These ad hoc distributions are the result of previously announced proposed terminations of these three ETFs effective close of business on or about April 29, 2025 (the “ETF Termination Date”). Unitholders of record on April 9, 2025 will receive cash distributions payable on April 15, 2025.

    Please note: Final distributions will be announced on or about April 17, 2025.

    Details regarding the ad hoc “per unit” distribution amounts are as follows:

    ETF Ticker Exchange Cash Distribution Per
    Unit ($)
    AGF Systematic Global Multi-Sector Bond ETF  QGB Cboe Canada Inc. $ 0.036985
    AGF Systematic International Equity ETF  QIE Toronto Stock Exchange $ 0.309045
    AGF Systematic US Equity ETF  QUS Toronto Stock Exchange $ 0.098268

    Further information about the AGF ETFs can be found at AGF.com.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With nearly $54 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs.

    AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    AGF Investments Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Management Limited and conducts the management and advisory of mutual funds in Canada.

    Disclaimer

    ETFs are listed and traded on organized Canadian exchanges and may only be bought and sold through licensed dealers. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in ETFs. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. There is no guarantee that ETFs will achieve their stated objectives and there is risk involved in investing in the ETFs. Before investing you should read the prospectus or relevant ETF Facts and carefully consider, among other things, each ETF’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. A copy of the prospectus and ETF Facts is available on AGF.com.

    This information is not intended to provide legal, accounting, tax, investment, financial, or other advice, and should not be relied upon for providing such advice. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    Media Contact

    Amanda Marchment
    Director, Corporate Communications
    416-865-4160
    amanda.marchment@agf.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ProMOS Adopts Silvaco Victory TCAD Solution for the Development of Next-Gen Silicon Photonics Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVCO) (“Silvaco” or the “Company”), a provider of TCAD, EDA software and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced that ProMOS Technologies has adopted Silvaco’s Victory TCAD™ simulation solution to accelerate the development of next-generation silicon photonics devices. By leveraging Silvaco’s cutting-edge technology, ProMOS aims to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of its photonic device designs.

    Silvaco’s Victory Process™ is a comprehensive and technology-agnostic simulation solution that enables precise modeling of real-world fabrication steps, including etching, deposition, oxidation, implantation, and diffusion. Unlike simple emulation tools, Victory Process provides a detailed and accurate representation of semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring that simulated outcomes closely match actual production processes.

    The Victory TCAD solution supports a wide range of cutting-edge applications, including Photonics, CMOS, Power, Memory, and Display technologies. Its user-friendly interface, automation capabilities, and advanced simulation features allow for efficient process optimization, rapid design iteration, and robust Design of Experiments (DoE) implementation. With Victory TCAD, ProMOS gains a powerful platform for accelerating innovation and refining the performance of its photonic devices.

    “The adoption of Silvaco’s Victory TCAD tools marks a significant step forward for ProMOS in developing next-gen photonic devices,” said Lynn Lin, Vice President at ProMOS. “Silvaco’s product leadership, service, and technical support were instrumental in our decision to select Silvaco for our photonic device development, helping us accelerate the pace of our innovation.”

    “The adoption of the Victory TCAD solution by ProMOS highlights the growing demand for advanced simulation solutions in silicon photonics,” said Eric Guichard, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the TCAD business unit at Silvaco. “We are thrilled to support ProMOS in their silicon photonics development journey. Victory TCAD provides a comprehensive simulation environment that enables companies like ProMOS to take into account process variation to optimize device performance while exploring new frontiers in photonics and semiconductor innovation.”

    About Silvaco
    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and AI through software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for process and device development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

    Contacts
    Media Relations:
    Tiffany Behany, press@silvaco.com

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Brazil and Paraguay: Itaipú takes a step towards restoring land to the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People, but integral reparation is still pending

    Source: Amnesty International –

    On 24 March, it was formally agreed that Itaipú Binacional should finance the purchase of 3,000 hectares of land in Brazil to restore part of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense territory that had been dispossessed and flooded for the construction and operation of the Itaipú hydroelectric dam. The dam, one of the largest in the world, was built in the 1970s and 1980s as a joint project by the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments.

    Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, declared that “The commitment to purchase 3,000 hectares of land in Brazil with resources from Itaipú Binacional is a result of the resistance of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People. It does not, however, discharge the responsibility of the company and the governments of Brazil and Paraguay to provide full reparation to a people who have struggled for more than 40 years to recover their land”.

    The commitment to purchase 3,000 hectares of land in Brazil with resources from Itaipú Binacional is a result of the resistance of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People. It does not, however, discharge the responsibility of the company and the governments of Brazil and Paraguay to provide full reparation to a people who have struggled for more than 40 years to recover their land.

    Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International

    A week ago, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court endorsed a settlement agreement in a lawsuit brought by the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Brazil, representing the interests of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense Indigenous communities, against Brazilian state agencies and Itaipú Binacional. This legal procedure, supported by the Guaraní Yvyrupa Commission and other organizations, seeks redress for human rights violations suffered by the communities of Tekoha Guasu Ocoy Jacutinga and Tekoha Guassu Guavira in Brazil. The agreement includes the publication of an apology acknowledging the company’s responsibility for the violations and “damages” suffered by these Indigenous peoples during construction of the dam, and financing the purchase of 3,000 hectares of land for the communities, which comprise more than 5,000 members in the municipalities of São Miguel do Iguaçu, Itaipulândia, Santa Helena, Terra Roxa and Guaíra in the state of Paraná.

    In their own statement, the communities accepted this restitution as an immediate remedy, but declared that it does not in any way cover the true extent of the damage caused to the Avá Guaraní Paranaense territory. In particular, the communities in Brazil insist that this restitution does not cover all of the land they are claiming, and that the 3,000 hectares to be acquired are not enough to avoid a situation of overpopulation that would prevent them from recovering their traditional livelihoods linked to cultivation, hunting, fishing and forest management.

    The dam that Brazil, Paraguay and Itaipú Binacional present internationally as a model project for the production of supposedly clean energy is in fact built on the pain of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People. Without their territory and the livelihoods it provides, the very cultural identity of these Indigenous peoples is at risk

    Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil

    “The dam that Brazil, Paraguay and Itaipú Binacional present internationally as a model project for the production of supposedly clean energy is in fact built on the pain of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People. Without their territory and the livelihoods it provides, the very cultural identity of these Indigenous peoples is at risk.”, said Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil.

    The Avá Guaraní Paranaense communities on the Paraguayan side of the border shared with Amnesty International their joy at the steps taken in Brazil and their disappointment at the lack of equivalent progress in Paraguay. For more than a decade, Amnesty International has denounced the continued violation of the human rights of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People in Paraguay, in particular through lack of reparation, the precariousness that affects many of those displaced, and the violence directed against communities who, after years of waiting, have decided to reoccupy parts of their ancestral territory that have not been flooded.

    Rosalía Vega, executive director of Amnesty International Paraguay, said that “the Avá Guaraní Paranaense communities are a single people who share an open wound inflicted by the Itaipú hydroelectric dam. It is therefore incomprehensible that acknowledgement of responsibility and steps towards reparation are not happening simultaneously. Both the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments and Itaipú Binacional must be held accountable and address the claims of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense communities on both sides of the border”.

    The Avá Guaraní Paranaense communities are a single people who share an open wound inflicted by the Itaipú hydroelectric dam. It is therefore incomprehensible that acknowledgement of responsibility and steps towards reparation are not happening simultaneously. Both the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments and Itaipú Binacional must be held accountable and address the claims of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense communities on both sides of the border

    Rosalía Vega, executive director of Amnesty International Paraguay

    For these reasons, Amnesty International submitted an access to information request to Itaipú Binacional on both sides of the border, asking the company about the integrity of the measures taken to respect the right of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People to free, prior and informed consultation and to redress the human rights violations committed during the construction of the dam. The request also addresses the company’s responsibility of due diligence to ensure that human rights are upheld at all times in its operations.

    Amnesty International recognizes the resistance of the Avá Guaraní Paranaense People and reaffirms its commitment to accompany their struggle until justice and effective reparation for the human rights violations committed against them on both sides of the Paraná River are achieved.

    For further information or to request an interview, please contact [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily | Weds 4/2

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Your Wednesday #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily includes a quick look at Veterans participating in curling. Ron Haskell, comms guy, prompts Veterans with some fun questions about their military experience. Finally, get to know Army Veteran Brian McCrickard and his service dog Rio. #sports4vets #DAV

    To learn how you can volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org

    This video was created by the NDVWSC Media Team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7fXAblXm8g

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily | Tues 4/1

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Your Tuesday #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily includes a message from Kendra Betz breaking down the responsibilities of the seating and prostethics team at the event and features US Army Veteran Robert Sanchas and his service dog, Kent. #sports4vets #DAV

    To learn how you can volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org

    This video was created by the NDVWSC Media Team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkBolOpWK3M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB Group and BBVA provide €185 million for sustainable housing projects promoted by small businesses and mid-caps

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EIB Group has invested more than €90 million in a BBVA asset-backed securitisation operation.
    • This EIB investment will allow BBVA to mobilise some €185 million in financing for sustainable housing projects in Spain.
    • The operation is backed by InvestEU, an EU programme that aims to unlock over €372 billion in investment by 2027.

    The EIB Group – made up of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) – has signed a new €93 million synthetic securitisation operation with BBVA for 100% green projects. This investment will allow BBVA to mobilise around €185 million to finance the construction of residential buildings with near-zero emissions by small and medium firms (SMEs) and mid-caps in Spain’s real estate sector.

    The operation is guaranteed by InvestEU, the EU programme to mobilise public and private investment. It will give SMEs and mid-caps that promote sustainable housing easier access to financing on favourable terms that would not otherwise be available for such projects.

    The projects financed by this operation will improve energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and help mitigate climate change. A significant number of these projects are expected to be implemented in cohesion regions where the income per capita is below the EU average.

    This operation is one more demonstration of the EIB Group’s role of promoting new financial instruments like securitisation that help unlock capital for green projects, reduce the risk borne by sponsoring financial institutions and strengthen the EU capital markets union.

    The agreement with BBVA supports the strategic priorities of the EIB Group, which include climate action, access to affordable and sustainable housing, cohesion and the capital markets union.

    The securitisation is on a portfolio of over €1.4 billion in loans to SMEs in which BBVA will retain the senior and junior tranches, and the EIB Group will guarantee the mezzanine tranche of €93 million. It has been structured to meet the STS criteria (simple, transparent and standardised), and includes a synthetic excess spread mechanism and uses pro rata amortisation (which may be changed to sequential).

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    About InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    About BBVA

    BBVA is a global financial services group founded in 1857. The bank is present in more than 25 countries, has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and Turkey.

    BBVA contributes with its activity to the progress and welfare of all its stakeholders: shareholders, clients, employees, providers and society in general. In this regard, BBVA supports families, entrepreneurs and companies in their plans, and helps them to take advantage of the opportunities provided by innovation and technology.  Likewise, BBVA offers its customers a unique value proposition, leveraged on technology and data, helping them improve their financial health with personalized information on financial decision-making.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Invites Chile to WAVES 2025: Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan meets Chilean Minister Carolina Arredondo during President Gabriel Boric Font’s visit

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, met with the Minister of Culture, Arts & Heritage of Chile, H.E. Mrs. Carolina Arredondo, in New Delhi as part of Chile President Gabriel Boric Font’s five-day visit to India.

                                           

    Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan Invites Chile to WAVES 2025

    The Hon’ble Minister facilitated various discussions, especially regarding the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), slated to take place from 1st to 4th May, 2025. The Hon’ble Minister extended an invitation for the event and presented H.E. Mrs. Carolina Arredondo with a painting depicting Indian sculptures.

    The meeting was also attended by members of the Chilean delegation, including Mr. Martín Gormaz, Third Secretary at the Embassy of Chile, along with Mr. Lakshmi Chandra, Under Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, and Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan M.N., Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    Expanding India-Chile Cooperation

    The President of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font is on a State visit to India from 1st to 5th April, 2025, commemorating the completion of 76 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Apart from New Delhi, President Boric is set to visit Agra, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This is the first visit of President Boric to India.

    Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font, during their discussions, agreed to initiate talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming to expand economic linkages between the two nations. They identified and discussed critical sectors such as minerals, energy, defence, space, and agriculture as areas with immense potential for collaboration.

    Healthcare emerged as a promising avenue for closer ties, with the rising popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda in Chile serving as a testament to the cultural exchange between the two countries. The leaders also underscored the importance of deepening cultural and educational connections through student exchange programs and other initiatives.

    ****

    Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2117807) Visitor Counter : 53

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Citizen Scientists Use NASA Open Science Data to Research Life in Space

    Source: NASA

    How can life thrive in deep space? The Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Groups invite volunteers from all backgrounds to help answer this question. Request to join these citizen science groups to help investigate how life adapts to space environments, exploring topics like radiation effects, microgravity’s impact on human and plant health, and how microbes change in orbit.
    Currently, nine Analysis Working Groups (AWGs) hold monthly meetings to advance their specific focus areas. Participants collaborate using an online platform, the AWG “Forum-Space”, where they connect with peers and experts, join discussions, and contribute to over 20 active projects. 
    The AWGs work with data primarily from the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), a treasure trove of spaceflight data on physiology, molecular biology, bioimaging, and much more. For newcomers, there are tutorials and a comprehensive paper covering all aspects of the repository and the AWG community. You can explore 500+ studies, an omics multi-study visualization portal, the environmental data app, and RadLab, a portal for radiation telemetry data. (“Omics” refers to fields of biology that end in “omics,” like “genomics”.)   
    Each of the nine AWGs has a Lead who organizes their group and holds monthly virtual meetings. Once you join, make sure to connect with the Lead and get on the agenda so you can introduce yourself. Learn more about the AWGs here.
    Have an idea for a new project? Propose a new project and help lead it! From data analysis and visualization to shaping data standards and conducting literature meta-analyses, there’s a place for everyone to contribute. Request to join, and together, we can address a great challenge for humanity: understanding and enabling life to thrive in deep space! 
    Want to learn more?
    On April 17 at 3pm Eastern Time, the NASA Citizen Science Leaders Series is hosting an virtual event with Ryan Scott about these Analysis Working Groups and their work. Ryan is the Science Lead for the Ames Life Sciences Data Archive and the liaison between the Open Data Science Repository and the Analysis Working Groups. Click here to register for this event!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Weeks Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Two Weeks Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    Two Weeks Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    LOS ANGELES – In order to have debris removed by the U

    S

    Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), property owners affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires must submit a Right of Entry (ROE) form to LA County

    The deadline to submit a ROE form has been extended to April 15, 2025

     Typically, FEMA’s authority is limited to debris removal in public areas, but in response to the LA wildfires, FEMA’s authority has been extended to include single family residences and owner-occupied multi-family units

     There is no out-of-pocket cost to have debris removed by USACE, however FEMA is unable to duplicate other forms of funding specific to debris removal

    If a property has insurance for debris removal, any residual amount not used by the property owner must be provided through the county to offset the cost of debris removal

     If a property owner opts out of the USACE debris removal program, they become responsible for all permits, inspections and other associated debris removal requirements and costs

     All property owners should submit an ROE form by April 15, 2025, either opting into the program or opting out

     Submit a ROE form to LA County:Complete the opt-in form online at: Los Angeles County Right of Entry Permit for Debris Removal on Private Property

    Download and complete a form: Debris Removal Right of Entry Permit (00011201

    DOCX;1)

    Submit at a Disaster Recovery Center

    Pick up a form at a Disaster Recovery Center

    Visit the DRC Locator to find a location

    Contact Los Angeles County if you need more information about debris removal: Visit the LA County Debris Removal Website: recovery

    lacounty

    gov/debris-removal/Call LA County’s Public Works Fire Debris Hotline: 844-347-3332Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    California is committed to supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm as they navigate the recovery process

    Visit CA

    gov/LAFires for up-to-date information on disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and how to apply for assistance

    alberto

    pillot
    Wed, 04/02/2025 – 00:56

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-47 PRELIMINARY INJUCTION GRANTED AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MASS FIRINGS OF FEDERAL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-47 PRELIMINARY INJUCTION GRANTED AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MASS FIRINGS OF FEDERAL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES

    Posted on Apr 1, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

    ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE LOPEZ WINS PRELIMINARY INJUCTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MASS FIRINGS OF FEDERAL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES

     

    News Release 2025-47

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    April 1, 2025

    HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez and a coalition of 20 attorneys general have secured a preliminary injunction (PI) in a lawsuit against numerous federal agencies for the unlawful mass firing of federal probationary employees. The suit, Maryland et al. v. USDA, was filed in the United States District Court for Maryland.

     

    The PI protects federal probationary employees who live or work in the plaintiff states and orders 20 federal agencies to reinstate unlawfully terminated probationary employees while the court case continues. The PI also requires those agencies to follow lawful procedures in conducting any future reductions in force.  

     

    “The granting of this injunction sends a clear message that the government must follow certain laws and regulations when it comes to firing and laying off federal employees,” said Attorney General Lopez. “The federal workers who live and work in Hawaiʻi should not be treated as disposable. These agencies and their employees provide a critical safety net through social assistance programs and through state and federal partnerships.”

      

    On March 6, 2025, Attorney General Lopez joined the coalition in suing numerous federal agencies for causing irreparable injury to the plaintiff states, including Hawaiʻi. The lawsuit sought immediate relief, and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on March 14, 2025, against 18 federal agencies. The court later extended that order by five days, setting an expiration date of April 1, which would have resulted in devastating impacts on the plaintiff states, as well as their probationary federal employees.  

      

    The PI extends the court’s earlier order requiring the federal agencies to stop the unlawful mass firings and to give those employees back their jobs while the attorneys general litigate the case against the agencies. The PI ensures that for the remainder of the case, the following federal agencies cannot continue their unlawful conduct:  

     

    U.S. Department of Agriculture    U.S. Department of Transportation  
    U.S. Department of Commerce   U.S. Department of Treasury  
    U.S. Department of Defense   U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  
    U.S. Department of Education   Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  
    U.S. Department of Energy   Environmental Protection Agency  
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security   General Services Administration  
    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development   Office of Personnel Management  
    U.S. Department of Interior    Small Business Administration  
    U.S. Department of Labor   United States Agency for International Development   

      

    The state of Hawaiʻi is represented in this litigation by Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes.

     

    Attorney General Lopez was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284

    Email: [email protected]

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
    Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office: 808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
     Email: [email protected] 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024-46 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES HHS, SEC. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. TO OVERTURN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT CUTS

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2024-46 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ SUES HHS, SEC. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. TO OVERTURN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT CUTS

    Posted on Apr 1, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE LOPEZ SUES HHS, SEC. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. TO OVERTURN PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT CUTS

     

     

    News Release 2025-46

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

    April 1, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez today joined a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for abruptly and illegally terminating nearly $12 billion in critical public health grants to the states.

     

    The grant terminations, which came with no warning or legally valid explanation, have quickly caused chaos for state health agencies that continue to rely on these critical funds for a wide range of urgent public health needs such as infectious disease management, fortifying emergency preparedness, providing mental health and substance abuse services, and modernizing public health infrastructure.

     

    Hawai‘i stands to lose more than $89 million from these cancellations by HHS. The federal grants fund Hawai‘i Department of Health contracts for data infrastructure and modernization, community support services, substance abuse prevention services, public health staff, and capital improvements and equipment upgrades for state labs on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. If the funding is not restored, many of these contracts may have to be terminated.

    “The HHS cuts threaten the urgent public health needs of Hawaiʻi and other states around the country at a time when emerging disease threats—such as measles and bird flu—are on the rise,” Governor Josh Green warned.

     

    Congress authorized and appropriated new and increased funding for these grants in COVID-19-related legislation to support critical public health needs. Many of these grants are from specific programs created by Congress, such as block grants to states for mental health and substance abuse and addiction services. Yet, with no legal authority or explanation, Secretary Kennedy’s HHS agencies on March 24 arbitrarily terminated these grants “for cause” effective immediately claiming that the pandemic is over and the grants are no longer necessary.

     

    “Congress made wide-ranging public health investments that support and protect community health programs, prepare states for future health threats and fund local partnerships with community health providers,” said Attorney General Lopez. “Hawaiʻi relied upon the federal government’s legally binding obligations. Terminating hundreds of millions of dollars in in federal grants obligated to Hawaiʻi that have already been appropriated by Congress, without notice, is unlawful and harms our most vulnerable and underserved communities,” said Attorney General Lopez.

     

    In its lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the coalition of attorneys general assert that the mass terminations violate federal law because the end of the pandemic is not a “for cause” basis for ending the grants, especially since none of the appropriated funds are tied to the end of the pandemic which occurred more than a year ago. HHS’ position, up until a few days ago, was that the end of the pandemic did not affect the availability of these grant funds. Moreover, for some of the grants, termination “for cause” is not a permissible basis for termination, yet the federal government unlawfully terminated them.

     

    With this lawsuit, Attorney General Lopez and the coalition are seeking a temporary restraining order to invalidate Secretary Kennedy’s and HHS’ mass grant terminations in the suing states, arguing that the actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The states are also asking the court to prevent HHS from maintaining or reinstating the terminations and any agency actions implementing them.

     

    The state of Hawaiʻi is represented in this litigation by Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes.

     

    Attorney General Lopez is joined by the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

     

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
    Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office: 808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
    Email:     [email protected] 

    MIL OSI USA News –