Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Leisl Carr Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University

    The Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest in Arizona is one of many designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Deborah Lee Soltesz

    As summer approaches, millions of Americans begin planning or taking trips to state and national parks, seeking to explore the wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities across the nation. A lot of them will head toward the nation’s wilderness areas – 110 million acres, mostly in the West, that are protected by the strictest federal conservation rules.

    When Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1964, it described wilderness areas as places that evoked mystery and wonder, “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” These are wild landscapes that present nature in its rawest form.

    The law requires the federal government to protect these areas “for the permanent good of the whole people.” Wilderness areas are found in national parks, conservation land overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, national forests and U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuges.

    In early May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives began to consider allowing the sale of federal lands in six counties in Nevada and Utah, five of which contain wilderness areas. Ostensibly, these sales are to promote affordable housing, but the reality is that the proposal, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, a Nevada Republican, is a departure from the standard process of federal land exchanges that accommodate development in some places but protect wilderness in others.

    Regardless of whether Americans visit their public lands or know when they have crossed a wilderness boundary, as environmental historians we believe that everyone still benefits from the existence and protection of these precious places.

    This belief is an idea eloquently articulated and popularized 65 years ago by the noted Western writer Wallace Stegner. His eloquence helped launch the modern environmental movement and gave power to the idea that the nation’s public lands are a fundamental part of the United States’ national identity and a cornerstone of American freedom.

    Humble origins

    In 1958, Congress established the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission to examine outdoor recreation in the U.S. in order to determine not only what Americans wanted from the outdoors, but to consider how those needs and desires might change decades into the future.

    One of the commission’s members was David E. Pesonen, who worked at the Wildland Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley. He was asked to examine wilderness and its relationship to outdoor recreation. Pesonen later became a notable environmental lawyer and leader of the Sierra Club. But at the time, Pesonen had no idea what to say about wilderness.

    However, he knew someone who did. Pesonen had been impressed by the wild landscapes of the American West in Stegner’s 1954 history “Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West.” So he wrote to Stegner, who at the time was at Stanford University, asking for help in articulating the wilderness idea.

    Stegner’s response, which he said later was written in a single afternoon, was an off-the-cuff riff on why he cared about preserving wildlands. This letter became known as the Wilderness Letter and marked a turning point in American political and conservation history.

    Pesonen shared the letter with the rest of the commission, which also shared it with newly installed Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. Udall found its prose to be so profound, he read it at the seventh Wilderness Conference in 1961 in San Francisco, a speech broadcast by KCBS, the local FM radio station. The Sierra Club published the letter in the record of the conference’s proceedings later that year.

    But it was not until its publication in The Washington Post on June 17, 1962, that the letter reached a national audience and captured the imagination of generations of Americans.

    Wallace Stegner, right, knew the power of American wilderness landscapes. In this photo, probably from the 1950s, he pauses with his son Page and wife, Mary, on a Yosemite National Park hiking trail.
    Multimedia Archives, Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah

    An eloquent appeal

    In the letter, Stegner connected the idea of wilderness to a fundamental part of American identity. He called wilderness “something that has helped form our character and that has certainly shaped our history as a people … the challenge against which our character as a people was formed … (and) the thing that has helped to make an American different from and, until we forget it in the roar of our industrial cities, more fortunate than other men.”

    Without wild places, he argued, the U.S. would be just like every other overindustrialized place in the world.

    In the letter, Stegner expressed little concern with how wilderness might support outdoor recreation on public lands. He didn’t care whether wilderness areas had once featured roads, trails, homesteads or even natural resource extraction. What he cared about was Americans’ freedom to protect and enjoy these places. Stegner recognized that the freedom to protect, to restrain ourselves from consuming, was just as important as the freedom to consume.

    Perhaps most importantly, he wrote, wilderness was “an intangible and spiritual resource,” a place that gave the nation “our hope and our excitement,” landscapes that were “good for our spiritual health even if we never once in ten years set foot in it.”

    Without it, Stegner lamented, “never again will Americans be free in their own country from the noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste.” To him, the nation’s natural cathedrals and the vaulted ceiling of the pure blue sky are Americans’ sacred spaces as much as the structures in which they worship on the weekends.

    Stegner penned the letter during a national debate about the value of preserving wild places in the face of future development. “Something will have gone out of us as a people,” he wrote, “if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed.” If not protected, Stegner believed these wildlands that had helped shape American identity would fall to what he viewed as the same exploitative forces of unrestrained capitalism that had industrialized the nation for the past century. Every generation since has an obligation to protect these wild places.

    Stegner’s Wilderness Letter became a rallying cry to pass the Wilderness Act. The closing sentences of the letter are Stegner’s best: “We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.”

    This phrase, “the geography of hope,” is Stegner’s most famous line. It has become shorthand for what wilderness means: the wildlands that defined American character on the Western frontier, the wild spaces that Americans have had the freedom to protect, and the natural places that give Americans hope for the future of this planet.

    Death Valley National Park in California contains one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the United States.
    National Park Service/E. Letterman

    America’s ‘best idea’

    Stegner returned to themes outlined in the Wilderness Letter again two decades later in his essay “The Best Idea We Ever Had: An Overview,” published in Wilderness magazine in spring 1983.

    Writing in response to the Reagan administration’s efforts to reduce protection of the National Park System, Stegner declared that the parks were “Absolutely American, absolutely democratic.” He said they reflect us as a nation, at our best rather than our worst, and without them, millions of Americans’ lives, his included, would have been poorer.

    Public lands are more than just wilderness or national parks. They are places for work and play. They provide natural resources, wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water and recreational opportunities to small towns and sprawling metro areas alike. They are, as Stegner said, cures for cynicism and places of shared hope.

    Stegner’s words still resonate as Americans head for their public lands and enjoy the beauty of the wild places protected by wilderness legislation this summer. With visitor numbers increasing annually and agency budgets at historic lows, we believe it is useful to remember how precious these places are for all Americans. And we agree with Stegner that wilderness, public lands writ large, are more valuable to Americans’ collective identity and expression of freedom than they are as real estate that can be sold or commodities that can be extracted.

    Leisl Carr Childers has received funding from the USDA Forest Service, the Henry Luce Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.

    Michael Childers has received funding from the USDA Forest Service, the Henry Luce Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.

    ref. Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity – https://theconversation.com/why-protecting-wildland-is-crucial-to-american-freedom-and-identity-254862

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    May 13, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    New features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access, and Accessibility Reader; plus innovative updates to Live Listen, visionOS, Personal Voice, and more

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced new accessibility features coming later this year, including Accessibility Nutrition Labels, which will provide more detailed information for apps and games on the App Store. Users who are blind or have low vision can explore, learn, and interact using the new Magnifier app for Mac; take notes and perform calculations with the new Braille Access feature; and leverage the powerful camera system of Apple Vision Pro with new updates to visionOS. Additional announcements include Accessibility Reader, a new systemwide reading mode designed with accessibility in mind, along with updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more. Leveraging the power of Apple silicon — along with advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence — users will experience a new level of accessibility across the Apple ecosystem.

    “At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

    “Building on 40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple, we are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most.”

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels Come to the App Store

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels bring a new section to App Store product pages that will highlight accessibility features within apps and games. These labels give users a new way to learn if an app will be accessible to them before they download it, and give developers the opportunity to better inform and educate their users on features their app supports. This includes VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, captions, and more. Accessibility Nutrition Labels will be available on the App Store worldwide, and developers can access more guidance on the criteria apps should meet before displaying accessibility information on their product pages.

    “Accessibility Nutrition Labels are a huge step forward for accessibility,” said Eric Bridges, the American Foundation for the Blind’s president and CEO. “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start, and Apple has a long-standing history of delivering tools and technologies that allow developers to build experiences for everyone. These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence.”

    An All-New Magnifier for Mac

    Since 2016, Magnifier on iPhone and iPad has given users who are blind or have low vision tools to zoom in, read text, and detect objects around them. This year, Magnifier is coming to Mac to make the physical world more accessible for users with low vision. The Magnifier app for Mac connects to a user’s camera so they can zoom in on their surroundings, such as a screen or whiteboard. Magnifier works with Continuity Camera on iPhone as well as attached USB cameras, and supports reading documents using Desk View.

    With multiple live session windows, users can multitask by viewing a presentation with a webcam while simultaneously following along in a book using Desk View. With customized views, users can adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and even perspective to make text and images easier to see. Views can also be captured, grouped, and saved to add to later on. Additionally, Magnifier for Mac is integrated with another new accessibility feature, Accessibility Reader, which transforms text from the physical world into a custom legible format.

    A New Braille Experience

    Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker that’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. With a built-in app launcher, users can easily open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device. With Braille Access, users can quickly take notes in braille format and perform calculations using Nemeth Braille, a braille code often used in classrooms for math and science. Users can open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files directly from Braille Access, unlocking a wide range of books and files previously created on a braille note taking device. And an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays.

    Introducing Accessibility Reader

    Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, Accessibility Reader gives users new ways to customize text and focus on content they want to read, with extensive options for font, color, and spacing, as well as support for Spoken Content. Accessibility Reader can be launched from any app, and is built into the Magnifier app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so users can interact with text in the real world, like in books or on dining menus.

    Live Captions Arrive on Apple Watch

    For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, Live Listen controls come to Apple Watch with a new set of features, including real-time Live Captions. Live Listen turns iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones. When a session is active on iPhone, users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening along to the audio. Apple Watch serves as a remote control to start or stop Live Listen sessions, or jump back in a session to capture something that may have been missed. With Apple Watch, Live Listen sessions can be controlled from across the room, so there’s no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or during class. Live Listen can be used along with hearing health features available on AirPods Pro 2, including the first-of-its-kind clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature.

    An Enhanced View with Apple Vision Pro

    For users who are blind or have low vision, visionOS will expand vision accessibility features using the advanced camera system on Apple Vision Pro. With powerful updates to Zoom, users can magnify everything in view — including their surroundings — using the main camera. For VoiceOver users, Live Recognition in visionOS uses on-device machine learning to describe surroundings, find objects, read documents, and more.1 For accessibility developers, a new API will enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes, giving users more ways to understand their surroundings hands-free.

    Additional Updates

    • Background Sounds becomes easier to personalize with new EQ settings, the option to stop automatically after a period of time, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts. Background Sounds can help minimize distractions to increase a sense of focus and relaxation, which some users find can help with symptoms of tinnitus.
    • For users at risk of losing their ability to speak, Personal Voice becomes faster, easier, and more powerful than ever, leveraging advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a smoother, more natural-sounding voice in less than a minute, using only 10 recorded phrases. Personal Voice will also add support for Spanish (Mexico).2
    • Vehicle Motion Cues, which can help reduce motion sickness when riding in a moving vehicle, comes to Mac, along with new ways to customize the animated onscreen dots on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
    • Eye Tracking users on iPhone and iPad will now have the option to use a switch or dwell to make selections. Keyboard typing when using Eye Tracking or Switch Control is now easier on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro with improvements including a new keyboard dwell timer, reduced steps when typing with switches, and enabling QuickPath for iPhone and Vision Pro.
    • With Head Tracking, users will be able to more easily control iPhone and iPad with head movements, similar to Eye Tracking.
    • For users with severe mobility disabilities, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS will add a new protocol to support Switch Control for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), an emerging technology that allows users to control their device without physical movement.
    • Assistive Access adds a new custom Apple TV app with a simplified media player. Developers will also get support in creating tailored experiences for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities using the Assistive Access API.
    • Music Haptics on iPhone becomes more customizable with the option to experience haptics for a whole song or for vocals only, as well as the option to adjust the overall intensity of taps, textures, and vibrations.
    • Sound Recognition adds Name Recognition, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to know when their name is being called.
    • Voice Control introduces a new programming mode in Xcode for software developers with limited mobility. Voice Control also adds vocabulary syncing across devices, and will expand language support to include Korean, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish, Italian, Spanish (Latin America), Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan), English (Singapore), and Russian.
    • Live Captions adds support to include English (India, Australia, UK, Singapore), Mandarin Chinese (Mainland China), Cantonese (Mainland China, Hong Kong), Spanish (Latin America, Spain), French (France, Canada), Japanese, German (Germany), and Korean.
    • Updates to CarPlay include support for Large Text. With updates to Sound Recognition in CarPlay, drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing can now be notified of the sound of a crying baby, in addition to sounds outside the car such as horns and sirens.
    • Share Accessibility Settings is a new way for users to quickly and temporarily share their accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad. This is great for borrowing a friend’s device or using a public kiosk in a setting like a cafe.

    Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Apple

    Apple Retail is introducing dedicated tables spotlighting accessibility features on a variety of devices in select store locations throughout the month of May. Additionally, Apple offers accessibility sessions year-round through Today at Apple for deeper learning, tips, and feature customization. Sessions can be scheduled at all Apple Store locations worldwide through Group Booking or by visiting a nearby store.

    Apple Music shares the story of artist Kiddo K and the power of music haptics for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, unveils updates to its Haptics playlists, and launches a brand-new playlist featuring ASL interpretations of music videos alongside Saylists playlists.

    Apple Fitness+ welcomes Chelsie Hill as a guest in a Dance workout with Fitness+ trainer Ben Allen. Hill is a professional dancer and founder of Rolettes, an L.A.-based wheelchair dance team that advocates for disability representation and women’s empowerment. The workout is available now in the Fitness+ app.

    Apple TV+ shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new Apple Original film Deaf President Now!, which premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16. The documentary tells the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about, which unfolded across eight tumultuous days in 1988. At the world’s only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead an angry mob — and change the course of history.

    Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple News will spotlight stories of people with disabilities and those who are working to make the world more accessible for everyone.

    The App Store is sharing a collection of apps and games designed to be accessible to everyone, in addition to featuring the story of Klemens Strasser, a developer guided by a philosophy of making accessible apps and games like The Art of Fauna.

    The Shortcuts app adds Hold That Thought, a shortcut that prompts users to capture and recall information in a note so interruptions don’t derail their flow. The Accessibility Assistant shortcut has been added to Shortcuts on Apple Vision Pro to help recommend accessibility features based on user preferences.

    New videos on the Apple Support accessibility playlist include features like Eye Tracking, Vocal Shortcuts, and Vehicle Motion Cues, as well as a library of videos to help everyone personalize their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to work best for them.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Live Recognition should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where the user may be harmed or injured, or for navigation.
    2. Personal Voice can only be used to create a voice that sounds like the user on device, using their own voice, and for their own personal, noncommercial use.

    Press Contacts

    Will Butler

    Apple

    willbutler@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    May 13, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    New features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access, and Accessibility Reader; plus innovative updates to Live Listen, visionOS, Personal Voice, and more

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced new accessibility features coming later this year, including Accessibility Nutrition Labels, which will provide more detailed information for apps and games on the App Store. Users who are blind or have low vision can explore, learn, and interact using the new Magnifier app for Mac; take notes and perform calculations with the new Braille Access feature; and leverage the powerful camera system of Apple Vision Pro with new updates to visionOS. Additional announcements include Accessibility Reader, a new systemwide reading mode designed with accessibility in mind, along with updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more. Leveraging the power of Apple silicon — along with advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence — users will experience a new level of accessibility across the Apple ecosystem.

    “At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

    “Building on 40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple, we are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most.”

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels Come to the App Store

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels bring a new section to App Store product pages that will highlight accessibility features within apps and games. These labels give users a new way to learn if an app will be accessible to them before they download it, and give developers the opportunity to better inform and educate their users on features their app supports. This includes VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, captions, and more. Accessibility Nutrition Labels will be available on the App Store worldwide, and developers can access more guidance on the criteria apps should meet before displaying accessibility information on their product pages.

    “Accessibility Nutrition Labels are a huge step forward for accessibility,” said Eric Bridges, the American Foundation for the Blind’s president and CEO. “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start, and Apple has a long-standing history of delivering tools and technologies that allow developers to build experiences for everyone. These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence.”

    An All-New Magnifier for Mac

    Since 2016, Magnifier on iPhone and iPad has given users who are blind or have low vision tools to zoom in, read text, and detect objects around them. This year, Magnifier is coming to Mac to make the physical world more accessible for users with low vision. The Magnifier app for Mac connects to a user’s camera so they can zoom in on their surroundings, such as a screen or whiteboard. Magnifier works with Continuity Camera on iPhone as well as attached USB cameras, and supports reading documents using Desk View.

    With multiple live session windows, users can multitask by viewing a presentation with a webcam while simultaneously following along in a book using Desk View. With customized views, users can adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and even perspective to make text and images easier to see. Views can also be captured, grouped, and saved to add to later on. Additionally, Magnifier for Mac is integrated with another new accessibility feature, Accessibility Reader, which transforms text from the physical world into a custom legible format.

    A New Braille Experience

    Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker that’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. With a built-in app launcher, users can easily open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device. With Braille Access, users can quickly take notes in braille format and perform calculations using Nemeth Braille, a braille code often used in classrooms for math and science. Users can open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files directly from Braille Access, unlocking a wide range of books and files previously created on a braille note taking device. And an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays.

    Introducing Accessibility Reader

    Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, Accessibility Reader gives users new ways to customize text and focus on content they want to read, with extensive options for font, color, and spacing, as well as support for Spoken Content. Accessibility Reader can be launched from any app, and is built into the Magnifier app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so users can interact with text in the real world, like in books or on dining menus.

    Live Captions Arrive on Apple Watch

    For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, Live Listen controls come to Apple Watch with a new set of features, including real-time Live Captions. Live Listen turns iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones. When a session is active on iPhone, users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening along to the audio. Apple Watch serves as a remote control to start or stop Live Listen sessions, or jump back in a session to capture something that may have been missed. With Apple Watch, Live Listen sessions can be controlled from across the room, so there’s no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or during class. Live Listen can be used along with hearing health features available on AirPods Pro 2, including the first-of-its-kind clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature.

    An Enhanced View with Apple Vision Pro

    For users who are blind or have low vision, visionOS will expand vision accessibility features using the advanced camera system on Apple Vision Pro. With powerful updates to Zoom, users can magnify everything in view — including their surroundings — using the main camera. For VoiceOver users, Live Recognition in visionOS uses on-device machine learning to describe surroundings, find objects, read documents, and more.1 For accessibility developers, a new API will enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes, giving users more ways to understand their surroundings hands-free.

    Additional Updates

    • Background Sounds becomes easier to personalize with new EQ settings, the option to stop automatically after a period of time, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts. Background Sounds can help minimize distractions to increase a sense of focus and relaxation, which some users find can help with symptoms of tinnitus.
    • For users at risk of losing their ability to speak, Personal Voice becomes faster, easier, and more powerful than ever, leveraging advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a smoother, more natural-sounding voice in less than a minute, using only 10 recorded phrases. Personal Voice will also add support for Spanish (Mexico).2
    • Vehicle Motion Cues, which can help reduce motion sickness when riding in a moving vehicle, comes to Mac, along with new ways to customize the animated onscreen dots on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
    • Eye Tracking users on iPhone and iPad will now have the option to use a switch or dwell to make selections. Keyboard typing when using Eye Tracking or Switch Control is now easier on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro with improvements including a new keyboard dwell timer, reduced steps when typing with switches, and enabling QuickPath for iPhone and Vision Pro.
    • With Head Tracking, users will be able to more easily control iPhone and iPad with head movements, similar to Eye Tracking.
    • For users with severe mobility disabilities, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS will add a new protocol to support Switch Control for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), an emerging technology that allows users to control their device without physical movement.
    • Assistive Access adds a new custom Apple TV app with a simplified media player. Developers will also get support in creating tailored experiences for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities using the Assistive Access API.
    • Music Haptics on iPhone becomes more customizable with the option to experience haptics for a whole song or for vocals only, as well as the option to adjust the overall intensity of taps, textures, and vibrations.
    • Sound Recognition adds Name Recognition, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to know when their name is being called.
    • Voice Control introduces a new programming mode in Xcode for software developers with limited mobility. Voice Control also adds vocabulary syncing across devices, and will expand language support to include Korean, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish, Italian, Spanish (Latin America), Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan), English (Singapore), and Russian.
    • Live Captions adds support to include English (India, Australia, UK, Singapore), Mandarin Chinese (Mainland China), Cantonese (Mainland China, Hong Kong), Spanish (Latin America, Spain), French (France, Canada), Japanese, German (Germany), and Korean.
    • Updates to CarPlay include support for Large Text. With updates to Sound Recognition in CarPlay, drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing can now be notified of the sound of a crying baby, in addition to sounds outside the car such as horns and sirens.
    • Share Accessibility Settings is a new way for users to quickly and temporarily share their accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad. This is great for borrowing a friend’s device or using a public kiosk in a setting like a cafe.

    Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Apple

    Apple Retail is introducing dedicated tables spotlighting accessibility features on a variety of devices in select store locations throughout the month of May. Additionally, Apple offers accessibility sessions year-round through Today at Apple for deeper learning, tips, and feature customization. Sessions can be scheduled at all Apple Store locations worldwide through Group Booking or by visiting a nearby store.

    Apple Music shares the story of artist Kiddo K and the power of music haptics for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, unveils updates to its Haptics playlists, and launches a brand-new playlist featuring ASL interpretations of music videos alongside Saylists playlists.

    Apple Fitness+ welcomes Chelsie Hill as a guest in a Dance workout with Fitness+ trainer Ben Allen. Hill is a professional dancer and founder of Rolettes, an L.A.-based wheelchair dance team that advocates for disability representation and women’s empowerment. The workout is available now in the Fitness+ app.

    Apple TV+ shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new Apple Original film Deaf President Now!, which premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16. The documentary tells the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about, which unfolded across eight tumultuous days in 1988. At the world’s only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead an angry mob — and change the course of history.

    Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple News will spotlight stories of people with disabilities and those who are working to make the world more accessible for everyone.

    The App Store is sharing a collection of apps and games designed to be accessible to everyone, in addition to featuring the story of Klemens Strasser, a developer guided by a philosophy of making accessible apps and games like The Art of Fauna.

    The Shortcuts app adds Hold That Thought, a shortcut that prompts users to capture and recall information in a note so interruptions don’t derail their flow. The Accessibility Assistant shortcut has been added to Shortcuts on Apple Vision Pro to help recommend accessibility features based on user preferences.

    New videos on the Apple Support accessibility playlist include features like Eye Tracking, Vocal Shortcuts, and Vehicle Motion Cues, as well as a library of videos to help everyone personalize their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to work best for them.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Live Recognition should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where the user may be harmed or injured, or for navigation.
    2. Personal Voice can only be used to create a voice that sounds like the user on device, using their own voice, and for their own personal, noncommercial use.

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    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Bishop Martinelli entrusts Pope Leo to Our Lady of Arabia: “A son of migrants”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) – “To Mary, Our Lady of Arabia, we entrust the new Pope Leo XIV,” said Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, at the end of his homily at the Holy Mass in Abu Dhabi following the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter on Thursday, May 8.The day after the papal election, Friday, May 9, Masses were celebrated in all the churches of the Apostolic Vicariate with special prayer intentions for the new Pope and his ministry. Bishop Martinelli, a Capuchin, presided over the evening Eucharist at the parish of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, a celebration in which hymns and songs inspired by the figure of St. Peter and Christ the Good Shepherd were sung.”After days of mourning the death of our beloved Pope Francis,” Bishop Paul said, “the Lord has given us a new successor to the Apostle Peter: Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV.” “Last night,” he added, “we were all deeply moved to see him appear on screen and address his first words to the People of God.”In his brief homily, Bishop Martinelli recalled that in his first words from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, Pope Leo greeted the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square with the words of the Risen Christ: “Peace be with you,” adding, “A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.” Bishop Martinelli, who presides over an ecclesial community of migrants, emphasized that Pope Leo “is the son of migrants, and this is one of the reasons why we feel particularly close to him. Although he was born in Chicago, he has Italian, French, and Spanish roots,” highlighting some essential characteristics of the new Pontiff’s personality, such as his long experience as a missionary in Peru and his affiliation with the Augustinian Order. “Pope Leo,” Bishop Martinelli continued, quoting his words during his homily as the new Bishop of Rome on Friday, May 9, during Mass in the Sistine Chapel, when he said, “we are called to bring Jesus to others and to proclaim him. We must in a certain sense put ourselves aside so that Jesus can shine; we are called to be signs of his presence. This is the path of witness that we too are called to follow in this part of the world.” He then recalled that the episcopal motto of the new Bishop of Rome “is a saying of Saint Augustine: In Illo unum uno, which means: ‘In the one Jesus we are all one.’” Bishop Martinelli added, “This beautiful expression reminds us that we Christians, although many and diverse, are united in Christ Jesus, as Saint Paul himself writes in his Letter to the Ephesians: ‘Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.’” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Ministerial Meeting on the Future of Peacekeeping [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Dear Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, our generous hosts.

     
    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment.
     
    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
     
    Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family.
     
    That is what our peace operations are about. 
     
    From preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping…
     
    From negotiating ceasefires to helping to implement them…
     
    From electoral support and observer missions to de-mining operations and protection of civilians…
     
    To the focus of today’s Ministerial meeting — peacekeeping.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.
     
    Peacekeepers hail from every corner of the world.
     
    But they are united in their commitment to peace.
     
    As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at work helping to ensure that ceasefires are respected…
     
    Protecting civilians caught in the line of fire…
     
    Helping provide the conditions for lifesaving aid to flow to those in need…
     
    And laying the foundations for long-term recovery.
     
    In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death.
     
    And they are also a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, achieve and sustain peace.
     
    There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN Peacekeeping — including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor Leste.  
     
    Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops. 
     
    At the same time, we recognize that peace comes at a price.
     
    Through the decades, 4,400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty.
     
    Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.  
     
    Please join me in a moment of silence to honour all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace.
     
    [MOMENT OF SILENCE]
     
    Thank you.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    We owe it to peacekeepers — and the populations they protect — to continue strengthening their ability to answer this call to peace.
     
    And to do so in the face of daunting challenges.
     
    Complex, intertwined and frequently borderless conflicts…
     
    Growing polarization and division around the globe…
     
    Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation spreading through social media…
     
    Terrorism and transnational crime, which find fertile ground in instability…
     
    The ongoing climate crisis that is exacerbating conflict while leaving more of the planet uninhabitable…
     
    All the continued trampling of international law and international humanitarian law.
     
    As a result, we are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of the United Nations, and record numbers of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge.
     
    We must recognize that peacekeeping operations are only as effective as the mandates directing them, and can struggle in contexts where political support and clearly defined outcomes and solutions are absent or elusive.
     
    Meanwhile, we see increasing differences of views around how peacekeeping operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.
     
    And we face dramatic financial constraints across the board.
     
    We’ve worked to adapt in the face of these challenges.
     
    But we need to do more.
     
    Today, I want to highlight three areas of focus.
     
    First — help us shape peacekeeping operations that are fit for the future.     
     
    The Pact for the Future called for a Review of Peace Operations — including peacekeeping.
     
    The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.
     
    It will also aim to critically examine the tools we have today and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for the future.  
     
    Through this review, we must ensure that the United Nations is prepared to deploy peace operations tailored to each individual conflict, while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
     
    We can draw inspiration from our UNIFIL operation, which recently developed an adaptation plan to keep peace along the Blue Line, and ensure lifesaving aid can flow to civilians in southern Lebanon.
     
    In the Central African Republic, we see MINUSCA protecting civilians and assisting the government to extend its reach beyond the capital where people are in desperate need. 
     
    In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite ongoing fighting, UN Peacekeepers remain in the field, protecting vulnerable populations. 
     
    We’re also seeking efficiencies through partnerships — from Member States to regional and sub-regional organizations, to local communities.
     
    Most important among them is our strong partnership with the African Union.
     
    Security Council resolution 2719 has lifted this partnership to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the AU’s responsibility, supported by the United Nations through assessed contributions.
     
    Today, the Review of Peace Operations will need to be informed — and inspired — by your views.
     
    Member States make peacekeeping possible.
     
    They must lead the way as we strengthen it for the future.
     
    Second — as we make our operations more adaptable and flexible, we need to do the same in the use of our resources.

    Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical. 
     
    But these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board.
     
    Peacekeeping is no exception.
     
    It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have — and use them well.
     
    That requires more flexible rules and processes.
     
    This means updating our approach to abolishing or establishing positions, and working with troop-contributing countries to ensure we can deliver.
     
    It means working with Member States and the UN Security Council to ensure that any new mandates are prioritized and achievable with the resources available and with a clear exit strategy.
     
    And it means driving efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face.
     
    Our Review of Peace Operations will work hand-in-hand with our UN80 initiative, to ensure we maximize efficiencies wherever possible, supported at every step by Member States.
     
    We look forward to your governments’ support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together.

    Third — we need your political support, including through the pledges you will make tomorrow.

    Peace operations cannot succeed in the absence of a political solution.

    Together we need to mobilize greater support for political solutions across our peacekeeping missions. 

    Pursuing these political solutions requires adequate means of delivering our operations — including unified political support from Member States, strong leadership, well-trained troops, equipment and technology.

    These can strengthen our operations, and make a real difference in people’s lives.

    And it requires the support of all Member States to ensure the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers in the field, and the full implementation of the relevant privileges and immunities of the Organization and its personnel.

    We are deeply grateful for the support and for the concrete pledges so many of you will announce here tomorrow.

    Excellencies,

    With a budget shared by all 193 Member States and representing a tiny fraction of global military spending — around one half of one per cent — UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to build international peace and security.

    But it’s only as strong as Member States’ commitment to it.

    Unfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. 
      
    It is absolutely essential that all Member States respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time. 

    Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations.

    And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. 

    Together, let’s shape the UN peacekeeping operations that the challenges require, that Member States demand, and that our peacekeepers and the people they support need and deserve.
    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why do cuts to Medicaid matter for Americans over 65? 2 experts on aging explain why lives are at stake

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jane Tavares, Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer of Gerontology, UMass Boston

    Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for more than 82 million Americans. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

    Republicans in Congress intend to cut about US$880 billion in federal health care spending.

    One of their primary targets is Medicaid. That government program covers 82 million Americans with health insurance. Most of the people enrolled in the program are low income, have disabilities, or both.

    Medicaid, jointly funded by the federal government and the states, is also the biggest funder in the U.S. of long-term care services, whether they are delivered in the patient’s home, another location where they spend part of their day or a nursing home. That makes it particularly important for older adults and those with disabilities. All states must meet the basic federal guidelines for Medicaid coverage. But 41 states have opted to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act provision that expanded eligibility to cover more people under the program.

    We are gerontology researchers who study health and financial well-being in later life. We’ve been analyzing what the potential impacts of Medicaid cuts might be.

    While the debate about how to reduce the budget focuses largely on dollars and cents, we believe that cutting federal spending on Medicaid would harm the health and well-being of millions of Americans by reducing their access to care. In our view, it’s also likely that any savings achieved in the short term would be smaller than the long-term increase in health care costs born by the federal government, the states and patients – including for many Americans who are 65 and older.

    Republican lawmakers are weighing different strategies that could cut federal Medicaid spending.

    Weak track record

    Wary of backlash from their constituents, Republicans have agreed on a strategy that would largely cut Medicaid spending in a roundabout way.

    Previous efforts by the GOP in some states, such as imposing work requirements for some people to get Medicaid benefits, have not greatly reduced costs. That’s largely because there are relatively few people enrolled in the Medicaid program who are physically able to be employed and aren’t already in the workforce. Nor have past efforts to reduce fraud, waste and abuse led to significant savings.

    According to widespread media reports, Republicans are considering changes that would cut the amount of money that the federal government reimburses states for what they spend on Medicaid.

    In May 2025, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that 8.6 million Americans would lose their health insurance coverage should the GOP proposal become law.

    Historically, states have dealt with budget cuts by reducing their payments to health care providers, limiting eligibility or restricting benefits. These reductions all particularly affected home- and community-based services that many disabled and older adults rely on.

    About 3 in 4 of the people with Medicaid coverage who receive long-term care through the program get that care at home, in their communities or both, rather than residing in a nursing home. States save an estimated 26 cents for every dollar spent on those services delivered outside nursing homes.

    Losing coverage can be harmful for your health

    We recently analyzed data from a nationally representative study of approximately 6,000 people who had Medicaid coverage but lost it when they turned age 65 because their income exceeded 100% of the federal poverty level. In 2025, that cutoff is about $15,560 for a single person and $21,150 for a couple.

    Medicaid income eligibility generally drops from 138% to 100% of the federal poverty level at age 65 once Medicare becomes a person’s primary health insurer.

    The people who participated in the study had lost their Medicaid coverage upon turning 65 between 1998 and 2020. Our team followed the experiences of these participants over a 10-year period starting at age 65 to see how they fared compared with people who continue to be enrolled in Medicaid after their 65th birthday.

    What we found was both surprising and disturbing.

    Fewer activities of daily living

    Over the decade following that milestone, the people who lost their Medicaid coverage had more chronic conditions and could perform fewer activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed, without any assistance as compared with those who still had Medicaid coverage. In addition, they were twice as likely to experience depression and be in fair or poor health.

    As people’s health worsened, they also went to the hospital more often and stayed there longer. They also used outpatient surgery services more frequently.

    These services are particularly expensive for the health care system. Depending on the service, it may also be costly for patients. Unlike the comprehensive coverage of Medicaid, the Medicare program fully covers only inpatient hospitalizations, short-term nursing facility care, hospice, some short-term home care, annual wellness visits, vaccines and some basic preventive care. Beyond that, Medicare requires the payment of premiums to help with uncovered services that can also include deductibles and copays.

    This arrangement can lead to significant out-of-pocket costs that make health care hard for low-income older adults to afford unless they have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

    We also found that older people who lost Medicaid coverage were less likely to see their primary care physician for routine and follow-up care, despite being enrolled in Medicare. This explains in part why they are going to the hospital more often, likely avoiding routine health care that may incur out-of-pocket costs and eventually utilizing Medicare-covered hospital care when needed.

    In short, we found that exiting the Medicaid program upon turning 65 actually leads to an increase in the use of some of the most expensive health care services, such as inpatient hospitalization and outpatient surgery. So although Medicaid may no longer pay for these costs, the rest of the health care system does.

    Just under 90% of older adults enrolled in Medicare have some kind of supplemental coverage that helps them pay for services that the program doesn’t cover. For 16% of the people with Medicare coverage, Medicaid covers those additional health care costs. The rest of that nearly 90% obtain supplemental coverage from private insurance companies or are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that’s run by a private company instead of the government.

    However, 11% of Americans covered by Medicare don’t have any additional coverage. It is likely that those who lost Medicaid benefits at age 65 may not be able to afford any other supplemental coverage options and fall into this group.

    People who lose Medicaid coverage may die sooner

    One of our more troubling findings was that people who lost Medicaid coverage at age 65 were 14% more likely to die within the next 10 years than were those who kept their coverage in addition to gaining Medicare coverage. This was true even though the people who lost their Medicaid access tended to start out in better health.

    Roughly 12 million Americans are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid today. Much is at stake for them and other low-income people as Congress considers making major changes to the program to cut federal spending on it.

    For some Americans, it’s a matter of life and death. For others, it’s a matter of healthy versus unhealthy aging that leads to costlier health care not just for themselves but for the U.S. as a whole.

    Jane Tavares receives funding from the RRF Foundation for Aging.

    Marc Cohen receives funding from the RRF Foundation for Aging.

    ref. Why do cuts to Medicaid matter for Americans over 65? 2 experts on aging explain why lives are at stake – https://theconversation.com/why-do-cuts-to-medicaid-matter-for-americans-over-65-2-experts-on-aging-explain-why-lives-are-at-stake-254256

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Conor Harrison, Associate Professor of Economic Geography, University of South Carolina

    Cities like Houston get high humidity in addition to the heat, making summer almost unbearable without cooling. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

    The U.S. is headed into what forecasters expect to be one of the hottest summers on record, and millions of people across the country will struggle to pay their power bills as temperatures and energy costs rise.

    A 2023 national survey found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans were unable to pay their full energy bill for at least one month, and nearly 1 in 4 reported that they kept their homes at unsafe temperatures to save money. By 2025, updated polling indicated nearly 3 in 4 Americans are worried about rising energy costs.

    Conservative estimates suggest that utilities shut off power to over 3 million U.S. households each year because the residents cannot pay their bills.

    This problem of high energy prices isn’t lost on the Trump administration.

    On the first day of his second term in 2025, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency by executive order, saying that “high energy prices … devastate Americans, particularly those living on low- and fixed incomes.”

    Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright raised concerns about utility disconnections and outlined a mission to “shrink that number, with the target of zero.”

    Yet, the administration’s 2026 budget proposal zeros out funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, the federal program that administers funding to help low-income households pay their utility bills. And on April 1, 2025, the administration laid off the entire staff of the LIHEAP office.

    During the hottest periods, even nighttime temperatures might not drop below 90 in Phoenix. Without air conditioning, homes can become dangerously hot.
    Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    Many people already struggle to cobble together enough help from various sources to pay their power bills. As researchers who study energy insecurity, we believe gutting the federal office responsible for administering energy bill assistance will make it even harder for Americans to make ends meet.

    The high stakes of energy affordability

    We work with communities in South Carolina and Tennessee where many residents struggle to heat and cool their homes.

    We see how high energy prices force people to make dangerous trade-offs. Low-income households often find themselves choosing whether to buy necessities, pay for child care or pay their utility bills.

    One elderly person we spoke with for our research, Sarah, explained that she routinely forgoes buying medications in order to pay her utility bill. Another research participant who connects low-income families to energy bill assistance in Tennessee said: “I’ve gone into these homes, and it’s so hot. Your eyes roll in the back of your head. It’s like you can’t breathe. How do you sit in here? It’s just unreal.”

    Unfortunately, these stories are increasingly common, especially in low-income communities and communities of color.

    Electricity prices are predicted to rise with worsening climate change: More frequent heat waves and extreme weather events drive up demand and put pressure on the grid. Furthermore, rising energy demand from data centers – supercharged by the increasing energy use by artificial intelligence – is accelerating price increases.

    Shrinking resources for assistance

    LIHEAP, created in 1981, provides funding to states as block grants to help low-income families pay their utility bills. In fiscal year 2023, the program distributed US$6.1 billion in energy assistance, helping some 5.9 million households avoid losing power connections.

    The program’s small staff played critical roles in disbursing this money, providing implementation guidelines, monitoring state-level fund management and tracking and evaluating program effectiveness.

    A long line of utility customers wait to apply for help from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program in Trenton, N.J., in 2011. In 2023, around 6 million households benefited from LIHEAP.
    AP Photo/Mel Evans

    LIHEAP has historically prioritized heating assistance in cold-weather states over cooling assistance in warmer states. However, recent research shows a need to revisit the allocation formula to address the increasing need for air conditioning. The layoffs removed staff who could direct this work.

    It is unlikely that other sources of funding can fill in the gaps if states do not receive LIHEAP funds from the federal government. The program’s funding has never been high enough to meet the need. In 2020, LIHEAP provided assistance to just 16% of eligible households.

    Our research has found that, in practice, many households rely on a range of local nonprofits, faith-based organizations and informal networks of family and friends to help them pay their bills and keep the power on.

    For example, a research participant named Deborah reported that when faced with a utility shut-off, she “drove from church to church to church” in search of assistance. United Way in South Carolina received over 16,000 calls from people seeking help to pay their utility bills in 2023.

    These charitable services are an important lifeline for many, especially in the communities we study in the South. However, research has shown that faith-based programs do not have the reach of public programs.

    Without LIHEAP, the limited funds provided by nonprofits and the personal connections that people patch together will be stretched even thinner, especially as other charitable services, such as food banks, also face funding cuts.

    What’s ahead

    The $4.1 billion that Congress allocated to LIHEAP for the 2025 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, has already been disbursed. Going forward, however, cuts to LIHEAP staff affect its ability to respond to growing need. Congress now has to decide if it will kill the program’s future funding as well.

    Maricopa County in Arizona, home to Phoenix, illustrates what’s at stake. Annual heat-related deaths have risen 1,000% there in the past decade, from 61 to 602. Hundreds of these deaths occurred indoors.

    Cooling becomes essential during Arizona’s extreme summers. Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, reported more than 600 heat-related deaths in 2024.
    AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

    We believe gutting LIHEAP puts the goal of energy affordability for all Americans – and Americans’ lives – in jeopardy. Until more affordable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can be scaled up, an expansion of federal assistance programs is needed, not a contraction.

    Increasing the reach and funding of LIHEAP is one option. Making home weatherization programs more effective is another.

    Governments could also require utilities to forgive past-due bills and end utility shut-offs during the hottest and coldest months. About two dozen states currently have rules to prevent shut-offs during the worst summer heat.

    For now, the cuts mean more pressure on nonprofits, faith-based organizations and informal networks. Looking ahead to another exceptionally hot summer, we can only hope that cuts to LIHEAP staff don’t foreshadow a growing yet preventable death toll.

    Etienne Toussaint, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, and Ann Eisenberg, a law professor at West Virginia University, contributed to this article.

    Conor Harrison receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    Elena Louder receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    Nikki Luke receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She previously worked at the U.S. Department of Energy.

    Shelley Welton receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    ref. Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise – https://theconversation.com/trump-guts-low-income-energy-assistance-as-summer-heat-descends-and-electricity-prices-rise-256194

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: MicroAlgo Inc. Develops Blockchain-Based Traceable IP Rights Protection Algorithm

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    shenzhen, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MicroAlgo Inc. Develops Blockchain-Based Traceable IP Rights Protection Algorithm

    Shenzhen, May. 13, 2025/––MicroAlgo Inc. (the “Company” or “MicroAlgo”) (NASDAQ: MLGO), today announced the development of a blockchain-based traceable IP rights protection algorithm, aiming to fundamentally address the shortcomings of existing copyright protection technologies and safeguard intellectual property rights.
    MicroAlgo leverages blockchain’s distributed ledger and immutability features to develop a technical solution integrating a quadratic matrix transformation mathematical model, distributed random embedding mechanism, and location mapping function design. This enables precise traceability and secure protection of IP copyright throughout its lifecycle, from creation to transaction.
    Quadratic Matrix Transformation Model:in the digital mapping process of IP rights transactions, the quadratic matrix transformation model builds a structured multidimensional data system that mathematically models and enhances key elements of the transaction. Specifically, the model first quantifies and encodes critical parameters such as the identities and credit ratings of the transacting parties, scope of authorization, content characteristics (e.g., digital fingerprints, hash values, creation timestamps), and transaction attributes (e.g., authorization duration, usage scope, transaction amount) into a base matrix M₀ in a multidimensional vector space. Subsequently, through secondary linear transformations—such as eigenvalue decomposition, singular value decomposition, or polynomial transformation—a high-distinguishability feature matrix M’ is generated. This process retains the core features of the original data while eliminating redundancy through orthogonal transformation and dimensionality reduction, producing a unique and verifiable transaction identifier.
    The core advantage of the quadratic transformation lies in its construction of a bidirectional, verifiable mathematical correlation: on one hand, the transformed matrix contains all the key information from the original transaction and can be reversed using inverse algorithms for verification. On the other, the matrix’s eigenvalues and eigenvectors form a “digital fingerprint” of the transaction, serving as a standardized data interface for IP rights tracking on the blockchain. For example, when rights are transferred, new transaction data is mathematically linked with the previous matrices to form a sequential chain of feature matrices. This ensures each transaction is compliant and traceable within a rigorous mathematical logic framework.
    Distributed Random Embedding Mechanism: this mechanism uses specific random algorithms to embed key IP identifiers into various nodes across the blockchain in a distributed, concealed, and randomized manner. This approach makes it difficult to tamper with or maliciously extract copyright information while providing dispersed and reliable clues for subsequent traceability.
    Positional Mapping Function Design: by combining parameters such as time and transaction hash values, this design generates mapping factors through a traceable mapping function. This allows for rapid location of copyright data and enables end-to-end tracking of the origin and circulation of IP rights.
    During the operation of the entire blockchain network, even in the event of anomalies such as replay attacks, this algorithm—thanks to its unique structure and mechanisms—can swiftly retrieve copyright information using the stored data and correlation logic. It promptly identifies and addresses potential IP security threats, ensuring that intellectual property rights remain under effective protection at all times.
    From a security standpoint, the algorithm leverages a distributed random embedding mechanism to store copyright information in a decentralized and concealed manner. This significantly increases the difficulty for attackers to access or tamper with the data and effectively resists common threats such as replay attacks. It establishes a strong security barrier for IP rights protection. In terms of stability, built upon the reliable architecture of blockchain, the algorithm maintains stable operation even in complex network environments with high volumes of transaction data. This ensures accurate tracking and management of copyright information without errors. Traceability is another key strength. With the support of components such as the positional mapping function, the algorithm clearly records and presents the complete transaction chain of copyright information—from its creation to each subsequent transaction. This allows rights holders to monitor copyright activities in real time and provides robust evidence in case of disputes.
    As blockchain technology continues to evolve and copyright-related business scenarios grow increasingly complex and diversified, MicroAlgo’s algorithm is poised for further refinement and optimization. It holds the potential to integrate with more advanced encryption technologies to strengthen the protection of copyright information. Furthermore, it may expand its applications into more specialized areas of intellectual property, such as design patents and trademarks, becoming a critical global technology for IP rights protection and driving a more robust and efficient IP protection ecosystem.

    About MicroAlgo Inc.
    MicroAlgo Inc. (the “MicroAlgo”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is dedicated to the development and application of bespoke central processing algorithms. MicroAlgo provides comprehensive solutions to customers by integrating central processing algorithms with software or hardware, or both, thereby helping them to increase the number of customers, improve end-user satisfaction, achieve direct cost savings, reduce power consumption, and achieve technical goals. The range of MicroAlgo’s services includes algorithm optimization, accelerating computing power without the need for hardware upgrades, lightweight data processing, and data intelligence services. MicroAlgo’s ability to efficiently deliver software and hardware optimization to customers through bespoke central processing algorithms serves as a driving force for MicroAlgo’s long-term development.
    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of MicroAlgo, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of MicroAlgo’s periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 8-K filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, MicroAlgo’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the business transaction.

    MicroAlgo undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as may be required by law.
    Contact
    MicroAlgo Inc.
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@microalgor.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis Biogas Signs $27 Million Agreement with Centuri to Build Gas Cleanup Systems for 15 Dairy Digesters

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on low and negative carbon intensity renewable fuels, announced today that its Aemetis Biogas subsidiary has signed a $27 million equipment agreement with Centuri Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CTRI), a $2.6 billion infrastructure services contractor, to build biogas cleanup systems for 15 dairy digesters.

    This signed agreement, and expected future agreements with Centuri, will enable Aemetis Biogas to rapidly scale up the construction of dairy digesters to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for a total of 50 dairies that have already been signed by Aemetis Biogas. This summer, 16 dairies are scheduled to be operating in the Aemetis Biogas Central Digester Project near Modesto, California, with 36 miles of biogas pipeline and a central biogas-to-RNG production facility already in operation delivering RNG into the PG&E utility gas pipeline.

    “Our expanding strategic relationship with the experienced team at Centuri ranges from this agreement for biogas equipment to plans for construction management and pipe assembly to build upcoming energy efficiency, carbon sequestration and other projects,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “We expect that Centuri will play a key role in building Aemetis projects on time and on budget, given their expertise in constructing industrial facilities, large scale gas pipeline projects. and utility electrical systems.”

    “Centuri’s vast utility distribution expertise includes a growing number of renewable natural gas projects in multiple geographies, making the work with Aemetis a natural fit,” stated Dylan Hradek, President of US Gas at Centuri. “We expect to add significant value to upcoming projects at the Riverbank site and to support their ongoing work and plans to deliver innovative, renewable energy solutions across their portfolio.”

    Aemetis renewable energy and energy efficiency projects include the expansion of dairy renewable natural gas production to generate more than 1 million MMBtu of renewable natural gas from 50 dairies that have signed agreements; the Keyes ethanol plant mechanical vapor recompression system that is expected to generate $32 million of increased annual cash flow starting in 2026; the Riverbank carbon sequestration project to inject 1.4 million tons of CO2 per year underground; the 78 million gallon per year sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel plant which has already received the Authority To Construct air permits and the other key approvals; and negotiations underway for other large scale industrial and electrical projects at the Riverbank site.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel biorefinery in California, renewable hydrogen, and hydroelectric power to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

    About Centuri

    Centuri Holdings, Inc. is a strategic utility infrastructure services company that partners with regulated utilities to build and maintain the energy network that powers millions of homes and businesses across the United States and Canada.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results in 2025 and future years; statements relating to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis ethanol, biogas, SAF and renewable diesel, and carbon sequestration facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biogas, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

    Company Investor Relations
    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese company Mixue Bingcheng plans to increase imports from Brazil

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ZHENGZHOU, May 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese beverage company Mixue Bingcheng plans to open its first single-origin coffee shop in Brazil this year and increase imports of agricultural products from the country, the company said Monday.

    According to a memorandum of understanding signed between the company and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, the company will expand imports of coffee beans, fruit products and other agricultural products from Brazil.

    Mixue Bingcheng plans to purchase agricultural products from Brazil worth at least 4 billion yuan (about $550 million) over the next three to five years, said Tian Zezhong, head of the Chinese company’s Brazilian branch.

    In addition, Mixue Bingcheng plans to open a plant in Brazil, which will provide 25,000 jobs for local residents.

    Mixue Bingcheng was founded in 1997 and has 46,479 stores worldwide as of the end of 2024. The company’s entry into the Brazilian market is driven by growing demand for high-quality coffee beans and is an example of the growing and diversifying trade partnership between China and Brazil.

    China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner for many years. At the same time, Brazil is China’s number one trading partner in Latin America. Bilateral trade exceeded $180 billion in 2024.

    “Mixue Bingcheng reflects the growing trend of Chinese beverage companies going global. Through supply and distribution around the world, these brands offer consumers affordable premium beverages,” said Chen Zhenjie, deputy head of the China Food Industry Association. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: FAVO Capital Announces Conversion of Super Voting Series C Shares to Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO), a publicly traded private credit firm specializing in merchant cash advances (MCAs) and revenue-based financing for underserved small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the voluntary conversion of all outstanding Super Voting Series C Preferred Shares into common stock.

    The corporate governance action simplifies the Company’s capital structure and aligns voting rights more closely with public market expectations. The move is a proactive step as the Company continues preparations for its planned uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market.

    “Converting our Series C Super Voting Shares demonstrates our commitment to transparency, governance and best practices as well as long-term value creation,” said Vincent Napolitano, CEO of FAVO Capital. “It’s another important step forward as we align our structure with shareholder and institutional investor expectations.”

    The conversion eliminates all outstanding Series C Preferred stock with its super voting rights, improving accessibility and aligning with broader market standards for public company governance.

    About FAVO Capital, Inc.

    FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO) is a private credit firm specializing in alternative financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the United States. Since its inception, FAVO Capital has supported more than 10,000 businesses. FAVO Capital is committed to financial transparency, sustainable growth, and empowering SMBs with flexible funding solutions. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the company also has operations in New York and the Dominican Republic.

    For more information, visit www.favocapital.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

    Investor Alerts

    Interested investors and shareholders are encouraged to sign up for press releases and industry updates by registering for Email Alerts at FAVO News Alerts.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, projections, estimates, and expectations regarding future trends, financial performance, and operational strategies. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” or similar expressions.

    These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, market conditions, regulatory developments, competition, economic conditions, and the company’s ability to execute its business strategy.

    Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or changes in expectations after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

    Company Contact:

    FAVO Capital, Inc.
    4300 N University Drive
    D-105
    Lauderhill, FL 33351

    Investor Relations:
    Scott McGowan
    InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
    Phone: 310.299.1717
    ir@favocapital.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Increase in admissions at MSF centre specialised in treating people for extreme violence in Mexico City

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Mexico City – The number of mental health consultations and new patients admitted to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Comprehensive Care Centre (CAI, in Spanish) for victims of extreme violence, based in Mexico City, Mexico, has increased significantly in the last six months. MSF attributes the increase to continued violence at the hands of various armed groups — both organised crime groups and security forces — along the migration route through Central America and Mexico, fuelled by a slew of harsh changes to immigration policies by the United States (US) and other governments in the region. As needs increase, we urge public entities and NGOs to strengthen assistance to people in Mexico who have been victims of violence and are seeking safety.  

    In the first quarter of 2025, MSF teams provided 485 individual mental health sessions to patients at the CAI, including to migrants in transit through or stranded in Mexico and Mexican citizens. This represents a 36% increase compared with the number of sessions provided in the three months prior. Throughout 2024, MSF provided an average of 300 to 350 individual mental health sessions each quarter. Between January and March this year, the most common conditions people presented with were post-traumatic stress disorder (48%) and depression (39%), as well as acute stress reactions (7%), grief, and anxiety. 

    “Since the end of January, we have treated people with severe mental health issues due in large part to the impact of restrictive immigration policies recently implemented by the US and other governments in the region,” says Joaquim Guinart, coordinator of the CAI.  

    A flurry of executive actions taken by US President Donald Trump in January included the declaration of a national emergency at the US southern border—effectively militarising immigration enforcement— and the temporary suspension of refugee admissions to the US. 

    Even before the executive orders were issued, the new administration took swift action to shut down the CBP One app that, despite its flaws, was the only way to apply for asylum at the US southern border. The impact of these restrictions is further compounded by funding cuts to humanitarian programmes, severely affecting access to shelter and basic healthcare needs. 

    “These abrupt changes have left many people trapped in legal limbo, with no pathway to seek asylum and no access to essential services or protection,” says Guinart.  

    These combined measures further erode access to asylum and increase the risks for migrants—particularly children and other vulnerable groups—as people are pushed towards using increasingly dangerous routes and methods to seek asylum or trapped in unsafe locations where they are at heightened risk of kidnappings, extortion, and sexual violence.

    The CAI opened in 2016 to provide comprehensive care for survivors of extreme violence and torture, including medical care, psychology sessions, and physical therapy, among other services. The goal is to help patients regain their autonomy and heal physically and emotionally. Most people receive three to six months of treatment, and there are between 30-50 patients admitted at any one time. In 2024, MSF teams identified 4,500 victims of moderate to extreme violence through our projects in different points of attention in Mexico or through partners. We admitted 186 to the CAI for comprehensive treatment, others were provided care through mobile and fixed clinics or referred to other organisations for care.  

    Although most patients admitted are migrants, since the last quarter of 2024, the CAI has also focused on treating Mexican patients who are displaced or affected by violence occurring in various parts of the country. This coincides with a significant increase in admissions to the CAI during that period—64 in total, which represents an increase of more than 50 per cent over the usual quarterly average of 40.

    “The goal is for patients to regain their functionality and reintegrate into society,” says Guinart. “The CAI is a refuge for those affected by violence. Kidnappings, extortion, abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of violence affect many people along the migratory route from the south of the continent to Mexico’s northern border with the United States.”  

    “At the CAI we find extremely vulnerable people,” says Guinart. “Women and children make up the bulk of the cohort. We also care for many LGBTQI+ people. Violence leaves deep scars, not only causing physical damage, but also serious psychological disorders. Specialised care is required as many patients experience changes in their perception of safety, trust, and well-being,”.

    “I didn’t know if I would be able to trust people again,” says Elena*, a patient at the CAI. “The violence made me feel unworthy of love or respect.” Through therapy, Elena has begun to regain her self-esteem. “I’ve learned that my past doesn’t define me and that I can build a better future.”  

    “Every day is a struggle,” says another patient. “Anxiety consumes me, but here I feel I have a safe space to express myself and heal.”

    “The difficulty in accessing adequate care makes recovery for many people affected by extreme violence much more arduous,” says Henry Rodríguez, MSF’s general coordinator in Mexico. “In these challenging times of cuts in humanitarian aid, it is essential to recognise the importance of providing comprehensive support and cooperation between public entities and non-governmental organisations to direct these people to the few services available.” 

    *Name has been changed.  

    MSF’s work in the region: Between January 2024 and February 2025, MSF teams in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama treated nearly 3,000 victims and survivors of sexual violence and provided more than 20,000 individual mental health consultations, many of them precipitated by violence, displacement, and difficulties in the migration process. 

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Ottawa, Ontario

    10:30 am. The Prime Minister will attend the swearing-in ceremony of members of the new Canadian Ministry. The event will be followed by a photo opportunity, and the Prime Minister will take questions from media.

    Rideau Hall

    Notes for media:

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: New Online Casinos Canada: 7Bit Casino Ranked #1 Newest Canadian Online Casino Of 2025!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The online casino industry in Canada has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, fueled by advancements in technology and a shift toward digital entertainment. High-speed internet and smartphones have made it easier for Canadians to enjoy casino games from home or on the go, leading to a surge in new online casinos entering the market.

    Among these, 7Bit Casino has emerged as a standout choice, offering an impressive array of features tailored to Canadian players.

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    After testing various new online casinos in Canada, we found 7Bit Casino particularly noteworthy. This platform boasts a game library exceeding 10,000 titles and prioritizes lightning-fast payouts, ensuring players can access their winnings quickly. Whether you’re into slots, table games, or live dealer experiences, 7Bit Casino delivers a diverse and engaging gaming environment that caters to all preferences.

    This article dives deep into why 7Bit Casino ranks as the best new online casino Canada. We’ll cover its game selection, bonuses, payment methods, user interface, customer support, and more. Plus, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to join, a pros and cons table, and answers to common questions about this new online casino in Canada.

    Overview Of 7Bit Casino

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    Why 7Bit Casino Is The Best New Online Casino In Canada?

    Choosing a new online casino in Canada involves weighing factors like reliability, game variety, bonuses, and customer service. 7Bit Casino excels in these areas, making it a leader among the best new online casinos. Since its establishment in 2014, 7Bit has built a strong reputation in the iGaming industry, continually innovating to meet player needs.

    The casino’s game library is a major draw, with over 10,000 titles from more than 100 developers. This extensive selection ensures that players can find games suited to their tastes, from classic slots to immersive live dealer tables. Additionally, 7Bit Casino supports both fiat and cryptocurrency payments, offering flexibility for Canadian players who prefer traditional methods like Interac or modern options like Bitcoin.

    As a new online casino Canada, it stands out for its diverse offerings. Bonuses are another highlight, with a generous welcome package and regular promotions that keep players engaged. The platform’s commitment to fast payouts—often within 10 minutes for crypto transactions—sets it apart from many new casinos.

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    How To Join 7Bit Casino?

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    Pros Cons
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    Generous welcome bonus and promotions No dedicated mobile app
    Supports fiat and cryptocurrencies, including Interac  
    Fast payouts, especially with crypto  
    24/7 customer support  
    Mobile-friendly platform  

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    Game Selection At 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino’s game library is a treasure trove for gaming enthusiasts, offering over 10,000 titles across various categories. Here’s a closer look at what’s available:

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    PLAY SLOTS, TABLE GAMES & MORE – NO LIMITS!

    These games are powered by leading software providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, and BetSoft, ensuring high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay. The use of provably fair technology guarantees transparency, making 7Bit a trusted choice among brand new online casinos Canada. Players can also try many games in demo mode before wagering real money, a feature that enhances the appeal of this new casino website.

    Banking Methods At 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino supports a wide range of payment methods, catering to Canadian players with both fiat and cryptocurrency options. Available methods include:

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      • Prepaid Cards: Neosurf
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    Deposits are processed instantly, while withdrawals are notably fast, especially for cryptocurrencies, which can be completed within 10 minutes. Fiat withdrawals, such as those via Interac or credit cards, may take 1-3 business days.

    Interac is particularly popular among Canadian players for its convenience and security, making 7Bit a top choice for those exploring brand new casino sites. The flexibility of payment options ensures that players can choose the method that best suits their needs at this online casino for real money.

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    User Interface At 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino features a modern, user-friendly interface that enhances the gaming experience. The website’s design is intuitive, with games organized into categories like slots, table games, and live dealer options. Players can filter games by provider, type, or popularity, making it easy to find their favorites.

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    Customer Support At 7Bit Casino

    7Bit Casino offers robust customer support, available 24/7 via live chat and email. The support team is responsive and knowledgeable, addressing queries about account management, bonuses, payments, and more. The website also includes a comprehensive FAQ section, distributed across relevant pages, which answers common questions and reduces the need to contact support.

    This level of service ensures that players have a smooth experience, reinforcing 7Bit’s position as one of the best new online casinos for Canadian players.

    User Experience And Reviews

    Player feedback highlights 7Bit Casino’s strengths, including its vast game selection, mobile compatibility, and reliable payouts. Many appreciate the platform’s security features, such as SSL encryption and provably fair games, which contribute to a trustworthy gaming environment. The casino’s Curacao license further bolsters its credibility, positioning 7Bit as a notable new online casino Canada.

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    Is 7Bit Casino Legit In Canada?

    7Bit Casino is a legitimate online casino, licensed by the Government of Curacao, which ensures compliance with international gaming standards. In Canada, online gambling laws vary by province, but it is generally legal for residents to play at offshore casinos like 7Bit. The platform uses SSL encryption to protect player data and offers provably fair games, enhancing its trustworthiness.

    As a new online casino Canada, it provides a secure and compliant option for players. Canadian players can confidently use 7Bit Casino, provided they adhere to local regulations. This legitimacy makes it a reliable option among new online gambling sites.

    Final Thoughts On The Best New Online Casinos Canada

    7Bit Casino stands out as a premier new online casino Canada, offering an unmatched combination of game variety, generous bonuses, and flexible payment options. Its commitment to fast payouts, robust customer support, and a mobile-friendly platform makes it ideal for both new and experienced players. Whether you’re chasing big wins on progressive slots or enjoying live dealer tables, 7Bit delivers a top-notch experience.

    As the online casino industry in Canada continues to grow, 7Bit Casino remains a leader among brand new online casinos. Its comprehensive features and player-focused approach make it a must-try for anyone seeking a new casino website.

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    FAQs

    Is 7Bit Casino legal in Canada?

    Yes, 7Bit Casino is a licensed offshore casino that Canadian players can legally access, though local regulations should be checked.

    What bonuses does 7Bit Casino offer to new players?

    New players receive a 325% match bonus up to 10800 CAD plus 250 free spins across their first four deposits.

    What payment methods are available at 7Bit Casino for Canadian players?

    Options include Interac, VISA, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    How many games does 7Bit Casino offer?

    The casino provides over 10,000 games, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and specialty games.

    Is there a mobile app for 7Bit Casino?

    No, but the website is fully optimized for mobile devices, offering a seamless experience via browsers.

    What is the customer support like at 7Bit Casino?

    7Bit offers 24/7 support through live chat and email, with a helpful FAQ section for quick answers.

    Email: support@7bitcasino.com

    Disclaimer

    This article does not provide legal or financial advice; it is merely meant to be informative. There are risks associated with gambling, therefore players should use caution. The information is accurate as of May 2025 but may change. Verify details on the official 7Bit Casino website. The article may contain affiliate links, and the author is not responsible for any losses incurred.

    General Disclaimer

    This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, not legal or financial advice. Content is based on research and user reviews as of writing. No warranties are made, and users must verify information before acting.

    Casino and Gambling Disclaimer

    Online gambling carries risks and isn’t for everyone. Confirm you’re of legal gambling age in your jurisdiction. Gambling laws vary, and compliance is your responsibility. We don’t promote gambling; participation is at your risk. 7Bit Casino is a third-party platform, and we’re not liable for losses or disputes.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    This article may include affiliate links, earning us a commission at no cost to you for qualifying actions. These support our content. Our reviews are unbiased, and we recommend only valuable products.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df527a67-9e77-4bc2-81c2-c664b7b986ff

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c28efcc1-6e19-40f5-af55-9daecc813a1d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d3d55d6-7f54-4ad1-95ac-064605709b51

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Best No Deposit Bonus Codes: Ranked Top Real Money Online Casino with Exclusive Promo Codes of 2025 – By 7Bit Casino

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 7Bit Casino has carved a name for itself as a trusted real money online casino, offering players a chance to enjoy real money games without upfront costs. The real money online casino’s no deposit bonus is a game-changer, letting you explore its massive game library risk-free. By simply signing up and using the code 7BITCASINO20, you can grab 20 free spins to play popular slots, no deposit required. This makes 7Bit a top pick for anyone searching for the best no deposit bonus casinos in 2025.

    Beyond the free spins, 7Bit real money online casino offers a generous welcome package: a 325% match bonus up to 5.25 BTC plus 250 free spins across your first four deposits. This blend of no deposit offers and substantial welcome bonuses sets 7Bit apart as a real money online casino that prioritizes player value. Whether you’re a casual player or a crypto enthusiast, 7Bit’s promotions cater to all.

    The casino’s commitment to fast payouts also makes it an instant payout casino. Crypto withdrawals, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, are processed in minutes, ensuring you get your winnings quickly. With a Curacao eGaming license, 7Bit guarantees fair play and transparency, solidifying its reputation as a safe online casino.

     

    ✅JOIN 7BIT CASINO TODAY AND CLAIM YOUR FREE SPINS!

    7Bit Casino stands out as a best no deposit bonus code casino, delivering a top-tier gaming experience packed with generous online casino bonuses, exciting promotional offers, and high-stakes tournaments. This crypto-friendly platform masterfully combines retro aesthetics with cutting-edge features, earning its place as a global player favorite.

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    How to Join 7Bit Casino and Claim Your No Deposit Bonus

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    Frequently Asked Questions About Best No Deposit Bonus Casinos

    1. Is 7Bit Casino one of the best crypto casinos for instant cashouts in 2025?
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    Email: support@7bitcasino.com

    Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure

    The information in this article is for informational and promotional purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranties are made regarding completeness or timeliness. Readers should verify information independently. The publisher and affiliates are not liable for losses or consequences from using this content.

    This article may contain affiliate links, which may earn a commission at no cost to readers. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial integrity, and all evaluations are based on independent research. Gambling is intended for those of legal age (19+ in some jurisdictions) and carries financial risks. Gamble responsibly and seek help from organizations like GambleAware if needed.

    All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This content is not endorsed by any brands unless stated.

    By reading this article, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and hold the publisher and affiliates harmless from any liability.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Best Online Casino Bonus: Latest Promo Codes 2025 – Get Free Spins & Welcome Bonuses! – By 7Bit Casino

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Online Casino Bonus

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    Email: support@7bitcasino.com

    Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure

    The information in this article is for informational and promotional purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranties are made regarding completeness or timeliness. Readers should verify information independently. The publisher and affiliates are not liable for losses or consequences from using this content.

    This article may contain affiliate links, which may earn a commission at no cost to readers. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial integrity, and all evaluations are based on independent research. Gambling is intended for those of legal age (19+ in some jurisdictions) and carries financial risks. Gamble responsibly and seek help from organizations like GambleAware if needed.

    All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This content is not endorsed by any brands unless stated.

    By reading this article, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and hold the publisher and affiliates harmless from any liability.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Abaxx to Launch Singapore Gold Kilobar Futures and Physically-Allocated Gold Pool on June 12, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abaxx Technologies Inc. (CBOE:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF) (“Abaxx” or the “Company”), a financial software and market infrastructure company, indirect majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd. (“Abaxx Singapore”), the owner of Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse (individually, “Abaxx Exchange” and “Abaxx Clearing”), and producer of the SmarterMarkets™ Podcast, today announced that it will be expanding its product suite to include precious metals with the launch of Gold kilobar futures on June 12, 2025.

    Abaxx Singapore Gold Futures are purpose-built for the needs of Asia’s physical bullion trade, reflecting the region’s preferred kilobar format and supporting more accurate pricing by aligning futures settlement with physical market practices. The contract is designed to provide a globally accessible, regionally anchored benchmark that supports effective price discovery, reliable hedging, and physical delivery in one of the world’s leading gold trading hubs. Abaxx’s Gold Singapore Futures contract is a US dollar-denominated, kilobar-sized, physically-deliverable product, with delivery into approved vaults in Singapore.

    “Gold is one of the few assets trusted across all borders, yet its market infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with how and where it’s traded,” said Abaxx Founder, Josh Crumb. “By aligning physically-deliverable futures with the kilobar format and delivery location preferred by Asia’s bullion market, we’re eliminating structural mismatches that have long distorted pricing and impeded risk management. This contract reflects the way gold actually moves through the global system, and delivers the tools needed to hedge and settle accordingly.”

    Introducing Abaxx Spot

    Abaxx is also preparing to launch Abaxx Spot¹, a new physically-allocated (through the undivided interest structure) gold trading platform in Singapore. The platform is designed to align spot and futures gold markets in the same location, facilitate secure physical trading and efficient OTC transfer of kilobars, and aims to enhance market access and transparency through direct participation in a pre-funded central limit order book (CLOB).

    Initial services for Abaxx Spot will begin on June 12, 2025. Abaxx Spot is designed to allow participants to complete delivery obligations for Abaxx Exchange’s gold futures contracts, with the goal of establishing a more integrated and smarter infrastructure for gold markets.

    ¹Abaxx Spot Pte. Ltd. is a registered dealer under the Precious Stones and Precious Metals (Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2019 (PSPM Act), and is exempted from holding a spot commodities brokers license under the Commodity Trading Act 1992. Abaxx Spot Pte. Ltd. is not regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a financial institution, but operates in compliance with the regulatory framework established by the PSPM Act.

    About Abaxx Technologies
    Abaxx Technologies is building Smarter Markets: markets empowered by better tools, better benchmarks, and better technology to drive market-based solutions to the biggest challenges we face as a society, including the energy transition.

    In addition to developing and deploying financial technologies that make communication, trade, and transactions easier and more secure, Abaxx is the indirect majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd., the owner of Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing, and the parent company of wholly owned subsidiary Abaxx Spot Pte. Ltd., the operator of Abaxx Spot.

    Abaxx Exchange delivers the market infrastructure critical to the shift toward an electrified, low-carbon economy through centrally-cleared, physically-deliverable futures contracts in LNG, carbon, battery materials, and precious metals, meeting the commercial needs of today’s commodity markets and establishing the next generation of global benchmarks.

    For more information, visit abaxx.tech | abaxx.exchange | abaxxspot.com | basecarbon.com | smartermarkets.media

    For more information about this press release, please contact:

    Steve Fray, CFO
    Tel: +1 647-490-1590

    Media and investor inquiries:

    Abaxx Technologies Inc.
    Investor Relations Team
    Tel: +1 246 271 0082
    E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx’s future plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “seeking”, “should”, “intend”, “predict”, “potential”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “continue”, “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Since forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Abaxx, Abaxx does not provide any assurance that actual results will meet respective management expectations. Risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

    Forward-looking information related to Abaxx in this press release includes, but is not limited to: Abaxx’s objectives, goals or future plans; completion and timing of the launch of its gold contracts; benefits of the introduction of its gold contracts; introduction of new precious metals products; and positive impacts from the growth of global precious metal demand. Such factors impacting forward-looking information include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; Abaxx’s limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; acquiring and maintaining regulatory approvals for Abaxx’s products and operations; the ability to list Abaxx’s securities on stock exchanges in a timely fashion or at all; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions; protection of intellectual property rights; contractual risk; third-party risk; clearinghouse risk; malicious actor risks; third- party software license risk; system failure risk; risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure; and changes in the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains, and the risk factors identified in the Company’s most recent management discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx’s normal course of business.

    Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Abaxx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and information. Cboe Canada does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Climb Channel Solutions Promotes Carlos Rodrigues to President of North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EATONTOWN, N.J., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Climb Channel Solutions (Climb), an international specialty technology distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Carlos Rodrigues to President of North America.

    Carlos has been a key leader within Climb since 2020, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic vision across North America. Throughout his tenure, he has played a critical role in driving company-wide growth, forging strong relationships with vendors and partners, and leading high-impact sales initiatives in his previous role as Vice President of Sales.

    Bringing over two decades of experience in value-added distribution, Carlos has consistently delivered results at Scale. His deep understanding of the North American IT channel and proactive approach to business development have helped Climb expand its market share, build out sales divisions, and strengthen its position as a leading solutions-driven distributor.

    Carlos joined Climb in 2020 following Climb’s acquisition of Interwork Technologies, a Toronto-based value-added specialty distributor focused on cybersecurity, information management, and network solutions. As Vice President of North America Sales at Interwork, Carlos oversaw growth across both the U.S. and Canada, building a strong foundation for cross-border alignment and strategic vendor execution.

    Since joining Climb, Carlos has led several North America-wide initiatives, including the creation of a dedicated Vendor Management (VM) team, which is an extension of Climb’s sales efforts focused on deepening engagement with strategic vendors and driving new business. Under his leadership, the VM team has grown to 36 channel professionals across North America, all focused on delivering meaningful results for the vendors and resellers they support.

    In his new role, Carlos will oversee all North America sales, leading efforts to accelerate growth, drive partner success, and expand Climb’s market presence.

    Dale Foster, CEO of Climb Channel Solutions, commented on the promotion: “Carlos has been a driving force since joining Climb through our acquisition of Interwork.   He quickly took the reins of our Canadian business and supported new US growth initiatives, earning the trust of our vendors, resellers, and internal teams. His loyalty, leadership, and proven track record made this promotion an easy decision as we pursue our aggressive growth goals. Carlos’ commitment to excellence and dedication to Climb’s goals has earned him this well-deserved promotion. We are confident that his leadership will continue to propel Climb Channel Solutions to new heights.”

    This promotion reinforces Climb’s commitment to bold leadership, strategic growth, and building a future shaped by collaboration and innovation.

    Those interested in distribution services and solutions should contact Climb by phone at +1.800.847.7078 (US), or +1.888.523.7777 (Canada), or by email at Sales@ClimbCS.com.

    About Climb Channel Solutions and Climb Global Solutions

    Climb Channel Solutions is a global specialty technology distributor focused on Security, Data Management, Connectivity, Storage & HCI, Virtualization & Cloud, and Software & Application Lifecycle. What sets Climb apart is our commitment to reimagining distribution through a data-driven approach that brings emerging technologies to market faster. We empower our partners with speed to market, flexible financing, real-time quoting, best-of-breed channel operations, and exceptional service—transforming how distribution supports growth and scalability. Climb Channel Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions (NASDAQ: CLMB). Experience distribution reimagined and discover how our people-first approach helps VARs and MSPs grow, scale, and accelerate their business. Visit www.ClimbCS.com, call 1-800-847-7078, and connect with us on LinkedIn!

    For Media & PR inquiries contact:
    Climb Channel Solutions
    Media Relations
    media@ClimbCS.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Elevate IR
    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    T: 720-330-2829
    CLMB@elevate-ir.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Best Crypto Casinos Canada: Find Out The Top Canadian Crypto Casino Of 2025! – By Jackbit Casinos

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After evaluating several options using strict criteria, our expert team identified the best crypto casinos in Canada. By analyzing game variety, bonuses, security features, and overall user experience, we’ve carefully selected the top crypto casino Canada platforms that truly stand out. Our research, combined with feedback from local players, highlights these casinos as providing the most remarkable and secure online gambling experiences.

    VISIT JACKBIT CRYPTO CASINO NOW & GET YOUR WELCOME BONUSES!

    Among the options, JACKBIT emerges as a leading platform for 2025, receiving a 4.9/5 rating. Launched in 2022, this Bitcoin casino Canada offers a no KYC policy, fast crypto transactions, and a vast selection of over 6,600 games, positioning it as a prime choice for the best online crypto casino play. In this detailed review, we’ll discuss why JACKBIT is one of the best crypto casinos in Canada with a focus on its features, bonuses, game offerings, and more.

    JACKBIT: A Leading Crypto Casino in Canada

    JACKBIT checks all the boxes for the best crypto casino Canada, making it our top recommendation for 2025. Operating under a Curacao eGaming license, JACKBIT ensures compliance with international standards for fair play and security. With its no KYC policy, Canadian players can register and play without providing personal information, a crucial benefit for those seeking privacy in crypto gambling in Canada. Its rapid crypto withdrawals, processed in just seconds, fulfill the needs of players who prefer a high-payout Canadian crypto casino, ensuring fast access to their winnings.

    The platform’s attractive welcome bonus includes a 30% rakeback, no KYC, and 100 free spins with no wagering requirements, giving players immediate value to explore the extensive game library. Regular promotions, including VIP rakeback and tournaments, further enhance the Bitcoin casino bonus offerings. With a catalog of over 6,600 games from 91 top providers, along with a comprehensive sportsbook, JACKBIT stands out as a premier Bitcoin casino in Canada.

    VISIT JACKBIT CASINO AND CLAIM YOUR WELCOME BONUS!

    JACKBIT – Best Crypto Casino Canada for Fast Payouts & Instant Withdrawals

    Since its debut in 2022, JACKBIT has set new standards for the best crypto casino Canada experience, offering innovative features and a player-focused platform. The no KYC policy enables Canadian players to sign up and start playing immediately, without submitting personal details, ensuring maximum privacy.

    As a crypto casino in Canada, JACKBIT processes cryptocurrency transactions instantly, allowing players to deposit, play, and withdraw winnings in just a few minutes—a hallmark of new-generation crypto casinos.

    New players can take advantage of an attractive 30% rakeback, no KYC, and 100 free spins with no wagering requirements on select promotions, making it one of the most appealing Bitcoin casino bonuses available. Regular promotions include a VIP Rakeback Club offering up to 30% rakeback, weekly giveaways with $10,000 prize pools, and Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins tournaments with a €2,000,000 prize pool, adding significant value for crypto gambling Canada enthusiasts.

    With a game library powered by top providers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, and Play’n GO, JACKBIT offers over 6,600 titles, ranging from high-RTP slots to live dealer games and a sportsbook covering over 140 sports.

    The platform’s sleek, user-friendly interface is available in 10 languages, including English, ensuring it’s accessible to Canadian players. Enhanced by SSL encryption for data protection and 24/7 customer support through live chat and email, JACKBIT is a top contender among Canadian crypto casinos.

    Pros and Cons of JACKBIT Casino

    To offer a comprehensive view, here are the key advantages and potential disadvantages of JACKBIT as a crypto casino Canada:

    Pros:

    • Operates as a no-KYC crypto casino, ensuring complete privacy for Canadian players.
    • Offers instant crypto deposits and withdrawals, perfect for crypto gambling in Canada.
    • Features over 6,600 games, including slots, live dealer games, and sports betting options.
    • Provides a 30% Rakeback + No KYC + 100 free spins with no wagering requirements.
    • Supports 16+ cryptocurrencies, ensuring secure and seamless transactions.
    • Offers 24/7 multilingual customer support through live chat and email.
    • Optimized for mobile play, making it one of the best crypto casinos Canada for gaming on the go.
    • Includes high-payout games with competitive RTPs, perfect for online casino real money play.

    Cons:

    • Being a newer platform (launched in 2022), it doesn’t have the long-standing reputation of older Bitcoin casinos Canada.
    • Some bonuses may come with specific terms or wagering requirements that need review.
    • Traditional payment withdrawals may take 1-3 days, slower than crypto transactions.
    • Availability could be restricted in certain regions due to licensing limitations.

    How to Join JACKBIT – The Best Crypto Casino Canada

    Getting started at JACKBIT, widely considered one of the best crypto casinos Canada, is a quick and straightforward process designed to get Canadian players playing in minutes:

    1. Visit JACKBIT Casino: Click here to head to JACKBIT Casino and access the registration page.
    2. Create Your Account: Click on “Sign Up” and provide an email address and password. Thanks to the no KYC crypto casino policy, you won’t need to submit personal details, ensuring a fast registration.
    3. Make Your First Deposit: Head to the cashier, choose your payment method (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Visa, or MasterCard), and deposit at least $10 or its equivalent to qualify for the welcome bonus. For crypto deposits, you can scan the QR code or copy the wallet address.
    4. Claim Your Bonus: Enjoy 100 free spins, credited instantly, which you can use on top slots like Gates of Olympus.
    5. Start Playing: Dive into over 6,600 games or place bets on sports, making use of your Bitcoin casino bonus for your online gambling adventures.

    Pro Tip: Confirm your email and check the promotions page for the latest bonus codes to ensure smooth activation. Save your wallet address for quicker future deposits to enhance your crypto casino Canada experience.

    How We Selected JACKBIT as the Best Crypto Casino Canada

    Our decision to recommend JACKBIT as the best crypto casino Canada involved a thorough evaluation process tailored to the needs of Canadian players looking for crypto gambling Canada. Here’s a breakdown of the essential criteria we considered, each carefully assessed to confirm JACKBIT’s excellence:

    • Licensing and Regulation

    JACKBIT holds a Curacao eGaming license, ensuring compliance with international standards for fair play and security. We verified its licensing details to confirm its legitimacy as a trusted online casino.

    • Security Measures

    Advanced SSL encryption and provably fair games ensure player data is protected, and outcomes remain transparent. Regular third-party audits by independent agencies further verify game fairness, building player trust.

    • Game Variety and Quality

    A diverse and high-quality game library is essential. With over 6,600 games from 91 providers, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and a comprehensive sportsbook, JACKBIT offers variety for every preference, cementing its place among the best online crypto casinos.

    Bonuses and Promotions

    Generous Bonuses and Promotions

    JACKBIT offers some of the most generous and fair bonuses, adding great value to the player experience. Its welcome offer—30% rakeback + 100 free spins with no wagering requirements on select promotions—outshines many competitors. Ongoing promotions like VIP rakeback, weekly giveaways, and Drops & Wins tournaments provide extra incentives for players.

    Other Promotions Include:

    • 3+1 FreeBet
    • Bet Insurance
    • Social Media Bonuses
    • NBA Playoffs Cashback

    CLAIM YOUR 30% RAKEBACK + 100 FREE SPINS AT JACKBIT

    Tournaments and Prize Pools

    JACKBIT thrives on competition, providing exciting opportunities for players to join casino and sports tournaments with prize pools often reaching six figures. Key tournaments include:

    • Daily Tournament – 1,000 Free Spins
    • Weekly Tournament – Prize pool up to $10,000
    • Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins Campaign – Reward pool up to €2,000,000

    Payment Methods

    JACKBIT supports over 16 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, offering instant, fee-free transactions. It also provides traditional options like Visa, MasterCard, and bank transfers for added flexibility. We thoroughly reviewed transaction speeds, fees, and limits to ensure they align with the standards of instant withdrawal casinos.

    Customer Support

    Reliable, accessible support is essential. JACKBIT provides 24/7 live chat and email support in multiple languages, ensuring quick resolution for any queries. Our team tested response times and support quality to verify their reliability.

    User Experience

    The platform boasts a mobile-optimized, intuitive interface, perfect for online crypto casino play. With a responsive design available in 10 languages, JACKBIT ensures seamless navigation across devices. We assessed site performance, mobile compatibility, and overall user feedback to ensure an excellent experience.

    Player Feedback and Reputation

    Player reviews from platforms like Trustpilot (4.4/5) emphasize JACKBIT’s strengths in payout speed and game variety, although some mention complexity in bonus terms. We cross-referenced this feedback to ensure it matches the reputation of the best Bitcoin casino Canada.

    Responsible Gambling Measures

    JACKBIT offers essential tools like deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion to maintain a safe and responsible environment for crypto gambling Canada. We evaluated these measures to ensure they align with ethical gambling practices.

    Market Position and Innovation

    As a newer platform, JACKBIT stands out for adopting emerging cryptocurrencies like Solana and offering provably fair games, positioning itself as a forward-thinking crypto casino Canada. We assessed its technological innovations to ensure it meets the demands of modern online crypto casinos.

    JACKBIT’s impressive performance across these areas, particularly its no KYC crypto casino policy and instant withdrawals, solidifies its status as the best crypto casino Canada for 2025, providing a secure and rewarding experience for Canadian players.

    Best Crypto Casino Canada Games at JACKBIT

    JACKBIT offers an impressive collection of over 6,600 games from 91 providers, establishing itself as a best crypto casino Canada choice. Below is a breakdown of its offerings, designed to cater to every gaming preference and ideal for online casino real money play:

    Online Slots:

    • Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play, 96.50% RTP): A 6×5 slot featuring a mythological theme, tumbling reels, multipliers up to 500x, and a maximum win of 5,000x, perfect for Bitcoin casino Canada players seeking high payouts.
    • Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play, 96.49% RTP): A candy-themed 6×5 slot with a pay-anywhere system, tumbling feature, and a 21,175x max win, great for online casino real money enthusiasts.
    • Book of Dead (Play’n GO, 96.21% RTP): A 5-reel, 10-payline adventure slot with expanding symbols during Free Spins, offering a 5,000x max win, a favorite for crypto gambling Canada players.
    • Mega Moolah (Microgaming, 88.12% RTP): A progressive jackpot slot with multi-million-dollar payouts, ideal for online casino real money players chasing life-changing wins.
    • Wolf Gold (Pragmatic Play, 96.01% RTP): A 5-reel, 25-payline slot with stacked wilds, Money Respin feature, and a 5,000x max win, a popular choice for Bitcoin casinos Canada players.
    • Starburst (NetEnt, 96.09% RTP): A 5-reel, 10-payline slot with expanding wilds and a 500x max win, renowned for its vibrant visuals and frequent payouts.

    Table Games:

    • Blackjack: Variants like Classic, Multi-Hand, and European Blackjack provide low house edges (0.5% with optimal strategy), perfect for online casino real money play.
    • Roulette: Options like European (2.7% house edge), American, and French Roulette offer diverse betting opportunities, appealing to crypto gambling Canada players.
    • Poker: Games such as Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, and Texas Hold’em offer skill-based gameplay and high payout potential, enhancing the best online crypto casino experience.
    • Baccarat: Classic and Punto Banco variants offer simple rules and competitive payouts, favored by high rollers.

    Live Dealer Games:

    Over 250 live tables powered by Evolution Gaming, including:

    • Lightning Roulette: This game features multipliers up to 500x, ideal for Canadian crypto casino players who enjoy instant crypto payouts.
    • Infinite Blackjack: Unlimited player participation with side bets for greater win potential, offering an immersive Bitcoin casino Canada experience.
    • Crazy Time: A vibrant, interactive game show with bonus rounds, perfect for online gambling for real money entertainment.
    • Baccarat Squeeze: Real-time dealer interaction with suspenseful card reveals, catering to online casino real money enthusiasts.

    Sportsbook:

    JACKBIT’s sportsbook covers 140+ sports, with more than 82,000 live events monthly and 75,000+ pre-match events, including popular leagues like NHL, NBA, Premier League, niche sports such as table tennis, darts, and esports (CS:GO, Dota 2). The platform also offers live betting, cash-out options, and over 4,500 betting types (e.g., over/under, parlays, player props), providing diverse online gambling for real money opportunities. NHL betting is especially appealing for Canadian players.

    Specialty Games:

    • Scratch Cards: Quick-win games like Scratch Dice offer instant payouts, ideal for casual online casino real money play.
    • Keno: Lottery-style games with customizable bets, offering a fun, easy experience for crypto gambling Canada players.
    • Virtual Sports: Simulated events like virtual football and horse racing provide fast-paced betting options, perfect for Canadian crypto casino users.

    START WINNING NOW WITH A HUGE SELECTION OF GAMES AT JACKBIT!

    This broad and high-quality game selection, consistently updated with fresh titles, solidifies JACKBIT as a top crypto casino Canada, offering endless entertainment and opportunities to win for online casino real money players.

    Best Crypto Casino Canada Payment Methods at JACKBIT

    JACKBIT’s payment system is built for speed, security, and flexibility, making it an ideal choice as a no KYC crypto casino for online casino real money play in Canada. Below is a comprehensive look at its payment options, highlighting their advantages for crypto gambling Canada players:

    Payment Method Type Processing Time Minimum Deposit Notes
    Bitcoin (BTC) Cryptocurrency Instant $10 Fee-free, anonymous
    Ethereum (ETH) Cryptocurrency Instant $10 High security, smart contracts
    Tether (USDT) Cryptocurrency Instant $10 Stablecoin, low volatility
    Solana (SOL) Cryptocurrency Instant $10 Low fees, fast transactions
    Binance Coin (BNB) Cryptocurrency Instant $10 Versatile, ecosystem support
    Visa/MasterCard Traditional Instant (deposits), 1-3 days (withdrawals) $10 Familiar, widely accepted
    Bank Transfer Traditional 1-5 days $50 Suitable for high rollers
    Skrill/Neteller E-Wallet Instant (deposits), 1-2 days (withdrawals) $10 Secure, private transactions
             

    Cryptocurrencies:

    JACKBIT supports over 16 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Solana, Binance Coin, and others, offering several advantages for crypto gambling Canada players:

    • Instant Transactions: Deposits and withdrawals are completed within seconds, meeting the standards of instant withdrawal casinos.
    • Privacy: The no KYC crypto casino policy guarantees player anonymity, a key feature for those prioritizing privacy.
    • Security: Blockchain technology ensures secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions, reducing the risk of fraud.
    • Low Fees: Minimal or no transaction fees compared to traditional methods, providing better returns for Bitcoin casino Canada users.

    For instance, depositing Bitcoin is simple—choose BTC in the cashier, scan a QR code or copy the wallet address, confirm the transaction, and the funds are available instantly.

    Traditional Methods:

    • Visa/MasterCard: Instant deposits with a $10 minimum, widely accepted for online casino real money players. Withdrawals take 1-3 days, which is typical for traditional payment options, making it accessible for those who don’t use crypto.
    • Bank Transfers: Suitable for larger deposits, though withdrawals can take 1-5 days and may incur fees. These methods are less ideal for instant withdrawal needs but are still a reliable option for high rollers seeking online gambling for real money.

    E-Wallets:

    • Skrill and Neteller: These secure e-wallets allow private transactions without sharing bank details, with instant deposits and withdrawals typically completed within 1-2 days, enhancing the online casino real money experience. They are ideal for players who prefer alternatives to cryptocurrencies or credit cards.

    JACKBIT’s focus on cryptocurrencies, combined with its support for traditional payment options and e-wallets, ensures flexibility and quick transactions, making it one of the best crypto casinos Canada for seamless online casino real money play. The no KYC policy streamlines the entire process, allowing Canadian players to focus on the gaming experience without unnecessary paperwork.

    ENJOY FAST, SECURE TRANSACTIONS AND BIG WINS AT JACKBIT!

    Why Choose Crypto Casinos in Canada?

    Crypto casinos provide significant advantages over traditional online casinos, making them a popular choice for crypto gambling Canada:

    • Privacy and Anonymity: No KYC crypto casinos, like JACKBIT, offer anonymous play, protecting player identities—a major benefit for Canadian crypto casino enthusiasts.
    • Speed and Efficiency: Cryptocurrency transactions are nearly instantaneous, with deposits and withdrawals completed within seconds, far quicker than traditional banking methods, aligning with the expectations of instant withdrawal casinos.
    • Enhanced Security: Blockchain technology ensures secure and transparent transactions, lowering fraud risks and increasing trust in Bitcoin casinos Canada.
    • Lower Transaction Costs: Cryptocurrency transactions typically come with minimal or no fees, boosting player returns when compared to credit card or bank transfer fees, making it ideal for crypto casinos Canada.
    • Innovative Features: Many crypto casinos feature provably fair games, allowing players to verify the outcomes, increasing trust in the best online crypto casino platforms.
    • Global Accessibility: Cryptocurrencies bypass regional banking restrictions, making online crypto casinos accessible to Canadian players, subject to local regulations.

    These benefits, combined with JACKBIT’s robust offerings, position it as a leading new crypto casino for 2025, meeting the evolving demands of Canadian gamblers.

    The Rise of Crypto Gambling in Canada: Why JACKBIT Leads

    The crypto gambling market in Canada is seeing rapid growth, fueled by increased adoption of cryptocurrencies and the demand for privacy-focused gaming options. Global industry reports predict the crypto gambling market could reach $65 billion by 2027, with Canada playing a significant role due to its progressive stance on digital currencies and gambling.

    Canadian players are attracted to crypto gambling sites because they offer fast, secure, and anonymous transactions, bypassing some of the restrictions of traditional banking methods.

    JACKBIT is leading this trend by blending cutting-edge technology with player-focused features. Its no KYC policy addresses privacy concerns, while support for emerging cryptocurrencies like Solana positions it as a forward-thinking Bitcoin casino Canada.

    The platform’s 30% rakeback welcome bonus and extensive game library offer unbeatable value. As cryptocurrency adoption continues to grow in Canada, JACKBIT’s innovative approach makes it the go-to Canadian crypto casino for players seeking a secure and rewarding experience.

    Tips for Winning Big at JACKBIT

    To maximize your success at JACKBIT, considered by many as the best crypto casino Canada, here are expert strategies tailored to Canadian players:

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    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb828174-f73e-41dd-afb1-afe2cae2cbe2
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8393df2-2213-4d13-9e71-05729912997a

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García’s Statement on the Firing of Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

    CHICAGO — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the unjustified firing of Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden:

    “Donald Trump’s decision to fire the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, one year before her term was set to expire, is unjustified. This is another example of the Trump administration’s pattern of firing leaders who are trying to ensure all aspects of the American experience are visible through the work of our cultural institutions.

    “Dr. Carla Hayden led the Library of Congress with distinction and honor, spearheading efforts to ensure America’s Library was accessible to all Americans. From her early work as Chicago’s chief librarian to her time as the Nation’s top librarian, Dr. Hayden dedicated her career to ensuring libraries serve their communities. The next Librarian of Congress must continue to build upon Dr. Hayden’s legacy of inclusivity and expansion, ensuring that the Library serves all Americans, and not a regime’s ideology.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: High Arctic Announces 2025 First Quarter Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) (the “Corporation” or “High Arctic”) released its first quarter 2025 financial and operating results. The unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements, and the management discussion & analysis (“MD&A”), for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on High Arctic’s website at www.haes.ca. All amounts are denominated in thousands of Canadian dollars (“CAD”), unless otherwise indicated.

    Mike Maguire, Interim Chief Executive Officer commented:

    “Our business has had a solid start to 2025, despite some pull back in well completion rates in Canada resulting from market uncertainty and customer consolidation events.

    Our investment in and amalgamation of Delta Rental Services continues to deliver financial performance in line with our pre-transaction expectations and we anticipate consistent results through the coming months with significant upside potential as gas well completion rates increase in anticipation of first gas through the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

    Decisive action by the management of Team Snubbing in Alaska has set a platform for improved value creation from our 42% holding of Team Snubbing. 

    High Arctic is well positioned to benefit from upstream energy service activity levels in the western Canadian oil and gas industry.”

    In the following discussion, the three months ended March 31, 2025 may be referred to as the “quarter” or “Q1 2025” and the comparative three months ended March 31, 2024 may be referred to as “Q1 2024”. References to other quarters may be presented as “QX 20XX” with X/XX being the quarter/year to which the commentary relates.

    2025 FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

    • Revenue from continuing operations of $2,335, a decrease of 22% compared to Q1 2024.
    • Achieved an increase in oilfield services operating margin percentage for Q1 2025 of 53.1% compared to 49.4% in Q1 2024.
    • Realized adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $504 in the quarter, 22% of revenue.
    • Maintained operational excellence and safety, as evidenced by the continuation of recordable incident-free work.
    • Achieved expected reductions in general and administrative expenses, a reduction of 59% compared to Q1 2024.
    • Equity investment in Team Snubbing is essentially unchanged at $7.4 million as at March 31, 2025. Unaudited Team Snubbing financial results delivered a modest positive net income inclusion for the quarter, with key highlights being a sequential improvement in Alaskan results, and reduced debt.
    • Exited Q1 with positive working capital of $3,199, including cash of $3,183.

    2025 Strategic Objectives
    With the corporate restructuring and spinoff of the PNG business complete, the Corporation’s 2025 strategic objectives include:

    • Relentless focus on safety excellence and quality service delivery;
    • Grow the core businesses through selective and opportunistic investments;
    • Actively manage direct operating costs and general and administrative costs;
    • Steward capital to preserve balance sheet strength and financial flexibility; and
    • Execute on accretive acquisitions in Canada to drive shareholder value and optimize available tax loss carry-forwards.

    RESULTS OVERVIEW

    The following is a summary of select financial information of the Corporation:

        Three months ended March 31,  
    (thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts)     2025   2024  
    Operating results from continuing operations:        
    Revenue – continuing operations     2,335   2,988  
    Net income (loss) – continuing operations     (120 ) 182  
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1)     (0.01 ) 0.01  
    Oilfield services operating margin – continuing operations (2)     1,187   1,431  
    Oilfield services operating margin as a % of revenue (2)     53.1 % 49.4 %
    EBITDA – continuing operations (2)     459   232  
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1) (4)     0.04   0.02  
    Adjusted EBITDA – continuing operations (2)     504   92  
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1) (4)     0.04   0.01  
    Operating loss – continuing operations (2)     (128 ) (1,070 )
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1) (4)     (0.01 ) (0.09 )
    Cash flow from continuing operations:        
    Cash flow from continuing operating activities     31   271  
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1) (4)     0.00   0.02  
    Funds flow from continuing operating activities (2)     495   197  
    Per share (basic & diluted) (1) (4)     0.04   0.02  
    Capital expenditures – continuing operations     382   308  
              As at  
    (thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts and
    common shares outstanding)
        Mar 31, 2025   Dec 31, 2024  
    Financial position:        
    Working capital (2)     3,199   2,692  
    Cash and cash equivalents     3,183   3,123  
    Total assets     29,989   30,867  
    Long-term debt (non-current)     3,134   3,178  
    Shareholders’ equity     21,315   21,105  
    Per share (5)     1.68   1.70  
    Common shares outstanding (3)     12,696,959   12,448,166  

    (1)  The weighted average number of common shares used in calculating both basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) per share, Adjusted EBITDA per share, operating income (loss) per share, cash flow from operating activities per share, funds flow from operating activities per share, and shareholders’ equity per share is detailed in Note 13 of the Financial Statements.
    (2)  Readers are cautioned that oilfield services operating margin, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization), Adjusted EBITDA, operating income (loss), funds flow from operating activities and working capital do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. See “Non-IFRS Measures” for additional details on the calculations of these measures.
    (3)  Pursuant to the de facto four-to-one consolidation of the Corporation’s outstanding common shares effective August 12, 2024, the number of common shares outstanding and all per-share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to effect the stock consolidation.
    (4)  The number of weighted average common shares used in per share basic calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was 12,522,804 (13,023,166 diluted per share) and for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was 12,280,576 (12,624,412 diluted per share).
    (5)   Shareholders’ equity per share calculated based on common shares outstanding as at the relevant date.


    First Quarter 2025 Summary

    • Revenue from continuing operations for Q1 2025 was $2,335 compared to $2,988 in Q1 2024.
      • Revenue was negatively impacted by softening demand driven primarily by deferral of some completions activity as customers have taken a cautious approach to the timing of the deployment of their 2025 capital budgets given the recent general economic uncertainty due to ongoing geopolitical events.
    • Oilfield services operating margin from continuing operations was $1,187 in the current year quarter compared to $1,431 in the prior year quarter.
      • Operating margin percentage improved to 53.1% for Q1 2025 compared to 49.4% for Q1 2024 benefiting from a reduction in lower margin third-party rentals in the current year quarter which offset in part, the reduction in revenue.
    • Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $504 in the current year quarter compared to $92 in the prior year quarter. EBITDA from continuing operations benefitted from the improvement in gross margin percentage combined with a significant reduction in general and administrative expenses.
    • Operating loss from continuing operations of $128 for Q1 2025 compared to $1,070 in Q1 2024. The decrease in operating loss is attributable to significantly reduced general and administrative expense. Prior year quarter general and administrative expenses were impacted by elevated corporate and professional fees related to the Arrangement and integration costs related to the acquisition of Delta.
    • Net loss from continuing operations was $120 in Q1 2025 compared to net income from continuing operations of $182 in Q1 2024. Net loss from continuing operations was also impacted by the same items impacting operating loss, as above, combined with reduced interest income, net higher non-cash accretion expense and reduced income from equity accounted investments.

    Operating Results

    Rental services segment

        Three months ended March 31,  
    (thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise noted)     2025   2024  
    Revenue     2,237   2,894  
    Expenses     (1,050 ) (1,463 )
    Oilfield services operating margin (1)     1,187   1,431  
    Oilfield services operating margin (%) (1)     53.1 % 49.4 %

    (1)   See “Non-IFRS Measures”


    Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Three months ended Mar 31,  
    (thousands of Canadian Dollars)     2025   2024  
    Cash provided by (used in) continuing operations:        
    Operating activities     31   271  
    Investing activities     164   (308 )
    Financing activities     (135 ) (131 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash       665  
    Increase in cash from continuing operations     60   497  
    (thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise noted)     As at
    Mar 31, 2025
      As at
    Dec 31, 2024
     
    Current assets     6,717   7,221  
    Working capital (1)     3,199   2,692  
    Working capital ratio (1)     1.9:1   1.6:1  
    Cash and cash equivalents     3,183   3,123  

    (1)   See “Non-IFRS Measures”


    Operating activities

    In Q1 2025, cash from operating activities from continuing operations was $31 compared to $271 for Q1 2024. Funds flow from operating activities from continuing operations totaled $495 in the quarter compared to $197 in the prior year comparative quarter (see “Non-IFRS Measures”). In Q1 2025, changes in non-cash operating working capital from continuing operations totaled an outflow of $464 compared to an inflow of $74 in Q1 2024.

    Changes in cash from operating activities from continuing operations and funds from operating activities from continuing operations for Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, were largely the result of reduced general and administrative expenses combined with the impact of changes in non-cash working capital (as noted above).

    Investing activities

    During the first quarter, the Corporation’s net cash from investing activities from continuing operations totaled $164 compared to a usage of $308 in the prior year comparative quarter. The change in cash flows from investing activities from continuing operations is due to payments received related to notes receivable and the settlement of a portion of the contingent consideration payable utilizing common shares of the Corporation, resulting in a positive non-cash working capital change, both of which more than offset Q1 2025 property and equipment expenditures of $382. Investing cash outflows of $308 in the prior year quarter consisted solely of the purchase of property and equipment.

    Financing activities

    During the first quarter, the Corporation’s net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations of $135 was comparable to $131 in the prior year comparative quarter. Financing related cash flows relate to the normal course payments on the Corporation’s lease liabilities and long-term debt.

    Working capital

    As at March 31, 2025, the Corporation’s working capital balance was $3,199 compared to $2,692 as at December 31, 2024. The increase in working capital is largely due to positive EBITDA generated during Q1 2025 combined with a portion of the year one contingent consideration associated with the acquisition of Delta being settled in common shares during the first quarter.

    Long-term debt

    (thousands of Canadian Dollars)     As at
    Mar 31, 2025
      As at
    Dec 31, 2024
     
    Current     175   175  
    Non-current     3,134   3,178  
    Total     3,309   3,353  

    The Corporation has mortgage financing secured by lands and buildings owned by High Arctic located within Alberta, Canada. The mortgage has a remaining initial term of under two years with a fixed interest rate of 4.30%; payments occur monthly. The mortgage financing contains certain non-financial covenants requiring the lender’s consent, including changes to the underlying business. As at March 31, 2025, the Corporation was compliant with all covenants associated with the mortgage financing.

    Outlook

    The first quarter of 2025 has provided High Arctic with a solid start to the year. General and administrative expenses have taken a step change downward resulting in a reduced run rate. The significant and strategic importance of the equity investment in Team Snubbing has been reinforced through enhanced Board of Director and management oversight. The late 2023 acquisition of Delta Rental Services Ltd. (“Delta”) is fully integrated into High Arctic’s rental services business, positively contributing to improved profit margins. Rental services revenue, while at the lower end of expectations, led to capital preservation through modest growth in new equipment additions and insight as to the outlook for the remainder of 2025.

    High Arctic’s business is driven by the underlying economics associated with its customers’ cash flows. These cash flows are driven by their oil and natural gas commodity price hedging and expectations. As customers embark on drilling new oil and natural gas wells, High Arctic’s business outlook is reliant on decisions on the subsequent activity to complete these wells for production. Therefore, High Arctic’s rental assets and investment in the snubbing industry are highly dependent on fundamentals associated with both drilling and hydraulic fracturing completion trends in the WCSB.

    To this point, 2024/25 winter drilling rig activity in the WCSB has been resilient despite softening commodity price trends. As the industry enters the seasonal second quarter spring breakup period, activity remains comparable to 2024 levels. However, customer capital allocation decisions to complete wells are showing signs of deferral. Recent OPEC moves to increase oil supply, changes in global trade tariffs, and geopolitical risk have increased investment uncertainty.

    This uncertainty is offset by positive developments specific to Canada. The completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline system expansion in 2024, and expectations for west coast LNG exports commencing in the second half of 2025, are positive infrastructure developments supporting improved long-term fundamentals for the upstream energy service business.

    Based on these near-term headwinds and favourable long-term fundamentals, High Arctic will continue to prudently preserve capital while working with our customers to deliver service efficiency and productivity.

    The outlook for 2025 is dependent on the financial performance of High Arctic’s investment in Team Snubbing. High Arctic is carrying total assets of $9.8 million related to its investment in Team Snubbing, comprised of a $7.4 million equity investment and a $2.4 million note receivable. Success will be defined by Team Snubbing’s ability to establish profitability in their international operations.

    In summary, for 2025 the Corporation expects to continue to execute on the initial phases of its strategic objectives, with progress to date being evidenced by safety performance, balance sheet preservation, general and administrative expense reductions, selective capital expenditure investments, and oversight of equity investments.

    Non-IFRS Measures
    This Press Release contains references to certain financial measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to the same or similar measures used by other companies. High Arctic uses these financial measures to assess performance and believes these measures provide useful supplemental information to shareholders and investors. These financial measures are computed on a consistent basis for each reporting period and include EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), Adjusted EBITDA, oilfield services operating margin, operating income (loss), Funds flow from operating activities and working capital. These do not have standardized meanings.

    These financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash from operating activities, current assets or current liabilities, cash and/or other measures of financial performance as determined in accordance with IFRS.

    For additional information regarding non-IFRS measures, including their use to management and investors and reconciliations to measures recognized by IFRS, please refer to the Corporation’s MD&A, which is available online at www.sedar.com and through High Arctic’s website at www.haes.ca.   

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This Press Release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “seek”, “propose”, “estimate”, “expect”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Corporation’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Corporation’s actual results, performance, or achievements to vary from those described in this Press Release.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this Press Release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Specific forward-looking statements in this Press Release include, among others, statements pertaining to the following: general economic and business conditions, which will include, among other things, the outlook for the energy industry inclusive of commodity prices, producer activity levels (inclusive of drilling and completions activity) and general energy supply and demand fundamentals that may impact the energy industry as a whole and more specifically as it relates to the Corporation’s customers in western Canada and Alaska, United States; expectations related to current and future LNG export projects; the impact (if any) of geo-political events, changes in government, changes to tariffs or related trade policies and the potential impact on the Corporation’s ability to execute its 2025 strategic objectives; fluctuations in commodity prices; and the performance of the Corporation’s investment in Team Snubbing.

    With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release, the Corporation has made assumptions regarding, among other things, its ability to: maintain its ongoing relationship with major customers; successfully market its services to current and new customers; devise methods for, and achieve its primary objectives; source and obtain equipment from suppliers; successfully manage, operate, and thrive in an environment which is facing uncertainty; remain competitive in all its operations; attract and retain skilled employees; obtain equity and debt financing on satisfactory terms and manage its liquidity risk; raise capital and manage its debt finance agreements; manage general and administrative costs; maintain a strong balance sheet and related financial flexibility; scale the Canadian business; and seek and execute accretive acquisitions in a timely manner and achieve operational and financial benefits therefrom.

    Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: economic and financial conditions, including volatility in commodity prices; volatility in interest and exchange rates and capital markets; the level of demand and financial performance of the energy industry; changes in customer demand; and developments and changes in laws and regulations, including in the energy industry.

    The Corporation’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth above and elsewhere in this Press Release, along with the risk factors set out in the most recent AIF filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are given only as of the date of this Press Release. The Corporation does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About High Arctic Energy Services
    High Arctic is an energy services provider. High Arctic provides pressure control equipment and equipment supporting the high-pressure stimulation of oil and gas wells and other oilfield equipment ‎on a rental basis to exploration and production companies, from its bases in Whitecourt and Red Deer, Alberta‎.

    For further information contact:

    Lonn Bate
    Chief Financial Officer 
    P: 587-318-2218
    P: +1 (800) 688 7143 

    High Arctic Energy Services Inc.
    Suite 2350, 330 – 5th Ave SW
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L4
    website: www.haes.ca
    Email: info@haes.ca

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Careers Take Off with Internships

    Source: NASA

    Lee esta historia en español aquí.
    Do you dream of working for NASA and contributing to exploration and innovation for the benefit of humanity? The agency’s internship programs provide high school and college students opportunities to advance NASA’s mission in aeronautics, science, technology, and space.  
    Claudia Sales, Kassidy McLaughlin, and Julio Treviño started their careers as interns at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, where they continue to explore the secrets of the universe. Their journeys highlight the long-term impact of the NASA’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.

    “I knew since I was a child that I wanted to work for NASA,” said Claudia Sales, acting X-59 deputy chief engineer X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the agency’s quiet supersonic research aircraft.
    Sales’ journey at NASA started in 2005 as a Pathways intern, a NASA work-study (co-op) program. She worked in propulsion and structures branches and supported such projects as the X-43A hypersonic research aircraft (Hyper-X) and the X-37 reusable orbital launch vehicle, where she had the opportunity to perform calculations for thermal estimations and trajectory analyses. She also completed design work with NASA Armstrong’s Experimental Fabrication Shop.
    “It had been a dream of mine to be a part of unique, one-of-a-kind flight research projects,” Sales said. “My mentor was amazing at exposing me to a wide variety of experiences and working on something unique to one day be implemented on an air vehicle to make the world a better place.”

    Similarly, flight systems engineer Kassidy McLaughlin discovered that mentorship and hands-on experience as an intern were key to her professional development. She currently leads the development of a ground control station at NASA Armstrong.
    In high school and college, McLaughlin enrolled in STEM classes, knowing she wanted to pursue a career in engineering. Encouraged by her mother to apply for a NASA internship, McLaughlin’s career began in 2014 as an intern for NASA Armstrong’s Office of STEM Engagement. She later transitioned to the Pathways program.
    “My mentor gave me the tools necessary, and encouraged me to ask questions,” McLaughlin said. “He helped show me that I was capable of anything if I set my mind to it.”
    During five rotations as an intern, she worked on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) project. “It is such a rewarding feeling to be in a control room when something you have worked on is flying,” McLaughlin said. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
    “NASA Armstrong offered something special when it came to the people,” McLaughlin said. “The culture at the center is so friendly and everyone is so welcoming.”

    Julio Treviño, lead operations engineer for NASA’s Global Hawk SkyRange project, ensures airworthiness throughout the planning, integration, and flight phases of unique systems and vehicles. He is also a certified mission controller, mission director, and flight test engineer for various agency aircraft.
    Much like McLaughlin, Treviño began his journey in 2018 as a Pathway’s intern for the Dynamic and Controls branch at NASA Armstrong. That experience paved the way for success after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering.
    “As an intern, I had the opportunity to work on designing and creating a battery model for an all-electric aircraft,” Treviño said. “It was officially published as a NASA software model for use by anyone throughout the agency.”
    Treviño also credits NASA’s culture and people as the best part of his internship. “I had very supportive mentors throughout my time as an intern and the fact that everyone here genuinely loves the work that they do is awesome,” he said.

    Every year, NASA provides more than 2,000 students the opportunity to impact the agency’s mission through hands-on internships. The 2025 application for fall is May 16, 2025.
    To learn more about NASA’s internship programs, application deadlines, and eligibility, visit https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Releases Records of TdA Associate Deported to CECOT

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Releases Records of TdA Associate Deported to CECOT

    lass=”text-align-center”>Removal documents show criminal alien’s rap sheet included an arrest by the NYPD for having a loaded firearm on school grounds and ammunition feeding devices
    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released records involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) arrest of Merwil Alberto Gutierrez Flores

    Merwil is a Tren de Aragua associate whose criminal history included possession of a firearm on school grounds and ammunition feeding devices

    Below is an excerpt of Flores’s I-213 form showing criminal history: 

    The full document can be found here

    “Merwil Alberto Gutierrez Flores was deported to CECOT because he is an associate of Tren de Aragua—a foreign terrorist organization—whose criminal record included an arrest for having a loaded firearm and ammunition feeding devices at a school” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said

    “The Biden Administration released this dangerous criminal into our communities in 2023

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are getting these criminals off our streets and out of country

    When Americans break the law, they face consequences

    Now, criminal aliens and gangs finally do, too


    On Feb

    24, FBI agents and New York Police Department officers arrested Merwil Alberto Gutierrez Flores—an illegal alien from Venezuela—in New York for criminal possession of a weapon, loaded firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, loaded firearm on school grounds, criminal possession of stolen property, and unlawful possession of certain ammunition feeding devices

    On Feb

    25, he was turned over to the custody of ICE

    On March 15, he was removed to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center

     
    Flores illegally entered the U

    S

    on June 21, 2023, in El Paso, Texas

    That same day, U

    S

    Border Patrol agents encountered and arrested him

    He was then released into the country under the Biden administration’s policies

     
    Under our backlogged immigration system, this criminal illegal alien was allowed to live in our country and terrorize our communities till his February 1, 2027, immigration hearing

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Smoky Start to Saskatchewan’s Fire Season

    Source: NASA

    Wildland fires usually begin to appear in Saskatchewan in April and May as snow melts and landscapes dry out. In mid-May 2025, however, moderate drought and strong winds exacerbated fires in the central part of the province.
    The OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9 captured this image (above) of smoke billowing from the Shoe fire on May 10, 2025. A wider view of the same image (below) also shows smoke from the Camp fire. The fires were burning in boreal forests in and around Narrow Hills Provincial Park. Infrared data from Landsat were overlaid on the image to help distinguish the heat signature of active fires.
    On May 12, 2025, Saskatchewan’s public safety agency reported 12 active fires across the province, half of which were contained. The park and all highways into and out of it were closed due to the fires, and officials issued several air quality alerts for the region. Saskatchewan officials have tallied 146 fires to date in 2025, nearly twice the five-year average.
    Fire activity has been intense enough to produce at least one towering chimney of smoke known as a pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) cloud. Researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison confirmed the formation of  the cloud in the Camp fire’s plume on May 8.

    These fire-generated clouds are associated with extreme fire behavior that can hinder firefighting efforts and threaten communities. They can also inject large plumes of smoke into the stratosphere, where they can linger for several months, alter stratospheric circulation, and influence Earth’s radiative balance and the Antarctic ozone hole. Cloud heights at the time of the Landsat image were not high enough for the plume to qualify as a pyroCb, although the image does show signs of pyrocumulus (pyroCu) activity on May 10.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Viking pregnancy was deeply political – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Marianne Hem Eriksen, Associate Professor of Archaeology, University of Leicester

    Britomart by Walter Crane (1900). Library of Decorative Arts, Paris

    Pregnant women wielding swords and wearing martial helmets, foetuses set to avenge their fathers – and a harsh world where not all newborns were born free or given burial.

    These are some of the realities uncovered by the first interdisciplinary study to focus on pregnancy in the Viking age, authored by myself, Kate Olley, Brad Marshall and Emma Tollefsen as part of the Body-Politics project. Despite its central role in human history, pregnancy has often been overlooked in archaeology, largely because it leaves little material trace.

    Pregnancy has perhaps been particularly overlooked in periods we mostly associate with warriors, kings and battles – such as the highly romanticised Viking age (the period from AD800 until AD1050).

    Topics such as pregnancy and childbirth have conventionally been seen as “women’s issues”, belonging to the “natural” or “private” spheres – yet we argue that questions such as “when does life begin?” are not at all natural or private, but of significant political concern, today as in the past.

    In our new study, my co-authors and I puzzle together eclectic strands of evidence in order to understand how pregnancy and the pregnant body were conceptualised at this time. By exploring such “womb politics”, it is possible to add significantly to our knowledge on gender, bodies and sexual politics in the Viking age and beyond.


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    First, we examined words and stories depicting pregnancy in Old Norse sources. Despite dating to the centuries after the Viking age, sagas and legal texts provide words and stories about childbearing that the Vikings’ immediate descendants used and circulated.

    We learned that pregnancy could be described as “bellyful”, “unlight” and “not whole”. And we gleaned an insight into the possible belief in personhood of a foetus: “A woman walking not alone.”

    Helgi and Guðrún in the Laxdæla saga, as depicted by Andreas Bloch (1898).
    Wiki Commons

    An episode in one of the sagas we looked at supports the idea that unborn children (at least high-status ones) could already be inscribed into complex systems of kinship, allies, feuds and obligations. It tells the story of a tense confrontation between the pregnant Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir, a protagonist in the Saga of the People of Laxardal and her husband’s killer, Helgi Harðbeinsson.

    As a provocation, Helgi wipes his bloody spear on Guđrun’s clothes and over her belly. He declares: “I think that under the corner of that shawl dwells my own death.” Helgi’s prediction comes true, and the foetus grows up to avenge his father.

    Another episode, from the Saga of Erik the Red, focuses more on the agency of the mother. The heavily pregnant Freydís Eiríksdóttir is caught up in an attack by the skrælings, the Norse name for the indigenous populations of Greenland and Canada. When she cannot escape due to her pregnancy, Freydís picks up a sword, bares her breast and strikes the sword against it, scaring the assailants away.

    While sometimes regarded as an obscure literary episode in scholarship, this story may find a parallel in the second set of evidence we examined for the study: a figurine of a pregnant woman.

    This pendant, found in a tenth-century woman’s burial in Aska, Sweden, is the only known convincing depiction of pregnancy from the Viking age. It depicts a figure in female dress with the arms embracing an accentuated belly — perhaps signalling connection with the coming child. What makes this figurine especially interesting is that the pregnant woman is wearing a martial helmet.

    The figurine of a pregnant woman that was analysed in the study.
    Historiska Museet, CC BY-ND

    Taken together, these strands of evidence show that pregnant women could, at least in art and stories, be engaged with violence and weapons. These were not passive bodies. Together with recent studies of Viking women buried as warriors, this provokes further thought to how we envisage gender roles in the oft-perceived hyper-masculine Viking societies.

    Missing children and pregnancy as a defect

    A final strand of investigation was to look for evidence for obstetric deaths in the Viking burial record. Maternal-infant death rates are thought to be very high in most pre-industrial societies. Yet, we found that among thousands of Viking graves, only 14 possible mother-infant burials are reported.

    Consequently, we suggest that pregnant women who died weren’t routinely buried with their unborn child and may not have been commemorated as one, symbiotic unity by Viking societies. In fact, we also found newborns buried with adult men and postmenopausal women, assemblages which may be family graves, but they may also be something else altogether.

    Interpretative drawing of a grave from Fjälkinge, Sweden, of an adult woman buried together with newborn placed between her thighs. Note that the legs of the woman’s body have been weighed down by a boulder.
    Matt Hitchcock / Body-Politics, CC BY-SA

    We cannot exclude that infants – underrepresented in the burial record more generally – were disposed of in death elsewhere. When they are found in graves with other bodies, it’s possible they were included as a “grave good” (objects buried with a deceased person) for other people in the grave.

    This is a stark reminder that pregnancy and infancy can be vulnerable states of transition. A final piece of evidence speaks to this point like no other. For some, like Guđrun’s little boy, gestation and birth represented a multi-staged process towards becoming a free social person.

    For people lower on the social rung, however, this may have looked very different. One of the legal texts we examined dryly informs us that when enslaved women were put up for sale, pregnancy was regarded as a defect of their bodies.

    Pregnancy was deeply political and far from uniform in meaning for Viking-age communities. It shaped – and was shaped by – ideas of social status, kinship and personhood. Our study shows that pregnancy was not invisible or private, but crucial to how Viking societies understood life, social identities and power.

    Marianne Hem Eriksen leads the BODY-POLITICS project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 949886).

    This research was also supported by The Leverhulme Trust through a Philip Leverhulme Prize awarded to Marianne Hem Eriksen (PLP-2022-285).

    ref. Viking pregnancy was deeply political – new study – https://theconversation.com/viking-pregnancy-was-deeply-political-new-study-254738

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Brazil to Work with China to Strengthen Voice of Global South – President

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    RIO DE JANEIRO, May 13 (Xinhua) — Brazil is seeking to work with China to strengthen the voice of the Global South in defense of multilateralism and free trade, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in an interview with Chinese media ahead of his visit to China.

    The two countries can use platforms such as the China-CELAC Forum, BRICS and the upcoming UN climate conference COP30 to move forward together, he said.

    “Brazil sees China as a political partner, an economic partner and a very strong strategic partner in this turbulent world of the 21st century,” the president stressed.

    The visit to China is a continuation of the good bilateral relations established in recent years, said L.I. Lula da Silva, adding that they continue to improve and are increasingly gaining strategic importance.

    “We do not want one country to be superior to others. We do not want one currency to be superior to others. We want trade to be fair and balanced, and for everyone to be able to sell and buy fairly,” the president said.

    According to him, Brazil is committed to defending peace, multilateralism and a fair trading system. There is no doubt that together with China and other countries of the Global South, it can have a greater impact on the world, L.I. Lula da Silva added.

    “I believe that the Global South is a political novelty of the 21st century. I am very proud that we have arrived where we are. And even greater growth is possible because there are many people who want to join the Global South,” the head of state said.

    On trade, he noted that Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, has significant trade with China. However, the rapid growth of trade relations between the two points to even greater potential for trade exchanges and investment, the president added.

    L.I. Lula da Silva said that a group of Brazilian business leaders will travel to China with him to establish new partnerships with Chinese entrepreneurs, especially in areas such as infrastructure, mining and energy.

    He would also like to expand scientific and technical cooperation, particularly in the field of space. The President hopes to improve the existing joint program on satellites for studying the earth’s resources.

    Brazil wants to discuss AI issues with China “to ensure that artificial intelligence serves all of humanity and not just a few countries,” the head of state said.

    Brazil is preparing to host COP30 this year and hopes to establish a strong partnership with China, L. I. Lula da Silva noted. China has made significant progress in combating climate change and can share its experience in transforming energy needs at the conference, he added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCCA NEWS RELEASE: DCCA DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS (THROUGH APRIL 2025)

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCCA NEWS RELEASE: DCCA DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS (THROUGH APRIL 2025)

    Posted on May 12, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

     

    NADINE Y. ANDO

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    DENISE P. BALANAY

    SENIOR HEARINGS OFFICER

    DCCA DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

    (Through April 2025)

     

    May 12, 2025

    HONOLULU – The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and its respective state Boards and Commissions released a summary of disciplinary actions through the month of April 2025, taken on individuals and entities with professional and vocational licenses in Hawai‘i. These disciplinary actions include dispositions based upon either the results of contested case hearings or settlement agreements submitted by the parties. Respondents enter into settlement agreements as a compromise to claims and to conserve on the expenses of proceeding with an administrative hearing.

    The DCCA and the Boards and Commissions are responsible for ensuring those with professional and vocational licenses are performing up to the standards prescribed by state law.

     

     

    Respondent:      Leah R. Swift

    Case Number:   RNS 2024-29-L

    Sanction:            Voluntary license surrender

    Effective Date:  4-3-25

    RICO alleges that on April 16, 2024, the Board issued Respondent a license subject to conditions, including compliance with a one-year monitoring agreement with Pu‘ulu Lapa‘au, and that Respondent is not in compliance with the one-year monitoring program, in potential violation of HRS § 457-12(a). (Board approved Settlement Agreement.)

     

     

     

    Respondent:     Express Scripts Pharmacy, Inc. dba Express Scripts

    Case Number: PHA 2024-20-L

    Sanction:            $500 fine

    Effective Date: 2-27-25

    RICO alleges that Respondent was disciplined by the state of Michigan, in potential violation of HRS § 436B-19(13). (Board approved Settlement Agreement.)

     

    Respondents:   Anchor Properties HI, LLC and Nathan V. Wong

    Case Number: REC 2024-373-L

    Sanction:            $1,000 fine

    Effective Date: 4-25-25

    RICO alleges that Respondents, as managing agent for Hanohano Hale, received a request for condominium association records, and that fulfillment of the request took longer than 30 days without proper response as to the reason for the delay, in potential violation of HRS § 514B-154.5(c). (Commission approved Settlement Agreement.)

     

    Respondent:     Brandon Ray Holmes

    Case Number: REC 2024-408-L

    Sanction:            $1,500 fine

    Effective Date: 4-25-25

    RICO alleges that on August 1, 2024, Respondent was convicted of Driving under the Influence in the District Court of the Second Circuit, in potential violation of HRS § 436B-19(12).(Commission approved Settlement Agreement.)

     

     

     

    Respondent:     Alex G. Ramos dba Triple A Electrical Service

    Case Number: CLB 2022-481-L

    Sanction:            $10,000 fine

    Effective Date: 4-25-25

    RICO alleges that Respondent aided and abetted an unlicensed contractor by pulling permits for the unlicensed contractor on many projects, in potential violation of HRS § 444-9.3.(Commission approved Settlement Agreement.)

    BusinessCheck is an online platform designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for researching licensed professionals. This tool empowers users to verify licenses, review complaint histories and discover when a business was established, all in one place. Please visit businesscheck.hawaii.gov to verify a professional’s license status, confirming their qualifications, compliance with regulations and accountability to a governing body.

     

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    Communications Office

    Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

    Phone: 808-586-2760

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – DOH Cites Petroleum Company for Hazardous Waste Violations

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – DOH Cites Petroleum Company for Hazardous Waste Violations

    Posted on May 12, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIA‘ĀINA

    KENNETH S. FINK, M.D., MGA, MPH
    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

    DOH CITES PETROLEUM COMPANY FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE VIOLATIONS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 12, 2025                                                                                                            25-050

    HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) against Par Hawaii Refining (Par) for violating the state’s hazardous waste management laws. Par has been cited for the following:

    • Illegal disposal of hazardous waste at a facility not permitted to dispose of hazardous waste,
    • Failure to make a hazardous waste determination, and
    • Failure to use a uniform hazardous waste manifest for transportation of hazardous waste.

    The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) provided information to DOH from the receiving landfill located in Utah. The information indicates that Par shipped six drums of waste to the non-hazardous waste landfill as “Non-Department of Transportation (DOT)-Regulated (Neutralized Acid Solid)” and “Non-DOT Regulated (Acid Solid Residue).” However, analytical test results later revealed that the waste was hazardous waste due to the toxicity of its chromium content.

    The NOVO alleges that Par failed to make a proper hazardous waste determination because it shipped the waste before receiving analytical results that showed it was a hazardous waste. The regulations require hazardous waste to be shipped using a uniform hazardous waste manifest to facilities permitted to properly treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. The NOVO alleges that Par failed to ship the waste using the correct manifest and failed to properly dispose of the waste at a permitted hazardous waste facility.

    Par has been assessed a fine of $169,500 for the three violations. In addition to paying the penalty, Par has been ordered to undertake corrective actions, including but not limited to training its employees, to correct the violations. Par has 20 days to respond to the order.

    To protect Hawai‘i from pollutants that endanger people and the environment, the DOH regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. The DOH Solid & Hazardous Waste Branch promotes pollution prevention and waste minimization, develops partnerships with waste generators and the regulated community, guides the rehabilitation of contaminated lands and aggressively enforces environmental laws.

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    Kristen Wong

    Information Specialist

    Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

    Mobile: 808-953-9616

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces billions of dollars for behavioral health treatment facilities and services for seriously ill and homeless thanks to Prop 1

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 12, 2025

    What you need to know: Thanks to Prop 1, today’s funding is estimated to create over 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,800 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build upon other major behavioral health initiatives in California.

    Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom announced $3.3 billion in grant funding today to create over 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,800 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health care services and will build upon other major behavioral health initiatives in California. Administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the Proposition 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready awards will significantly expand access to care for Californians experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including those experiencing homelessness.

    Today’s awardees can be found HERE.

    “Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024. Today, we’re delivering our biggest win yet. These launch-ready projects will build and expand residential beds and treatment slots for those who need help. Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    When full awarded, funding from Proposition 1 bonds is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build on other major behavioral health initiatives in California. 

    Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency: “Today marks a critical milestone in our commitment to transforming California’s behavioral health system. Through these awards, we are investing in bold, community-driven solutions that expand access to care, promote equity, and meet people where they are. These projects are a reflection of our values and vision for a healthier, more compassionate California.”

    Michelle Baass, DHCS Director: “This is a generational investment in California’s behavioral health future. We are not just building facilities. We are building hope, dignity, and pathways to healing for thousands of Californians. These investments will significantly enhance our state’s capacity to provide timely, effective care for individuals in their own communities.” 

    Why this matters

    The Bond BHCIP Round 1 awards will help to create a comprehensive behavioral health system, ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time, whether it be for crisis stabilization, inpatient care, or long-term treatment. As part of the state’s goal to reduce mental health crises, increase the availability of services, and support community-based solutions, these investments are vital in ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of behavioral health services.

    Through BHCIP, DHCS has competitively awarded grants to construct, acquire, and expand properties and invest in mobile crisis infrastructure for behavioral health. Proposition 1, passed in March 2024, increases funding opportunities to expand BHCIP to serve even more Californians with mental health and substance use disorders through infrastructure development.  

    Bigger picture

    California’s Mental Health for All initiative is modernizing the behavioral health delivery system to improve accountability, increase transparency, and expand the capacity of behavioral health care facilities. BHCIP supports the creation, renovation, and expansion of facilities that serve individuals with mental health and substance use disorder needs, with a focus on crisis care, residential treatment, and outpatient services. DHCS has already awarded $1.7 billion in BHCIP competitive grants.

    There is a 7,000-plus behavioral health bed shortfall in California, contributing to  unmet needs among people experiencing homelessness who have mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Bond BHCIP funding is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build upon other major behavioral health initiatives in California. This investment will help address the behavioral health bed shortfall.

    What comes next

    Today’s announcement represents the first of two Bond BHCIP funding rounds. The second round, Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs, will provide over $800 million in competitive funding awards for behavioral health treatment facilities and is open to all entities. Interested entities are encouraged to apply after the Round 2 Request for Applications goes live as soon as later this month. 

    Additionally, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will oversee up to $2 billion in Proposition 1 funds to build permanent supportive housing for veterans and others who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have mental health or substance use disorder challenges.

    Learn more

    For more information about Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready, please visit the BHCIP website. Additional guidance on Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready and Round 2: Unmet Needs is available here. Visit the Behavioral Health Transformation webpage for updates and resources, including recordings of regular public listening sessions. 

    Today’s awardees can be found HERE.

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    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025 as “Older Californians Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONCalifornia is home to nearly nine million older residents who…

    News What you need to know: Ahead of peak wildfire season, California has launched “Ask CAL FIRE,” an AI-powered chatbot on CAL FIRE’s website offering wildfire resources and emergency information in 70 languages. SACRAMENTO — As California marks Wildfire Preparedness…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Participates in a Saudi State Visit

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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

    MIL OSI Video